Etsy :: The Storque :: This Handmade Life :: Handmade Portraits: maryink

Handmade Portraits: maryink


Story by maryink, weirdwolf Published on July 25, 2008 in This Handmade Life

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(music by Michael Chapman, Jukeboxer, Fred Wallace)

Mary Helt and Chris Sittel of maryink met at a party while visiting their families in Nashville. At the time, Mary was living in New York City working as a photographer's stylist and Chris was working in Florida at a silk-screen studio. They started visiting one another, having t-shirt parties and coming up with new project ideas.

After a few years of living apart, they finally moved to the Virgin Islands to start their original silk-screen design company, maryink. While Mary is the designer behind maryink, Chris functions as the steady hand behind the printing process. Mary's designs have a 1970s Scandinavian and folk art influence, and she also incorporates elements of embroidery, weaving and bitossi pottery. The shop is known for its interesting designs, silk screened votive candles, jewelry, tote bags and t-shirts.

Even though living in the Virgin Islands was paradise, running a business proved difficult. Chris and Mary soon packed up and headed back to Nashville, where the low cost of living allowed them to dedicate themselves full-time to maryink.

You can watch more of our Handmade Video Portraits, and we'd be so thrilled if you'd subscribe to our free Etsy iTunes podcas

Tags	Candles, clothing, Fred Wallace, Handmade Video Portraits, Jukeboxer, maryink, Michael Chapman, Nashville, silk-screening, Tara Young, tees, Tennessee, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, t-shirts, video, weirdwolf

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72 comments Login to add your own!

July 25, 2008 at 2:09 p.m.

lindamade

yay mary! glad to know it's going well. xoxo.

July 25, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.

redyellowandblueink

nice article. I enjoyed the story in the video. Great to watch them work, see their space and their process. I like what was said about loosening things up in their work/images. I like handmade items to look handmade, not super slick. I like to see and get a sense of uniqueness and originality when I have a hand made item, to see the craftsmanship in the item, have a sense of the hand of the maker.

July 25, 2008 at 2:18 p.m.

mtraub

i want a spinning silkscreen structure!

July 25, 2008 at 2:39 p.m.

jamieribisi

I've been watching this shop for a wihle drooling over the shirts :)

July 25, 2008 at 2:47 p.m.

BlackStarBeads

Another great portrait of a Tennessee shop! Great job guys~

July 25, 2008 at 3:05 p.m.

daniellexo

Can I move in with you guys? I don't take up a lot of room!

July 25, 2008 at 3:09 p.m.

calebwalt

awesome video, tara.

July 25, 2008 at 3:10 p.m.

weirdwolf

Shooting with Chris and Mary was super fun! What a lovely couple, what lovely designs... Thanks everybody for taking the time to watch the Handmade Portraits series!

July 25, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.

maryink

OMG, I just watched it! Thanks for the nice comments everyone. And Tara, you did such an amazing job! Thanks so much for the hard work, you are just the coolest.

July 25, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.

hobbledehoy

great video!

July 25, 2008 at 4:17 p.m.

mermaidclaire

And my Nashville obsession grows and grows... I love the star top so much! Great video!

July 25, 2008 at 4:18 p.m.

TeenAngster

Such a sweet video. Chris and Mary seem so real and into what they're doing - it's the real deal! And the house and yard and studio - Nashville gets more and more appealing...

July 25, 2008 at 5:32 p.m.

supastarr

Absolutely beautiful people doing beautiful work!

I have serious work space/equipment envy.

xoxox

July 25, 2008 at 5:34 p.m.

art2theextreme

What a great video! I have always adored her shop!

July 25, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.

sarawearsskirts

Mary and Chris are some of the sweetest, friendliest and wonderfully creative people I've met since I began working for Etsy. So fun to see where all the maryink magic happens!

July 25, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.

PickalaPoopa

I met Mary & Chris at Renegade last December, their booth was near mine. When my back was turned they bought a magnet set from me. I remember sitting there during the show and looking over at their display and trying to pick my favorite design of theirs, it was tough. And being mesmerized by the tealights, so pretty. Two sweet people, wish continued success!

July 25, 2008 at 6:58 p.m.

VermontFairies

How wonderful to "meet" you! I wear my tunic ALL the time...you are so inspiring. :)

July 25, 2008 at 8:05 p.m.

thenoisyplume

The bluebird tote bag was the very first thing I ever purchased from Etsy! I now use it as my "mailbag" to carry my mountain of packages to and from the post office!

Maryink holds a sweet spot in my heart.

July 25, 2008 at 9:09 p.m.

circularaccessories

Very nice video. Thanks for sharing your work and new ideas with us (off pallet printing), very cool :)

July 25, 2008 at 9:43 p.m.

CharmStar

Yay Nashville!! Yay Maryink!!! What a fantastic video - thanks for sharing!!

July 25, 2008 at 10:01 p.m.

Hyena

I can't wait to recycle this amazing star shirt!

Mary and Chris are wonderful persons. I tell you a secret: they are even nicer in real life.

July 25, 2008 at 10:45 p.m.

juniperberry

yay! The video turned out awesome...go go Nashville!

July 25, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.

Fondue

sweet vid

you guys are the best

July 26, 2008 at 12:21 a.m.

ibuythings

your shop is adorable. thank you for being. i need to buy a tshirt.

July 26, 2008 at 8:36 a.m.

wonting

Yay I love the video and I'm so glad that I get to see their house and their studio! Mary and Chris are an amazing couple :-)

July 26, 2008 at 8:59 a.m.

selflesh

Great stuff!!!
;)

July 26, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.

ChristinaWard

Chris and Mary are some of the finest folks around.

July 26, 2008 at 5:39 p.m.

livefunky

Yay, I love maryink! Great video.

July 27, 2008 at 12:29 a.m.

loyaltyandblood

Congrats you two!!! Loved seeing your amazing space & now have even more studio envy! Thanks Etsy for a wonderful profile on one of our favorite t-shirt designers!

July 27, 2008 at 7:29 a.m.

DistressingDelilah

ok, so there shop just sort of rocks! love it! So original!

July 28, 2008 at 3:33 p.m.

maryink

Thanks everyone, ya'll are so sweet to comment! We are really thrilled with the response, and appreciate you tuning in!

July 29, 2008 at 7:04 p.m.

BPyarns

really nice

July 29, 2008 at 7:10 p.m.

scarletbloom

Lovely article on such lovely people! Wonderful, inspiring work.

July 30, 2008 at 6:26 a.m.

zombuki

One of my favorite sellers for a long time, it's so nice to see them featured here!

Dec. 21, 2008 at 9:04 p.m.

Slowshirts

Even though table printing takes longer, it sure is fun to get off the press and print big, we agree! Great video, wonderful to meet you both at Bust Craftacular!

Feb. 16, 2009 at 3:48 a.m.

kahliya

Great video! and a really lovely couple,their wonderful creative energy is very inspiring!Wish them lots of luck,continuing their eplorations which will definitely bring them to even greater heights..Thanx for the article!

Feb. 16, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.

Freitag

I'd like to have a spinning silk screen stand, too, please!

Feb. 16, 2009 at 8:55 a.m.

humblebea

Awesome video, I really enjoyed seeing you both at work! (-:

Feb. 16, 2009 at 1:01 p.m.

JoAnneWare

What an interesting video. It was fun to see the inside of the studio watching artists work. It was also interesting to hear their opinions on art, etsy, et. al!

Feb. 16, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.

missbatch

Hooray for Mary and Chris! Lovely video, very inspiring to see your process and your love for what you do!

Feb. 16, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.

DeborahVoizin

Way cool.........and to find someone that you love that loves to create!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to you both!

Feb. 17, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.

sunnyrisingmetal

I love this video and the beautiful silkscreening!!

Feb. 17, 2009 at 7:04 p.m.

isewcute

Wow! Wonderful video! Your works are gorgeous!

Feb. 18, 2009 at 12:23 a.m.

nectorgirl

That was great in the video about the focus on "process" and what that means to an "artist," Beautiful.

Feb. 18, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.

SepaDesigns

so great to see that a couple can work together and create such great things. very inspirational

Feb. 19, 2009 at 2:48 a.m.

PGsGemspiration

What a great video! Wow! You guys do wonderful work. Congratulations on a great shop.

Feb. 19, 2009 at 12:10 p.m.

blithegardens

I loved the video. The screen printing process is really interesting - cool t-shirts!

Feb. 19, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.

KristinFriesen

how sweet and inspiring! i loved it! i want to see more videos like this. :)

Feb. 19, 2009 at 10:26 p.m.

kristensteinfineart

Great video. Really enjoyed your shop!

Feb. 20, 2009 at 2:03 p.m.

MaestraEva

I could never do anything like that. I'm really, really impressed

Feb. 21, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.

thebeersoapcompany

Love it, very inspiring. I love how the two of you finish off sentences for each other:)

Feb. 21, 2009 at 1:21 p.m.

ASTORY

Very inspiring and satifying to see two artisans follow their design ideas through, and continue to experiment with the process. Cheers to you!
Laurie Klaue

Feb. 22, 2009 at 6:41 a.m.

glutamatedesign

Thankyou you too, you rock!
love the laid back but efficient attitude!
jessica

Feb. 22, 2009 at 10:16 p.m.

fabricfun

I love your candle holders! great video! very inspiring!

Feb. 23, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.

maryink

wow, thanks guys! i was just dropping in to see if there were any comments because i am seriously procrastinating, and it's nice to read so many sweet sweet ones! we really appreciate all your support! best wishes to all of you! xxoo-mary

Feb. 24, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.

jessicalaurendesigns

That was a great video! Very inspiring. I always think what if I can't make it out there in business. You two seriously have inspired me to continue persuing my dreams and to push forward. Thanks!

Feb. 24, 2009 at 4:28 p.m.

shecological

Thanks for being so positive and generous in sharing your story. So sweet and affirming! Thanks to Etsy for putting these resources out here!! I am going to go print!!

Feb. 25, 2009 at 4:12 p.m.