HilaryEmersonLay

Hilary Emerson Lay

Montague, Massachusetts | 248 Sales

5 out of 5 stars (81)

HilaryEmersonLay

Hilary Emerson Lay

Montague, Massachusetts 248 Sales On Etsy since 2011

5 out of 5 stars (81)

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Hilary Emerson Lay

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Hilary Emerson Lay

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248 Sales
219 Admirers
 

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5 out of 5 stars
(81)
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quality 11 shipping 9 customer service 10
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About

  • I make teeny tiny houses on 2" x 2" canvases. They're adorable.
  • "Tiny Hillside Town" (detail), mixed media, 24" x 24".
  • "Coy" (detail), mixed media, 5" x 5".
  • "Dollface" (detail), mixed media, 5" x 7".
  • "Zebra's Party Hat" (detail), mixed media, 5" x 5".

A bit about the pink-haired critter maker

I was raised in Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, in a highly creative family. I grew up in an old house with a sprawling expanse of yard, great big gardens, a spooky marsh, and a veritable circus of animals. At one point or another, my family has had dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, pheasant, quail, chickens, chameleons, a crayfish, a pegasus, a parakeet, and a goat.

My parents encouraged all of my artistic pursuits and odd little personality quirks, so I spent my childhood drawing pictures (of pets real and imagined), running barefoot through the dunes, making masks, climbing trees, building fairy houses in fields, building forts in the marsh, and writing and illustrating my own stories and plays. In middle school, I won a kiwi-carving contest at Stop & Shop.

From a very early age, I have held a deep love of and appreciation for books, especially picture books, and my love of words and stories has grown over the course of my life. My first job was at The Brewster Bookstore when I was thirteen years old. I went on to earn a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College, with a concentration in Children’s Writing and Illustration. From 2002–2012, I managed The Spirit of ’76 Bookstore & Card Shop in Marblehead, MA. I think printed words on a page are among the world’s most beautiful things.

I weave my love of animals, words, and color into my art. I work primarily in acrylic, gouache, pen, pencil, pastel, pages from dictionaries, and line drawings from old books and encyclopedias. In addition to my painting and collaging, I create little stuffed creatures out of socks. I like to think of my artwork as an extension of my personality: bright, energetic, imaginative, playful, and fun. With my colorful hair and tendency towards wearing stripes, I even look a little like my sock creatures. :)

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  • Hilary Emerson Lay

    Owner, Maker, Designer, Curator

    Hi! My name is Hilary. I am a high-energy, friendly artist with pink hair and cool tattoos who hails from Cape Cod and currently resides in Canton, NY. I create mixed media cityscapes, silly sock critters, and portraits of animals in hats.

Shop policies

Last updated on August 26, 2014
Hello there!

If you wish to contact me, you may send me an email through Etsy, or you may send an email to me directly at hilary [!at] hilaryemersonlay.com. To answer a question that arises frequently, YES, I would be happy to make you a custom sock critter using your very own personal socks! Drop me an email and we can chat about it.

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
  • Check
Returns and exchanges
I try very hard to make my items' pictures and descriptions thorough, and I encourage buyers to contact me with any questions they may have about the item before committing to buy it. For that reason, I do not offer returns or exchanges. *However*, if I have made a mistake in the item's description, or if the item arrives damaged, I will absolutely issue a refund or exchange. The best way to resolve issues such as these is to contact me by sending me a message through Etsy or emailing me directly at hilary [!at] hilaryemersonlay.com.
Payment
I accept Paypal, credit cards, Etsy gift cards, and personal checks. If paying by check, kindly let me know when you have sent it, so that I know when to keep an eye out for it, so that I can ship your order immediately upon receiving it!

Checks should be made out to Hilary Emerson Lay and mailed to me at PO Box 556, Parishville, NY, 13672
Shipping
I will ship out your order within two days of receiving payment, and I will ship to the address provided through Etsy unless otherwise noted. I ship ground via the USPS with a tracking number. If you would like your order expedited, please message me *before* placing your order, so that I can adjust the s/h accordingly. I automatically insure any order over $100.

Paintings are carefully bubble-wrapped to insure safe delivery. Sock critters are shipped in colorful tissue paper, and will arrive with their bio printed off on card stock, lest you forget their unique personality traits! Prints and cards are shipped flat, with extra cardboard packaging to prevent damage.

If you are sending an item directly to someone as a gift, I'd be happy to include a message from you! Just put any special instructions in the "notes to seller" box during checkout. And be sure to specify where and to whom the gift is going!
Additional policies and FAQs
Sock critters: I make my sock critters out of NEW, unused socks, which have never come into contact with human feet. Most of the socks are a cotton-polyester blend, and the critters are stuffed with 100% polyester fiberfill. Most of the critter is sewn on a machine, and the arms and legs are sewn on by hand.

My sock critters' button eyes may not be safe for young children. If you are looking for a gift for a baby or other type of wee human, I am happy to create a critter with needle-felted eyes (I can send you a picture of what this looks like). Allergy disclaimer: I do live with two cats. My critters are machine-washable on the 'delicate and knits' setting and can be put through the dryer on a low-heat setting.

Sock critter repair: for critters that have endured normal wear-and-tear (usually through long-time ownership of said critter by a small child) I will happily touch up your little sock friend! This includes re-stitching any loose limbs, re-stuffing the body, re-ribboning them, etc. The cost of a touch-up repair is $10. Please note that you need to cover the to/from s/h cost. If you believe that your critter needs repairs sooner than he should, let's discuss this.

I welcome inquiries about wholesale orders! I am currently offering my tiny paintings, greeting cards, magnets for wholesale purchase. Please send me a message through Etsy or email me directly at hilary [!at] hilaryemersonlay.com. I work with both up-front payment (including through PayPal) and on consignment.

Please note that copyright is NOT transferable with your purchase, and no reproductions in any form can be made without my express permission.