Who? Jean Roat AKA Crystal Kini, 37
Where? Suburbs of Philly. Born here, and lived here most of my life!
What do you do? I do all kinds of artsy and crafty things! I'm a Tribal Style Belly Dancer and I design and make Bellydance accessories and costume pieces including my exclusive line of Interchangeable costuming accessories... Clippy Bits (they are fun for non-dancers too... check them out www.crystalkini.com).
One day a week, you'll find me in front of a quilting class teaching people who are older than I am! It's fun to show them all the in's and out's of this diversified fiber art! Traditional or Art quilts... doesn't matter – they can all be funky! It also gives me a feeling of connectedness with women of that past. I
coordinate a monthly sewing group that makes quilts for kids in need, every month I design a quilt and cut about 30 quilt kits... our fabulous quilters sew them up. They are distributed to children in hospitals, in the 'system' and anyone who needs them! I am the primary in a quilt making business. www.quiltmasters.net. We are a cooperative of woman who make custom quilts... Ask Andrea about our quilts... she has one!! ;-) In addition for fun I've been known to pick up some yarn and play with it... I've designed a few loom knitting patterns, knit a few sweaters, and crocheted a bit! But, most importantly... I'm a mom and I am guiding my children's young minds. The greatest creation - children.
What inspires you? OH... Inspiration comes from everywhere. It could be the colors of the sunset or a book of ancient architecture; a piece of fabric or a new yarn can inspire me! I got into the yarn arts because of one skein of yarn that was on clearance! I never had an interest before that... but from that one skein, I had to learn! I learned how to crochet, knit and loom knit all in one week! I had to use that yarn- I ended up making a sweater out of it (and 14 of it's sisters- gathered from 3 different stores!). Since that point... many other yarns have inspired me too. Sometimes inspirations become a compulsion...I just have to make it. It gives me so much happiness to create unique things...designing is my primary joy (for now). Inspiration can also come from the desire to see how 'it' will turn out-whatever 'it' may be. It's exciting to see how something will work up in a design and the surprise when it's different from what you expected, yet still awesome!
Why are you fly? I'm fly because I can't be held down. I just have to do things that compel or inspire me. I have always lived by Nike's slogan 'Just do it' (even before it belonged to them!). I follow my heart and my gut and it seems to work for me.
Advice: Follow your dreams... They will lead you to where you should be! Find your confidence and surround yourself with those who are confident, as well as supportive of your confidence. You can do whatever you want if you put your mind in it. I know it sounds so cliché ... but it's true- REALLY!
