I’m Hope and I was born and raised in Lorain,Ohio.I have been married for 19 years and have 4 kids from age 7-18.

I’ve been compelled to create art all my life starting when I was a little kid and won several drawing contests for our local newspaper. As a teenager,art was kind of my way of speaking and getting positive attention when I was feeling shy.When I was in my early 20’s, I gave up art for a “paying job”,working along side of my husband in our Chinese restaurant. I worked so much that there was no time for creativity. I remember feeling so frustrated with how my life had become so mundane and predictable. At the peak of frustration, I took my maternity leave from work to tend to my expanding belly (twins) and swollen ankles. After crashing on the couch for a minute, I waddled my way to the craft store and never looked back. The creativity and spontaneity of life was back and I was, and am still, loving it! Since then I’ve been trying everything that I can get my hands on. I have a new appreciation for following a whim or an idea to the end. My creative whims have led me to these and many other types of arts/crafts:

Paper Quilling

Painting (on anything that doesn’t move)

Wooden Spool dolls

Wooden Kokeshi dolls

“Kimono Kids” (my line of handmade dolls)

“Costumed Kids” (my other line of dolls)

"Tattered Teens"(my favorite line of dolls)

Various felt plushies

Felt key chains and DIY Kits

Plaster belly casting (“Womb with a view”)

Prototype designing

And so much more

Life is no longer mundane because I love what I do and am excited to try new things just to see if I can do it. And usually, if it inspires me, I can!

I really appreciate your comments on my work over the years.You've encouraged me to take new steps and even open my own etsy shop here:

www.HopesArtCreations.etsy.com

I'm in a book! MicroCrafts book

My Plush dolls in a magazine! www.stampington.com/stuffed/2012/stf_su12.html

I'm most active on my FB business page: www.facebook.com/HopesArtCreations

my blog: hopesartcreations.blogspot.com/

follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/hopesart

on facebook:Hope Butler Watthanaphand