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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / featured artist / {Featured Artist: Made Mary}

{Featured Artist: Made Mary}

May 14, 2010 ·
Filed Under: featured artist

This giveaway is now closed!

Here at Gussy has a lot to say {and sew} we love to look at all things beautiful. Beautiful projects, beautiful colors, beautiful stories about finding joy and inner creativity.

Today is week #22 of my series on Featured Artists, which is a bi-monthly event showcasing fun and sassy handmade shops! I love searching for new wares to show the Gussy community. You can read all back Featured Artist posts by clicking here.

Please join me in welcoming Mary at Made Mary.

***

What inspires you?

Combinations of colors and light — usually something outdoors gets me thinking, but it could be a picture in a gallery or a snippet of conversation!

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?

We currently live in Lewisburg, PA but I grew up in southwestern Virginia originally — and I miss the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Share an interesting fact about yourself.

I have a collection of antique guidebooks to Venice, one of my favorite cities.

How did you come up with your shop name?

When I first joined Etsy, it was as a buyer and I never thought about what would make a good shop name. When I did open my shop, all the “made by Mary” variations were taken and I liked that “made mary” sounded like “made merry” — I love the thought that my items might make someone merry!

Share a little bit about yourself.

I am currently a stay-at-home mom, staying busy homeschooling and gardening. I used to be a college professor and it has taken me a few years to not get butterflies in my stomach when the end of the summer rolls around. I have been friends for over 20 years with Mary from New Hampshire — who is crafty in the most wonderful way and who suggested I make something for my shop for special celebrations. She inspired me to make garlands.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?

I hope one day I can say “resilient” — but I have some work to do to get there!

What made you decide to open up shop?

I needed to have some way to recover the costs of all the fabric and craft supplies I was buying! And I get such delight from the handmade things in my home that I wanted to have a larger part in the crafting community.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.

Selling handmade gives me a chance to play and be creative and, I hope, to bring some joy to other people.

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.

It is very hard to choose, because there are so many lovely things in our home from Etsy. But we do especially love our wobbly plates and bowls from BB at atelierBB.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.

Walking, gardening, reading, playing boardgames with my family, talking to my friends, making Etsy treasuries!

Read any good books lately?

Yes! I found “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” really gave me optimism about the future, and in regard to crafts, I have enjoyed looking through Jane Brocket’s “The Gentle Art of Domesticity.”

What is your most prized possession?

If I disregard the really important things, like baby pictures of my son… it’s my bed linens, especially the duvet — very silly but every night it feels like such a pleasure to curl up underneath its warm, but light-weight coziness. Even my son will often ask to sleep in our bed (even though he has his own comforter), just to enjoy it.

What are three of your favorite foods?

Beside chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate? I shouldn’t eat very many of these, but fleur de sel caramels are wonderful. And I love salads.

What would you like to learn to do?

I would like to learn how to play a stringed instrument — like a cello, or maybe guitar.

What are you listening to right now?

My husband saying goodnight to my son! We recently discovered a great guitarist named Lily Afshar – whose CD “A Jug of Wine and Thou” is great.

***

The Giveaway Goods:

Mary is giving away a Summer Garland
{If you’d like you may choose moss green or sepia brown thread instead of silver.}

To enter:

Leave a comment sharing how you’d use the garland in your home.

For extra entries {leave a comment for each}:

  • Tweet about this: Enter to win a felted garland for your home via @GussySews’ blog http://u.nu/4brs9
  • Blog about it {please share permalink}

EXTRA INFO:

  • The giveaway will close Sunday, May 16 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
  • An email address must be listed on your blog profile or in the comment you leave

***

Please check back Thursday, May 27 for another Featured Artist post!
*note the one-time day change — Thursday instead of Friday…

—
Additional links for Made Mary:
Inspiration 1
Inspiration 2

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Filed Under: featured artist

« {24 hours to go!}
{While Gus is away…} »
51 Comments
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Amanda
Amanda
12 years ago

How adorable! I would love to hang the garland up in my daughter’s playroom! So fun and colorful!
amanda_bryant@snet.net

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Amanda
Amanda
12 years ago

Tweet, Tweet, Tweeted! http://twitter.com/NavyLady6894/status/13971294797

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Jules T
Jules T
12 years ago

I love the garland! It would be the perfect accent to my fireplace mantle this summer.

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Christy
Christy
12 years ago

Oh my! How cute! I could definatly use one of hers garlands to perk up my craft room.

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Melinda
Melinda
12 years ago

That garland is awesome! I have this little window into my dining room off my entry way, and I would hang it there. Love it!

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Melinda
Melinda
12 years ago

Tweeted @mstacer

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Kayla
Kayla
12 years ago

ohhh, I would string it in my kitchen window right in front of my sink.. this would make washing dishes a bit more exciting :)

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Pamela
Pamela
12 years ago

Enjoying the whimsy of the garland. And yes, I am merrier for it! Would love the moss thread.

Thank you for sharing your talent.

beehope3 at gmail (dot) com

0
amy @ twirl bird's blog
amy @ twirl bird's blog
12 years ago

Oooooh, I love these!

And I’m a SW Virginia native too. Love those Blue Ridge Mountains. :)

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Kaira
Kaira
12 years ago

I’d hang it in my living room by the felted alpaca wool balls I just felted recently.

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Jingle
Jingle
12 years ago

Oh, this garland is absolutely LOVELY! I have a GIANT bulletin board in my studio that SO needs some dressing up! This would be perfect strung across the top of it!!!! PERFECT!

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Allison
Allison
12 years ago

This makes me think of happiness. I would put the garland in my home office which is painted royal blue with white trim. It would look like little bits of happiness floating in water.

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Candice
Candice
12 years ago

I love the garland! The summer strand would be a perfect addition above the window in my kitchen! Thank you for this opportunity! :)

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Kelly O.
Kelly O.
12 years ago

I would string it from the light fixture i the dining room to add a pop of colour!

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Maryanne
Maryanne
12 years ago

How cute! I think I would hang it in my dining room so I could smile at it every day!

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DrayaAnn
DrayaAnn
12 years ago

I LOVE the garland. I would drap it over my bed and fall asleep looking up at it!
Oh I twittered about the give away too!

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Alisha in Ohio
Alisha in Ohio
12 years ago

So beautiful!

I would either hang them over my bookcase or display with my needles in a bowl in my Knitting/Sewing Room! And then definitely pull them out as a centerpiece in the summer on my kitchen table!

0
Alisha in Ohio
Alisha in Ohio
12 years ago

Tweedle dee dee! Tweet Tweet!

http://twitter.com/imabuckeye/status/13981112145

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susan r
susan r
12 years ago

I would use it the master bedroom. The walls are desperate for color!

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Valerie S
Valerie S
12 years ago

These are so cute! I would use it in my kitchen, we have a sliding glass door I would hang it over.

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Goldie
Goldie
12 years ago

I would put it in my daughter’s room..She would love it…

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holly p
holly p
12 years ago

Cute garland and great feature! I’d hang it in my sewing room.

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Ashley G.
Ashley G.
12 years ago

I would most likely hang it on the window in my kitchen. It would look really good there.

ashley.garrett@ymail.con

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Tonya Brown
Tonya Brown
12 years ago

my 15 yr old daughter would love to have these in here newly painted bedroom.
thanks for the chance to win.

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Nicole
Nicole
12 years ago

Oo, how cute! I would hang them in the baby’s room for a punch of color or over the opening between our dining room and kitchen. :)

0
rebecca g
rebecca g
12 years ago

cute! i’d hang this in my daugter’s bedroom!
rgridley at gmail dot com

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April in CT
April in CT
12 years ago

These are absolutely adorable! I would probably string it across our dark brick fireplace to brighten it up for summer. *crosses fingers* So cute!

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Christy Stout
Christy Stout
12 years ago

I would use this to dress up our daughter’s room :)

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Kirsten
Kirsten
12 years ago

definitely in my bedroom on my curtains–they would look perfect with the blue!

0
Elizabeth Johnson (Toile)
Elizabeth Johnson (Toile)
12 years ago

What a nice interview… I would put this garland in our bedroom over the window. It is so pretty!

0
robin
robin
12 years ago

just tweeted!
@wellofcreations
wellofcreations@gmail.com

0
robin
robin
12 years ago

I have a friend who is buying her dream house and she closes at the end of the month-I would gve it to her as a housewarming gift: she would LOVE IT!

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aimee
aimee
12 years ago

This garland is BEAUTIFUL! I would LOVE to win it and would use it at my WEDDING!
Thanks for sharing such a lovely post!

Have a great weekend!
Love
Aimee
x

0
Deborah
Deborah
12 years ago

How happy and cheery! Love the bright colors. I know just where I would hang that in my living room to greet visitors.

Deborah
comfortjoydesigns AT gmail DOT com

Michigan Addy Ready

0
lis
lis
12 years ago

very cute! I think they would be cute out on the deck by the bbq. so festive!

0
trackback
{While Gus is away…}
12 years ago

[…] the Featured Artist giveaway: Made Mary {closes Sunday @ 10 pm […]

0
Paige
Paige
12 years ago

This would be so cute on my little back porch! Thanks for the chance.

epfaulkner at gmail dot com

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sam
sam
12 years ago

I would give it to my daughter, for her room. It would look adorable above her bed.

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Amanda
Amanda
12 years ago

I’d string it across my wall right by my bed. I had meant to hang christmas lights this past christmas and never got around to it so the hooks are still up waiting for something pretty to hold on to. Lovely garlands. Thanks for sharing!

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Heather
Heather
12 years ago

Very cute! Thanks!

hyoung717(at)gmail(dot)com

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Elizabeth
Elizabeth
12 years ago

Love this!
This garland would be the inspiration used for decorating my son’s room!

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Megan Lane
Megan Lane
12 years ago

CUTE! i think i’d hang it above my desk to add some color to my little corner. and i’d move it to our back garden when we have outdoor gatherings :)

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Tammy
Tammy
12 years ago

These are so cute. Love the colors. I would drape them from my kitchen chandelier.

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thepricklypinecone
thepricklypinecone
12 years ago

I would hang this in our entry way to bring some cheer when anybody came through the front door!

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Tara
Tara
12 years ago

I would use the garland in my (future) daughter’s bedroom

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Tara
Tara
Reply to  Tara
12 years ago

my email is corsair4christ@yahoo.com

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Stephanie C.
Stephanie C.
12 years ago

I would use the garland in the play area!

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Michelle Myers
Michelle Myers
12 years ago

Looks lovely for my kid’s playroom! :)

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