A jewelry artist who makes copper flame jewelry from Washington, MO

Deb Obermeier is from Hoyleton, IL
                                                                                                   
"Writing from my home in Hoyleton is my inspiration. Living in a century-old farmhouse filled with antiques and uniques is a constant reflection of the setting in my novels, A Simple Stitch Series.  Although the storyline is fiction, reminders of family and friends spark my imagination to bring these pages to life.

On a family visit to Arizona in October 2010, my oldest granddaughter, Emmilee said, “Granny, we need to write a book.”  I agreed. So with pencil and paper, we found a quiet spot and created our town, characters, and storyline. Returning home with notes in hand but no formal writing experience, I began. A year and a half later, A Simple Stitch, A Common Thread was finished and released in 2015.

The much-anticipated sequel, A Simple Stitch, A Time to Mend was released in 2017. Having an open house at our farm, offering both novels to anxious followers as well as new-found friends shared my inspiration, my surroundings.
As I continue the series, A Simple Stitch, A Familiar Pattern is in the works as well as a cookbook being penned by a beloved character, Aunt Mildred, called A Simple Stir, A Memory Served.  This is a compilation of my family recipes created through the years.
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What an amazing journey this has been. God has placed so many wonderful people on my path through my writing. It is truly a pleasure to be given this opportunity to share my uplifting characters and their colorful stories with you.
Working full time in banking, the opportunity to write is my reward at the end of my day, taking me to a simpler place with characters I have grown to love. A perfect way to nurture my soul."
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Visit her website, debobooks.com or follow her on Facebook at A Simple Stitch Series.  
She has taken pictures on her website and Facebook page on the farm or wherever I stumble upon inspiration.

Mary Williams is from Caseyville, IL makes dog bandannas & bow ties.   

Jennifer Libbra is from Highland, IL. She is making homemade chocolate candy for us! She owns a candy store in Highland called "Chocolate Affair"

​Terry is from Wood River, IL. He makes luminaries out of tin cans.

Meet Myron Fay from Trenton, IL! 
He works with handcrafted stained glass artwork in the traditional styles of lead came and copper foil.  Design projects include quilt square patterns, lampshades & specialty flat panels.  He appreciates and is fascinated by the beauty, colors, and flow stained glass brings to his artwork.  A single piece of stained glass artwork offers two visual opportunities - one in its natural state and the other when it is illuminated.  Working with stained glass brings him a sense of enjoyment by being able to craft pieces which reflect this duality and letting others see the beauty in stained glass.  Originally Myron is from central east Illinois (Watseka, IL). Retired from the US Army in 2008.  He spent the next 8 years helping home buyers as an independent home inspector.  He started full-time stained glass crafting in 2017.  Married to Mary Fay - together they have 4 children and 1 grandchild.  

Thomas Horn
Cobden, IL

Thomas is a sculptor who uses copper, bronze, copper steel and fused glass to create beautiful yard art.  

LisaAnne Doane
Colp, IL

Earth friendly uncommonly simple hoops and raw stone jewelry for the urban wanderer. 

My work traverses the bold and restless soul the ones who roll down the windows and drive, music over laughter on a journey an adventure to adorn your soul on the road to nowhere like there's no tomorrow...

Earthbound materials - remnant copper, reclaimed silver, semi - precious stones and ephemera hand forged using rudimentary tools. The textured copper hammered on an old railroad tie and a stump of wood - truly handmade studio artisan wares.

I have traveled the blue highways in an old 64 Chevy pick up truck only once breaking down in Rupert Idaho during sugar beet season, needless to say I spent a few days...

Christine E. Schulze has been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical romances and adventures since she was too young to even write of such stories. Her collection of YA, MG, and children's fantasy and Christian fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books which can all be read separately, but which weave together to create a single amazing fantasy. 

One of her main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to be able to create grand fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from many different backgrounds. She believes strongly in including diversity in her books; right now her focus is includes racial diversity and people with mental and physical disabilities. Twenty-five percent of all Schulze's royalties are donated to ALFA, a local charity that provides funding and volunteers for Trinity Services in Mascoutah, IL; Trinity provides a day program and residential services for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Her most recent projects include the release of her latest kids' book, The Puzzle of the Two-Headed Dragon, with St. Louis artist Karen Swartz, and the professional re-editing and remastering of two YA fantasy series, The Gailean Quartet and The Hero Chronicles, the latter of which will be released under its new name, A Shadow Beyond Time. For this series, she has also brought an amazing new co-author onto her team, Kira Lerner, whom she has used many a time as her editor for other works.
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Schulze loves hearing from her readers! Feel free to connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads, or shoot her some fanmail at [email protected]