Eco-friendly, Inspired by Nature

Random Facts About You?

1. I work with a local organization whose goals are to localize food, localize economy, and build community. We call ourselves Homegrown Missouri.

2. I play the ukulele and sing in a band called Liberty and Justice.

3. The sun is my alarm clock that wakes me up through my window in the morning.

4. I love drinking tea in a big comfy sweater on the porch in the winter time.

What got you started crafting?

My first love was drawing and painting. Some of my first memories were spent making art so I've been doing that as long as I can remember. I have always loved our Mother Earth and spent a lot of time outdoors taking nature walks and going camping so it was destined that I take the two - art and nature - and join them! I love to paint on reclaimed wood nowadays. Crocheting is something I started doing last year because I wanted to spend more time with my mom and it's something she used to do when my older sister was young. She re-learned it, taught me what she knew, and I took it from there and went my own direction with it.

What is your source of inspiration?

Mother Nature and her abundant gifts. It is incredible to look outside and realize that every flower is unique, every tree is unique... the earth is unending, wonderous creation and I feel connected with that. I call it the great spirit, what connects me to all other living things on this planet. It gives me the gift of creation and imagination.

What have you made recently?

A gorgeous slouchy hat for a friend in exchange for him recording a free album for my band. I wanted to make something totally unique and special for him so I created a totally new pattern. It included a chevron type stitch that I made up as I went along. I was amazed by how it turned out and so was my friend! I come up with the patterns for all of my crochet apparel. I have a feel, or an idea, of how I imagine it to turn out and somehow my hands create exactly what I have in mind. It is the power of creation.

Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I sell my crafts on etsy.com primarily and I love it! I also do local crafts shows occasionally, and I do some wholesale orders as well.

Why are handmade crafts important to you?

Most products in mainstream stores are totally mass produced using very energy intensive machinery, processing practices, and many of those companies are totally inconsiderate of their workers. I do not want to support a company that I know nothing about. When I shop with handmade artists, I can ask the actual creator questions and get to them personally. This is a magical experience for me! Getting to know the individual that created something that I will wear or use in my home is so special. That one on one experience is beautiful! And the quality of craftsmanship has gone above and beyond my expectations everytime I have bought handmade!

Find Me

Location
Branson, Missouri

Email Address
Desiree Fleck

Personal Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ReGrowRoots

Twitter
@regrowroots

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/regrowroots