mominee
Ana White
category inspirational
website http://www.ana-white.com
Ms. Ana White (creator of Knock-Off Wood and admin of ana-white.com), is an amazing inspiration. A REAL mom, housewife, homeMAKER. As in, she MADE (built) her home alongside her husband while nursing her baby. She brought her "maker" abilities to us by creating EASY to follow plans to build our own furniture. She established an amazing community of friendly, helpful builders and enabled us to create LOVELY homes that we might not otherwise be able to afford. All this in a very UNintimidating and encouraging way. Ana White has brought STRENGTH and CONFIDENCE to many thousands of people (mostly women - stay-at-home-moms!) who SHOULD feel this way. Ana shares the ups and downs of her journey in her blog. She's personal, reachable, helpful, and most importantly, REAL.
37 Comments
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I’m so glad she is a nominee! Her website is wonderful
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If you are asking for a Mom that is changing the world, one mom at a time, it’s this woman. She is effecting thousands if not millions of women, telling them they can do something traditionally done by men. Who would have thought one mom from remote Alaska could turn so many Moms into carpenters? One look at Ana’s Facebook Page and Brag Blog, and you can see, she is making a real profound difference in Mom’s lives everywhere.
Ana effects Moms also by her generosity. She could have sold her plans, but choose to give them away. She refuses to charge readers anything, allows Moms to resale furniture made from her patterns freely, simply asking for credit if possible, encouraging Moms to earn extra income for their families.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Ana once briefly at a conference, and was blown away by how beautiful and quiet and humble she is in person. I felt like I was in the presence of a star, but she treated me like I was the star. Good luck Ana keep changing the world!
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Thank goodness for Ana!!! She has given me the courage to use power tools (and not just screwdrivers). And I have gotten so much done in my house instead of having to wait YEARS for my husband to get around to do it. It is also showing my daughter that women can do so much more than we are “suppose” to.
Thanks Ana!!! -
Ana inspires thousand of women and men to create their own solid wood furniture. Her designs and tutorials are free to all. She is sharing a great gift with all of us.
What is unique about Ana is her step by step directions with illustrations. I have many furniture design plans from other sources, but these usually have one illustration with an exploded view of the final piece. Ana takes you step by small step through every plan, empowering even the most reticent wanna be builder to start small and work on to bigger and better things.
The community she has built with her blogs and web posts is unique as well. Everyone is so supportive and helpful, encouraging each other to greatness by sharing their own project photos and discussing our learning experiences. Ana is the mom who has most greatly influenced me in the past year.
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Love Ana’s talent and craftiness. Glad that she shares with all of us! It has been so fun to build many of her plans together with my husband!!!! She is such an inspiration for all of us mamas, not just the stay-at-homes. She rocks it!! Thanks, Ana.
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She is an inspiration and she empowers people to make beautiful things…. not just buy them. I even send my men friends with a passion for building to Ana’s site.
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Ana’s whole story is an inspiration for all women. Of pursuing what inspires you, at the same time trying to balance being a Mom and wife and friend….. She is amazing and constantly reminds us what is most important in life…..and encouraging us to keep trying.
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I wish I wish I had her skills. She is an inspiration to me. I love following her stories. Love her building plans. I’m going to be building more furniture for my children.
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She is an inspiration to women and men alike with her “you can do it!” attitude. She helps people acheive tasks they may have thought far beyond their skills with her positivity and encouragement. Way to go Ana!!
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She makes me realize that I can make the things that we need and want. Thanks Ana. I check your site everyday. There are so many things I want to build.
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Ana has opened my eyes to the world of building my own furniture, inspiring me to be creative, challenging me to step out of my box and reach higher! This spills over to other areas of my life as well. Thank you, Ana, for demo-ing your “box” so many of us could learn from you!
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I asked Ana to come to our moms group in Alaska to teach the women to build a simple shelf. We had a diverse group of women with many different backgrounds (military wives to professionals to women who had lived in dry cabins in the wilds of Alaska). Many of the group had never held a tool period much less a power tool. Through Ana we helped dozens of women learn that they could do for themselves and have since started building their own furniture. It has given them a sense of self sufficiency. A few of the women had husbands that were deployed and were grateful for the chance to use power tools and build something in a welcoming atmosphere. Ana is changing how moms and women everywhere view themselves and raising their confidence level. Just look at her blog she is even getting men who havent ever held a power tool to pick one up and build!
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Ana has touched so many people at different skill levels and inspires everyone to do more than we ever thought possible.
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I am so grateful to Ana for changing my life! I am a single mom and I used to always beg my dad to do repairs or projects for me, and longingly flip through Pottery Barn furniture, day dreaming about my never in a million years dream home. Well, now I can fix anything I want, when I want to! And even better, build any furniture I need, even as gifts for others! My friends and family are always joking I can do anything a man can do, better. But best of all, Ana inspired a love of carpentry and do it yourself in me that I can share with my son, so he doesn’t miss out on that aspect of not having a dad, at least. I taught him how to set a nail, use a tape measure, the difference between a philips and flat head screwdriver, always wear goggles…and so much more, with hopefully lots more fun together to come! Thank you Ana for making my life so much better and more fulfilled!
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Because my comment on Aug 18th not showed up
I do it again:Ana White does that Worldwide!!!
Palma
Amsterdam
The Netherlands -
Ana has been a great inspiration!! I had taken an industrial arts class in high school 25 years ago and never really built anything since. Ana is encouraging, sweet and gives great advice! I’m truly amazed at all she must do during a single day, raise children, build houses, build projects and maintain an awesome website/facebook page. I think the people at work and my boyfriend are getting tired of me talking about all the building projects I have on my wishlist from Ana’s site! Or when I talk about what I’m currently building. LOL I think they think this is just a phaze, but I’m afraid it’s a life long hobby and I am grateful to Ana for that. I’ve become addicted to sawdust!
Thanks Ana! I hope you get this honor because you truly deserve it!! Even though I have never met you, I feel like we are friends and I’ve learned so much from you!! Hugs! -
Ana White is a true inspiration for women of all ages. All you have to do is throw aside the misgivings you may have about your abilities and take the plunge.
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Ana has proved time and time again, that anything he can do, I can do better! Seriously, so many woman stand by and let the men in their lives take care of fixing the house up because that’s the standard way of doing things. Well, Ana is here to show the world that women are just as capable as men and sometimes MORE capable because not only is Ana making furniture but she is also creating pieces of art. I have learned ALOT from Ana over the past few years and I’m happy and PROUD to say that I’ve made several of the pieces she has shared BY MYSELF and with the help of my young daughter! No help from the hubby! Ana has given my confidence in myself as a mother, wife, woman. Because of Ana, I have helped my husband in making our house a home not just with our family and memories but with pieces of usable art and on a budget!
Thank you Ana!
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I have built several of Ana’s projects and she has indeed changed my world – my immediate world in my home as well as my confidence in my own abilities. Ana’s contribution to the world is remarkable and I am very glad she is a Mominee! Good Luck, Ana!
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Yay for Ana! She breaks down everything she does so us mere mortals can follow along and build wonderful things too! LOVE HER!
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Ana White – what an amazing whoa-man. She takes crafting to a whole new level. I am ever grateful for her willingness to put so much time and effort in providing plans and inspiration to many!
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Ana is amazing! She is very selfless in sharing her skills, knowledge and life with many women in the world. As a stay-at-home Mom I find inspiration in her honest, open approach to sharing her skills and knowledge with the world! My sister sent me the link to Ana’s blog and her amazing projects! WOW, Ana is not afraid to tackle things I have only dreamed of building. She gives the every day stay-at-home Mom encouragement and a positive example of just what we can do as Mother’s who seek to provide a wonderful life for our families. Thank you Ana.
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Ana. Is helping me with projects around my house and my family are the beneficiaries.
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Talk about a motivational mom!! Spend 10 minutes at her website and you will want to revamp your entire home. She brings Home making to a whole new level. Thank You Ana for giving me inspiration and direction to be a better wife and a better mom, stretching my dollar and shining creativity into my everyday!
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Ana is not only an inspiration to women … I have been following her Mums House blog and it has been very helpful in my own building plans for a new home for my sister! Lots of other build-it projects and links have been helpful along the way.
Positive Energy? That’s Ana!
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i just recently googled onto anna’s website. it is one of the best how to sites for constructing your own furniture. i was amazed and inspired by the fact that it was created by a woman. you rarely find the type of information found on her website for free. it is a great resource for any one wanting to build something for themselves either for the sense of accomplishment, out of necessity, or for what ever reason. best of all, her website is a testimony of how many lives she has already inspired and continues to touch….most recently my own.
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Love Ana White! Love her!
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Great plans! Ana white has inspired me to be a better “homemaker” and build cool stuff for my family!
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Ana is awe inspiring. Before Ana I never would have thought that I could build beautiful furniture; she has made that thought a possibility. Thank you Ana for all that you do. You have made me rethink myself and my possibilities.
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She has plans and wooden creations that any woman or man can build. Ana, you have changed my life with your can do attitude and your free plans for just about everything. Thank you for empowering the un-handy everywhere.
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I love ana white. Because of her plans I found a new love in building furniture and have more confidence to try more things outside of my comfort zone.
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Ana White has inspired and empowered me to try something new, and I found I love it! I feel a huge accomplishment when I make something my family needs for so much less than I could find anywhere else, and I can make it the way I want it (color, finishing, etc.). I am anxiously awaiting a little cooler weather to start on the next projects I’m ready for! SO excited!
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Ana makes changing our homes easier than ever before. We CAN do it. Thanks, Ana!
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ana has inspired me to make things i’ve had never belived i am capable of doing…. many greetings from croatia….
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Ana is talented, generous and a godsend to the DIY community. I hope she keeps up the great work she is doing.
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From the second I “met” Ana, she has inspired me in many ways. A true leader and friend who provides not only her knowledge but encouragement for Mom’s everywhere! I had the opportunity to teach my daughter in law about building and really got to spend some quality time with her as well. My husband and I are empty nester’s and use Ana’s plans and guidance to spend quality time together! If it weren’t for Ana, I would have never attempted to build anything.
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So inspiring. I am encouraged, and motivated to build something because of her.
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