Meet The Maker: Tricia McFarland

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Meet Tricia

Getting organized with the WorkBox has given Tricia the courage to try new forms of crafting and even to start selling her handmade cards online! We like to say that organization is power, and this is a case where that definitely rings true.

Have you always considered yourself to be a creative person?

I’ve always liked crafting but never thought of myself as being a crafty person. Since starting my business recently, I’ve had to think outside of the box and get creative.

Tell us a little bit about the types of crafting you do. Why do you craft?

About 20 years ago I started scrapbooking all the activities of my family. As our children got older, I stopped. It was maybe 4 years ago that I met a group of ladies that meet every Tuesday evening creating greeting cards for their church. These cards are sent to someone who may be in the hospital, homebound, someone who may need a few extra prayers, or is a new member. I went, fell in love with these ladies, and now every Tuesday is considered girls-night-out. At first I wasn’t very good with my creations, it’s much different than scrapbooking. With time, and practice, I feel I’ve come a long way. I started making my own cards at home. Friends and family would ask me if I was selling my them. I never had any intention of doing so, but after purchasing my WorkBox, and feeling very organized, I thought why not! That’s when Ellie’s Xpressions was created. I’m slowly adding other crafts to my business, like personalized cups, t-shirts, and have started teaching myself how to sew, so we’ll see where that leads me.

When did you decide that it was time for a new setup?

I started to take over our daughter’s bedroom when she left for grad school in 2013. Since she fell in love with Austin, Texas, and has made it her home with her now husband and dog, we turned her room into my craft space. I had been looking at all different ways to make a 10x10 space work but the cost was a little out of my budget. I saw the WorkBox on Pinterest and instantly knew it would be perfect for my needs. Instead of using her desk, dresser and a card table, along with a closet that we installed shelves in to store my supplies, the WorkBox had all of this, and then some. The best part was being able to close it up when necessary. I keep it open most of the time because that’s where I do all my creations.

Tell us a little bit about the delivery and assembly process for your WorkBox.

My WorkBox arrived February 1, 2018. When unloading the crate that the WorkBox came in, I was a bit overwhelmed especially because after my husband helped me unload it during his lunchtime, he left and said “get going”!! I have never been one to put things together without help. But since there’s a video you can watch when assembling, that’s what I did. I’m a visual person, that was my lifesaver. By the time my husband and son came home from work, I had one section put together. A very proud moment. My husband helped me put the rest together.