Claire Martin

Claire Martin owns Horizontal Designs, and crochet and does other artisan crafts from home.

Horizontal Designs was created after Claire started selling custom crochet and jewelry pieces she had been making for friends from home while recovering from a long (really long!) hospital stay. Before Horizontal Designs, she owned a successful floral design business that was featured in national magazines and was very active in the local wedding/event industry. The design business had to shut down when Claire suddenly was hospitalized for 9 months during the pregnancy of her second child which caused a major flare up of a chronic health condition she had been living with for over a decade.

Design and art and creating beautiful and funky fun things is in Claire's blood, so when she had to adapt to her new health situation (which has thankfully improved), Claire began crocheting and creating new things from home.

Prior to her floral design business, Claire was a published research scientist studying marine biology. She loves the ocean, science, and nature, so many of her designs carry these themes. She also loves funky whimsical stuff, steampunk Victorian style, geeky things, vintage and rockabilly fashion. And pirates absolutely rule.

Claire's business is named Horizontal Designs in honor of her condition, Dysautonomia, which causes people to faint (among other things) and end up horizontal. She is luckily on the mend, but this name honors those that are still struggling with being vertical on a daily basis, it can be a very debilitating condition. She helped found and is president of a nonprofit that helps patients and educates medical professionals with her condition, Dysautonomia SOS, so partial proceeds from the awareness and charity line go to support this cause.

Links:

• Blog
• Facebook
• Etsy

Patterns on AllFreeCrochet:

1. Anchor Crochet Applique
2. Vintage Ruffled Curtain Tie Backs
3. The Dude Scarf
4. Lacy Spring Evening Scarf
5. One Skein Baby Bib
6. Crochet and Fabric Bow Headband
7. Zig Zag Watermelon Cowl
8. Snazzy Baby Doll Dress
9. 10-Minute Crocheted Headband
10. Grand Canyon Cowl
11. Twinkle Toes Toddler Slippers
12. Heavenly Crochet Baby Blanket
13. Lightweight Simple Sashay Scarf (no ruffles!)
14. Single Skein Baby Beanie
15. The Dude Hat
16. The Gabriella Blanket