i’ve known mary j maalouf for years; we met in college at the kansas city art institute. i love the way her boldly designed bags and cases bring more beauty into everyday life. i’m excited to share her work with you through this interview.

Sophia – Wristlet by maryjmaalouf

What is your favorite thing that you’ve made?

I am not sure that I can pick a favorite thing I’ve made. The process of making objects and seeing them completed is what is my favorite part. I buy almost every supply or textile (within my means) that I am visually attracted to and I make something out of it. If it is a fabric that I am really excited about, I find a way to make something out of it immediately. Once I have made something, I am happy just looking at it grouped together with all of the other things I have made. I keep them all in boxes organized by their colors and I love looking at them. Sometimes I feel like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. They are all “my precious” and I treasure them but it feels wonderful for other people to love them and enjoy them as well.

Riley – Netbook Case by maryjmaalouf

What excites you?

Colors excite me! I love bright, vibrant colors…lots of color everywhere! Rows and rows of organized colors. It is a bit obsessive actually. I think the first time I realized how much color inspired and excited me was the day I walked into the weaving room at the Kansas City Art Institute. There was a wall of yarn spools organized by color and I just melted a little when I saw it. I’ve always loved bright pretty things. It isn’t too difficult living in Miami, FL to just fall in love with all of the sun soaked colors every where but it wasn’t until i saw that yarn wall that it really clicked in my head how visually inspiring all of those organized colors and textures were to me. When I make something, I can’t make just one. I have to make it in as many colors as possible just so that I can put them all together and see them as a collection.

Alice – iPod case by maryjmaalouf

Do you make other things in addition to things for your business? What have you made?

I find myself making things and doing things all the time. Whether it is repainting my furniture, reupholstering my furniture, making pillow cases, curtains etc., experimenting with cooking or gardening, I am constantly working on a project. I always have to keep my hands busy…making things or growing things myself is a creative outlet for me. I don’t follow instructions or recipes very well since I find them limiting. I like to figure things out on my own…it is like solving lots of puzzles and figuring out how to make them wonderful with whatever I have on hand.

Scarlett – Handbag by maryjmaalouf

What things have you done that have helped your business the most?

I have retaken pictures of all of my work at least five times. I think having amazing pictures is so important for selling online since customers cannot physically interact with my items. I am happy with my current pictures and I have noticed increased traffic and sales since I updated these last pictures but I am always trying to learn new ways to make them even better!

Becky – Cosmetic/Accessory Case by maryjmaalouf

Tell us about your favorite place.

My favorite place in the whole world right now is my house. I am a homebody and I have managed to create spaces that make me incredibly inspired and happy.

I spend my mornings in my garden watering and tending my plants and then I get to spend time working in my studio. My studio is crammed with things I love…images, fabrics, objects…it is like a room full of treasures and I get to play in it everyday!

Christie – Clutch by maryjmaalouf

Whose work do you follow and admire?

I’ve always loved the work of Alphonse Mucha. The lines, colors and ornate intricate patterns in his drawings and paintings are just amazing and completely inspiring to me.

The Art Nouveau movement in general, which he was a part of, is certainly one of my biggest inspirations. This was a time when art was a part of just about everything; buildings, furniture, decorations, jewelry etc. I love art that is decorative and makes our surroundings beautiful…art for the sake of aesthetic and visual pleasure.

i received my new fabric line in the mail yesterday! i was so thrilled to open up the package and look through it, and i just had to share some pictures with you! i’ll be making a line of sewn items from it, and perhaps selling some fabric as well. i plan to add more designs to the collection as time goes on.

my newest drawing, parsley leaves!
also, i’ve now made the standard size of my prints 8×10 inches instead of 8.5×11 inches…so it should be easy for you to find a frame you love to go along with them.

i came across barefootmodiste’s skirts on etsy, and loved the colors and feminine feel of milli’s work. i literally spend all summer running around in skirts, and tiered skirts are my favorite. milli’s lovely tiers combine all sorts of fun fabrics in interesting and almost eclectic ways–just what i like! she took the time to answer some interview questions for me.

Dainty Little Miss BoPeep – Floral Bohemian Skirt by BarefootModiste

If you could live anywhere, where would you pick? Why?

This is a hard one, lol. I have been asking myself this question for a year now and I still don’t have an answer for it. I think I need to travel more, see a few more places, meet a few more people before I can decide.
When I was a child, I always dreamed of having a cozy little cottage in the country, complete with horses, a battalion of children and a pottery studio, lol. The cozy cottage, pottery studio and horses can still happen, not sure about the battalion of children at this point. ;)

Strawberry Parfait – Patchwork Gypsy Skirt by BarefootModiste

I just love hearing about people living different lifestyles! Can you tell us about any part of your lifestyle that deviates from the “norm?”

I’m not really sure what the ‘norm’ is, so I’ll just go ahead and list some of the things I love to do: play music (guitar and African drums mainly), thrift shopping, garage sale hopping, volunteering at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.. and of course, staying up to the wee hours, playing with fabric in my little, crowded sewing room.

Fog Over Prairie Earth – Patchwork Bohemian Gypsy Skirt by BarefootModiste

Tell us about one of your simple pleasures.

Food. Savoring a decadent piece of white chocolate cheesecake with toasted coconut shavings on top. Yum!

Sunrise Over the Meadow – Tiered Bohemian Skirt by BarefootModiste

When you are looking around for handmade items to buy, which do you tend to look for? What draws you to those items most?

I am drawn to all sorts of handmade art – clothing, jewelry, paintings and more… I especially love jewelry and am blessed to have a sister who makes stunning pieces of jewelry art. Lately, all the jewels I buy are from her and I love every single piece.
I also find bright colors to be very captivating – reds, yellows, blues, purples (really love purple)..My love for color is probably quite evident from the items listed in my Etsy shop. :)

Japanese Garden – Tiered Bohemian Skirt by BarefootModiste

If you could say anything to the next generation as a whole, what would it be?

Don’t text/booze/have sex while you are driving, please.
Call your mother. Help that old lady limping along with a too-heavy bag of groceries. Talk to a complete stranger.
Oh, and go outside – climb a tree, scrape a knee, play soccer in the street – your ps3 will still be there when you are done.

Pink Flower Eden – Patchwork Bohemian Skirt by BarefootModiste

Do you make other things in addition to things for your business? What have you made?

I love acrylic painting on canvas and thick paper. I have done some flower paintings over the past year that were so much fun to create from start to finish. I also love to crochet funky flapper-style hats. Writing poetry is another love of mine; unfortunately, I have been too busy over the past month or so to pay enough attention to my muse. Another thing I strive to make always is music with a talented group of women I jam with on a regular basis. We play everything from gypsy jazz to celtic tunes to folk songs and we have a blast every single time. :)

i just finished a red leaf drawing. this plant’s leaf is naturally red all the time.

my new rubber leaf print!

i opened the window to a disgruntled miles this morning. he spent the night in my garden, since he came over late and i wasn’t there to let him in. he didn’t go back the way he came, so i figure he was pretty okay with spending the night there. he demanded a lot of extra petting, though, and didn’t understand that not all kitchens are stocked with kitty food. he came in and hung out for a little bit with me, and then i took him back home so he could have his breakfast.

someone likes the mint plants.

this post is part of the miles game! this time i’m opening it up for international entry!

my newest drawing, a white peony with a little bit of light yellow and light orange mixed into the center. i pulled all of the colors out of the different shades of white.

trudy of artbytrudy is a friend of mine, who makes colorful paintings and prints. i asked her to do an interview for me, and share her story with you.

English Garden Landscape Flowers Giclee Print by artbytrudy

What do you think everyone should do before they die? Why?

I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual. For me I would thank GOD with every breath in my body for giving me every second of this wonderful life he designed for me.

Mixed Media Giclee Print Girl Dancing in Rain by artbytrudy

How did you start painting?

Wow..Now this could fill a book. When my Identical twin Jude died of a Brain Tumor in 2005 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor on our 58th birthday…I died too. I didn’t even cry. It was way beyond tears and I retreated into the abyss of my room for almost 4 years. I felt her presence around me for the first 6 months, but then she left. I went to therapists, but to no avail. I would cry myself to sleep daily and wake up in the middle of the night screaming her name. Sobbing..always sobbing. It is a twin thing.

My coping mechanism had always been avoidance. If she had died in the hospital I would just avoid driving past it. I have no pictures of her on my wall. It is too painful. I look in the mirror..I see her face..My hands, my laugh, my voice all belong to her. I could not..nor I can not avoid her death.

Well, one night Jude came to me in my dream and screamed, ” ENOUGH…GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED AND DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE…

I awoke with the weight of the world off my shoulders. I was literally blinded by the vibrant, bright colors that surrounded me. My world had been nothing but gray for the 4 years. I laughed and I didn’t recognize my voice. It had been so long that I had laughed it was just so surreal. The first thing I noticed was my vibrant green couch. It appeared to have a huge Magic Marker outlining it. I saw lines and shades everywhere..I had absolutely no idea what was happening. My husband thought that I had gone over the edge.

It was not until we went away that weekend that I had the answer. Bobby and I were shopping in a little art shop in MI and I saw a piece of art and I started crying. I whispered to Bobby, ” I am an artist!” He’s like, “What?” ” Bobby, see that painting? I can draw it ! We went back to the hotel and not only did I draw it, but I drew it even better than the original.

What makes this a miracle is that I have never, ever drawn a thing in my life. I had never held a paint brush in my hands. I had no desire, inclination or art talent. Jude and I went to a very small school in the 50s-60s that did not offer art classes. I drew the same stick art in the 2nd grade as I did at 58.

After her coming to me, not only could I draw and paint I knew every painting technique that it took professional art educated artists to achieve. I did not know the names of the tools I would use for my pieces, but I knew how to use them.

I would not have been more surprised if I woke up one day as a concert pianist.
Jude has never left my side since I started, ” Doing something with my life!!!!”

Giclee Print Hand Printed Portrait by artbytrudy

What is your favorite color? Why?

Yellow..It represents rebirth, hope and light.

Original Mixed Media Painting Orange and Yellow Sunflower by artbytrudy

What excites you?

That my children and grandchildren are now in the process of forgiving me for the years I withdrew from them in my grief.

Mixed Media Giclee Print Sunset Beach Landscape by artbytrudy

What is your craziest dream that you want to accomplish? How are you working toward it?

Since Jude’s death , I am living my dream. I live on an isolated island and I paint in the quiet of the night and then watch the sunrise. I watch butterflies the size of my hand land on our palm trees. I see myself in Bobby’s eyes. I have redefined what my definition of success is. My dream has already happened. I have sad moments, sad Jude days…but not years.

Mixed Media Giclee Print Girl Inspirational Humorous Quote by artbytrudy

Do you have any collections? Tell us about them.

I treasure the items that I recieved from Jude. I’m not materialistic. She had 2 old lady twin pig ceramic figures that represents her and I as we got older. They make me laugh everytime I see them. They have hats and purses and are chubby and adorable. We both loved the tin man and I have a small chain with a tin man, a cross (that I bought when she was ill) her son’s football charm on it. TheMidnightOrange sculpted twins on a couch for me..Jude and I would rub each others feet for hours http://www.etsy.com/transaction/16879961.. I absolutely adore this. So I have 4 items that always tweak my heart.

i just finished a new bluebells drawing