Hello! My name is lish@www.metroparent.com and I'm a crafter. Well, I'm lots of other things, but I really adore being a crafter. When I'm not at work, I'm probably crafting. If there's free time on the weekend for me here in Royal Oak, it's usually spent crafting. I love to sew, quilt, craft with paper, and try just about anything that gives me an artistic challenge. I think you get the idea!
I come from a very artistic family – my mom is a retired teacher and my dad is in the film industry. I grew up in Birmingham and started my very first business designing doll clothes at Harlan Elementary School in the fifth grade. Before running off to recess, I would take orders for custom T-shirts for troll dolls. (I bet you didn't know there was a huge market for troll outfits, did you?)
After I graduated from Michigan State, I came back home to Birmingham and met four of my dearest friends. We started Handmade Detroit and the Detroit Urban Craft Fair together in 2005 as the indie craft movement was getting started. We just wrapped up our sixth DUCF last month and we're already planning DUCF 7. What started out as a way to showcase local crafters has turned into a community celebration of friends, family and wonderful art.
I started blogging about six years ago while I was a reporter. Blogging helped Handmade Detroit connect to crafters here in metro Detroit and all over the country. I joined the Craftzine.com team in 2010 as we welcomed Maker Faire to Dearborn at The Henry Ford, and enjoy sharing fantastic projects I see all over the web.
I love Michigan and metro Detroit for so many reasons, and the endless amount of creativity that can be found in just about any town is one of the big reasons that I'm proud to call the mitten state my home. From projects to events to crafty resources, this blog will be a source of artistic inspiration for your family. I love to see what families are up to, so if you've been working on a fun project at home or have even tried something you've seen here in Metro Parent (like last month's Angry Birds ornaments), send it my way!
Check back to the blog each week for a new post. Until then, it's time to get back to crafting!
