Monthly Featured Members 2025 - 2026

Jan is a designer, creator, and producer of all types of crafts from textile products. Her interests began as a little girl, learning from observation and teachings of her mother. In high school she took Home Economics classes which included some sewing experience, using machines and learning hand stitches. During this time she also began making some of her own clothes, back when patterns could be purchased for fifty cents!

Jan’s formal training and experience related to her hobbies include seminars, classes at the local fabric stores, as well as taking a class to learn the lost art of tatting, which is a process of knotting special thread to form items that have a lace appearance. Her current creations start with ideas from many sources including fabric stores, online, books, magazines and yes, looking at items made by other crafters while attending craft shows.

To keep inspired and continue to make products, she often reflects upon the influence of her mother and grandmother, as well as constant encouragement from her husband of fifty years, including the many folks that have purchased her items.

There are different types of textile materials she uses including fabric, thread, wool yarn, crochet cotton, as well as the standard tools of the trade. She hand-quilts all of her quilted items. For many years now, both the sewing and embroidery machines have been tools utilized for machine sewn items, and have served her well. There are many diversified products that she sells, like quilts, hot pads, tatted doilies, oven mitts, bowl cozies, aprons, embroidered towels, and place mats. She welcomes special requests from any customers. Please visit Jan's listing on the HOUSE 2 Page.

Med, originally from the Philippines, moved to the United States in her early twenties. A few years later, she met and married her husband, raising their family in central New Jersey. Her lengthy career was in insurance as a branch underwriting manager, then retirement led them to Florida nine years ago.

Med has always had a passion for jewelry making, especially creating designs with south sea pearls and semi-precious stones. Her daughter inherited this same quest for all things craft-related, so together over the years, they created whimsical, nature-inspired jewelry. 

It first started with some simple drawings they drew up on Shrinky Dinks film, which required coloring on clear plastic, polystyrene sheets. When heated, the shapes became thicker, while their dimensions reduced down to a third in size. After a few years, her daughter was able to digitize their drawings and just print them out onto transfer paper.

Med's current obsession was inspired by her daughter's gift of a diamond painting kit, which is similar to a paint-by number set. The kit includes canvas, diamond applicator pen, wax and tray. Diamond painting can be time consuming, but besides making a diamond painting frame, you can also make coasters, keychains, refrigerator magnets, holiday ornaments, sun catchers, placemats, etc. 

Lay the canvas print side up, a chart design is labeled with numbers which correspond to a diamond color symbol so you will know where to place each diamond accordingly. Start by peeling a small area of plastic off of the canvas. It's best to work on small sections at a time, to keep the canvas covered, and prevent unnecessary dust and debris from sticking to it. Pour a small amount of diamonds into the tray and gently shake it back and forth until the diamonds settle right-side up. With the pink square wax, dip the tip of the applicator to fill it with wax. This helps pick up the diamond, as they will easily stick to the tip of the applicator. Once chosen, carefully press the diamond to the correct symbol on the canvas. Always remember to add a little bit more wax if the pen seems like it doesn't pick up the diamond anymore. Repeat the process until you are done. Please visit Med's listing on the JEWELRY Page.

Janice was raised in the Midwestern areas of Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, where she relished the distinctive change of seasons. Now, it’s the comforting warmth and abundant sunshine of Ocala. Having been trained as a certified consultant and teacher of Spiritual Response Therapy, for over twenty years, she has helped people in need of life coaching and healing. 

This journey has led her to focus her coaching, by designing structural tools in the form of a 210-page book and special deck of cards which can be used independently of each other as preferred by the user. Using her creative poetry and writings, she teamed up with Tricia Sybersma, an artist who blends horses and painting. Tricia was inspired to use eight horses to create this intuitive art. With a simple way to use non-toxic paint laid out on paper, then covered with a protective cover so that the horse doesn’t have contact with the paint, it’s finally sprinkled with compressed hay on top. The horse gently nibbles and nuzzles the surface to produce a stunning blend of colors and energy when the painting underneath is revealed.

This book entitled HeartFelt: Live from Your Heart, entails one of these beautiful paintings on one page, with a spiritually healing poem or powerful and inspirational affirmation on the other. The corresponding card deck features seventy-three cards with an index guide, and a similar layout of artwork and verse on the front and back. Some folks prefer the ease of the cards for carrying around or daily display. Sometimes another voice is needed to guide and heal, as these might be a gentle solution. Both the book and cards are thoughtful gifts, and might be used in quiet moments of daily meditation and reflection. 

Janice’s poetry is currently featured each month in the OTOW News, where you can review her style and depth of feeling, as she hopes to offer guidance and inspiration to all who read it. Please visit Janice's listing on the GIFTS 2 Page.

This month we’re featuring our Halloween crafts party on October 28th. Residents are urged to come and be part of the festivities, since our main mission is to celebrate you, our wonderful community! Our crafters will be decked out in whatever fashion, prominent character, or costume which suits their creative mind. We would love to have you come in costumed style if you want, but it is not required. 

Upon entering the show, you’ll receive a trick-or-treat bag, and write your name and phone number on a ticket which gets placed in the large pumpkin. As you visit our outfitted crafters throughout the auditorium, you’ll find some tasty treats on each table, including their quality handcrafted and specially designed items for sale. 

At the end of the show, several names will be drawn for the beautiful baskets filled with our crafters’ items. Any winners will be called and their basket will be delivered, unless they are still there.

Since Halloween seems to usher in the festive season, we will be having more celebrations throughout the year as the Thanksgiving, December holidays, Valentines, and many more customer appreciation events keep your spirits up until May. 

Our crafters are extremely diversified with a wide variety of gifts, cards, apparel, jewelry, items for the home, including canvas, wood, and mixed media artwork. Many design products and place them for sale, but feel free to ask if they can design another with your favorite colors, or any personal specifications to fit your home, style or to make it the perfect gift for someone special. That’s the beauty of having such creative talent just around the corner, or showcased online and easily contacted. We hope you’ll join us every week, especially on October 28th, to enjoy the fun and enthusiasm of our show!