arjorie Sarnat grew up in the Midwest about 100 years too late, according to her. Since childhood she has felt a deep connection to imagery from an earlier era. As a youngster she started collecting old children's books. "The first teddy bear I fell in love with was actually a book illustration of the original 1902 teddy bear!"

"I can't remember a time when I didn't love looking at art and creating art," says Marjorie. "I spent most of my childhood drawing pictures and paper dolls on the backs of my schoolwork papers"

After high school, Marjorie attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Eastern Michigan University, where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree. She also studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and later with several noted painters.

In addition to her formal education, Marjorie made a personal study of traditional Victorian illustration styles and techniques. She has devoted years to learning how to reproduce the look of art done in this era. "I even invented a way to make the surface I work on look mellowed with age," says Marjorie.

Early in her career, she decided to start her own publishing company to showcase the works of forgotten illustrators found in her immense collection of antique books. "I was truly enchanted by the drawings of fairies with intricate wings and the dreamy castles high in the clouds. I wanted to share their innocent beauty with the world."

To raise money for printing the books, Marjorie manufactured a small line of ceramic mugs that featured her own teddy bear characters. Soon the mugs had a following and Marjorie was introduced to the giftware/collectibles business. "I was born to design giftware," says Marjorie. "I have always considered myself an 'idea' person, and combined with my love for art and nostalgia, I am thoroughly gratified as an artist by creating for this industry."

Marjorie's design work now appears as collectibles lines for Enesco, The San Francisco Music Box Company, Westland Giftware, and others, having been made into figurines, music boxes, holiday ornaments, waterglobes and more. In addition, her work appears on textiles, gift tins, and other merchandise and is published as paper doll books and greeting cards. Marjorie's painting style is highly detailed and filled with images from the past, with an emphasis on tender human emotions (even when the "humans" are bears or fairies).

Besides the inspiration provided by images from the past, Marjorie derives inspiration for her art from her own family experiences growing up in Chicago, and from her family life today.

Marjorie lives with her husband, daughter, and son in Southern California, where she pursues her lifelong passions for art and old books.