Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

I am an almost 50 year old mom to three, retired teacher, who loves junking and creating home decor and furniture out of discarded items like pallets. When not building and creating, I enjoy spending in the great outdoors in my home state of Montana.

Tell us a bit about the book?

Crafting with Wood Pallets shares over 20 home decor and furniture projects made solely with pallet wood. The projects range from easy, under an hour to complete ideas to more involved projects that take more time and effort. Besides the projects with step by step, detailed plans and photos, there are several extra tips included in the book--paint tips, hardware ideas, ways to personalize the projects. The book will get your creativity flowing and inspire you to make your own unique pallet creations.

What was the inspiration behind it?

I loved the idea of FREE wood and that is what inspired me to start creating with pallets. After sharing several of my pallet creations on my blog, Beyond the Picket Fence and getting a great response to them, I was approached by Ulysses Press to write the book. As a former teacher I always wanted to write a book. I just thought the book would be children's book not a how to book. I loved the process and was thrilled with final copy of Crafting with Wood Pallets.

Which is your favourite project?

I am not sure, but I love the wine bar. I liked how I was able to use the pallet pieces to make the shelves for the wine to sit on and I enjoyed figuring out how to make the wine glass holders. I am definitely a hand-on learner and I rarely sketch out a plan when I am building, but rather work and figure it out as I go. I suppose it is not the most professional way to build, but it seems to work for me.

What is your craft space like?

While writing the book my "craft space" was a cold garage in the middle of a Montana winter and the kitchen table. My writing space was and still is the couch with the laptop. Since the book has been published, we moved into a 1932 schoolhouse that has a large workshop in the basement and a separate space for painting and finishing projects.

Have you always been creative?

Yes, I have always loved creating. As I kid I painted on wood, sewed doll clothes, I loved decoupaging, and decorating my bedroom. At the holidays I would make construction paper decorations to tape to the windows and I enjoyed making and painting salt dough ornaments every year. My best friend and I made and sold decorated Styrofoam ball Christmas ornaments. I even built a fort from old crates from the grocery store.

When did you first start crafting?

I started crafting at a very early age and I don't remember the first thing I made. One particular item I made that I do remember was a plaque decoupaged with a piece of Holly Hobby wrapping paper and then crackled. I thought the crackling was so cool.

Who are your crafty heroes?

In terms of crafting authors I was influenced by Ki Nassauer and Sue Whitney who wrote the book Junk Market Style and Junk Beautiful. I like Garden Junk by Mary Randolph Carter and Better Homes and Garden's Flea Market Decorating book.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere--restaurants, nature, homes, clothing. I spend time (too much) on Pinterest and the internet, but find that it actually often zaps creativity. I do better if I get off the computer and into the workshop. Often times inspiration come out of need, I need a side table, what do I have to create one with? Wood "speaks" to me--some pieces are just crying out to made into something specific. Some days the creativity flows and I can't create fast enough. Other days, I call my puttering and thinking days. I may look at my wood and junk supply, pick it up and put it down and not accomplish much. But, those days are important too, they keep the creative gears greased and going.

What's next for you?

I am continuing to build and create and sell most of what I make. I am working on pitching a second book to my publisher. I have it outlined and am currently working on photographing some project ideas for it. I am also busy redoing our old schoolhouse, making it into a fun and creative home for my family.