Our Artist Profile to kick off the New Year is none other than Mamie Allen! Mamie attends First Step Arkansas, an Adult Developmental Day Treatment Program in Malvern, Arkansas which serves individuals with developmental disabilities.
Crafting is a true family affair for Mamie. When Mamie was a child, her grandmother taught her how to make arts and crafts, with a special focus on her favorite pastime – sewing. As a result, Mamie is skilled in both sewing by hand and using her portable sewing machine. Mamie’s mother also enjoys crafting, and while she is not as active a crafter as Mamie is, she is good at crocheting and loves to make doilies for gifts. Mamie creates a variety of beautiful products for The Blue Umbrella, including pillows, coasters, handmade jewelry, and more.
When she isn’t making crafts, Mamie loves to cook, spend time with her boyfriend Jason, and put together puzzles with birds on them. She loves to hang her creations in her apartment at First Step – especially ones in her favorite colors pink and purple – and she loves having her own space living near people that make her happy.
Each time she gets paid by The Blue Umbrella, Mamie uses the money to invest in more craft supplies so she can keep creating art. She said that she feels happy when someone buys her products because she works hard on them.
“See, my dream was when I got older, I wanted to sell my crafts and I didn’t think I’d ever have that chance. But now I do.”
Her advice to other people like her is to keep trying to achieve their dreams and never give up!