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About Marly Bird
You should be careful what you wish for when you want to know more about Marly! Why? Because I just might talk your ear off...or at least show you lot of pictures :-) I am only kidding (sort of)! I will show you more pictures than you might want to see; but I always prefer to see pictures than read something. So, I picked an assortment of pictures that I think make me look pretty good! LOL! Okay, seriously though, there are some good things to mention about who I am and why I began working with Jill on this website several years ago. I feel like I should start this page off with an introduction. "Hi, my name is Marly and I am a purse-aholic!" I have always been a crafty person. I first learned how to sew when I was in sixth grade. My very first project was my Easter Dress! Pay attention, you will see that when it comes to first projects I always tend to shoot for the moon. Honestly, I didn't sew much after my dress was done. Actually, it wasn't until I was in high school that I pulled out my sewing machine again. What did I make? I used to make scrunchies for my volleyball team so we all could matched. Yep, that was about the extent of my sewing career for many years, sad to say. When I was in junior high school I used to make up earings and barrettes our of puzzle pieces then sell them at local craft fairs. Don't laugh...I made a boat load of cash! It wasn't until I was in my twenties that I first learned how to crochet. That doesn't mean I didn't want to learn until then. It was that my grandma finally taught me how! After I learned, I could not believe that I had not done it all my life. Crochet became a part of my life. I didn't go anywhere without my yarn and a hook. I am not joking, I used to wait outside of my college classroom crocheting before class started. Sure, I got some funny looks but that was no concern to me. They just didn't understand! Funny thing is that my very first project was a Queen size Afghan out of Single Crochet for an ex-boyfriend of mine! (which, btw, I got back when we broke up!) It is amazing to me that after finishing that thing I ever wanted to crochet again! If you don't know what I am talking about or can't understand why, then you have never finished a Queen size Afghan out of SINGLE CROCHET! LOL! Anyway, it wasn't long before I had mastered the techniques of crochet and after just 2 years I started to design my own patterns.
I was twenty six years old when I was taught how to knit. Just like crochet, I was addicted to this craft and take a pair of needles and yarn where ever I go. As a matter of fact, just the other day I was standing in line at the grocery store knitting a pair of socks as I waited to have my groceries rang up! People all around me were glancing at what I was making and a few commented about how relaxing it looked, but nobody game me any grief. Now, I can say that my knitting and crochet has been published in magazines, books and had one of my patterns on a TV Show. Not only that but I am now Creative Director for Bijou Basin Ranch luxury Yak fiber. Also, Jill and I had our first booklet published with Leisure Arts called "Curvy Crochet"
What is my favorite part of knitting? Everything! I haven't found anything I don't like about it yet! My only addiction besides knitting bags would have to be sock knitting. In my car, I even have an emergency sock kit (sock yarn, 5 DPN's, tape measure, crochet hook, Chibby needle) that I put together just in case I am ever stuck in traffic and need to work on something (every car should have one of these). Actually, I was the one to teach Jill how to knit socks. I only mention that because there are few things in the knitting and crochet and sewing world that I will ever be able to teach Jill as she knows all! As I have become more and more involved in the online community of knitting and crochet I feel as if I am not alone in my obsession of these crafts. My blog is has been a great place for me to show off my works in progress and share my ups and downs with projects. I even share my passion about all things yarn in a podcast that I host. It is called Yarn Thing. Go ahead and have a listen to Yarn Thing; you don't need an iPod, you can listen straight from your computer if you have speakers! The podcast has really been a great deal of fun and has connected me with knitters and crocheters all around the world! I often have guest on the show with me and will tell little stories here and there along with this and that about my passion! I joke around by telling my listeners that "You never know what you are going to get with Marly" but it really is true!
Just like I don't like to make the same project all the time I don't like to do the same podcast episode all the time so I am always changing it up. The one thing my listeners can count on though is a great deal of laughter and fun! Okay, so why am I doing a site about purses and bags? Funny you ask that cause I am just about to tell you. I often saw felted bags at my LYS (local yarn store) and wondered if I could make them. All anybody told me was how easy they were. But I never really got any more instruction than that. Sure, they suggested taking a class but with three kids at home I had no time for that. The same can be said about lining a bag or making purse handles, or picking the right closure or better yet how to attach the closure...these were all questions I had but nobody was offering me the answers to them. That is until Jill and I met! Our husbands introduced us knowing how much we both loved crafts; especially all things Yarn Related. I think we became best friends nearly instantaneously! You could even call us Family! After long conversations about making purses and bags and our love for them we decided we just had to share this information with others. That way, nobody else would have to be left out in the cold like I was for so very long.
So, there you have it. The reason I am part of this wonderful site! Not to mention a little more about me than you might have every wanted. Oh well, here, look at another picture :-) Okay now, go check out The Purse Workshop and find all the information you need! Drop by regularly to see what other exciting information we have to share! Make this your "one stop shop" for purse making ideas! |
