Hello, I'm Jodi. Thank you for visiting my online store! Handcrafting gift and home decor items is something I've been hopelessly addicted to for more than 40 years now. I wish I could tell you that my skills in and appreciation for all things handmade was something that was handed down to me from the matriarchs of my family. But the truth is, I'm pretty much self-taught; having done my own research and honed my skills through lots of trial and error over the years.

I'm a native Oregonian, born in Portland in 1960 (gasp!) and later living in Lincoln City, Salem, and now in Bend. I've been married to Scott for 31 years, and we have 2 sons in their 20s, Sean and Eric. The boys live in Portland and Vancouver respectively, but we fortunately get to see them every few months or so. Old Mom needs her kids fix every now and then (and oh, how I look forward to having grandkids to spoil rotten some day!). :-) We're looking forward to a time when Scott can either retire or find a job in his field back in the valley so we could move closer to our boys.

I am very proud of my native-Oregonian status and heritage. I love this state so dearly and will never leave! I even learned recently that near a little town called Buxton, in the northern Willamette Valley, an old barn still stands that was built by my grandfather. I hope to get over to see it one day soon.

Besides our 2 boys, we also have 2 cuddly kitties and 2 adorable shelties. Ours is a home that is overflowing with love for furries. We spent many years, in fact, taking in homeless critters of various types; something we unfortunately can no longer do because of my immunosuppressed status (which I'll explain here in a moment).

In addition to making things, I absolutely love to garden. I've been obsessed with growing perennials and trying to complete my landscaping plans for our yard (which has such great potential!) for many years now, and I'm a fourth-year vegetable gardener who can't seem to let a summer's day go by without spending time fussing over and tending to my ever-growing garden.

I also happen to have autoimmune diseases; including rheumatoid and/or psoriatic arthritis ("inflammatory" arthritis, caused by my own immune system attacking my joints). I also have fibromyalgia, and a hearing and balance disorder called Meniere's disease. I've learned only recently, in fact, that a skin condition I have had since I was a small child, which was assumed to be something quite benign, was in fact my first autoimmune disease (a biopsy revealed it is psoriasis).

Now, a bevy of daily pills, a weekly self-administered injection, and a 3-hour IV infusion every six weeks are simply a part of my routine. The goal is to suppress my immune system enough to drastically slow the damage it's causing. Because of the drugs, I also have to be very careful to try to avoid viruses and infections, which are harder for me to fight off.

These are permanent, progressive conditions, but we're always working toward finding just the right combination of medications and treatments to prolong the inevitable for as long as we can. While I'm having increasing problems with my hands and feet in particular, I still try to lead as normal a life as possible. And I have the most amazing husband... Scott takes incredible care of me. I am so blessed!

Because of my conditions there are also those times when getting things done that I need to do is very difficult and can take longer than usual. Fortunately, my customers have always been so kind and so patient, and I want you all to know how much I appreciate it! I try to process orders and get them shipped within a day or two of receipt, but sometimes there may be short delays caused by a day or two wherein my medical conditions are acting up more than usual.

I am extremely proud of the quality of my work, and I hold myself to a high standard of integrity, honesty, and pride in everything I do. As my progressive conditions make difficult my performance of some regular tasks and routines, I look for other ways to still accomplish my goals while achieving the same (or a better) level of quality.

Thank you again for visiting with me! I can't tell you how much I appreciate my customers. You have all been incredible with your patronage and support over the years. :-)

Wishing abundant love and blessings for you and yours always.

Jodi