We are happy to welcome Ellen Gormley to our circle of talented mamas. Ellen is a crochet designer and author and can be found at www.gocrochet.com

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Hi Ellen. Thank you so much for being a part of our Renaissance Mom series! Why don’t you tell us how you got into crafting.

I don’t remember ever not being into crafting. Crafting was a big part of our Girl Scout troop in elementary school. My Mom was always doing some craft and generally hopping from one to the other. Sewing and crochet were probably her two favorite crafts but it was not unusual to see her doing embroidery, macramé, candlewicking, cross- stitch, and knit. One summer she outfitted me with a supply of crafting kits and advised me to ration them out to last the whole summer but it was hard to hold back. I gave up crafting in high school and turned to photography. I started college pursuing a fine arts degree in photography which required me to take color theory, basic design, painting, drawing, sculpture and a Fabric design class. Being able to make an embroidery/stitchery in my Fabric Design class re-introduced me to concept that craft and art belong together.

You are a crochet designer and author, under the name Go Crochet. How did this come about?

I chose GoCrochet for my blog name because it was short, memorable, easy to spell, and "GO" is the first part of Gormley. When I was able to write the book, I was hoping that my blog followers would be able to find the book more easily if it had "Go Crochet" in the title. Also, I hoped fans of the book would find the blog. GoCrochet is also my name on Twitter, Facebook, Craftsy, etc.

Are you a work-at-home mom or do you have a work space out of the home? If you are a work-at-home mom, how do you juggle your work duties with your mom duties?

I keep changing my job title, currently I like "Work while Home Mom". I have an office at home, though the truth is, I use the entire house as my office. When the kids are home from school, I try to be where they are. I bring my work and laptop to the living room, my crochet to the soccer field, I take photos of projects in the dining room because that is where the light is best… it's all about flexibility. It's difficult to manage the home and work duties. I try very hard to stop working when the kids come home and pick up work again when the kids go to bed. The truth is sometimes I'm crocheting while we play Monopoly or while they are doing their homework.

What inspires your creativity?

Animals, colors, and nature inspire me. Birds and all their magnificent color patterns are very inspiring. Snakes also have a huge variety of color shape patterns that I find fascinating. I see patterns in brick walkways and tile mosaics. We had a rather dense foggy day the other day and it made me think of how I might interpret fog in crochet. I'm also inspired by people. I enjoy thinking of a specific person when I make a new design. What would she wear? What color would she like?

What do you think has been your biggest struggle as a working mom?

My biggest struggle as a working mom is feeling like I'm not fully present even when I am present. Owning your own creative business is so all-encompassing that my mind is sometimes on work. Still, I believe that showing my children dedication, perseverance, hard-work, enjoying your work, are all good things.

What are your goals for yourself or your business for your future?

My goals are to have a series of books. I'd like to be more dedicated to spending time in my 'office' rather than the living room. I'd like to learn all aspects of publishing. I'd like to do more travel.

What other hobbies do you like to dabble in? What is your favorite way to relax?

I wish I had time for other crafts. I'd like to expand my sewing skills. I am an avid reader in my spare time. Somehow I still manage to read at least 30 minutes a day. Also, I'm an aspiring runner. I always feel empowered after going for a jog. I'm active at the kids' school working in the library, on the Education Committee, and as Assistant Volleyball Coach.

Do you have any advice to give other women that are interested in starting their own small business?

Visualize your perfect day and make steps that will get you there. Make goals out of things you can control. You can't control who publishes or buys your work, but you can control that you can submit to three new potential clients per quarter. Keep records as if you are a corporation… because you are! Don't give away too much for free, always think of ROI (return on investment) when you buy tools/activities/classes for your business.

What is your favorite game to play with your kids?

Our kids are 8 and 10 and our new favorite game is Monopoly. I love seeing them count money and talking about whether or not they have enough money to buy what they want. We also love Apples to Apples, which is really terrific when the whole extended family gets together. Everyone can play and it often makes us laugh.

This has been great, Ellen. Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

I try to have an attitude of learning. I want to study my craft and be open to knowing there is always more to learn.