Hall of Fame {Marjji}

Welcome back! Thanks for stopping by for this weeks Hall of Fame Interview and Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to be able to introduce you to these talented artists with their variety of handmade goods. Which brings us to this week's artist...

Meet Tamara, the skilled woman behind Marjji - the cutest little shop filled with her animal creations.

Tamara shares a bit about herself below...


What inspires you?
Inspiration comes from materials, process, and the ideas that creep into my mind. If I ‘get stuck’ …a trip to the thrift shop moves things right along.

Where do you call home?
Home is an area in Northern Ohio known as the Firelands. However, growing up, we call The Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania home because that is where my Parents and Grandmother who liked to sew cats lived.
What made you decide to open up shop?
I have a BFA in Printmaking Minor Ceramics and a Masters in Art Education from Kent State. I teach Middle School Art as a day job. Although, I do enjoy showing others how to make things and find the creative spirit…something was missing – I needed to make things. I discovered Etsy in March of 2008 and read the site like a book, textbook. I opened a shop in July of 2008. I was attracted to crafting in that one could put down a project, walk away and resume without a problem. Unlike painting and printmaking, which requires an uninterrupted thought process in my case. . . and so fiber arts, my secret love, was my Etsy shop idea. First came the Cats, a pattern I drew from a memory of little calico cats with a curl tail that my Grandmother made from extra fabric. Then came Wee Hedgehogs (originally a cat toy experiment) Owls and Bunnies. I look forward to many more wool discoveries and am thankful for the Etsy Venue.
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
My favorite thing about selling handmade is happiness - Happy customer and Happy me.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
As mentioned above, I teach Middle School Art as a day job. Sometimes I forget that it is work. I truly enjoy the energy of 10-14 year olds. For example, a boy once told me that writing about art is like painting with words. This year an 8th grade girl felt that we are what we make and we make what we are…I walk through those thoughts for a couple of days…
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
I wait all year to make Caprese Salad fresh from the garden…and this summer I will try my hand at making fresh mozzarella cheese.

What's on your playlist this week?
This week my little one has discovered Rock and Roll. So, Splish Splash, Wooly Bully, and Rockin’ Robin are house winners.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My favorite etsy shops: cathycullis & mummysam
Simply outstanding.
List ten of your most favorite things.
1. Marjji, my sweet little dog
2. Summer night scents
3. Fresh peaches
4. Happy children
5. Ocean water
6. First warm day in the spring
7. Caprese Salad
8. Finding things
9. Cozy bed
10. Making things
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I would very much like to visit the United Kingdom - my Father’s side of the family.

Giveaway Time!
One of Tamara's adorable Sugar Bunnies is up for grabs! Thank you, Tamara, for taking time to take part in this interview and offering one of your beautifully handcrafted critters.

Tell us what your favorite animal is! Maybe we'll see it in her shop one day...

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, and email address or Etsy username.

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog: 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Marjji: 10 additional entries
(Please include this info, if applicable, with your comment for additional entries. You do not need to leave separate comments for additional entries. Don't forget to include your name and contact info!)

Contest ends Sunday, June 28th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, June 29th.