I’ve always been in awe of anyone who is capable of knitting, crocheting or creating any other fiber or
textile art.  Hard as I’ve tried, I just can’t seem to get it right.  I’m lucky to crochet a straight chain stitch.  
It’s really rather sad.  
So, when I see someone who can not only knit, but can do it with a flair that is hard to overlook, I’m totally
amazed.  Such was the case when I stumbled across this member of the Earthpath Artisans Street Team
(EAST) who knits these unbelievable herb-filled Goddess Dolls.
I think I can honestly say that nobody knits like Greenfingers, AKA Michelle, who says of how she came to
make her Goddess Dolls, “I woke up one morning with the idea in my head, it was like the whole thing
just appeared, including how to do it.”
When asked how she first got into knitting, Michelle replied, “I started knitting because I love scarves!
But after I taught myself (using a book I borrowed from a coworker) I discovered I'm good at it and I love
it. My paternal grandmother taught me to embroider when I was a wee thing, and I've done it erratically
ever since. It's an incredibly slow process but it's very absorbing and I love the results.
“I have many mediums I like working with, mostly it's just very important to me to work with natural
materials. Synthetics just don't have the kind of energy I need to create something magical.”  
Her love of her chosen craft is obvious when she talks about what she does.  “I love the tactile nature of
what I do. Handling wool, silk, cotton, glass or gemstone beads, bells, and of course herbs and branches.
It's very sensual. Sometimes I just sit and handle the materials I work with and stare at them, it's like a
conversation with touch.”
Sometimes, though, we all need to de-stress.  Michelle gave up her secret willingly.  “ Watch movies or
play mindless puzzle games on the computer while listening to music I love. Or go outside and sit in the
grass or on the porch and watch the plants and birds. Or take a nap. It all depends on the source of the
stress. If it's really bad I take 10 drops of motherwort tincture!
Michelle lives in Western Oregon with her husband, 2 stepchildren, 3 cats and 10 chickens, and in her
spare time likes to I make jewelry for herself and friends as a hobby, rather than trying to sell it.   Some of
her other interests include  magic and spirituality, sustainable agriculture/permaculture, herbs, energy
work, stones and crystals, any and all textile arts.
This is obvious when you see the other items she offers  alongside the Goddesses.  She has the
loveliest beaded treasures and trinkets like these beautiful pouches that feature intricately beaded
designs, which she sells in her Etsy store, Greenfingers.
















Michelle opened her Etsy shop  in December of 2006 where she sells “items with a magical bent--
goddess figures, charms/talismans/amulets, smudge sticks, embroidered pouches, etc.”
That is so completely my kind of shop!  
“I'm trying to build a full time business, in conjunction with a healing practice I am starting,”  she says.  
Reiki and working with healing stones are just two of the healing  services she offers.
Etsy isn’t the only place you can see some of the fabulous work by this artist, though.
“So far I only sell on Etsy, and occasional fairs, etc., but I do have a Myspace page,  Flickr page, a blog
an Indiepublic page and a PaganSpace page.”
Michelle has recently begun offering a newsletter which offers shop updates, discounts, herbal magic
tidbits, and occasional freebies .  To sign up for it, simply convo her through her Etsy shop,
Greenfingers, with your e-mail address.
“Where do I expect to be in 1 year? 5 years? You know, every time I set up expectations or plans for
where I'm going to be, the universe blows me away by presenting situations I could never have dreamed
up! So I'll only say two things:

1) I expect it will just keep getting better and
2) I will be exactly where I need to be.”

Running your own business can often be incredibly draining on the creative process.  When she finds
herself needing to balance out her life and find a little inspiration, Michelle says, “Plants and trees are
my biggest inspiration. I'm endlessly fascinated by them, as is obvious from the motifs on most of my
embroidered items.
To be honest, my creative needs come first. Creation and healing are the core of who I am, they always
have been, and everything else takes a back seat to this. They are spiritual acts for me as well as a
means of supporting myself and something I enjoy doing. I'm very blessed to have a family that
understands and supports me in this. My husband is SO supportive and encouraging, and he shares in
all of the work of maintaining our household and caring for the children because he understands that
what I do is a full time job.”
Ever the creative soul, Michelle says, “I guess if I could make just one change in the world, I would want
everyone to be able to love themselves. Seriously, I think that would pretty much take care of all our
problems, or most of them, because people who truly love themselves (I'm not talking about being on an
ego trip, but about knowing who you are and loving yourself that way) don't need to do awful things to
others, don't need to hoard things, don't need to fight for no reason, etc.”













Michelle’s random question?  This one was fun!
If you could be any animal at all, what would it be and why?
“I'd be a crow. They can fly, they're beautiful, and they can survive ANYWHERE. They're amazingly
magical, and they always look like they're having fun.”
Summer Leaf
One of a Kind ACEO
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