Well it's just lil 'ole me, Teresa Collins. My shop is located in the sleepy little town where I was born and raised, right off the Choptank River in Cambridge, Maryland. It's really kinda like that show Cheers, everybody really doesknow your
name here! Don't go out to the store looking a mess, 'cause you WILL run into
many that ya know. I find that kind of nice though. Class reunion right in WalMart! LOL.
I live here with my husband of fifteen years, Bill, and our two sweet children; our daughter who's 18 and our son who is 5 years old. (And yes, that is me over there on his scooter!) I so love this photo. I was actually having a sweet little chat with my Thomas at that moment. He and I were about to take a bike ride ----and "MOMMA" prefers him on the foot pedal bike! Daddy bought this thing for him, not me. LOL but it sure is fun to ride though.
Quite the gap with the children, huh?!
Being "mom" is my most important job of
course, but as for work ~ I'm a portrait artist/graphic designer by trade, however I have always had a
passion for Mortuary Science (bet'cha didn't see that one coming!) Not really for the embalming part of it, but more
for the putting people back together end of it. This, so that families can have
the opportunity for closure and final goodbyes. To me ---that is so important. So I only waited 19 years to go
to school to become a mortician! One fine Monday afternoon in 2004 I was accepted into the
mortuary science program; I had my hepatitis shots on Tuesday and on Wednesday I found I was pregnant
with our son! After all that time of waiting to go!!! Just like that. No
mortuary school, no going on removal calls at work, no nothing! Obviously it
just wasn't my time to do this. Pregnant women are not allowed at a mortuary anything for obvious reasons ---and I just couldn't
imagine putting my wants before my children's needs anyway.
They are first and foremost in my life.I'm also a firm believer in things happening for a reason! Had no clue as to the exact reason, but yeah, it's been most definitely a good thing.
My upbringing ...
I
was partially raised by my German great-grandmother, Louise (Scharph)
Lyons, who was a professional seamstress and worked for the Rob Roy
shirt factory in Cambridge. Of course she taught me all i know about the
way to "BE" and also everything to know about a sewing machine. Thank
God I payed attention! I really really wish that she and my maternal
grandmother, Effie (Metcalf) Stultz, were here to share in what's going
on with me now. Good 'ole "MeMaw" Effie taught me a thing or two about
life as well.
I am an artist ...
I
dabble in a few things: signs, web design, Native American regalia and
dance shawls, I teach portrait lessons and oh yeah - my raggedy bags of
course, which I dearly love making! I started doing graphic design when I
was 18. Had the best teacher and mentor in the world, my dear friend, Bob Bunney. Very proud to say that he taught me a lot about design - and well, life too. My God, my Creator, has blessed me with many talents; I use them ALL to help support my family. I've just completed my portfolio page to show some of the other work I've done ~ please be sure to check it out. I've recently added more beading designs as well. I have found much peace and relaxation in that craft.
So I guess if
I'm not home with my children (until some one dies and I work a
funeral) well yeah, I guess that's about what I do. Work funerals, hang
out with my children and sew or bead like 24/7 these days. I also dedicate my extra time to fixing up this website!
I
don't know, I'm not really a materialistic girl so with what I've
already said, who could ask for more? We live a comfortable and
quiet life together ~ and I am quite comfortable in my own skin. Anything else, i guess just ask :)
"Our new label design"
So what about the name, MOMMA PAJAMA??!! Where did it come from?
When my
daughter was about 6 years old, she started writing little notes
addressing me as, "Momma Pajama". She has continued doing this ever
since. It's just kinda stuck with me through the years so I felt it was most
appropriate to name the business after that. It is very near-and-dear to my
heart and has a great deal of meaning ~ as does every one of our items that leave our home bearing the Momma Pajama label.
My ethnicity and my culture...
I was given the name "Hands
of Peace"do-hi u-wa-yi
(doe hee - ooh way yee) for the work that I do. I am
so proud to be Choctaw/Cherokee ---and so Honored to be able to learn the ways of my ancestors.
I
very much enjoy stompin' at pow wow's with my Momma. I never do
competition pow wow - as I go for drum medicine. My mom doesn't live
near me
so its also a very special time for us to get together. I'm so proud of my
heritage. My learning about my heritage in traditional ways - has been
one of the best things - one of the
best life changing events, ever. What an honor it is to know and be
taught these ways. Many I am closer to than those who are of my own
blood. Unlike
"blood" family, they are not out to hurt me. They are not out to take
from me. They've asked for nothing and what I am given is a bond beyond
words. As I always say - I would rather die before I'd
ever let my brothers down. Its just that simple. I am totally in
tune with my gifts and I'm so thankful for the Cherokee blood of my
grandmothers. They are the whispers in my ears. Very very thankful,
proud, and blessed I am. Oh, my milky whiteness comes from the Stuttgart German
side of my family. I am mixed-blood, but I am all Tsalagi in my heart. If
there's anything else, I guessjust ask. as we say, "Smoke and prayers for you" Teresa
