Kerry Bond of Simply Natural Designs

Today's feature is Kerry Bond of Simply Natural Designs

I met Kerry on Etsy and she really touched my heart when I read her quote for who she is and what she does:

"I bear the Maker’s image, and one of the ways that plays out is that I delight in making." 
-Andrew Peterson

Most every thing you will find has an Upcycled aspect to it; items that would have other wise made their way to a dump have been salvaged and Re-purposed into beautiful and usable everyday articles. She loves looking at a product that has lost it's usefulness/beauty and redefine it; make it into something it's not and could never be on its own and give it a whole new purpose.

Hot Pad - Upcycled Pot Holder - by Simply Natural Designs

She also touched my heart with her sweet words about her mom as her inspiration:

Tell me a little about you and your mom. My Mom and I are truly best friends. My parents decided to home school my older brother and I when I was going in to the 2^nd grade and it was like a dream come true for me (I hated leaving home to go to school – but who doesn't  right?). That gave me endless hours and days to spend with my Mom. 

How does your mom inspire you? She has always taught me (leading by example) to learn more, try new things, when you learn something, learn it all and then dig deeper and take risks on dreams.

Such a sweet picture of Kerry and her mom!

What do you love and admire about her? She knows me so well; I can always count on her to know just the right thing to say to get me refocused, uplifted and motivated toward better things. She always seeks the Lord in all she does. She is a wonderful wife and supportive mother, a caring daughter and a great sister. She spoils me so much! I really admire how well she can run a household! She is a great cook, and can keep house like no bodies business! I what to be her when I grow up!

What is the most special moment you share? Oh, I can’t pin-point just one moment; it is a million little things… Long talks over coffee, a whole day spent going to our favorite stores [including the local yarn shop, the Christian book shop and herb store!] and ending with ice cream or frozen custard, goofy inside jokes that we retell yet can’t remember how they got started, praying for each other, watching our favorite movies for the millionth time while crafting [knitting/crocheting/etc.], talking every day.         OH! I just thought of a neat moment we have that actually was made possible because of Etsy! My Mom used to have these funny little knee hugger elfs from years and years ago. I’d never seen any other people with these kinds of Christmas decorations and when I was a teen I told my Momma that I thought they were weird and creepy. So she got rid of them that year instead of packing them up with the rest of the stuff. I always felt bad after that, cause there were times I thought she regretted giving them up. So I searched on etsy for some vintage knee hugger elfs and found 4 of them from 3 different sellers! They all came quickly before Christmas and I gave them to Mom when we were putting up our other décor this Christmas and she was so surprised and pleased! We had a good laugh through teary eyes as Mom admitted, ‘they are kind of creepy’. But they are too cute and now we have a special memory that we will keep for years and years to come in the tradition of Christmas decorations. 

What are your favorite things to do together? We have [in the past 3 mo.] separate living spaces now for the first time, we are country ‘next door’ neighbors [ie, the closes person through the woods but we can’t see each other’s house], but it is completely different being in the next house rather than the next room. So these days, our favorite things to do together are just anything that lets us be together. We have lunch at each other’s house now and then, and we will often take our knitting to the other’s living room and stitch and chat together.

 
What are some funny moments you remember? Funny moments abound in the endless conversations we share; but many of them wouldn’t be so funny if I retold them. Some of the things we always laugh about are when we mix up words, like; Caint Pan [paint can], or Nod Rocking [Rod Knocking] or a million other words that we mutilate with our careless flubs. We get a kick out of making fun of each other during times like these. 

What is so special about your mother daughter bond? We talk, a lot. When I started drinking coffee every day, just like Momma, we would sit at the breakfast table sipping coffee and talking. About the day ahead, about yesterday, about hurts, dreams, loves, successes and failures. Some mornings this chat session would last a couple hours. We also started writing to each other, even when we still lived together in the same house. We have a special leather note book and one of us writes in it and then leaves it some place to surprise the other one. We don’t write that often, but we’ve kept it up through the years, and now that we are apart it has been extra special to see it randomly sitting on my desk or pillow and have a sweet message from my best friend. 

 Tell us a little bit about your shop and why you created it. My shop is a place for the overflow of creativity. I started it as a means of a little extra income and it’s fun to watch it grow. I’ve stepped out in faith this past year and quit my ‘security-net’ day job. No, it has not taken off so well as to make as much as I was making in ag-retail, and no, it’s not quite yet covering all costs involved; but I’m still on this mustard seed of faith and trusting God will provide. My Mom is a big part of my business; she is always there to encourage me when I am not getting as many sales as I expect, she is always knitting items for me to put on the shop, and adding ideas for new products. I could NOT get along without her!

Have you always been interested in art as a girl? Most definitely! I’ve always been into drawing and crafting. And I’ve always picked up on handiwork fast. I learned spin yarn on a spinning wheel when I was 10 and knitting, crocheting, weaving, and sewing came along not long after that. 

 Is there anyone who inspires you and who? Tell me more about how they inspire you. My relationship with Jesus Christ is very inspiring; where He leads I follow. Other crafters on Etsy are always surprising me with their creations and that is incredibly inspiring. 

 How do you stay driven to create new pieces? Commitment. I have to remind myself of goals [and at times remind myself to make them in the first place] and stay committed to those goals. My shop has helped, or at least it tries to help, in that area, as it is always there reminding me I have to ‘stick-with-it’.     

       

Body Serum - 2 oz. - Orange - All Purpose, conditioning and healing lotion  (Click title to see details)

  What are some challenges you face/have faced in regard to your craft? Craft-Stash-Hoarding. I’ve got almost two rooms bulging with craft things! It can be overwhelming at times, but super fun most of the time! Having too many ideas; I can find myself stuck in deciding what to do next. So I have to get a journal out and write out all my ideas, including sketches and then decide which one would be the best to devote some time into creating.  

 What inspires you to create? Colors, textures, and stories. Trees, flowers, clouds, bugs, wind, rainbows, pinterest, birds, songs; squishy, bright, majestic yarn; interesting, textured, aged fabric; Things with history allow for great designs with something to say. 

Put Up Your Mitts - Fingerless Mitts for Him or Her - unisex, gray, pink/blue specks

   What other creative things do you like to do? I am a singer/songwriter/guitar player, my brother and I travel playing music and leading worship for all kinds of people. I love to paint and draw, but I don’t do it as often as I’d like. I’m a Certified Herbalist and I love learning more about natural health and the creative aspects of formulating remedies, lip balms and lotions. I love Gardening, it is very relaxing and exciting and creative. 

What do you want your mom to remember? To seek first the kingdom of God, continue to look up, for Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, He is glorious and worthy to be praised! Never lose heart and always trust in the Lord. I will always love you.

Thanks so much Kerry! You are such an inspiration! It is a pleasure to know you and a delight to learn more about your mother daughter relationship!

XOXO

Christine

You can find Kerry here at Simply Natural Designs

And Her Blog

And Her Facebook Page