About Me

I've loved making hand crafted items since I was a child. I was about 12 when I made my first item for sale (a paraffin candle molded in a blown out egg with a JUTE (of all things) wick). Over the years I've tried a lot of different crafts, including ceramics, candles, stamping, embroidery, wood crafts, painting, needlepoint, knitting and more. Some of these have become fledgling businesses as well as hobbies.

While I enjoy almost all crafts, the one thing that I have enjoyed the most is sewing. I never tire of planning the next project. I don't think I could ever have TOO many patterns. I love walking in my sewing room, bright and cheerful in the morning sun, and seeing the colors of the thread spools, the packages of ric rac, organized by color, the spools of ribbons, buttons in baby food jars organized by color, and so on, that adorn my sewing room. I don't like to put those items away in a drawer, as just seeing them sparks my imagination.

I started sewing in earnest when I was pregnant with baby number two. I made her entire layette as well as most of my maternity clothes. I learned to sew by reading a book, quite literally. I learned "by the book". I've since learned a lot of short-cuts and tips and tricks that make sewing fast and fun. But when sewing traditional or heirloom items, you still have to do it "by the book"!

A Rose By Any Other Name..... Many years ago I made and sold candles under the name Caroline's Cottage (Caroline being daughter number two). I also sell sewing patterns under that name. But when I opened an Etsy shop the name Caroline's Cottage was not available so I had to come up with another name. I knew I wanted to sell custom christening gowns and the name "Bespoke Baby" was a perfect fit. However, soon I realized that I would want to list and sell other items so that name was rather limiting. Etsy frowns on having more than one "shop" so I changed my shop name to The Turquoise Gypsy and listed other non-baby items. Well... that name is not available on Blogger or Facebook... bummer. So you'll find my wares here on Blogger under Caroline's Cottage, on Facebook under Tracy Krause Creations (SO very original), on Etsy under The Turquoise Gypsy and on Ebay under CarolinesCottage.... confusing I know!

My husband and I live on a farm in the Ozarks of Arkansas. We enjoy the beautiful outdoors, have a large garden and various other farming pursuits. I enjoy sewing for my household (curtains, napkins, towels, etc.), for my husband and myself, and my children and granddaughters.