totinette

When I was a little girl my mom always encouraged me to make gifts and cards for people. We would go to craft bazaars and art fairs and I remember thinking that that was something I would like to do someday...to sell my own handmade goods at fairs.

In 2003 I decided to learn to sew because I wanted to make and sell handbags. That is how Totinette was born. I traveled to Chicago to sell my bags at the very first Renegade Craft Fair, which was also my very first craft show. It was exciting and fun and I've met so many amazing people through the craft world.

After selling at lots of craft fairs, my friend Cathy and I decided to start our own. We began Crafty Wonderland: Portland's Art + Craft Extravaganza in April of 2006. What started as a small monthly craft fair has grown into two really large fairs a year. We also have a retail store selling all handmade goods by local artists. www.craftywonderland.com

At some point I grew tired of sewing alone in my basement. I floundered for a couple years trying to find my next style and product line. And then I emerged with a line of brightly colored jewelry and have been running with that ever since!