My Weblog: An Enchanted Affaire

Growing up on her family's farm in Arkansas, Carol Spinski learned the beautiful art of arranging every day elements to enhance her surroundings. A talent for design assembly was forged from those early childhood experiences on the family farm which echoes in the work she does today. Carol’s career path as a Photographer and Editorial Stylist has been a natural progression that has allowed her to share her inspiration with others. She is the Co-owner of Raised In Cotton, a business featuring vintage prop rentals, event production and decor in a century old farmhouse just outside of Kansas City, Missouri. Carol’s signature style is romantically atmospheric, multilayered and textural, flavored with the vintage aesthetic she adores. She and her work have been featured in Artful Blogging, Somerset Life, Romantic Country Magazine, Romantic Homes Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens and 2010 Somerset Life Calendars. Most recently the circa 1865 farmhouse that she and her husband decorated and renovated was featured in the book Romantic Prairie Style. Carol is especially devoted to helping mentor Women that aspire to achieve their own creative dreams. In 2011 she established GoodStella.com a website that is a gathering of kindred spirited creatives who use their collective voices to inspire each other. Her hope for the Good Stella community is that everyone will forever Dream * Create * Shine and in doing so will reach for the stars!

Julie Nutting began drawing fashion figures when she was about nine years old. She grew up in an era of the first really fabulous fashion doll clothes. It was a time when doll clothes were exact replicas of Dior coats and Balenciaga gowns. Zippers were real and buttons were of the tinest proportions. When she couldn't have the clothes she wanted for her dolls. she simply made them from her Mom's pretty pastel hankies or fabric scraps headed for the trash bin. This led to a lifelong love of fashion illustration, design and sewing.

Julie lives in sunny California with her husband and two kids, who happen to be dogs. They have an appetite for travel and gardening. When she's not busy creating, you can find her outside playing in the dirt year round growing an abundance of vegetables, herbs and flowers. Julie's work has been featured in Somerset Studios and Cloth, Paper Scissors magazines. Her book, Collage Couture, has been a best seller in the craft category worldwide. Her second book is due out in 2014 as well as a much anticipated product line in January 2013. She has been teaching for three years and is currently an educator with Prima Marketing. You can learn more about Julie by following her Blog.

Karla Nathan's art has had major shifts over the years ~ beginning as a water colorist focusing on florals and portraits and then traveling the country as a muralist and painting hotels, day care centers and private homes. However, she was always drawn to a more vintage style and soon she was transferring her painting from walls to old furniture which blossomed into a thriving anitique business in her home. While at auctions buying furniture, she found herself attracted to boxes of crumbled ephemera, soft petals of millinery, tubs of yellowed linens, delicate lace and other vintage lovelies. After hauling scaffolding around for years as a muralist and loading vans full of furniture, it was a joy to have a lightweight passion!

No matter what medium has intrigued Karla throughout her lifetime, she's always had the same aesthetics and "pretty" was her goal. She will always be drawn to the look of flowers and all things pretty. Karla's work has been featured in over 50 publications from Better Homes and Gardens Paint Decor and Romantic Homes to many of the Somerset magazines. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas with her husband and darling yorkie pups in a home surrounded by her trademark style and paintings. She spends much of her time as a doting grandma. You can read more about Karla by following her Blog.

Lesa Dailey was always encouraged to create things from an early age. From clothespin dolls to inventive accessories, imagination seemed to abound in her childhood. A love for all things vintage found her enjoying the thrill of the hunt in flea markets and little out of the way antique shops. There always seems to be something singing with inspiration to her. The need to pull character out of ordinary and everyday things such as a roll of crepe paper or styrofoam lends fuel to the flame for her love of creating.

Lesa has been a designer and photostylist for many years for her friend, Renee Nanneman who she has been creating patterns and new mediums within the world of fiber for her Renee's company, Need'l Love Company. She is also a licensed designer for Bethany Lowe Designs where you can purchase many of her inspirational assemblages featuring crowns and birds. Lesa lives in a little cottage home in the Kansas City area where art thrives. Enjoying her family and meeting new friends always inspires.

Natalie Hansen is a mixed media artist residing in Lodi, CA. She shares her home with her adorable furr-child, Finn, a sweet wire haired terrier. Her home is filled with colorful, and sometimes quirky art, including a vintage pedal car fire truck, which she keeps on the mantel in honor of her husband, Joe.

From paper arts and painting, to creating jewelry, creativity has been a part of her life since she was a small child. Having spent the last few years dealing with life changing issues, she loves to include inspirational words and sayings in all her art when she can. You can learn more about Natalie on her Website.

Denise Hahn is a mixed media artist and crafter from Long Beach, California. She has always loved creating and gets her creativity from her Mom and Grandmother. They're inspiration included elaborately decorated packages under the Christmas tree along with handmade decorations. They were also avid sewers and made amazing Halloween costumes. Denise was always in awe of what these two women could create and soon started joining them. But somehow she lost sight of creating and for many years let it slip away. Then she was introduced to scrapbooking by a friend and never looked back.

Denise considers herself a crafter of all trades; she does paper crafting, mixed media, altered art and jewelry. She is always looking to learn new things. Currently, Denise spends her time teaching workshops and creating for the Graphic 45 Design Team and Clearsnaps Creative Team. Her work has been featured in Jewelry Affaire and Somerset publications, and coming soon to Romantic Homes. She lives with her husband and their two lovable pit bulls, Juno and Pipi. When she is not crafting, Denise plays roller derby (her Derby name is Crafty of course!), biking and skiing in Colorado. You can follow her Blog here.