Home Decor Interview:
Nancy Malay
Nancy Malay
creates some of the most beautiful art we have ever seen. And we've seen a
lot of art.
Don't just take our word for it; Nancy was selected by
Early American Life magazine in their Directory of Traditional American
Crafts Holiday issue for 2008. Those folks are extremely picky about whom
they choose, and Nancy's selection is a testament to the fine work she produces
for her loyal customers.
It is our honor to present the brilliant mind behind the hands that create the
adorable, heart-warming, impeccable pieces of holiday art that you are about to
see.
If you are ever in a position of wondering what the perfect gift would be for a
loved one, or if you simply want to decorate your home with a piece that is
guaranteed to have the whole room talking, Nancy is for you.
Please enjoy our interview with Nancy Malay, and then please rush on over to
NancyMalay.com (as
well as her
blog) to browse her breathtaking collection.
1.
Hi Nancy, thank you for granting us this interview. I cannot express how
beautiful I think your art is!
When I came across your
website, my husband and I were blown away by the craftsmanship. Please take
a moment to introduce yourself and tell us about your website and lovely
products.
I live in Faribault, MN, with my husband of
almost 30 years. We have three grown sons and a daughter-in-law. I still
haven't adjusted to our "empty nest"!
I'm really proud of my
website, as I created it myself with the help of my son. (I've decided
I've learned a lot more from our children over the years than they've learned
from me!)
I offer a wide variety of handcrafted items for every Holiday. Some are crafted
in the Folk Art tradition, others more whimsical or primitive, but my
favorites are the ones that look reminiscent of items from an earlier time.
I was really excited this year to be have been
chosen by the prestigious Early American Life magazine as one of this Country's
top Artisans and listed in the 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts
Holiday issue, in two different categories.
I love what I do, and I hope this shows in my
work.
2.
Easter is near, which means you've been busy "creating rabbits," as you've put
it.
You've earned recognition for your Christmas crafts, and your Easter crafts do
very well.
Based on your experience, which holiday is people's favorite in terms of how
many orders you receive?
For
many years, all I created was the Christmas related items (I was
"The
Christmas Lady").
Since I've added pieces for every Season, I would have to say that my rabbits
and Easter
themed collection keep me the busiest.
3. Living in Minnesota,
you must love the Spring and the gardening activities it provides. Since we're
just a few weeks away from Spring, what plans do you have for your garden this
year (if any)?
I
can't wait for the planting season to get here! Last year my husband and I
totally redid our front yard…we had a new brick walk put in, moved in some
larger trees, and took down a fence. I'm really anxious to see how everything
comes up after the long Winter.
I have a lot of perennials, but also add annuals for color. We still have some
work to do on it to get it the way we want, but so far, we're really happy with
it. And, once we get it the way we want, I'm sure it won't be long before we're
"rearranging" again!
4.
In today's age of video games and text messages, kids aren't as creative as they
used to be.
What was it about your childhood that you believe sparked you and your siblings
to be so creative from such a young age?
I come
from a large family – 6 girls and two boys. My father was a skilled cabinet
maker and my mother was an excellent seamstress, who nurtured my love of sewing
from a very early age.
I can honestly say that I don't remember NOT creating things! I used to cut the
Betsy McCall paper dolls out of the magazine, and make her new clothes. We
created Valentines and Christmas ornaments.
I
would say some of it was out of necessity, as we lived in a small town and
things weren't always readily available.
5. Amazingly, you've never had any formal art training. Since you're
obviously very good at teaching yourself art, have you ever considered teaching
art to others?
I do
get asked about teaching classes very often, and I have finally decided it's
something I should delve into! So, I will be offering some classes shortly.
6.
Your crafts make the perfect holiday gifts! Have you ever given one of your
artwork to another family or friend as a gift, and if so, how has the reaction
been?
I used
to give my artwork as gifts more often than I do now. My mom passed away a
couple of years ago, and the last time I was home, my dad gave me all the dolls
I had given to her over the years.
It made me so happy to know that she really treasured them.
I love to create pieces especially for family or friends, but time really is an
issue these days.
7. You must find it difficult to find a balance between your crafts
business, your full-time work (i.e., your day job), and a personal life. Given
how much effort you put into your products, how are you able to manage your time
so well?
Spending time with family and friends, gardening and reading are all activities
I enjoy. Balancing all of this can sometimes be a challenge. Time seems to go
way too fast, and I find myself wishing for more hours in the day! We have
three sons and a daughter-in-law all in their 20's, and they always come first.
I've found that, for some reason, I'm most creative in the early morning hours.
I love to get up around 4:30-5:00 am, and create for a few hours before I go to
my "real" job. It's not unusual for me to be working late at night either –
usually when a project is going well and I don't want to put it down.
I
started my blog
last year, and this has been a great tool for keeping my customers, family and
friends up to date on what I'm working on and what's going on in my life.
8.
You have a vast array of products that you make, but someone with your
creativity must always be on the lookout for something new.
Are there any particular ideas you've been toying around with that you'd like to
experiment with this year to shake things up?
I just added the
Victorian
cones this past Christmas, and I recently started creating ACEO/ATC
cards, and these have been a lot of fun and quite popular.
I do have some ideas for some new Spring themed items.
I'm always experimenting with different mediums and styles-for instance, I have
been using more vintage fabric and trims on my sculpted piece….and I've found
some really neat old trims and buttons lately that are just crying out to be
used!
9. Nancy, thank you so much for doing this interview with us. We're
honored to have you here on Décor Medley. For this last question, please tell
us about your idea generation. For example, my husband often gets his best
ideas in the middle of the night or when he's showering(!).
Do you specifically sit down to generate new ideas, or do you find that they
come to you suddenly at weird hours of the day?
New
ideas are constantly popping into my head! I scribble the thoughts down on
paper, so I won't forget them when I start my projects. There is nothing like a
trip to an antique store or just looking through my collection of "stuff" to get
my creative juices flowing. It's funny how one little basket or a certain
fabric will inspire a new piece of work.
Thanks
so much for the opportunity to share my work with your readers!
Nancy was a pleasure to work with,
and the photos included here are just a tiny sampling of what she has to offer.
Do please head on over to
NancyMalay.com and
check out her extensive collection.
Somehow I can see myself placing an order with Nancy this Christmas, and we know
it will be a big hit with whomever we give it to!
We can't thank Nancy enough for taking time out of her very busy schedule to
speak with us. It's not every day you come across art like this, and we're
more than honored to spread the word. We hope you do the same.
Thanks Nancy!
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