L'Tanya Durante

I'm a crafter, writer, researcher, mom of 2 boys, and a wife. I'm busy.

Crafts are like the language of our hands. Crafts tell a story about culture, family, generations and spirit. They help us get to know ourselves and others better. Crafts connect us to our families, to nature, and to our communities. Craftnicity celebrates these unique connections we can make with crafts. Telling your stories and mine, I hope Craftnicity will be inspirational, authentic and encourage you to treasure your handiwork.

My Story
My love for crafting, writing, and history has taken many twists and turns throughout the years. At 13, I learned to knit, crochet and sew. I even won a sewing competition. I even remember what I made (a cute little apron with a matching bandana). Since then, I've tried cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, bead crochet, beading, and fabric collage and more. I have done some knitting designs for Yarn of the Month Club and Successful Lace Knitting.

I'm a passionate researcher, inquisitive by nature. So it's fascinating to find out what people are making, where they learned it, why they make it. Cultures, migration, crafts, writing, history, genealogy, and the way in which all of these are connected make my ears perk up like a puppy. When I was 18, I dreamed of converting a barn into a yarn shop. Now, I dream of "excavating" the arts and crafts of my African ancestors and of different cultures worldwide...and then sharing those stories in unique ways.

From 2004-2008, I founded and edited the online needlecraft magazine, Black Purl Magazine. As the readership grew, my life became more complicated. I'm part of the sandwich generation -- caring for children and a parent. In 2004, we adopted a newborn. With a husband, mom, two boys who are ten years apart, and a cat, there is never a dull moment. But change is part of life. So rather than sticking to an online magazine format, I decided to start blogging.

Your Story
My mother recalls a time when she was young, playing near a creek in NC. She'd see people gather a mud-like substance from the creek to make soap. I dream of finding out who's still making soap from the creek. I dream of sitting on their porch, drinking sweet tea and talking about that time, and of course learning to make the soap. These are the stories I long to uncover.

For the next two years, I'll be taking classes toward a Certificate in Documentary studies. I'm looking forward to finding unique ways to share your craft stories. I can't wait to share what I've learned.

L'Tanya