Devona has been blogging for 8 years, first with her husband at Love and Blunder, and now at Clever Nesting. She has been crafting since childhood and her grandmother taught her to sew when she was eleven. In high school, Devona became interested in pursuing a creative career and applied to fashion colleges, but eventually studied English at the University of Akron. After marrying and starting a family, Devona began crafting and sewing again using mostly secondhand and re-purposed materials both to save money and to lessen her negative impact on the world. In 2008, Devona’s work was featured in the Akron Beacon Journal and on Channel 3 News with Eric Mansfield. She loves to share projects, attend craft fairs, and collaborate with other artists. She looks forward to being a contributing member to the art and craft community, both on the Web and in Akron, Ohio.

Those of you who have followed Clever Nesting for a long time remember our previous contributor, Colleen. Colleen has left Clever Nesting, but is still active in community building and activities in Akron, OH.

Colleen has crafted with her mom since she was little and remembers them crafting & selling (totally ’80′s) neck bandanas with fringe & pony beads!  Throughout college Colleen continued crafting & having dorm craft nights, and after college worked two years as a Craft Designer & Coordinator at an Ohio-based craft chain (taught classes, did craft & product demonstrations, made store samples).  Colleen still occasionally teaches craft classes in Akron, Ohio.  Last year she got three of her stamped greeting cards published in 1,000 Handmade Greetings.  She especially enjoys making beaded jewelry, greeting cards, knitted or crocheted items, plus anything else she discovers to decorate her home. She makes weekly visits to the thrift store or garage sales and enjoys the challenge of re-purposing & recycling items. You’ll frequently find her making gifts for others or teaching people how to make things themselves.  One of Colleen’s favorite quotes is, ”Art is everywhere, except it has to pass through a creative mind.” -Louise Nevelson.