Updated May 2019,
Who I am,
My name is Sharon Ojala, (a Finnish last name pronounced O-yah-lah).
I'm a Finnish girl born in Canada.
I'm in my 40's. I have 3 children and 2 cats.
I'm a positive thinker who usually finds the silver lining in any dark cloud.
Some health struggles,
In Sept of 2016 I became extremely sick, in fact, almost died a couple times. I was in and out of hospital until the middle of 2017. I have since been diagnosed with an unknown auto-immune disease that attacked my heart, lungs and other organs. I was also diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Both diseases are now under control with infusions every 8 weeks and a daily medication.
I refuse to say "my disease". These diseases are not mine. I believe that my body got confused and soon I will be in complete remission. It's been a long road with many ups and downs but right now I am feeling good and getting stronger everyday.
These things make me happy,
I love coffee, designing yarny toys, Harry Potter, LOTR, anything Jane Austen, story telling, all things miniature, and building a fantasy world where gnomes, mice, and other little creatures live.
When the crafting began,
I started building dollhouses for my kids around 2011. I ventured into the crafting world and making things myself around 2010 because, honestly, I couldn't afford the store bought things.
I was a single mom with kids to care for and making them things became a part of us. They spent countless hours playing with things I made them. That's a feeling that can not be fully described. I wanted to share that feeling with the world so I started blogging to do just that.
Pictured below is my daughter Gracie with a dresser I turned into a dollhouse for her in 2011, more about that project here
What I'm working on today,
Today I have a very large Gnome Home and one very large tree in my craft room that I am furnishing and making characters for. My kids are now too old for these things but I'm old enough to enjoy them! (Some of you will totally get that).
I also design dolls and toys with yarn too. I have new designs always in the works that I add to my other blog on a pretty regular basis. Check it out! Amigurumi To Go
My youngest son Jordan (large tree behind him) and a yarny wizard doll I designed (wizard pattern and link list here)
Crafting is like breathing,
I truly believe a crafty world is a better world. I want to share crafting with as many people as I can before I leave this planet. It can change lives. It changed mine! Crafting is more than just knowing how to do something, it's about learning, growing and sharing. It's about creating our own worlds, no matter what's going on around us A world filled with creativity, positivity and love. These aren't just fun words I've chosen, I believe them to be true.
Our community,
I believe in the crafting community. By giving and sharing with that community it builds, not just one, but everyone up. It's never-ending! I get countless messages from all over the world how crafting has changed a life, how it's brought joy, how it's helping to supplement an income, how it helps people cope with depression, and on it goes. I treasure these messages. I feel blessed and honored to be part of this crafting community.
A Big Change!
In January 2019 I wanted to change the name of my original facebook page from "Dollhouses And The Things That Go In Them" to "Where The Gnomes Live" so that all my social media site names are the same but facebook wouldn't let me. I tried and tried again.
They flat out denied my appeal!
The only alternative was start a new page BUT my original page had close to 12,000 members. Yikes, that was a lot of people I would leave behind if I started over with a new page.
I decided it was worth the gamble.
I told everyone on my page what I was doing and to come over and like the new page. Well, I found out that people don't like change and only about 1,000 of them moved over and the rest are missing out.
That's okay, I'll build it back up, it'll take lots of hard work just like the first page took. So with that said, like my new page, there's lots of exciting things happening all the time. Come over to the Gnome's side and gie it a like, Where The Gnomes Live. Don't forget to choose "follow" so you get me in your newsfeeds.
Much Love and Happy Crafting!
Sharon....
ReplyDeleteI felt in my heart that I needed to express my gratitude and love for you and all your creations.
My mother and I found you when she was in the hospital October of 2017.
My mother and I shared the love of crafting and creating worlds and toys for our 3 Girls (my daughters her Grand daughters) and then later our 4 Grand Babies.
When I was young she would crochet fun little fuzzy creatures for me to love and play with and then when I got older she would dabble in the creations I would learn to make. I got into sculpting and she always loved dall houses so she began to make little fairy homes.
We found your channel where the gnomes live and got SO EXCITED and INSPIRED!!!! And couldn't wait for the next one to be posted!!! Then we noticed you had a crochet channel as well....
I begain to call you the Sister she never knew and you instantly became family!!! We have always been a VERY CLOSE Family but pretty much stayed to ourselves and lived in our own little worlds we would create.
Mama had open heart surgery in 2002...they didnt give us much hope of her survival but she has ALWAYS been STRONG WILLED and by the Grace of God she pulled through that surgery and Many More that followed ...
Sickness has a way of making you stay still....but your mind Never does!!! So we would ALWAYS find something to create...
Mama was going to show me how to crochet because the little she had shown me when I was little was long forgotten and you cant make much with just a chain...lol
So...during her hospital stay in 2017 I went and got some yarn and needles and we would crochet along with you as long as she had the strength...but that wasnt much.
Mama went home to be with the Lord a week before Christmas that year....
I am SO HAPPY that Mama and I started our journey with you before she left. I crochet with you every day and it is as if Mama is there with me!!!
Your sweet humble voice reminds me of her and I have since learned about your story.
Isn't it AMAZING how God works and joins the right people with you at the right times!!!
Thank you Sharon for being you ...
You are a Blessing to me and I'm sure SO MUCH MORE!!!
Mama Always wanted me to start a channel and share our creations with others...I am trying to figure out how to do that.
I have started my cake and Eatable Creations Facebook page....
Beyond Measure Sweet Shop and now for my non Eatable Creations Facebook page...
Beyond Measure Craft Shop
But I am just taking one step at a time....learning as I go and finding time whenever I can...
I chose that name because the Lord has Truely Blessed me Beyond Measure!!!
Thank you Sharon from the bottom of my heart....
May the Lord continue to Bless and Strengthen you....
Kim
Hi Sharon, i found your page by accident a while ago. Now i didnt have a clue when my kids were growing up because life was just too hard for us in south africa. However, now that i have grandchildren, and live in the uk, that absolutely love what i do it makes it all worthwhile. I started a dollhouse which i was not allowed to finish because they were playing in it all the time. My point is, i am so very glad i met you, so to speak because it has encouraged me to craft daily and unending. J think i have watched your series more than twice over already. Are you a stay at home mom or are you well enough to go out to work again? I really hope your health improves a great deal. Are you gong to fill your craft room wirh beautiful gnome homes? I am so nosey and would one day love to see your creations in person. Ive been to canada once and i loved it. Kindest regards, barbara grace.
ReplyDeleteYour videos have inspired me! For years I have been building elaborate gingerbread houses - this past year was Pixie Point and in 2015 I did an Elf Treehouse (you can see videos of several of the houses and also Pixie Point by googling Susan Aitken gingerbread houses/Elf Treehouse, etc..). That's not the point, though. Recently I visited a Paul Busse garden/train exhibit at the Columbus Botanical Garden and was inspired by his buildings. I had already been thinking of making a more permanent fantasy structure (rather than all edible items, lol). Paul Busse's buildings are constructed from foam core and then his process is to use all natural items to create details. I assume they have been dipped or sprayed in polyurethane to be waterproof - not sure. I stumbled upon your videos and I love the simplicity of your building supplies and what you have been able to do with them. That being said, I thought my gingerbread houses might be just up your alley, being fantasy & trees, and I wanted to let you know that you have gotten me plotting and planning!
ReplyDelete