Meet The Design Team

Editor/Designer – Vicki O’Dell

Hi! I’m Vicki O’Dell, The Creative Goddess – A happy go lucky, ultra busy craft designer, writer, educator and presenter. I am always on the go, talking and laughing and having a great time.

As a professional crafter I have created for craft industry catalogs, retail advertising, store displays, trade websites and blogs. My work has been on televison for HGTV, DIY and Public Television along with several other public and private clients.

My writing may be found in various craft blogs, including nearly 700 posts on my Creative Goddess blog, retail ads, catalogs, and project sheets, instructions for the DIY Network and e-books. I have an active teaching schedule for both public and private clients with classes in floral design, paper crafts, jewelry making, scrapbooking, faux foods and mixed media.

I love experimenting with new techniques and teaching others what I learn. I’m constantly on the look out for something new. I can’t help it; I want to do it ALL!

Designer – Jenny Barnett Rohrs

When I’m not crafting, (and sometimes when I am) I’m mommy to two elementary aged kiddos, walking my studio mascot Ginger puppy, and sharing the ride with hubby Jeff. I also provide social media strategies consulting services for major crafting companies.

 A self taught craftista, working in clay, fiber, paper and jewelry mediums. I believe that creativity is innate, and that when you tell your inner critic to just shut up already you can have a lot of fun and learn something about yourself. I especially love to encourage folks to try new things, new techniques, and to push their own boundaries. I run the craft blog CraftTestDummies.com and I really enjoy testing new products and giving my readers the straight poop!

I wanted to be a hair dresser and drive a Trans AM. That was my first childhood dream. After receiving a set of Fashion Plates ofr my tenth birthday, I changed my mind and wanted to be a fashion designer. That dream stuck with me until a very mean high school teacher informed me that I had no artistic talent. I ended up getting an MBA and owning a Human Resources firm in stead.

In 2005, I had my daughter and my life completely changed. At 35, I was forced to take a hard look at what I was doing with my life and realized that I still wanted to do something artistic. I worked through the damage that was done by my wicked art teacher (and my own misconceptions about what I was capable of) and have been painting and crafting ever since. 

Since embarking on my career as an artist, I’ve been published in several magazines, sell my artwork online and in retail stores, and have won awards for my work. My artwork is collected worldwide. Since I am an “artist with an MBA” I also publish a free,  monthly electronic newsletter geared towards helping other artists make money with their work.

Designer – Elise Durenburger

Elise has been avidly crafting for the past decade. With a lifetime of creative pursuits fueling her passion, her foundation is in Fine Art. She earned a degree in Studio Art from the University of California, Davis, and continues to paint and draw, in addition to paper craft. Completely transformed by the blog world, Elise’s joy has been increased, exponentially, by participating in craft challenges, publication calls, design team cooperation and friendships, cemented by the common experience of “Blog”.

When she isn’t playing with all things paper, ink and embellishment, she’s joyfully married to the love of her life, always inspired and smitten by her two babies {okay, they are 9 & 13 years young – but to a mother: ALWAYS babies!}, then there’s the four legged babies – horses, dogs, cat & one truly ancient cow… Living “ranch life” in Sonoma County, California, the culmination of her life’s dream, feels pretty darn good. Mix in paper and some FANTASTIC embellishments – Life is EXCELLENT!

“I believe that just about ANYONE’S life goes better with crafting! The act of beautifying and personalizing our world, helps us to matter. It helps us to connect, AND it truly makes us smile. I hope you make YOUR day a crafty one!”

Designer – Jen Goode

Jen Goode is the owner and “doodler in charge” of JGoode Designs, a Denver based art and design studio. She has been a creative professional since 1996, developing art for a variety of uses in an array of mediums from handmade crafts to Graphic design and illustration. She loves multi-media mixing textures and materials to create interesting pieces often featuring her own illustrations and pattern work.

Jen is a tech savvy, work-at-home mom of 3 who shares her insight art focused sites she runs including UnstarvingArtist.com and ProjectsforPreschoolers.com. She is also a featured contributor on Suze Orman’s Money Minded Moms and is the Denver work-at-home mom at Examiner.com. Jen is an active Designer Member of the Craft and Hobby Association.

Designer – Eileen Hull

Eileen Hull is a multi-media artist and author whose work is featured in big box stores, books, magazines, shops and on the internet. Her design style may be described as clean and sophisticated with a light touch of glitter. Eileen has written two books, “Matboard Magic” and “Foamboard Magic”, both released in 2008.

Specializing in three dimensional designs, Eileen’s primary medium is matboard. She developed an innovative line of dies for Sizzix. ScoreBoard dies are designed to cut and score matboard into boxes, folders and totes. Her fifth collection of dies will be released at CHA summer ’11.

Eileen regularly posts innovative projects, recycled makeovers and insights on crafting trends on her blog. She also posts projects and techniques using her ScoreBoard dies on the Sizzix site.

Rescuing “treasures” from the curb are one of her favorite activities, much to the dismay of her children, and she loves the challenge of re-purposing items that less creative sorts might toss.

Designer – Niki Meiners

Freelance designer and writer Niki Meiners of North Carolina realized after a paralyzing illness she wanted to reconsider her career as a National Sales Manager. Her thoughts immediately turned to her first passion, art. In 2003 she began an odyssey that would take her from product design to publication and everywhere in between. She is known for her bold choice of color combinations, diverse mix of styles, and highly creative approach to even the smallest detail. She specializes in working with manufacturers to create consumer friendly products and product placement. She is available for digital and traditional publication, TV appearances, product demonstrations, teaching, and consulting. Her work has been featured in the industries leading publications and manufacturers’ websites. Her favorite mediums are paper crafting, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, card making, altered art, needle felting, needle punch, beads and jewelry, metalsmithing and home decor.

 

Designer  – Lindsay Ostrom

Lindsay Ostrom is one of the pioneers of the scrapbooking industry. She has written books on creative lettering and doodling for EK Success, Scholastic Inc and Pinecone Press and designed products from stickers to paper and even rubber stamps. She had her own store for over 25 years called The Paper Rabbit and is currently in charge of the Paper Arts areas of Ben Franklin Crafts and Frames in Grass Valley, CA and heads up her own blog at www.lindsayostrom.blogspot.com where you can see some of her new work. She lives in the mountains of California with her husband, 3 kids and 2 dogs.

Designer – Carla Schauer

 A creative industry professional since 2005, Carla Schauer mixes patterns, textures and tiny details to create classic surface and 3-dimensional designs with a modern twist. Schauer is an established industry reference and her designs have been published in numerous craft magazines and books. As an active member of CHA’s Designer Section, she provides freelance designs for industry leading manufacturers. Carla’s craft designs include memory art, 3-dimensional crafts, scrapbooking, card making, mixed media designs and home decor.

A versatile enthusiastic designer, Carla Schauer’s work spans a wide array of styles. This flexibility allows her to fully meet the specific needs of her clients by appealing to a variety of consumers. Her unique style seamlessly incoorperates both rich color and clean lines, creating versatile, appealing pieces and bringing colorful, eye-catching style to the creative industry.

Designer – Beth Watson

Designing and crafting since childhood, my creativity blossomed at age 12 with the gift of my first painting set. In high school and college I started a speciality painted clothing business that thrived. Graduating in just three years with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ringling School of Art and Design, I majored in Graphic Design with photography and illustration experience.

While making a living in the Advertising and Marketing Industry, I dove into the craft design world again creating original projects with paint, wire, canvas, wood, beads, rubber stamps and paper. I enjoy brining a unique twist to my designs by incoorporating traditional materials in unconventional ways.

I have extensive experience in advertising, marketing and copy writing. I have taught a variety of craft classes to adults and children. I also enjoy the challenge of new product development and original project design.

I live with my family in sunny Southwest Florida and in addition to my creative work, I enjoy traveling, cooking, boating and reading.