Welcome to manzanita! This is my crafty lifestyle blog where I come to share what keeps me happy, inspired, and creative. I hope you will find some inspiration of your own! I started manzanita, the blog as a way to promite manzanita, the shop and it has evolved to such a huge feature of my life!
This dreamboat is Dustin my husband. He is mentioned quite often and when my manzanita assitant (my baby sister Alysia) isn't behind the camera he is the one snapping my pictures.
We got married on 11-11-11 on an apple orchard with the Colorado mountains behind us. You can see our wedding video here and read more about the whole day here. Our wedding photographers were Amber & Jon of Live It Out Photo and I could not suggest anyone more, they were such a pleasure to have at our big day:)
Sadie and Olive are out little poodles that we call "The Poogles" if you follow me on instagram you probably know them very well.
This is Alysia, when I was 13 years old my mama gave birth to this pretty little girl. I was there and even got to cut her umbilical chord! Now she is 13 and we like to call her my manzanita assistant. She makes my life so much easier and is always completely goofy and supportive. Love her!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you crochet all your own pieces or do you have help?
I crochet all my own pieces, which is why my turn around time for custom orders is 4 weeks:) My little sister Alysia will sometimes help with packaging.
When did you start to crochet, who taught you?
I learned to knit when I was very young. My grandmother Rose taught me. When I was in middle school one of my dearest friends Tiffany taught me how to crochet and I have been doing it on and off ever since. I got really serious about it about 4 years ago when D and I were stuck inside our then upstate New York apartment through a awfully cold winter.
Is blogging and your shop your full time job?
I really wish! By day I work at a property management company as a leasing manager. I love my job but I do wish I had more time to dedicate to manzanita.
Is it hard to balance a full time job and manzanita?
Yes! Sometimes I forget that manzanita is work because I love it so much but I definitely have two full time jobs and it can sometimes make keeping myself physically active and maintaining a social life difficult. With this said I do adore every minute of the work that manzanita requires and I am more than willing to work as hard as I can now so that one day it can be my only work. Wish me luck!
Do you have any tips for bloggers or small business owners?
I still very new at all of this myself but you can read this feature on Just Lovely Things to see tips on blogging for your business. You can also read some tips on running a handmade shop here on Maie Dae.
What is your favorite yarn to use?
My two favorite brands are Lion Brand, especially Vanna's Choice and Hobby Lobby's I love this yarn. So soft!
What inspired you to start manzanita?
I found etsy through a friend and I just thought it would be fun to have a place to collect all my work. At first it was just for fun but now I want to make this part of my career. We are in the middle of an awesome handmade and entrepreneurial revolution and I am so excited to be a part of it!
Why did you choose to call your business manzanita?
My great grandmother's nickname was manzanita, which means little apple in Spanish. You can read the whole story here.
Who takes your pictures, What kind of camera do you use?
All photos of me are taken by my husband Dustin or my sister Alysia. All other photos are taken by me with my Canon EOS Rebel XS or my Canon EOS T3i. The lens I use almost always is my Canon 50mm f/1.8. I also love to shoot with my Diana mini, my Holga, or my 35mm Canon EOS Rebel XSn. I recently got back into film photography and I am in love. I edit my photos with Photoshop Elements 10. I also shoot all my video with my Canon T3i.
Did you go to college, what did you study?
I did. I got my B.A. from Naropa University in Creative Writing and Literature with a minor in Visual Arts. I loved it!
You incorporate Spanish into a lot of your blog, what is your ethnicity?
I am a halfy. My mother is Cuban. She was born there and moved to US pretty young. My father is Polish-Italian.
If you have any questions that are not answered here don't hesitate to throw me an email at rebeccacaridad@gmail.com or to ask me on Formspring.
What are some of your favorite blogs?
You can see my full list of daily reads here.
Interviews on...
Carly Kmyta (about me and Dustin)
Acabo de descubrirte y me he enamorado de todo lo que haces!
Posted by: Letmeeatcookies.blogspot.com | 23 August 2012 at 01:17 PM
You are so cute! :) x
Posted by: Zoë Winters | 29 April 2012 at 06:03 AM
I love this Rebecca. You did a great job of telling a story and keeping it focused on the real you as well as your art. So happy :)
Posted by: Amelia Kauffman | 27 April 2012 at 01:21 PM