Hi…My name is Karen….
My blog is a long time ambition of mine, a small part of the world wide web where I can share my inspiration, my ideas, and my crafts with you. It is now my time to give back what other artists and bloggers have given me over the years.
I will be sharing lots of ideas on how to decorate your home, create simple do-it-yourself projects, and one of my, all time favorites, crafting.
DesignGarnish started as a branch of my bookbinding business PhotoGarnish; I make handmade photo albums, scrapbooks, and journals. But, I also have a passion for decorating, crafting, and do-it-yourself projects, so my blog DesignGarnish seemed like a natural extension of my creativity and love of design.
You see my love of design started many years ago. It was economically a way to decorate our first home. I was always painting, refurbishing a piece of furniture or crafting. With the encouragement of family and friends, I began sharing my designs outside the walls of my home.
I began signing up for local craft fairs; I made topiaries from dried eucalyptus and sold them locally.
Next, I started a home gift basket business, I landed several commercial accounts, and our Christmas holidays were filled with baskets, shredded paper, ribbon and cellophane spread from one end of our house to the other. I quickly learned as creative as it was, I knew it was not the business for me.
Which leads me to my current passion PhotoGarnish, I craft handmade albums and sell them on Etsy. I love creating custom albums, it is very satisfying to make beautiful albums knowing they will be cherished for years, a place to house memories that will be passed down to the next generation. I am completely self-taught, I learned through years of researching and reading how-to books, blogs, watching Youtube videos and taking online classes. With time and practice, I felt I had mastered a product that I am proud of and customers seemingly appreciate my hand-craft and workmanship.
I did this, while working full time as a school nurse, raising two amazing children, but I didn’t do it alone, I had the help of a hard working supportive husband.
My present goal is to inspire others as I was inspired and continue to be inspired. I want my readers to be excited to learn something new, to perfect a skill, a place to exchange ideas and communicate with others..
I am proof anyone can learn a craft, master a craft and bring ideas and dreams to reality.
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination” – Albert Einstein
See you on the blog!