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The Past, the Present & the Future

The Past

Hi, I'm Eileen Bergen. I'd like to tell you how I came to be "The Artful Crafter" behind this website. I didn't havemuch time for crafting during my first two careers. I was a special education teacher while my son was growing up. Then I went back to school and earned an MBA degree as well as the Certified Financial Analyst certification. Before being downsized, I was a vice-president and portfolio manager of a major insurance company.

The Present

My husband, Chris, and I retired several years ago. It didn’t take long for me to get bored with full retirement. Looking for something to do with my idle hands, I started designing my own greeting and calling cards using some user-friendly computer programs - since I had zero graphic design background.

My friends said they loved them; but I thought they were just being nice. When they started saying, “I’d like you to design some for me. How much would you charge?” I thought I might have the makings of a home-based business.

As my grasp of digital graphic design grew, I moved on to place cards, invitations, and fliers. Soon my friends were bringing me completely unrelated product ideas. They said, “Eileen, you can make this!” So I started sewing again. I hadn’t sat at a sewing machine for about 30 years! Next came oilcloth tote bags, wine gift bags, panadières (fabric bread baskets), double eyeglass cases, etc., etc. I named my company …

… and life was good!

Two years later, after I had added beaded jewelry, fabric painting and woven bamboo placemats to my product line, Chris said, “Why don’t you put up a website? I can do the tech stuff … and with all you’ve learned in this business – what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do! – it would be very valuable to other home crafters.”

The Future

So here we are! We hope you find what you are looking for at The Artful Crafter.

If you haven’t yet, please sign up for our free monthly e-zine, The Artful Crafter Digest, and join our Google Friend Community.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of any help with your crafting. Our motto is, "The Artful Crafter - Helping Crafters to Be".

Eileen Bergen
5802 Bullock Loop
Laredo, TX 78045
214-613-9215

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