maryDtiles

A lifelong artist, BFA/Illustration & Graphic Design, I have been working in a small studio workroom in the upstairs of our old Sears kit bungalow for 11 years. There is a good sized balcony off my workroom that overlooks my big dog yard and the 600 acre Pittsfield Preserve and spectacular, year-round sunsets.
In 1992 I originally made my animal jewelry from Friendly Plastic in my kitchen and those pieces became famous in the dog show world! But I always dreamed of making them of ceramic and in 2001, I traded the cheap, fragile Friendly Plastic for porcelain.
I also use a high fired stoneware clay that is made in Michigan and used by many of my fellow Michigan tile artisans (MI and CA were the foundation states for modern artisan tiles).
In 1999, I started to teach myself how to make tiles with some supplemental advice from tile artisan and author Frank Giorgini and Motawi tileworks co-owner Karim Motawi. Two years later I was making my jewelry from porcelain clay. I am, at my core, an illustrator and this is reflected in my clay work. However, my specialty is whimsical style, because if the dog world needs something, it's humor.
My porcelain jewelry has been advertised in the magazines Dog Fancy, The Bark and trade magazine Pet Age and earned the elusive Pet Age Magazine Pinnacle Award winner in the gift category.
I have over 20 years retail and buyer experience from some of the most legendary businesses in my town of Ann Arbor (Middle Earth, Sam's Store, Blue Front, Zingerman's).
I have developed my own personal style of retail philosophy that includes elements from all of my experiences at these places. I keep in touch with customers readily and sometimes even let them into my world.

I put a lot of time, energy and love into my work and know you will appreciate the attention to detail and high quality of my original designs.