About Us
Welcome to Think Crafts! Think Crafts is a blog for everyone who loves art, crafts, creative design, and working with their hands. It’s brought to you by CreateForLess, your one-stop art and craft supplies shop. Our goal is to create a unique place where people can come together to share their creative passions, plus get the latest trends, project ideas, tips and techniques. So we enlisted Maria Nerius, our resident art and craft expert to lead us on this new blogging adventure. Come join the fun!
Maria Nerius
I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a craft expert, but ended up in the craft industry quite by chance (I call it luck!) when I started selling handmade felt Christmas ornaments for extra spending money in 1981. I started crafting seriously right after college and turned the hobby into a career. I fell in love with the process of crafting and expressing creativity. I’ve done it all: professional crafting, teaching, demonstrating on TV, product development, product testing, writing articles, and writing craft books! I’ve even had the opportunity to create craft magazines like Stamp It! and Jewelry Creations. I’ve yet to meet an art or craft I didn’t enjoy!
No matter what the craft, I usually embark on projects that are keepsakes for family and friend gatherings. I end up making 12, 25, and even 150 items to give as gifts. I’ve done everything from mini scrapbook albums for a family reunion to scented tea candles for a bridal luncheon to silly pom pom keychains for an anniversary. My creative interests vary and I’m currently enjoying the resurgence of the needlearts (punch needle, embroidery, knitting, and hand felting) plus lampwork bead making, glass fusing, jewelry creation, handmade papermaking, and watercolors. I’ve been a heritage and genealogy scrapbooking enthusiast for years and enjoy rubberstamping for cardmaking, artist’s cards, and altered art. And I think indie crafts are so cool!
My deepest passion is craft education and I strive to bring the best art and craft knowledge to you through articles on CreateForLess.com. It’s a blast to be a part of the team as the site’s craft expert. I love spending time browsing all the great categories of supplies available. I often get inspired to create projects just by noticing a new product added or keeping up with what’s hot! At CreateForLess my job is to keep you updated on current craft and lifestyle trends, write a little tidbit for the weekly newsletter, and make sure you have the technique information you need to enjoy your art or craft of choice.
When not crafting I enjoy gardening, traveling and scuba diving. I’ve been to many dive sites in the British Virgin Islands, Chuuk (Truk Lagoon), Palau, The Bay Islands, and Key Largo. I have worked from home in central Florida for over 25 years. I get to enjoy my backyard view of tropical gardens, koi ponds, and 18 varieties of bamboo that act as a fence around the property. Nerius House is also the home of 2 sassy dachshunds and 2 laid back basset hounds. I’m blessed with a very patient husband who is also very talented in woodworking, stain glass, and model building.
I spent years fighting a losing battle to avoid technology and keep my trusted typewriter as my tool of communication, but once I let go of my fears and got my first computer, I’ve been excited about the possibilities that technology can enhance our creativity. I’m looking forward to exploring those possibilities with you through Think Crafts!