Some wonderful items I found browsing through my favorites.

JesseByah

Syds

RareSpecimens

Madden & Lloyd

Southern Wood

Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Danielle, and I'm from Long Island, NY. I'm a single mother of four (3 cats and 1 rabbit) who enjoys birding, playing guitar, and photography. I'm a vegan who loves animals, music, and being outdoors in any kind of weather.

Where does your inspiration come from?
Much of my inspiration comes from dreams; especially my photography and post-processing. I think many people have experienced that -- waking up with ideas in your head that seem to come from nowhere.


Who or what has been most influential in your craft?
I'm involved in many different crafts, so it's hard to say what has influenced me most; I'm self-taught at much of what I do. I've been crocheting for several years; getting more serious about photography for about 8 years; playing guitar for about the same amount of time. I think the online communities I'm involved in have played a huge role in giving me the motivation to improve and be more creative, for sure.

How would you describe your creative process?
My creative process is far from exciting. An idea comes to me and I try to make it a reality. Sometimes it just becomes a lesson in patience, lol. Many times, I'd scrap an idea after trying to make it work without success. Other times, things just seem to fall into place.


What makes your items “unique”?
My Etsy shop is fairly new. At the present time, I am only selling statement bracelets (and a few necklaces) solely for the purpose of spreading positive messages while donating funds to charity. I think my "vegan" items are unique simply because there aren't many bracelets and such available that state "vegan". I do have other items that state "love", "hope", "peace"... and all are sold for the purpose of charity fund raising. :-)

Tell us more about the charity you donate your proceeds to.
Donations will be made to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary (www.woodstocksanctuary.org) in Willow, NY. Ever since I visited the sanctuary in 2008, I've been making small donations each holiday. The place is a haven for animals who have been rescued from deplorable conditions of abuse and neglect. It's a place of peace and hope, and I encourage everyone to visit them at least once. You won't forget it.


What celebrity would you most like to wear your items?
Oh, I would love to see Ellen DeGeneres wear one of my bracelets!

What's you favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is climbing a tree right outside our kitchen door, with my favorite stuffed animal in my backpack. When I got as high as I could go, I just sat there watching the birds, feeling the breezes, and hugging my stuffie for the whole afternoon. If that tree was still there, I'd go back and do it again.

Visit Thedryad
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/thedryad

Let's get to know each other! Below are a few fun personality questions. Feel free to answer a few or all of them.


1. Do you play any instruments?
No I don't play any instruments. When I was younger I wanted to play the clarinet but never got a chance to. I did own a piano for several years but I never bother to learn. I just banged on the keys and pretended I knew what I was doing.


2. Who was the last person you called?
My kids at home. I don't talk on the phone a lot. I normally just call my house, my husband or my sister. In fact I think last month I only used 69 minutes! I use my cell phone more for texting and internet surfing.


3. Where do you plan on going for your next vacation?
We are saving to go on a cruise. Our kids are in their teens and we think this would be the perfect time for us to go. Its still a couple of years away but I am excited about it.


4. Who's your favorite TV attorney?
I love Alicia Florrick from the CBS show "The Good Wife". There is just something about her demeanor and personality that I really like. Its my new favorite show.


5. Where do you go for advice?
My husband :-) I know it might sound corny but he is truly my best friend. He listens to my mindless rambling and when I need advice he's always there.


Now its your turn...

Tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Taylor Lynn, but you can call me Taylor or even Tay. I’m an overgrown hobbit attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with a closet it my dormitory that leads to Narnia, where I’m queen. "TheForestFaery" is just a pseudonym so the White Witch, RingWraiths and Death Eaters don't find me.

Of course, you muggles would just know me as a fourteen year old homeschooled vegan pursuing my dream of becoming a best-selling novelist. I love reading, writing, history, English and Language Arts, interesting words, blogging and taking photos, and someday (someday soon, I’m sure!) you’ll be able to walk into any bookstore and buy my novels. Until then, you can buy my photography and some handmade items in my Etsy shop, TheForestFaery!

Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes mostly from nature, and from fantasy. For instance, after watching the new Alice in Wonderland movie, I went outside to lock up our goats and chickens for the night. It had just rained, the air was cool and the sun was setting. When I came inside I got ready for bed, sat down with a notepad and pen and wrote down ideas for photos that had popped into my head out of nowhere while I was outside, still caught up in Wonderland with the soundtrack running through my head. It was rather fun! So if you ever want to give me photo inspiration, make me watch a good fantasy movie and then send me outside.
Who or what has been most influential in your craft?
My camera(s). Or whatever camera(s) are available at the time. Oh, we’ve been through so much together. They never complain when I kneel, squat, stretch, reach or lie on my belly/back in the grass to catch a good shot. They don’t mind getting up close and personal with mushrooms and toads. My dear camera(s), I couldn’t have captured those shots without you!

What does handmade mean to you?
That someone sat down and put something together using their own skill, own imagination and own two hands. (Or own two feet. Whatever works.) The small imperfections don’t matter, because they show that a human made it, not a robot. Handmade means that gifts are better quality and more meaningful, and handmade also means more personal.

When did you know you were an artist?
Can I tell you a secret? Before TheForestFaery, I had an Etsy shop called abenevolentbookworm. I sold bookmarks, and my shop FAILED. Why? Because while I’ve done crafts my whole life, I’m very fickle and don’t have much stamina for them. Knitting, quilting, scrapbooking, collage-making: been there, done that. I was once slightly obsessed with each one; now I do them occasionally, if at all. So even though I sold a few bookmarks, I got bored of making them and closed down abenevolentbookworm.

However, ever since I was a little kid I’ve known I wanted to be a writer. And in 2008 I discovered how fun photography is. So I’m creative, just not in the way many Etsians are – my creativity is expressed in writing and photography rather than handmade items, which is why TheForestFaery is all about photography. To keep it stocked up, all I have to do is relist and occasionally go outside to snap a new picture! No long-term stamina necessary.

How would you describe your creative process?
Step 1: The mood strikes. “I feel like taking pictures!” I think.

Step 2: I turn on the camera and no doubt have to switch the rechargeable batteries. Once that’s done, I’m good to go.

Step 3: I go outside and wander through my yard and my Grampa’s next door. If I see a photo opportunity I stop, drop and roll, or whatever it is that’s necessary to capture said photo.

Step 4: I import photos onto my laptop. Then I eliminate the bad ones, save the good ones, and they proceed to sit around for days or weeks in my computer until I get around to listing them.

Of course, sometimes this entire process is skipped if I walk by a window and see a totally amazing photo opportunity. Then I tear through the house, find the camera, burst outside barefoot or in someone else’s shoes, and proceed to snap ten or twenty photos of the same thing from different angles, provided the opportunity hasn't passed by already. True story.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
If I was in a serious mood, I’d say Anne Frank so that I could see what it was really like for her in the Secret Annex.

But if I was in a random mood, I’d say Kate from the TV show “Lost” so that I could tell Sawyer not to fall in love with ‘me’ because ‘I’ will just end up being a complete jerk and using him.

Or Alice Cullen, because she is simply the most awesome character in the Twilight Saga. I’m starting Team Alice, who’s with me?!

Do you have a strange talent not many know of?
I wish I could say yes, but… no, not really.
That’s not to say I’m normal, though. I’m not really what you’d call “normal”, I don’t really try to be, and I don’t really want to be. Because the way I see it, where’s the fun in being like everyone else?

Visit TheForestFaery
Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TheForestFaery
Blog: www.dreamsoffae.blogspot.com

About a year ago I crocheted a few prayer squares and donated it to a fellow CreateCrochet team member. She then sold them at a Relay for Life event to raise money. The items that she did not sell were donated to a local hospital.


Prayer Squares

This is a fantastic way to use up your scrap yarn. Have fun with combining colors. If you make enough squares you can attach them to make a scrap happy afghan.

The idea behind these squares is that the person making them is praying while working on them. So the person receiving the square can be touched and blessed by your prayers.




Materials:
Small amount of worsted weight yarn
Crochet Hook Size 5 (H) - or whatever size your comfortable with

Abbreviations/ Special Stitches:
Hook = HK
Chain = CH
Stitch = ST
Single Crochet  = SC
Puff Stitch = PS: YO, insert hook in next stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (3 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (5 loops on hook), YO, insert hook once again into the SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (7 loops on hook).

Instructions:
Chain 12
Row 1: sc in second ch from hk and in each ch across. ch 1, turn (11sc)
Row 2: sc in each of next 3 sc, puff st in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 1, turn
Row 3: sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 4-9: repeat rows 2 &3
Row 10: *sc in 1st sc, puff st in next sc, sc in next sc*, repeat to end
Row 11: sc across, ch 1, turn
Row 12-14: repeat rows 2 & 3
Row 15: sc in each sc across

Once your square is done you can use a single crochet stitch around to create a neat border.
If you have any questions regarding this pattern please let me know.

If you try this pattern I would love to see how it came out. Feel free to share your pictures with me.

Other Stuff:
I would very much like it if this pattern is used for charity and personal use only.
Please do not sell my pattern in part or whole.
If you post your creations on your blog, facebook, flickr or any other social networking site, please provide a link back to this page so others might be able to find this pattern.

Enjoy :-)

edited 8/13/13

"The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation. He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is uncertain, his brother's is sure. And that also clarifies the goal of all Christian communities: they meet one another as bringers of the message of salvation."

You will need:

1. Flat frame (no ornate carvings or or anything like that, those I usually paint instead). The one I fave here was bought from a dollar store, so it's very simple.
2. Old unwanted magazine, or anything else that has similar size and quality pages.
3. Brush
4. Mod Podge (glossy) or any other similar product.

Steps:

1. Fold and cut paper into strips. Size of strips will depend on the frame, I needed ¾ inch strips for mine (1/16 of a page)


2. Roll strips into tight rolls and make a ton of them. I usually cut strips and roll them while watching TV because it takes a a lot of time.

3. Apply thick layer of Mod Podge to the frame. I usually do it one side at a time to leave less time for the glue to dry.

4. Place rolls of paper on the frame next to one another.

5. After the glue is dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to the all exposed sides of rolls and frame.

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