Hi creative friends,
This month I’m so pleased to feature someone very dear to our community… Lauren of Shabby Chic Sundae.
Lauren has long been known within our Craft Room as a thoughtful storyteller, a lover of bows and lace, and someone whose warmth and wit have brightened countless posts and conversations over the years.
Her creative voice is unmistakable … soft, romantic, and deeply rooted in narrative.
Lauren lives in Michigan, USA, and her journey into crafting began, as so many beautiful things do, with a desire to tell a story.
“The need to express a story and leave something behind. I have always been a homebody, and crafts and reading have always been my two favorite pastimes. I began with scrapbooking as a teenager which transitioned to putting keepsakes in junk journals in college. It was then an easy choice to mix those keepsakes with my love and appreciation for words by sticking to a theme and weaving in a story.”
That love of story continues to define her style today… a style she describes simply and perfectly as:
“Cottage Shabby. I gush over pastel torn cotton scraps, white eyelet trims, and I believe you can never have a big enough bow to complete an ensemble.”
(click to see the projects from this collection on YouTube)
If you’ve ever seen one of Lauren’s journals or 3D builds, you’ll know that “ensemble” is exactly the right word.
Her projects feel composed… like scenes from a well-loved novel.
Some of her most cherished crafting memories are shared with someone very special — her dad, affectionately known to many of us as “Mr. Shabby Larry.”
“I’d have to say any 3D house/dollhouse made side-by-side with Mr. Shabby Larry. When we are in the planning stage, he always says ‘no’ to my ‘mandates’ before always saying ‘yes’ (approx 24 hours later). Working together to build these 3D projects will be my most cherished memories when I think of my dad. A particularly ‘fond’ memory would involve walking with him through woods infested with poison ivy in 90 degree heat with a 5 gallon bucket to collect CRUCIAL fairy ‘ephemera.’ We itched long past the time we finished our fairy house.”
It’s this blend of humor, sentimentality, and storytelling that makes Lauren’s work so uniquely hers.
While she adores dimensional builds, journals hold her heart… even if she rarely leaves space to actually write inside them.
“Journals — although I rarely remember to leave any space for actual journaling, so I’d really like to find a new word! I have learned through making journals that there truly are no rules in crafting and that has been very freeing. You can tell a story and make your tale as long as you want; the journal is only finished once you are done telling its story. Alligator mouth? Impossible. Who cares. Made a mistake? Glue something else down.”
As a former high school English teacher and lifelong reader, Lauren draws much of her inspiration from literature… particularly historical fiction.
“I am greatly influenced by literature — authors who write historical fiction in particular! As a former English teacher and avid reader, I can’t help being inspired by the craft of language and wanting to bring a particular theme to life on my own paper and in my own ‘words.’”
Her creative process is, in her own words, ever-evolving:
“I feel like every crafting session looks completely different — I find myself changing my process and order of ‘duties’ constantly, including the way I begin designing pages and how I conclude with sewing in finished pages. I enjoy challenging myself to constantly configure new binding methods. It would be really helpful if I could just choose one and stick with that routine, but I guess I’m too indecisive to master such a decision!”
And her must-haves?
“My cat-hair-covered, never-turned-off hot glue! A cup of Vanilla Chai tea.”
Lauren shares that being part of the Craft Room has expanded her creative possibilities in beautiful ways:
“Being a member of the Craft Room community has enabled my list of craft project choices to grow significantly by seeing everyone’s different perspectives with every new collection! Everyone envisions how to bring the new kit to life through so many different projects and in so many different ways. It’s a beautiful reminder that art cannot be contained and should, indeed, be shared with all.”
At the moment, she is immersed in pinks and golds… researching and preparing a new journal using the Rhapsody in Pink collection, surrounded by lace and appliqué trims.
And alongside her creative preparations, she is also preparing for something far more precious:
“And lastly, non-crafting related, I am preparing for the arrival of a baby girl in the next few weeks.”
Lauren, we are so grateful for your beautiful storytelling heart, your unmistakable Cottage Shabby aesthetic, and the gentle creativity you bring to our community.
We wish you the most peaceful and joyful weeks ahead as you prepare to welcome your sweet baby girl.
You can connect with Lauren:
To see more of Lauren’s delightful creations, you can connect with her by subscribing to her YouTube channel, Shabby Chic Sundae and visiting her Instagram account.
Happy crafting,
Hugs
♥
Kerryanne
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