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Handmade Portraits: maryink
Article Header Image
Story by maryink, weirdwolf
Published on July 25, 2008 in This Handmade Life

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.

 

 

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tags Tags Fred Wallace, Handmade Video Portraits, Jukeboxer, maryink, Michael Chapman, Nashville, silk-screening, tara young, tees, Tennessee, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, video
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34 comments     Login to add your own!
lindamade says:

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


7/25/08 at 2:09p.m.
redyellowandblueink says:

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.


7/25/08 at 2:14p.m.
mtraub says:

i want a spinning silkscreen structure!


7/25/08 at 2:18p.m.
jamieribisi says:

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


7/25/08 at 2:39p.m.
BlackStarBeads says:

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


7/25/08 at 2:47p.m.
Etsy Admin daniellexo says:

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


7/25/08 at 3:05p.m.
Etsy Admin calebwalt says:

awesome video, tara.


7/25/08 at 3:09p.m.
Etsy Admin weirdwolf says:

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!


7/25/08 at 3:10p.m.
maryink says:

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.


7/25/08 at 3:15p.m.
hobbledehoy says:

great video!


7/25/08 at 3:15p.m.
Etsy Admin mermaidclaire says:

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


7/25/08 at 4:17p.m.
Etsy Admin TeenAngster says:

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...


7/25/08 at 4:18p.m.
supastarr says:

Absolutely beautiful people doing beautiful work!

I have serious work space/equipment envy.

xoxox


7/25/08 at 5:32p.m.
art2theextreme says:

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


7/25/08 at 5:34p.m.
Etsy Admin sarawearsskirts says:

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!


7/25/08 at 5:51p.m.
PickalaPoopa says:

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!


7/25/08 at 6:25p.m.
VermontFairies says:

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


7/25/08 at 6:58p.m.
thenoisyplume says:

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.

XO


7/25/08 at 8:05p.m.
circularaccessories says:

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


7/25/08 at 9:09p.m.
CharmStar says:

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


7/25/08 at 9:43p.m.
Hyena says:

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.


7/25/08 at 10:01p.m.
juniperberry says:

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


7/25/08 at 10:45p.m.
Fondue says:

sweet vid

you guys are the best


7/25/08 at 11:03p.m.
ibuythings says:

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


7/26/08 at 12:21a.m.
wonting says:

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 :-)


7/26/08 at 8:36a.m.
selflesh says:

Great stuff!!!
;)


7/26/08 at 8:59a.m.
ChristinaWard says:

Chris and Mary are some of the finest folks around.


7/26/08 at 12:24p.m.
livefunky says:

Yay, I love maryink! Great video.


7/26/08 at 5:39p.m.
loyaltyandblood says:

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!


7/27/08 at 12:29a.m.
DistressingDelilah says:

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


7/27/08 at 7:29a.m.
maryink says:

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


7/28/08 at 3:33p.m.
BPyarns says:

really nice


7/29/08 at 7:04p.m.
scarletbloom says:

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


7/29/08 at 7:10p.m.
zombuki says:

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


7/30/08 at 6:26a.m.
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