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Scribble Nation's Artist Biography
Long Version
Lifetime B.F.F.'s (best friends forever), Mary Helen McNally and Michelle Barney have a taste for the unusual. In Mary Helen's home studio in Woodbury you can find anything from doll parts and computer insides to vintage wigs and handmade dioramas. Inspired by their combined collection of kitsch, Mary and Michelle get together to make their own unique creations. The friend's think of their shop and fledgling business as an adoption agency of sorts. "We couldn't possibly keep all of this for ourselves," explains Mary Helen. "Every piece we create is special to us. It's really satisfying to see one of our creations sent off to a good home!"
The creations at Scribble Nation are decidedly eclectic. Mary Helen and Michelle use a huge variety of mediums and techniques to satisfy their crafting fancies. One of their signature items is "The Glamour Cross". Each piece is completely one of a kind, and meticulously decorated by hand. Glamour Crosses have been coated in sea shells, vintage jewelry, even cocktail monkeys. The ladies were inspired to create these mini altars by the colorful collage work of Mexican folk art. Scribble Nation also produces a steady line of unique and colorful jewelry. Bright colors, and interesting shapes celebrate the spirit of Scribble Nation's love of all things funky. Regular jewelry sales keep the ladies in business, but special projects are their bread and butter. Michelle specializes in the creation of cocktail hats. Small, but elaborately decorated, cocktail hats are on the rise due to the revival of early 1900's burlesque fashion. Scribble Nation also carries a collection of handmade stuffed toys or "plushies". Elephants, puffer fish, or even boogie monsters may grace the shelves of Scribble Nation on any given day.
Above all, Mary Helen and Michelle are driven by a never-ending need to create. There is no technique too challenging and no subject matter too obscure! "Creating art and craft on a regular basis was reason enough to start a business," says Mary Helen. "Getting paid to do it allows us to continue doing what we love and sharing it with other people. We realize that making stuffed animals and jello mold magnets will never make us rich, but it will buy more craft supplies! We also hope that seeing us make a business out of something as wacky as kitschy crafts will inspire other people to go for it, and do what they love no matter how obscure it might be."
Currently, Scribble Nation's art & craft creations are available for purchase online, at their Etsy based shop: http://ScribbleNation.Etsy.com. The ladies can also be found at craft fairs throughout the NY and New England area. For a current listing of their upcoming appearances, visit the Scribble Nation blog: http://ScribbleNation.Typepad.com.
Short Version
Scribble Nation, LLC is the brainchild of two self proclaimed "non-stop craft ninjas" and "B.F.F.'s", Mary Helen McNally and Michelle Barney. Scribble Nation creations are decidedly eclectic, ranging from CandyLand inspired earrings to burlesque cocktail hats and stuffed blowfish. The ladies of Scribble Nation craft according to their fancies, making it a very unique business, indeed. The friend's think of their shop and fledgling business as an adoption agency of sorts. "We couldn't possibly keep all of this for ourselves," explains Mary Helen. "Every piece we create is special to us. It's really satisfying to see one of our creations sent off to a good home!" Inspired by American kitsch, Mexican folk art, and even science fiction, Scribble Nation crafts walk a fine line between art and craft. Currently, Scribble Nation's art & craft creations are available for purchase online, at their Etsy based shop: http://ScribbleNation.Etsy.com. The ladies can also be found at craft fairs throughout the NY and New England area. For a current listing of their upcoming appearances, visit the Scribble Nation blog: http://ScribbleNation.Typepad.com.
