Mary Ann’s Story

Like most crafters and artists, I’ve been creating things since I was a kid. I started with paint-by-numbers kits and soon became a pro at staying in the lines (it’s taken me 30 years to learn that it’s a good thing to go outside of the lines now and then.) I eventually created my own art using watercolors as my main medium. Then when I started college, I discovered graphic design. After graduating from the University of Kansas, I went on to work in publishing and advertising for seven years. When the opportunity to take some time off to pursue portrait, mural and faux painting arose, I jumped on it. So for the last 16 years that is what I have done. If you'd like to see some of my paintings, please visit my Flickr page. I have even included a few landscape and interior design projects in my freelance adventures. Then for Christmas of 2006 I innocently made a present for my niece that involved sewing. I was hooked. Sewing has quickly turned into a hobby that has taken over all of my time and most of my art room.

The idea for my appliquè pillows began in a ski lodge in Utah shortly after that Christmas present project. While the rest of the family skied, I (with the aid of much hot chocolate), sketched dozens of appliquè design ideas down in my journal....none of which included dogs. But when we got home from our trip and learned that our 13-year-old Rottweiler, Wolf, was sick with cancer, I began playing with the idea of creating dog pillows.

As my husband and I went through the ups and downs of Wolf’s cancer, I poured myself into my dog pillows hoping "that day" would be a long way off. But "that day" came. You know, that day when an owner decides it is “time” even though you never want it to be that “time”? So with great sadness, we said goodbye to Wolf. Needless to say, my home and heart have suffered a huge loss. Fortunately, my work keeps my hands and head busy and, for that, I am grateful.

I hope you will enjoy looking through my pieces as much as I have enjoyed creating them. Thank you for stopping by!

Mary Ann Varanelli