craftymule

I have been a crafty person for as long as I can remember. I have tried all of the craft trends over the past 2 decades. My favorite things these days are making quilts, altered art/mixed media items and jewelry, doll making and polymer clay. Without a doubt, my jewelry designs have definitely taken on a life of their own these days as I am usually pretty busy creating new designs or making commissioned pieces for customers.

I made occasional guest appearances on Jan D'Atri's Heart and Home television show in Arizona demonstrating my craft projects before I moved to Northwest Arkansas. As an independent instructor, I taught numerous altered art and sewing workshops at Michael's and JoAnn, Etc. in Arizona. Unfortunately, we don't have either of these stores where I live now and it's really a bummer. I still suffer withdrawal symptoms from this. :( Thankfully, I can drive to Missouri every now and then and go shopping at those stores there.

I have been published in wonderful magazines such as Somerset Studios, Haute Handbags and Belle Armoire Jewelry - among others. I will be featured as a guest artist in some new books which are being released over the next year. The first of these books, "Art Circus" by Lisa Kettell features several of my altered art designs. The other books pertain to altered art, resin jewelry and retro pop-art jewelry.

My designs are currently being sold in boutiques around the United States, and I was recently commissioned by the Jell-O Museum in New York to make Jell-O jewelry for their gift shop. Cool, huh?

I sell my handmade creations on EBAY where I am a Powerseller and have been doing so for several years.

I have a lot of irons in the fire right now and am working towards having a career in the craft business in some form on a full time basis. I am pursuing many things right now - designer, writer, author, instructor, and (hopefully) my own product line. I follow the opportunities as doors open for me, so time will tell.....

I just started my blog after hem-hawing around about it for a year. It features cool craft ideas, projects, networking with others, altered art swaps and free monthly giveaways. Please come check it out: craftymule.blogspot.com/

Altered art projects and jewelry, polymer clay, resin, mixed media, ATC's, quilting, designing and making art quilts and doll making.

Art jewelry, matryoshka nesting dolls, China head dolls, shopping, antique stores, travel, Beagles, Jack Russell Terriers, Catholic saints, the Virgin Mary, art quilts, vintage pin-up girls, vintage advertisements, ATC's, Christmas pins/brooches/earrings, unique crucifix pendants, mini dolls (under 3"), cabinet cards, black Americana themed anything, Michael's, JoAnn's and EBay.

Things I love to buy and/or never have enough of:

Stickles glitter glue, microbeads, Diamond Glaze, pendant bezels, Chek-It game pieces, E-6000, Prismacolor pencils, Golden's Fluid Acrylics, silk roving (dyed or natural), glitter, fabric embellishments/ribbons/trim, angelina fiber and film, "Tintzl", quilting fabric, craft books and magazines, polymer clay cutters and molds, resin molds.

These are the things I dislike and/or don't enjoy doing:

Rap music, witchcraft, Ouija boards, crochet/knitting, plastic canvas, "cutsie" items, politics, Southwestern decor (including snakes, lizards, kokopelli, cactus, desert scenery, etc.). I'm also not a big fan of candles.