Mary Myers Folk Art
The Beginning:
Mary & Earl Myers... I have always loved wood. Growing up in Virginia where my father built houses, I would often accompany him to the lumberyards where I would invariably bring home blocks of wood. In 1989, I wanted a nutcracker but could not find one I liked so I sketched a design and then had my husband turn the basic shape on his lathe. I carved the nutcracker and painted it with muted colors to install an antique finish. I showed it to a buyer from New York City’s American Folk Art Museum. Before I knew it, I had an order for two dozen soldier nutcrackers. My career as an artist began!
A day in the life of Mary Myers in would be “crazy to most.” I like to wear all of the hats in my thriving business because getting help would change my look. I do the carving, painting, bookkeeping, catalog mailing, nutcracker packing, supply buying, and still manage the normal household duties.
I hope that my work will make people smile and find their child-like feelings from days gone by. My artistic philosophy is to be yourself . Do not let anyone say that you cannot do something. If you think you can, you will!
In my opinion, making a living from designing and carving nutcrackers from my imagination is my greatest accomplishment. After all, you do not have to grow up or should I say give up your childhood dreams. x
– Mary Myers
HONORS AND ACCOLADES:
.. Created a tree topper nutcracker for the White House in 1996
.. Named the Best American Craftsman several times by Early American Life magazine
.. Licensed with the Folk Art Museum in New York City to produce nutcrackers, ornaments, table toppers from images of antiques for their collection
.. Featured in magazines such as Country Home, Country Living, Early American Life, Coastal Living, Home, Collector Editions, Figurines, Colonial Homes, and more.
.. Letter from Michael Eisner from Walt Disney Company recognizing my work creating Disney characters
.. Featured carver for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and my work is also sold t here
.. Featured multiple times in the Virginian Pilot newspaper
