Thank you SO MUCH to all of these amazing people for helping bring this project to life! Contributors are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

Arletta Gustafson: As a child I was told I wasn't capable of doing creative endeavors.  At 50, I decided that the time had come to challenge these thoughts.  Through my YouTube channel "Ignite Your Inner Artist", I explore the worlds of creativity and mental health and how they are linked.  Instagram & YouTube: @IgniteYourInnerArtist

Jessie Katz Greenberg: Jessie Katz Greenberg is a crafting expert, educator, and content creator based in New York.

Crafting isn't just a pastime for her—it's a way of life. With a BFA in Visual Communication Design and Art History, she spent over ten years as a graphic designer before directing craft & DIY content at a video startup, managing the independent artist community at Spoonflower, co-hosting Craft Hangout Podcast, and creating video content for brands like Michaels and Beacon Adhesives.

As a workshop instructor she has led sessions across various crafts, from embroidery and hand lettering to printmaking, needle felting, paper crafting, and beyond. The joy of making something with your own hands isn’t just about the final product— it boosts self-esteem, can reduce stress, and it's just plain fun! Whether she’s teaching in-person or creating engaging digital content, her mission is to spread the joy of crafting and make it accessible and fun for everyone.

When Jessie isn’t crafting you’ll find her tending to her growing collection of indoor plants, making time for morning walks, and probably eating cheese.

Make something with Jessie today! Find inspiration and tutorials at @jessiekatzgreenberg on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest. Learn more about Jessie’s workshops and private events at jessiekatzgreenberg.com.

Jess Moore: Jess Moore brings a passion for wild places to her art making practice. For the last seven years, she has immersed herself into far flung wild lands as a full-time RVer, gathering inspiration. Jess’ current body of work focuses on bridging analog materials with digital tools. She makes wood home decor and gifts, as well as photo embroidery pieces. She has her MFA in Integrated Design and both teaches art foundations and graphic design, as well as workshops focusing on inspiration from nature. Website: www.simpleandsylvan.com Instagram: @simpleandsylvan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simpleandsylvan

Get 15% off using code Explore15 at my Go Imagine shop: https://goimagine.com/simpleandsylvan

John Cutrone: John Cutrone is a proprietor of Convivio Bookworks in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, and the author of the Convivio Book of Days, a literary lifestyle blog that encourages our contemporary engagement with the seasonal round of the year.  Website: https://conviviobookworks.com  Instagram, Facebook & Bluesky: @conviviobookworks 

Get $5 off a $35 purchase: use code THANKYOU at checkout online, or mention Duckworth Serial when checking out in person at the shop.

Karen Swank-Fitch: Karen Swank-Fitch is a poet, writer, and creativity coach whose work blends artistry with advocacy. Her poetry and prose explore identity, healing, and social justice, inviting deep reflection and transformation. As a coach and teacher, Karen helps individuals unlock creative potential through personalized workshops, journaling, and mixed-media art. She brings warmth and inclusivity to every space—whether in community centers, classrooms, or writing circles—fostering curiosity and confidence among learners of all backgrounds. A passionate advocate, she partners with grassroots groups to support marginalized voices and promote equity in the arts. Karen embodies a “maker” ethos, using creativity to build connection, resilience, and community. Instagram: @karen.fitch.creations 

Kashoan Ward: I am the founder and president of stuff creative reuse a nonprofit in Lincoln, Nebraska. I am passionate about creativity, sustainability, and community. In my free time, I love to do all the crafty things.  Website: stuffcrestivereuse.com Instagram: @stuffcreativereuse 

Kerry Burki: Kerry is a writer, yoga and meditation teacher, and intuitive mentor who helps sensitive, creative women reconnect with their inner magic through rituals, seasonal practices, and soulful self-care. She is the author of Tend To Your Vibration and Stellar Vibrations, which blend ancient wisdom with modern insights to help readers shift their energy and enjoy life more deeply.

Kerry recently launched Uplifted Vibes Village, a cozy online community where members can slow down, reduce stress, and feel more free-spirited, intuitive, and creative. In September 2025, she’ll be hosting her first retreat, Tend & Create, in Scottsdale, Arizona—a gathering designed to nurture creativity, community, and energetic alignment. Kerry lives in Arizona with her husband, two sons, and a house full of love, laughter, and pets.  Website: www.kerryburki.com

Laura Chase: Laura Chase is a multi-passionate creative featuring bold colors, florals, and fauna in her work. A natural dreamer and innovator, Laura thrives on brainstorming fresh ideas and pushing artistic boundaries rather than sticking to conventional templates. You can explore Laura's artwork on Instagram or her website.  Website: https://fontandflaura.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fontandflaura Substack: https://laurachase.substack.com Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FontandFlaura

Mary Elizabeth Nelson, aka. Emmy: I am a lettering and book artist with a background in fine art. For the last 50 years I  have turned my attention to calligraphy and book arts. In 1989 I travelled to China and studied Chinese calligraphy and painting for 6 weeks. I continue to study throughout the United States. My work was selected for the first Graceful Envelope Contest and is now in the permanent collection of the National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution. I am an active member in Calligraphic and Book Arts Societies and published in some books and magazines. I have actively taught throughout the tri-county area of Southeast Pennsylvania and continue to teach out of my studio in Downingtown. Nature printing has become my latest passion. Eco prints and the cyanotype process, with natural materials being my subject of choice. With eco prints, there is always an element of surprise, cyanotypes offer vast possibilities for experimentation and each print is an individual piece of art, and I fashion them into a variety of book structures, and cards which can be framed. Fabrics and papers may have embroidery on them. I am always exploring and constantly surprised with the end result. The vast array of natural plant materials found in Pennsylvania and Maine, have inspired me to make these paper and fabric structures. Each book, card or framed piece is made with fine art materials.

My art is carried in four specialty shops on the East Coast from Florida to Maine...

Convivio Bookworks in Lake Worth, FL, The Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Lancaster, PA and Handworks Gallery, Blue Hill, ME.

Artist’s Statement:

The beauty of life surrounds us in all its forms. It abounds in nature from the intricate design of a tiny snowflake to the splendor of a mountain vista. We need only to take the time to see.

When my fingers touch a piece of paper or fabric I handle it as I would a rock or a leaf, feeling the grain, the texture; the warmth or coolness it imparts. When we allow something to speak to us we open ourselves up to a myriad of possibilities. Inspiration comes most often from something in nature that will prompt me to create a piece of art. Or perhaps a word or phrase will ignite an idea. Then I’ll seek out the appropriate materials. Whether paper or fabric, a long time is spent just touching, feeling the essence within. 

As artists we all have different ways of working. When I create a piece I allow myself the time and space to be a conduit for that presence reaching out for the revelation of visual expression. In so doing most of the creative process is spent seeking, feeling, gathering, arranging, rearranging---  touching, becoming. 

I don’t do many roughs or mock ups, sometimes none at all.                

The doing is the process. 

The journey continues

Instagram: @paperladyemmy 

Melinda Titus: I have lived on the coast of Maine for many years. I appreciate the special light that shines in Maine. The ocean is a constant influence on everything I do. Being around the sea gives me a deeply rooted sense of place and I see art in everything and everywhere. Form and function are tightly interwoven here on the coast. I like to knit warm things with colors that reflect where I am. I paint sometimes, usually during the warmer months because I like to do it outside. I believe it is possible to organize one’s life around creative efforts and to pass that joy and positivity onto others.

Sunday R. White: Punk lezzy activist grandma that knits, weaves, felts, tries to paint, is re-learning penmanship and working on some calligraphy too. Fierce protector of those less fortunate. If I am not the target, I will be the shield. @sundazed.bsky.social