Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Llanes.
Hi Marie , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a Colorado native born and raised on a small cattle ranch northeast of Colorado Springs. My family was involved in local organizations including 4H, which fostered my love of horses and sewing. Thru the years moving to Arizona, Texas and finally back to Colorado the only thing that remained consistent was horses and sewing. I have made many quilts and clothes for myself and my family. By chance I met a fiber artist named Carol Ann Waugh, who had a small gallery in RiNo. She inspired me to create art quilts and make them attractive for gift shops, design centers and homes! It was wonderful I could sew and had people who love them. I currently have pieces in the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum and Element Home in Cherry Creek. While most of my early work was familiar themes horses, cactus and various landscapes it has evolved to mostly commission portraits of beloved pets. Retired form working for public television I am very fortunate now to be able to create special pieces for families and businesses. I still have time to ride and show my Morgan horse, travel and enjoy the beautiful Colorado outdoors
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest part of creating and selling fiber art is to convince people it’s not “artsy craftsy”. People think of sewing and quilting as an “old art” only for old people. While I am now 70 years old my tenacity as a retired sales person has helped me build a clientele
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is fiber art mounted on artists wooden panels. I specialize in pet portraits and landscapes. My pieces are all unique and custom. My clients are included in every step of the process
How do you think about luck?
Because of my sales background I have been able to persuade businesses to carry my work. Again the hard part is getting past the “artsy craftsy” assumption which my work is not. If I can get a pice in front of someone I can usually get pats the stigma
Pricing:
- $259
- $175
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mariefiberart.com
- Instagram: @marie-llanes
- Facebook: Ml3 designs
