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About me... My name is Mary Mase. I've been "artsy" all my life and decided early on to turn that creativity and passion into a career. I can remember that as a child when all the other kids had lemonaid stands I put up my own"Handmade Greeting Card" kiosk out front of my parents house. Pretty ambitious for a 10 year old but I loved to draw and always seemed to need money for candy. Fast forward to adulthood where I spent about fifteen years working as an Interior Decorator. Sometimes for pay, sometimes for trade and sometimes just for the joy of doing something I loved. In 2004 a fire destroyed my home, my business, and my creativity. I had poured so much blood, sweat, tears and wallpaper paste into the house that I lost and was sure I would never want to do it again. It took a long time (several years) to regain that "artsy" creative feeling. Eventually, a new home to decorate, and a new career path got all those creative juices flowing again. But somehow I found myself working in different "mediums". I'd taken a job selling headstones. Yes, headstones! What can I say - I had to pay the bills and in my area where work is scarce you take what you can get. But as it turned out I LOVED IT! Not only was I selling headstones, I got to design them. Finally, my work was going to be carved in stone (literally). I also found that I loved the people I was working for (the owners) as well as the people I was waiting on. Most of my customers were my parents age and many of them actually knew my parents. Both of my parents are deceased so it was kind of neat meeting people they knew. I had an instant bond with many of them and I knew it was a job I was meant to have. Eventually, part time lead to full time, and now I'm here six days a week. I also manage the adjoining Flower Shop which is another medium in which my creativity shines. So when (and why) did I start making logos? Here's the thing, when my work is done for the day I still have to be here 'til close. If someone walks in, or calls, it's my duty to wait on them. Some days I could wait on a dozen people, which is great, other times I don't see that many people in a week. The owners told me "Bring a book, do some knitting, watch TV, surf the net". They didn't care what I was doing, so long as I dropped everything the second the phone rang or someone walked through the door. I found myself watching way too much Dr. Phil on TV and playing cards online. I knew that there had to be something much more productive I could be doing in my down time. That's when I discovered Graphic Design. I had all this great software to use and dozens of sites where I could compete with other designers to win contracts (and contests). It was a whole new medium for me to design in. I couldn't believe that people get paid to do this - it's so much fun! I've been doing it over a year now and my portfolio contains about 4500 different designs I've created. My international client list has included: Doctors without Borders (Worldwide), Hullaballoo Costumes (CA), L'Olivier Floral Atelier (NYC), Blue Water Bay Real Estate (Australia), The Salem Christian School (NH), Somethin's Burnin' Pyrography (NY), Johnny-on-the-Spot General Contracting (NY), just to name a few. Now keep in mind, I manage two businesses during the day (my "real" jobs), but that doesn't mean your business is any less important. If I can't complete a project within the course of the day then I take it home with me and will work on it all night, if I have to, in order to give you the best possible end-product. I have the same software at home and generally spend an additional 2 -3 hours each night working on Graphic Design at home. I pride myself on always meeting a clients deadline and if I commit to having something done within a certain time frame you can be assured IT WILL BE DONE ON TIME, ON BUDGET AND TO YOUR SPECS. So take a look at the portfolios shown on this site and feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns, etc. My cell phone (607) 207-0333 is always on but I won't answer it if I'm with someone. If you get my voicemail, rest assured I will return your call within 24 hours. I check my email frequently throughout the day so feel free to email me if that is more convenient. (mmase4@stny.rr.com, logos4sale@yahoo.com) Also keep in mind that I offer custom art and photography, limited edtion, signed and numbered prints, free design consultations within a 25 mile radius of Chemung County, NY, monument and memorial sales / design and floral design. I'm a multi-talented, multi-tasking gal that loves a challenge. No projects too big or too small. I can design your Logo, your Office, your Headstone, your Christmas Ornaments, your T-shirts, your Wedding or just that bouquet of flowers you forgot to send your wife on her birthday... Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your stay and have a great day, Mary F. Cain-Mase (aka "Monkey") Oh yeah, here are some other places on the web you can find me, and my work. Just click the link and it will take you there... http://monkeydesigns4u.imagekind.com http://cafepress.com/monkeydesigns4u www.missmarymonkeymase.deviantart.com http://99designs.com/people/marymase/folio http://www.fourseasonsflorist.flyingcart.com less