Another Newbie! Welcome Judi!

1. Shop Name(s)
VintageLegacyStudio (my first shop), PocketComfort, Imaginuity

I also have two blogs -- http://vintagelegacystudio.blogspot.com and http://creativedailyliving.blogspot.com where you can learn more about me.

2. First Name
Judi

3. How long have you been a member of the Etsy Community?

Since June 23rd, 2009

4. Married/Single? Spouse's name

Married, Dick

5. Birthday Month/Day... we don't need the year.
June 11

6. What state/country do you live in?
Colorado


7. Do you have any children? Will you tell us their lst name and age?
6 sons – all grown – you won’t remember all their names – sometimes I don’t! My youngest is Nathan who still lives with us and will soon turn 21. We have also taken in Tyler who was in the foster system and ended up on the streets when he turned 18. He is now 19, has a job and got his GED diploma last week, praise the Lord!

8. How long have you been crafting what you sell on Etsy?
I have been crafting since I was 8 years old! I have been dreaming and designing with textiles since I could hold a needle. I took a sewing class in school, and by the end of my 8th grade year, I had made a formal gown, two tailored suits, a wool winter coat and I was designing all of my own wardrobe.

I remember wanting a "Knitting for Barbie" kit as a girl of 8. My parents told me that didn't make sense since I didn't know how to knit and neither did anyone in my family. So, I took toothpicks and string to school and asked my friend to teach me. She did -- and I got my wish!
When my husband started seminary back in the mid-70s, I started sewing professionally – doing mostly custom weddings and some costuming for the theater. I picked back up theater costuming during the 1990s, working for the theater department of Colorado Christian University.
From 1992 through 2006, I had my own one-woman show where I created all the costumes and many of the props for “Visits With a Victorian Lady®.” During those years, I also wrote a syndicated column under my trademarked name that ran in 26 newspapers throughout the USA and Canada. I loved to write about designs I discovered in my collection of over 200 vintage magazines and books – frequently creating my own patterns as adaptations of what I discovered in the public domain.
I started teaching the art of embroidery and crazy quilting in several shops in our locale in the mid 1990s, designing many of the items I then began selling in area shops. I started selling on Ebay in 2007. Things I create to sell come and go. I am not into production. I learned that was a creativity killer for me when I did craft fairs in the 1980s. So, I call myself a change and variety girl – one of the reasons I have 3 shops! That way I never get bored.


9. When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I love to try new recipes and entertain. I also enjoy reading and knitting. I rarely sell knitted items because that is my way to relax!

10. Are you on a ministry team at your church or do you have your own ministry? I am in a small group in our church, but currently not serving on a ministry team. My longing is to be able to work with supporting women’s ministry, which our church does not have – but is not currently wanting to do. So, I am prayerful!

Much of what I do right now in ministry is specifically directed in coaching students (life and leadership) for a very small Christian liberal arts college where I am the Director of Coaching and Assessment Services. I also love to work with women in creativity coaching – empowering others to bring their ideas and dreams to life.

11. How long have you been a Christian?
For 54 years, but always fresh and growing in my relationship!

12. What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
That’s a tough one! I think I am most fascinated with the new Christmas Fantasy Cuff in my Imaginuity shop. I have other Cuffs I am making – and so I will probably have another favorite soon. But, I also love the fiber art cards I make and sell in PocketComfort. Each one is born out of word and pictures the Lord lays on my heart. I liken working on them to painting with thread and needle.

13. What would you like to do that you have not done yet?
I really want to take watercolor painting classes! I want to finish the novel I started and see it published. And I want to visit other parts of the world – via short term missions, if not via vacation trips.

14. If we were having a team party, what would you be bringing?
Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Brownies

15. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
I go back and forth – I like both. I think I actually eat more salty if I’m not careful.

16. What type of pets do you have, if any?
Here’s the menagerie: 14 laying chickens, 2 bantee roosters, 1 duck who thinks he is a chicken, 1 large dog (Great Pyranese/German Shepherd mix), 2 cats and 1 parakeet

17. Which of these three would you prefer to do? Hang glide, bungee jump, or sit by the pool and be waited on hand and foot?
Hang glide!

18. If you were on a rocket to the moon, what is one thing you would want to have?
Motion sickness pills and my Bible

19. Does your vehicle have a name, if so, what is it?
Nope

20. Is there anything other type of items that you would like to add to your current shop?

I wrote a 12 book series of inspirational gifts books that were almost published, but then 9/11 happened – which impacted the publishing world negatively. I lost the book deal, but got to keep my advance and the copyrights to my books. I am working on some ways to bring my writing into my VintageLegacyStudio shop in unique, artful ways. I think I have some fun ideas – I’ll share them as I begin to list them. I also have some ideas for more fiber art jewelry for Imaginuity, including earrings. And, I want to add some other “pockets” including books with pockets in my PocketComfort shop. As I said, I am not into mass production at all – so you will always find variety in my shops on Etsy – and I’m always dreaming up something new. I endeavor to honor my personal mission statement in what I do every day:
“I am an artist for my King, designing space to grow, and empowering myself and others to be creative, connect interdependently, and live with passion our callings for His glory.”