Meet the West Virginia embroidery artist behind Mary Stitches!

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am originally from Boone, North Carolina, and grew up in Sandyville, WV & Ravenswood, WV. I currently live in Bridgeport, WV with my partner and our two dogs. I enjoy the little things in life the most. Everyday joys of cuddling with my dogs, drinking a nice cup of coffee, and enjoying nature near me bring me happiness.

What drew you to your craft?

I have always been creative, but never felt like I had the right medium to express myself. In late 2019, I tried embroidery to help cope with OCD and stressful corporate jobs. I found it beneficial to my mental well-being and finally felt like I had found the right fit for me. I have been learning and stitching ever since.

What is your favorite thing you have ever made?

My favorite piece I've made is a three-layered hoop of New River Gorge National Park in Fayetteville, West Virginia. This hoop was inspired by encouragement from a fellow artist, Susan Feller, and took around a year to come to fruition.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I changed what I wanted to be often growing up, but two things that I always went back to were veterinarian and artist. I have always had a deep love for animals and art. When I was around 8 years old my great-grandmother gifted me a book about being an artist. It came with a painter's palette necklace that I adored. I'm sure with all of the drawings she received from me, she could see my creative mind forming.

How would you describe your creative process?

Each piece begins exactly the same - a blank piece of cotton fabric, a bamboo embroidery hoop, embroidery floss, and a fabric pen. I create all of my own patterns and draw each of them on the fabric before I begin stitching. I love to play with minimalism & presicion in my simpler designs and maximalism & color in my landscape designs. I find creating the two extremes to be my happy middle ground.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

I would love to tell my younger self that she will find her people, find her passions, and that she will outgrow any box or mold she was ever put into. I think she would be ecstatic to know we are able to be an artist despite being told it wasn't possible.

Why is it important to support local artists and makers?

For me, it goes back to the simple phrase, "Art reflects life." Art has an influence on parts of everyday life that often are overlooked. I think it's extremely important to value local artists’ impact on the communities around them, local economies, and bringing people together.

Why do you love doing what you do?

I love being able to create the visions that live inside my head in a unique way. I am the daughter of a seamstress/costumer, and great-grandaughter of a quilter, so I enjoy being able to share the love for textiles and fiber art. I am a self-taught artist and enjoy being able to learn new things about my craft and explore different creative avenues. I love knowing that on any given day years ago there was someone out in the world stitching the same way I do today.

What advice do you have for other makers who want to start their own businesses?

Taking a chance on yourself is very scary. You aren't alone in feeling that way and you aren't alone in navigating creative entrepreneurship. Ask questions, build relationships, and push yourself creatively.

You can find Mary’s lovely hoops in the shop, including pieces from her new sketch-inspired collection!