Today's Featured Artist - Cat's Designs

Today's featured artist is Charlene Tennison of Cat's Designs. 

Hi,  I'm Charlene Tennison and I live in sunny California. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 43 years.  We have three daughters, one still lives at home.  She is a special needs child and will probably live with us til I can no longer do it.  I have four grandkids and my eldest grandson is serving in the Marines in Afghanistan.

I have been crafting off and on since 1972, but really didn't get started selling seriously til the 90's when I sold in a craft shop on consignment.  

I had this friend that took lessons at Cabin Craft with Jo Sonja Jansen and I fell in love with her paintings, so I took a basic strokework class and it all started from there.  I started selling my paintings and dolls at Christmas time for extra cash and then I started doing some craft shows.  I started selling on Ebay in 2002 and Etsy in 2008.  I like dabbling in several crafts such as jewelry, ceramics, soapmaking and sewing.

  There's really a lot of steps to making my woodcrafts.  I cut all my wood, prepare the surface, paint, and then seal with varnish.

  I sew my dolls in between the various steps of my painting projects.  I love working with material and the colors.  Since I have a special needs child I work during the morning while she is at her school and then at night while she is sleeping.

  I really don't have any big plans for my business.   But I would like to start designing my own doll patterns.

  Crafting is a way for me to express myself and I love to see others faces brighten up when they see my items.   I  would like to enjoy making my crafts as long as the Good Lord is willing to let me.

 You can find Charlene's work at these places:


http://catsdesigns.etsy.com

http://enchantedgemgarden.artfire.com

http://catsdesigns.blogspot.com

http://picturetrail.com/ctennison