Congratulations!

Congratulations Gretchen! You have won this hand-painted art pendant necklace!


Gretchen and many others entered the May Giveaway in this post for a chance to win this one-of-a-kind pendant necklace. Here's a big THANK YOU to everyone who entered! The June giveaway will be up and running some time around June 15th.

And here's a little more about Gretchen, the winner of the May Giveaway! Gretchen has an Etsy shop called WhiteHopeDesigns. She creates jewelry, aprons, bags, and softies. I actually featured her and her studio in one of my Workshop Wednesday posts a few weeks ago. Be sure to check out her work in her Etsy shop! Congratulations again, Gretchen!

Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone. :)

Workshop Wednesday

Each week I run a blog series titled Workshop Wednesday. Each Wednesday features either a tutorial by yours truly or another talented artist or artisan, or a snapshot of an artist's creative process. I've expanded the Workshop Wednesday feature to include photos of artists' workspaces or studios. It's been difficult to regularly find tutorials and snapshots of an artist's creative process, so I'm hoping that by expanding the Workshop Wednesday I'll be able to feature more artists and artisans. Plus, it's always interesting to get a peek inside another artist's creative space. :)

Today's studio feature is Gretchen of WhiteHopeDesigns. Gretchen creates jewelry, aprons, bags, and softies. Here's what she had to say about herself and her work.


I am mommy to a 2-yr-old named Layla and wife to a soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division. We are originally from Tampa, Fl but "Home is where the Army sends you" so we live here in NC. Honestly, I'd rather be at the beach. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with my daughter and work full time on my crafts. This is so much better than punching a clock! My crafts are my creative outlet, my break from a "terrible two" and my distraction during long deployments.


Gretchen was gracious enough to open the doors to her studio and give us a peek at her creative space. When asked about where she creates all her fabulous work, this is what she had to say.

What I do in my Workshop/Studio: I do pretty much anything I can get my hands into; sew bags and aprons, make jewelry, scrapbook, paint, embroider, color with my 2-yr-old Layla, and (unfortunately) pay my bills. Right now, I'm working on a new bag design that came to me in my sleep. I'm also teaching my husband how to make jewelry. He really likes it and I think it's a good change from guns and ammo with the Army all day! My studio is the one place in the house that is all mine! I don't have to share if I don't want to. I can make a huge mess and just shut the door. I can be quiet and be myself!


Want to find out more about Gretchen and WhiteHopeDesigns? Check out these links!

Shop: www.whitehopedesigns.etsy.com
Blog: www.armyapronstrings.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/whitehopedesign


If you're interested in being a part of Workshop Wednesdays, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or comment on this post. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with! Have a wonderful day.