I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Emily! She makes handmade baskets!

~1.What is your name? Emily Sommers

~2.Where are you located? Walla Walla, Washington

~3.Tell me a little about yourself and how you got started doing what you do?
I'am a christian, stay-at home mom to Todd, 8 and Amber, 6. We are in the process of adopting another child thru the state of WA. We love adoption, and are so blest that God has led us down this path! My husband and I lived in N. Carolina the first 4 years of our marriage, and that is where I learned the art of basket-weaving! ( The Appalations are full of baskets! ;) I immediately felt 'connected' to the art, and my mind has hardly stopped churning out new ideas since. :/ My husband is extremely supportive, and is my biggest 'fan' ! =) We moved out to the great Northwest in 2002, and I have continued weaving, and also have gotten into teaching basket-weaving. I feel so blest being able to do this, and all the wonderful people I meet are such an added bonus! Such as my students in my weaving classes. Here is a pic of a few of my students with the baskets they made! I am the one in the middle:)

~4.What type of items would I find in your shop? Baskets!! =) I like practical, useable baskets, so that is mostly what you will find in my shop. I like to offer a product that I know will last you years of use.

~5. How long have you been crafting? I've tried everything from painting to cake decorating, counted cross- stitch to knitting, ever since I was a wee one! :) .. ... and still like to mess around trying different things! My other one thing I enjoy a lot is peicing and quilting, I do that when I find the time.

~6.What inspires you the most to create? My daily life, I think. The jobs I'm doing, and altho I'm not a huge gardener, a lot of my baskets are designed around my garden and harvesting, etc. Hobby Farm Home magazine and Country Sampler and Mary Jane's Farm Magazines (s) always inspire a creative streak too. ;)

~7. What is the one "must have" item you need with you when you create? This is funny, and one I don't share it a lot but,I have a CD player by my workspace, and whenever I'm creating I have to have something playing. ;/ ...Just background noise... ( my husband thinks it's funny ;)

~8.What is one of your favorite items from your favorites list on Etsy? Oh, please, I don't know.... I like them all, really why do we 'favorite' them? ;) I think tho, that it would be the homeade soaps... I really like homeade soaps, and always have a basket in my bathroom with a selection in it. The children grab one to suit their mood for their evening bath, and put them back in the basket when their finished, it's a fun thing for them.

~9.When you aren't crafting, what do you do? Ha! =) I'm a mom! laundry, baking, cleaning, doing homework with my son, gardening, babysitting for church friends, just mom things! ;) Sundays are always church and family days, I don't weave on Sunday.

~10.Where can we find your shop? Please stop by and visit! =) .... I really need some more FB fans too! ....;)
http://www.basketsbyemily.com
http://www.basketsbyemily.etsy.com
and I'm on facebook too!
http://www.facebook.com/basketsbyemily