We were lucky to catch up with Marie Montgomery recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marie, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I was gifted a Pfaff sewing machine from my late mother back in 2016. Growing up she made different pieces of clothing and eventually scrub tops when I was attending Veterinary Technician school. I first started teaching myself to sew small cotton storage and travel type zip bags, often learning from Youtube videos, blogs and articles I found online. I have always been a creative, working with my hands and often creating art outside of my full time career in veterinary medicine.
From the small cotton bags, I grew into making purses and larger bags, eventually purchasing a heavier duty sewing machine that could sew canvas and other heavier fabric. I continued to learn different sewing skills and bag making skills, often from other creatives online. From that machine I moved to an even bigger machine that is able to handle heavier canvas and leather materials.
I have taken a tote bag making class from another creative in the Portland, Oregon area. This has sparked my interest in wanting to learn to create my own patterns. Most of the bags I make are from my own pattern/design or a pattern that I have tweaked. I would like to continue to grow this skill and create more difficult patterns and bags.
I also have plans to play around with sewing articles of clothing, specifically Kuspuks (a traditional tunic worn by Alaska Natives that are typically made of cotton and feature a hood and large front pocket). I wish that I would have started sewing earlier in my life, as there is so much I want to do and try! This is hard when I work full time and am kept very busy with that alone. I would love to make bags full time, however am very attached to veterinary medicine and don’t have any plans to leave that career.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to use my hands, skills and knowledge to create something that others love. To create beautiful bags that others appreciate as well. I enjoy gaining more skills and knowledge – it has been cool to look back and see how I have grown.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I feel like this is something that is constantly changing and morphing. I am mainly on Instagram and Facebook in regard to social media. There have been many new experiences with this, in regard to learning about how to promote yourself on social media, creating videos and posts that bring people in etc. I am no expert by any means, and enjoy connecting with my creative peers on this to get tips and tricks and share what I know as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.puddlecitycraft.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puddle.city.craft
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/puddlecitycraft/
