Featured Artist - Gallerie Marie

Meet Marie, the multi talented artist behind 'Gallerie Marie'. She can make the most perfect soy candles, luscious handmade goatmilk soaps, cute Raggedy Ann dolls, trendy Bags, yummy Cakes and more ... now that's what we call 'Jill of all trades'!


Tell me something about yourself?


I am a mother first of all to a 28 year old girl and a 15 year old boy who’s turning 16 in August next month. My husband is so understanding with the things I love to do that oftentimes I love it when he sits in the corner of my studio, just reading a book while I’m sewing. Then when I ask his opinion, he would just make any nice comment for the sake of it, I love that!



Some of us Moms would just love to sit in front of the tv or maybe read a book to relax after a hard day’s work, but not me. When I’m not sewing, I pour candles, when I’m not pouring candles I make soaps! I can’t imagine myself not doing anything other than my craft.



What are your sources of inspiration?

I really don’t have any sources of inspiration with my creations, but what I do have is my imagination. I just keep going as I create, they are all unplanned.



Where and when did you learn your craft? Who taught you?

I consider myself as a self-taught crafter or shall I say artist? If there was something that I don’t understand, I relentlessly do my own research and find the answers. I’m very perfectionist and I’m glad I have the patience to be able to accomplished something perfect!


I guessed every family home has a sewing machine, and when I was little, my Mom’s sewing machine was always open. It was so inviting, I couldn’t help myself but sat down on it and started sewing just for fun! I made my first handbag when I was 12 using a recycled denim fabric. That was my first accomplishment and no one even showed me how, not even my Mom! But I thank her for her sewing machine!



Aside from your craft, what else do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy baking cakes, experimenting with recipes until my cake is perfect! If you don’t see me in my studio, you know where to find me!



What piece of advise can you give to other artists?

Be very patient with whatever you do, if you think you’re going nowhere with your current project, just leave it for awhile. There is no need to concentrate any more than what you’re doing, it will just frustrate you even more. Turn off the lights and go to bed!

As for those aspiring artists and crafters, my advise is to believe in yourself that you can do anything. I believe that each one of us has our own talent, we just have to find it.
Vincent Van Gogh quotes – "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint', then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced".



What are you plans for the future?

I hope I will still be able to do what I love doing now, sewing and more crafting!

Check out Gallerie Marie at Dawanda and follow her Blog.