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Elise Gets Crafty Featured Podcast

January 19, 2016 by Morgan

Are you a podcast listener? I’m an avid podcast listener. Not to a ton of different podcast channels but to several favorites. It can become rather addicting, in fact it’s SO similar to books on tape (books on Audible?) in that you can pop your headphones in and go at any time. The trick is to build up your podcast subscriptions so that you can heard them as they’re released.

The Crafter’s Box was recently featured on Elise Gets Crafty by Elise Cripe. That’s one of my favorites :). If you’re interested in learning more about the start of The Crafter’s Box, we had a little interview on launching a business in Elise’s 3rd episode of the 2016 season. It was an honor to be included in an episode and I’m grateful to Elise for having me.

ps The Crafter’s Box also has a podcast channel, I invite you to check it out here.

Our February Featured Maker & Project for The Crafter’s Box

January 15, 2016 by Morgan

The Crafter’s Box launch back in November/December was awesome. It’s such a wonderful feeling when a community confirms your desire to bring something new and different to the table.

Here’s a quick update on what I’m referring to just in case: back towards the end of last year, I joined together with some super talented artists to help launch a membership program for those that love to craft. Each month features a new crafting technique, a new project, and a new maker/artist. We ship all of the tools and materials needed for a project to each member’s door and our maker carefully instructs on how to master the new technique through an online workshop. We also have a growing forum community online as well as a podcast and maker Q&A chat to inspire more creativity. It’s a practice in ‘slow crafting’ – carefully curated grownup projects that are on trend and with materials that are thoughtfully sourced. This has been a project that I have been so excited and happy about – it’s taken up most of my free time but it’s been totally worth it!

Our first featured maker was weaver Maryanne Moodie and she put together a beautiful rya weaving project and video for our members. A really wonderful start to the 2016 year.

Just this week we are sharing a sneak peek of our February featured project by the lovely Emily Reinhardt (best known as @theobjectenthusiast). Emily is an incredibly talented ceramics artist who has been inspiring her audience and customers with beautifully hand crafted pieces online and in stores such as Anthopologie and Sword & Fern.

Emily designed two marbled clay planters for this project. Our February box will include the clay, leather cording, handmade hammered brass clamps (made by a metalsmith in Pennsylvania who designed them just for us), two tillandsia air plants and all of the tools needed.

Excited to share this with you! Thank you so those who have supported this project, our very first box sold out (we have a waitlist we’ve been working to fulfill though) and I have a sneaky feeling the similar will happen with this craft.

All of our updates and announcements happen over on Instagram: @thecraftersbox if you’d like to follow along or check it out.

PS I’ve been working with bits of clay from the above project to marble round clay beads… looking forward to sharing soon.

Liv’s 5th Birthday (and a Trip to the Snow)

January 11, 2016 by Morgan

This past weekend Liv turned 5! One big request was to visit the snow.

We loaded up the littles and the dog and headed to the mountains surrounding San Diego. It was just barely cold enough to hold snow on the ground (for a bit, bet it’s gone in a few days) after a long week of rain. On this day though, the skies were clear and the weather was perfect for a walk.

All of San Diego decided it was an ideal day for a snow visit and the roads were pure madness once we started winding into the mountains, so we found our own little valley pre-mountains and forged a trail. Literally. Good thing the girls were good sports and thought it quite the adventure.

We took Marlowe once to the snow last winter but she was so small that this might actually be the first time she played in it. Ate it, actually. As much as her little mittened hands would let her.

I surprised the girls with a hot thermos of raspberry hot chocolate and marshmallows after our long walk (unsolicited mom points for this one). The journey always starts out grand, but the last ten minutes are always the kicker with three under five. A hearty reward was in store.

We have plans to take the girls skiing in February, I can’t wait! Us softies here in San Diego love on this powdery stuff in small chunks. Snow gear we are investing in: new Sorel’s, fleece lined leggings, bibs for the girls, wool socks, suede fleece slippers for M. Usually we borrow snow gear from friends but finding these prices and knowing that 3 girls will get to take advantage of this gear makes me feel like we’ll put it all to good use.

We have a combo birthday party for Marley and Liv coming up, something simple but something fun to bring in year ONE for one little peanut and to celebrate year FIVE for another. I can’t believe it. Talk about time traveling far too fast. When Liv starts kindergarten this fall I will keel over for sure of shock.

Happy (finally) start to winter for all of you southwestern states, and hope the winter is treating you equally well wherever you are!

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