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.
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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
*note the one-time day change — Thursday instead of Friday…
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Additional links for Made Mary:
Inspiration 1
Inspiration 2
How adorable! I would love to hang the garland up in my daughter’s playroom! So fun and colorful!
amanda_bryant@snet.net
Tweet, Tweet, Tweeted! http://twitter.com/NavyLady6894/status/13971294797
I love the garland! It would be the perfect accent to my fireplace mantle this summer.
Oh my! How cute! I could definatly use one of hers garlands to perk up my craft room.
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!
Tweeted @mstacer
ohhh, I would string it in my kitchen window right in front of my sink.. this would make washing dishes a bit more exciting :)
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
Oooooh, I love these!
And I’m a SW Virginia native too. Love those Blue Ridge Mountains. :)
I’d hang it in my living room by the felted alpaca wool balls I just felted recently.
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!
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.
I love the garland! The summer strand would be a perfect addition above the window in my kitchen! Thank you for this opportunity! :)
I would string it from the light fixture i the dining room to add a pop of colour!
How cute! I think I would hang it in my dining room so I could smile at it every day!
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!
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!
Tweedle dee dee! Tweet Tweet!
http://twitter.com/imabuckeye/status/13981112145
I would use it the master bedroom. The walls are desperate for color!
These are so cute! I would use it in my kitchen, we have a sliding glass door I would hang it over.
I would put it in my daughter’s room..She would love it…
Cute garland and great feature! I’d hang it in my sewing room.
I would most likely hang it on the window in my kitchen. It would look really good there.
ashley.garrett@ymail.con
my 15 yr old daughter would love to have these in here newly painted bedroom.
thanks for the chance to win.
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. :)
cute! i’d hang this in my daugter’s bedroom!
rgridley at gmail dot com
These are absolutely adorable! I would probably string it across our dark brick fireplace to brighten it up for summer. *crosses fingers* So cute!
I would use this to dress up our daughter’s room :)
definitely in my bedroom on my curtains–they would look perfect with the blue!
What a nice interview… I would put this garland in our bedroom over the window. It is so pretty!
just tweeted!
@wellofcreations
wellofcreations@gmail.com
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!
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
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
very cute! I think they would be cute out on the deck by the bbq. so festive!
This would be so cute on my little back porch! Thanks for the chance.
epfaulkner at gmail dot com
I would give it to my daughter, for her room. It would look adorable above her bed.
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!
Very cute! Thanks!
hyoung717(at)gmail(dot)com
Love this!
This garland would be the inspiration used for decorating my son’s room!
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 :)
These are so cute. Love the colors. I would drape them from my kitchen chandelier.
I would hang this in our entry way to bring some cheer when anybody came through the front door!
I would use the garland in my (future) daughter’s bedroom
my email is corsair4christ@yahoo.com
I would use the garland in the play area!
Looks lovely for my kid’s playroom! :)