Monday, June 22, 2009

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.

100 comments:

dyanna said...

I like your blog.I'm waiting for your new posts.

throuthehaze said...

Pandas are my fave animal!
Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

I am a cat lover like my mom and these cats are Adorable!! Thanks for introducing me to this great artist.

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

I am a follower! Thank you.

Tickleworm said...

I love dogs, whales, birds, and recently LOVE guinea pigs, I can't wait until my son is old enough to get him one. :)
rachelherzog@bellsouth.net

Tickleworm said...

I am following!
Rachel
rachelherzog@bellsouth.net

Stephanie said...

My favorite animals are bunnies which is why I'm so excited about this giveaway. I have a lop eared bunny.

lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com

♥ meninheira ♥ said...

My favorite animals are dogs and cats :D

Meni
meninheira at gmail dot com

minishoes1 said...

I love dogs! Mine sleeps with me. lol great giveaway! jacquecurl1@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite animal is such a difficult question... and after much pondering, my answer still ends in a tie between cats and foxes. Oh my I love them both!

malfie said...

Greetings from Canada what a great contest.My favourite animals are deer they are sooo beautiful I love their long ears and big brown eyes.Thanks.Helen

Catherine Ivins said...

I have saved 3 turtles this week - they keep throwing themselves in front of my car! - so I will say turtles! Love all her work- I follow your blog and will tweet this!

xo- Cat :)

janil said...

Dogs, cats and horses are my favourites...

Wonderful shop, I love it! Thanks for the chance!

cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

janil said...

Follower!

cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

__ said...

My favorite animal is the sugar glider! They're so cute!!!

Bella

thelittlebudget(at)gmail(dot)com

__ said...

I follow!

Entry #1

__ said...

I follow!

Entry #2

__ said...

I follow!

Entry #3

__ said...

I follow!

Entry #4

__ said...

I follow!

Entry #5

JaMean said...

My favorite animal is a dog. Loyal, fun and sweet! :)

Carapace said...

My favorite animal is...the koatamundi! It's got a ring tail, and a long twitchy snoot, and is just generally wonderful.

After that...maybe a Fennec Fox? Those great big ears!:D

That bunny is so sweet--and the hedgehogs are making me swoon!

carapacenator(at)gmail.com

doodypops said...

My favorite animal today is the chipmunk! they are so cute and colorful. They always look good in their stripes. I will follow the bog AND tweet about this because I have had a listing of a hedgehog open on my computer for weeks. It sold, but they all have such different personalities so I am sure one will come along for me!
Wow 7 entries, fingers crossed!

Andrea Hatfield said...

Cats are my favorite animal.

Andrea
simplyandreah at gmail dot com

paleseptember said...

cats are my favorite!

caitlin h.
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com

Tylerpants said...

I like foxes!
Lisa (tylerpants(at)gmail.com)

Tylerpants said...

I'm a new follower! #1

Tylerpants said...

I'm a new follower! #2

Tylerpants said...

I'm a new follower! #3

Tylerpants said...

I'm a new follower! #4

Tylerpants said...

I'm a new follower! #5

Nicole Mather said...

I love the platypus..they are so hard to find in the wild here in Australia as they are very shy, but once in a lifetime you may spot one..and what a moment it is when you do.

Heather Leavers said...

my favourite animal (duh) is a meerkat. I'd love to follow your blog but can't find a follow button (am I going blonde?) and I have tweeted about the giveaway. http://twitter.com/NiftyKnits
You can find me at www.niftyknits.co.uk

Aik said...

Little chicks! Just love those yellow furballs!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follower #1

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follower #2

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follower #3

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follower #4

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Follower #5

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

https://twitter.com/aikychien/status/2309034701

First tweet.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

https://twitter.com/aikychien/status/2309034701

Second tweet.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Dongedy said...

Your items are so cute !
I love white bears...

;)


dongedy at yahoo dot fr

ZenithJade said...

I love cats, but since you already make kitties, how about llamas? :)

I also signed up to follow this blog & twittered the contest! :D

<3,
Andrea
http://ZenithJade.etsy.com/
zenithjade@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

These critters are just too cute! I'd love to see a monkey in Marjji's shop!

Kara
kara(dot)annis(at)gmail(dot)com

rubymoon said...

Cats are my favorite animal but also penguins rate pretty high on the list and monkeys.

espressogurl at hotmail dot com


Ally M

rubymoon said...

New follower. (rubymoon/Ally/Blogger)

entry 1

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Ally M

rubymoon said...

New follower. (rubymoon/Ally/Blogger)

entry 2

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Ally M

rubymoon said...

New follower. (rubymoon/Ally/Blogger)

entry 3

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Ally M

rubymoon said...

New follower. (rubymoon/Ally/Blogger)

entry 4

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Ally M

rubymoon said...

New follower. (rubymoon/Ally/Blogger)

entry 5

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Ally M

Maminka Girl - Loribeth Robare said...

lovely use of wool...would love to see a wooly porcupine.

Loribeth

Sydney said...

Penguins are my favorite. (I especially love the Wee Hedgehog - Spectator Houndstooth from Tamara's shop)

Sydney S
scoobidoo540@aol.com

Sydney said...

I follow your blog

Sydney S
scoobidoo540@aol.com

Unknown said...

Those are some of the cutest creations! My favorite animal is the panda bear. stef4916@ gmail . com

trixx said...

My fave animal is the owl! Lea: trixpixel(at)gmail.com

trixx said...

I'm a new follower! 1

trixx said...

I'm a new follower! 2

trixx said...

I'm a new follower! 3

trixx said...

I'm a new follower! 4

trixx said...

I'm a new follower! 5

babalisme said...

I love dogs so much, any breeds, but I'd like her to make hedgehogs too!

babalisme said...

I'm already a follower #1

babalisme said...

I'm already a follower #2

babalisme said...

I'm already a follower #3

babalisme said...

I'm already a follower #4

babalisme said...

I'm already a follower #5

Noble Beeyotch said...

Lion happens to be my fav animal!

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower 1

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower2

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower 3

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower 3

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower 4

Noble Beeyotch said...

follower 5

Käthe said...

Giraffe! I think you'd make a fantastic giraffe!!

Christy Lee said...

Bunnies and giraffes!

Thanks for the giveaway!
Christy

Christy Lee said...

Follower 1

Christy Lee said...

Follower 2

Christy Lee said...

Follower 3

Christy Lee said...

Follower 4

Christy Lee said...

Follower 5~

kiddomerriweather said...

My favorite animal at the moment is the bat.

http://kiddo47.etsy.com

kiddomerriweather said...

I tweeted about this giveaway.

http://twitter.com/kiddo47/status/2362511090

http://kiddo47.etsy.com

Julie said...

i love koala bears

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

# 1 follower

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

2 follower

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

#3 follower


aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

4 follower


aunteegem@yahoo.com

Julie said...

5 follower

aunteegem@yahoo.com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Lovely find!! Thank you for the chance to win.

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

follower #1

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

follower #2

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

follower #3

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

follower #4

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

follower #5

=D melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Cindy said...

Favorite animal: cat

Etsy shop: hellcatvintage.etsy.com

Cindy said...

I'm following your blog.

etsy shop: hellcatvintage.etsy.com

JJ said...

Fav animal: hedgehog...although that one may be tough to make!

Shanda said...

Cute Bunny! I really like miniature parrots.
shan_da(at)hotmail(dot)com

zealandsmom said...

my favorite animal is a giraffe:)