Welcome to the Teal Leopard: A New Chapter

“Where scraps become stories."

What began as tossed bits of fabric in my workroom has grown into a journey of up-cycling, art, and heritage. Every scrap carries a history, and every piece I create is part of a larger story I'm still weaving.  Welcome to the Teal Leopard, I'm so glad you're hear at the start of this next chapter.

Hello, friends, I'm Marilie, the artist and maker behind the Teal Leopard, "where heritage meets handcrafted."

After graduating with my Interior Design degree in 1985, I spent more than 18 years working in Interior design and related industries, learning how texture, color, and storytelling shape the way we live. In 2002, I opened my own brick-and-mortar custom home furnishings workroom, creating bespoke soft furnishings for clients across Oklahoma and the greater U.S.

By 2017, I was ready to try something new, and the Teal Leopard was born. What started as an up-cycling project, pillow covers, table linens, tote bags, holiday stockings, and seasonal decorations; has since grown into a creative studio that blends history, heritage, and art. Along the way I've experimented with wood and glass designs as well as textiles, and in recent years I've added something very close to my heart: my own artwork.

Today, the Teal Leopard is evolving. You'll see familiar up-cycled favorites, but also new collections of digitally crafted artwork and wearable art. Painterly, mystical designs inspired by history, Celtic motifs, and the natural world. Some existing pieces are getting a fresh touch, and entirely new works are making their debut.

Alongside this studio, I also tend another creative space called KelticKat's Realm... a home for my poetry, history explorations, and Celtic-inspired art. Much of the inspiration you''ll see here in the Teal Leopard, from enchanted guardians to Tudor roses, is rooted in the stories I explore there. If you're drawn to art that carries meaning and a touch of myth, I'd love for you to follow both paths.

This blog will be a place where I share:

• The stories and symbols behind my art.
• Glimpses of my creative process.
• Inspiration drawn from history, legend, and everyday life.

   

I'm so glad you're here at the start of this new chapter. Whether you come for the pillows and table linens, the enchanted art collections, or the history and poetry that weave through it all, you're part of this story now too.

"These visions are born not of brushes, but of light and lore, digitally crafted with care."