Happy New Year from Creative Chicks Cafe

                             Many thanks for your continued trust, inspiration and friendship

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Creative Chicks Cafe

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The Christmas Lady.... "Nancy Malay"

Creative Chicks Vicki and Nancy
at the Creative Connection

 Dear Friends,
One of the things I love most about working with Creative Chicks Cafe is that I have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful artists.  Two years ago while attending the Creative Connection in Mpls.  I meet an amazing lady.  Her name is Nancy Malay. She creates some of the most beautiful vintage-inspired pieces I have ever seen.  Each piece is meticulously hand-crafted, using paperclay, papier mache and cloth.  She embellishes with mica, antique trimmings, German glass glitter and tinsel.  Giving each figure a personality of its own.  Not only can you find her work on her web site... she has been published in the following national magazines:  Studios, Prims, Holiday Crafts, Early American Life, Create & Decorate, Get Creative, Country Sampler, Country Woman and more.  

Nancy, has been married to her best friend Rick for 32 years.  They have three handsome sons with wonderful wives and wife to be.  Nancy's studio is located in her cozy home in Faribault, Mn.  There she creates her vintage pieces.  Nancy says she loves to work with fabric, buttons, old lace and "lots of sparkle".  As a licensed designer for Midwest-CBK, Nancy has to spend long hours creating in her studio.  So, during the Spring and Summer months when not working she just loves to garden. Winter's are long in Minnesota, so when Spring finally arrives, Nancy makes the most of it!  And, she loves to share those moments with us on her blog while enjoying a cup of coffee.

Now, you know if you have spent any time in Minnesota how long those winter days can get. Nancy, while growing up, would spend those days making many a snowman in the freshly fallen snow.  She would roll the balls of  snow until they were "just the right size" and then make them "come to life" by adding a carrot, coal eyes, a scarf and top hat.  Nancy has recreated that memory by creating "Chilly Chester", standing 6", this whimsical little man is made of Creative Paperclay, Styrofoam balls and other creative products.  And is chock full of "glitter and cheer".  If you would like to make one of these "Chilly Chesters" of your own.  Nancy is offering him at a half off the tutorial.  Simply use code "CREATIVECHICKS50OFF" at checkout.

Nancy has many other tutorials available on her web site.   This cute little bird, paperclay rabbits, Victorian Cones and more.  All of these can be seen and purchased at Nancy's Etsy Shop.
 
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I am honored to know Nancy! She is a delightful lady with so much encouragement and enthusiasm.  I'm sure you will find her website http://www.nancymalay.com/ and blog http://www.nancymalay.blogspot.com/  as enjoyable I do.
 So get to work, and create!
-KATE

Nancy Malay

Email:  nancymalay@gmail.com
http://www.nancymalay.com/
http://www.nancymalay.blogspot.com/

Meet Tawny Dalton Bell, Owner and Creator of ThePrimitive Nook

Tawny Dalton Bell

Tawny Dalton Bell lives in McKenzie, TN., I was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Florida. The daughter of a well known singer and musician, Robert Dalton. Whose music reached the national charts in the early 70's with hits such as "Mama Call Me Home" and "Papa's Home"
At the age of 13, our family (My Dad, Mom, myself and 2 brother's) left Florida living in an RV. We traveled for over 2 years singing gospel music in various churches and missions all over the United States. My Dad was very talented. He sang and played many instruments, painted and wrote books. He always told me that I could achieve whatever I wanted to if I set my mind to it. Also, to make sure if I was doing something, "Do it right, or don't do it at all." I still abide by those words to this day.

My first creation at 14 years old

God has given me many talents and I have been creative ever since I can remember.  While visiting my Grandmother in West Virginia, she found me digging and sculpting the clay soil in her yard. At the age of 14, I had made my first real piece of art and painted it with my nail polish. LOL! I still have that bear and will treasure it always.

Sannod

In my early 20's I was hired as a seamstress at OshKosh-B'Gosh. I was quickly promoted to the position of training instructor having to learn 50 different jobs in order to teach new employees. Several years later, I was employed by another well known factory called Quality Auditor. Unfortunately, the company laid it's employees off in 1999. Shorty after my job loss, I went shopping one day with my sister-in-law to a adorable Primitive Shoppe, where she purchased a very expensive doll. I knew at that moment I could create primitive dolls. I was inspired to start my own business and the inception of "The Primitive Nook" turned from a dream into reality.
I began making and selling my creations to family and friends in my home town. Later, I sold my work at a flea market, but it was so far to travel. I decided a website would be better. In 2001 my website was built and in 2003 I began designing my own unique line of Primitive Patterns.
January of 2009, is when I lost my Dad to cancer. After that is seemed my creativity was lost... no matter how long I sat and tried to come up with something new, it just didn't seem to be working.

I am now back in full swing and very determined. I love to design and create to make others happy and to help them succeed. I write my patterns in printed and PDF email form with the beginner in mind... thinking back to my training instructor days at OshKosh.

Emily

My husband is very supportive of my business. I have a step daughter that is 22, two son's 19 and 16. Four months ago I became a Grandmother of a precious little girl named "Emily." She is the new light of my life and has helped fill that void from the loss of my Dad. She keeps me inspired all of the time with that big sweet smile of hers.

My goal is to keep sharing my talent of designing and bring smiles to my customer's faces. I love to help other people whenever I can and know that giving of myself makes me happier than anything. I am blessed to use my talent to help support my family and better yet, I get to play with dolls all the time.
Please visit my website to see all of my dolls at www.primitivenook.net you can also visit me on ETSY www.primitivenook.etsy.com
If you have any questions about my patterns, or dolls my email is primitivenook@yahoo.com

 My artist style is Primitive folkart and my favorite art media is fabric. I work 12 to 14 hours a day 5 days a week currently.  My favorite foods are Spaghetti, tacos and smoked pit barbcue.
If I won a million dollars I would pay all of my families bills off and then become the next secret Santa
If I could give someone advice who is just starting out I would tell them to never ever give up! Set goals and reach them....Market, market, market and just have fun!