Crafted From The Heart

If you on the Etsynewbies Street Team you will have seen Rhonda's name often and may have even seen the wonderful things in her shop . She has been a instrumental part in keeping the Street Team going and has been a good source of information for some of us less experienced members. So Thank You Rhonda, keep up the great job.

I've asked Rhonda to answer a few questions so we could get to know her a little better. Here's what she came up with:

How long have you been crafting?
I started crocheting before I was old enough to read, so that is over 42 years. I had 2 aunts who taught me how to crochet to help me work off some hyper energy I had stored up. My mom couldn't crochet, but she would read one line of instructions to me, I would do that and then she would read another line to me.

After I started school, I would come home from school and mom would have a project ready for me to work on and I would make the item. I didn't know other kids couldn't do this. Mom did this with other crafts as well. I came home from school one afternoon and mom said "I want you to macramé this table for me". I had never heard of macramé, but I got started and finished the table. This was the same with all crafts; I see something and just make it. I was the kid in the classroom who would finish her test, then make items until the bell rang. I would sell the items to make some extra money to buy more supplies.

What is your favorite medium?
Yarn, yarn and more yarn. I've often said I have yarn in my veins. I am also addicted to making things with paper.

Where do you get your inspiration?
In my sleep, looking through a book, browsing the internet, watching TV, my mind is always working towards my next item to make. I sometimes get so obsessed with a new idea, I have to take a notepad out of my purse and write down the idea, so I can get my mind back to whatever I was doing before the idea popped into my head. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy to do all the ideas I come up with, so I've recently decided to start writing patterns.

What item in your shop would you most like to keep?
That is a tough one, because I like all the items but I've been able to narrow it down to two.

#1 Would be the "Incredibly Soft Pink and Gray Star Afghan 52 inches" http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8635053 because it is soooo soft. The picture makes it look like its purple, but it's actually Pink and Gray. I did make a shawl out of the same yarn, for my personal use. Everyone who sees it just loves the way it looks and feels.

The #2 item I would keep are the Slippers http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10243021 Over the past 30 years, I've had several pairs of these, and have given many to my aunts and friends. Every couple years, they come back for another pair of slippers. I feel they are a "must have".

If you could learn a new craft what would it be?
Spinning. I don't know how to Spin Yarn, and I know if I ever started Spinning, I'd be totally hooked. Oh yes, I have Soap Making on my list of things to do next. I'm in the reading and research stages of that.

Is there something about yourself that you would like us to know?

I've been married for almost 30 years to my best friend; we have 4 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and a wonderful grandson. Our life is dedicated to our family and to God. I do have some health issues, but I just look at it as "who doesn't". I love to learn new things, so I ask a lot of questions when I find a friendly person. My husband and I enjoy traveling all over the world, so I never know where we are going to show up next. You can see some of our pictures listed on my husband’s etsy site at CraftFX

. Yes, I married a crafter and he is an enabler when it comes to my crafts… but you got to love him.

So if you haven't already checked out Rhonda's shop Crafted From The Heart I hope this post has inspired you to do just that. She's confided in me that she's got some great poncho's that will be going up onto her site in the next couple of days. So take a look and keep on looking. She's always adding new things.