Maggie Deall and prolific local artist Wayne. Photo: Supplied.
Riverina Made is a series showcasing all the region has to offer this Christmas, and we’re encouraging everyone to shop local. First up, we chat with Little Yellow House’s Maggie Deall.
Who are you and what is your business? I’m Maggie Deall and my business is The Little Yellow House Gallery and Studio on Tompson Street.
Where did you begin? I began producing art as therapy because I have PTSD after 20 years in the police. I started painting then started selling and that led to opening this place and getting out of the cops.
What do you produce? We sell original art from artists in the Riverina. I produce primarily acrylic and oil paintings but I do some cards and homewares and gifts. We also have art classes here and I teach acrylic and oils and we have a couple of other artists who teach a variety of things like watercolour and charcoal and pencil drawing.
Where can we buy your products? You can buy my products either here in the store at 41 Tompson Street or you can jump online and purchase all the items that we have in here on the website. Shipping is free for everything and at the moment we have 20 per cent off all art sales just to get everyone into a bit of gift buying.
The Little Yellow House is a haven for local artists. Photo: Chris Roe.
What should we buy for gifts this Christmas? I think art is a great present for Christmas. If you know just a vague idea of what the person’s favourite colour is, we can put a little art piece together with a candle and some earrings or something and make up a little set. That makes gift buying super easy and absolutely original and you know that everything is locally made by Riverina artists.
READ ALSO: The best of what the region has to offer is all in one place at The Wagga Shop
What’s your favourite product that you make? Well, obviously the paintings I love to do, but at the moment I’m actually really enjoying making the candles because I make them at home and my house just smells divine.
What would you make if you could do anything? I have actually been thinking that I would really like to make some jewellery. I’ve always wanted to learn jewellery design. That might be a little project for next year and of course, it will be reflective of my art and be colourful and bright!
The Little Yellow House. Photo: Supplied.
How would you promote the Riverina? I came here to Wagga and was just blown away. It’s just such a beautiful place and the colours down here are amazing! Right from the kind of more wintry, crisper colours in the mountains through to the canola fields and in spring there’s just ornamental trees absolutely everywhere and the flowers are just divine.
What’s your favourite coffee spot? I’m like not a snob when it comes to coffee, but I actually love getting my coffee at Fast Lane in East Wagga because the girls are so nice, they seem to know everybody and it’s just a nice way to start the day.
READ ALSO: Clockmaker Dom Tancredi is surrounded by time but has none to spare
Coolest local thing you’ve ever bought? My house! I think because I’ve moved around so much with the cops and have never been settled or given any priority to buying a place of my own. But when I came here I found my house, the original little yellow house, and it’s in a really quiet street and it’s got a garden and massive trees all around. It’s my favourite place to be apart from in the gallery.
Who is another local producer/business you admire? I’d have to say Vikkie down at Curious Rabbit is someone I really admire. She is a nurturer of creative people and she gives a platform to lots of different creative people. Sophie from Little Triffids is also great. She’s so lovely and relaxed and her flower arrangements are a little bit different and they’re really pretty.
What do you want for Christmas? A holiday!
You can learn more about the Little Yellow House or pick up an artwork for Christmas here.
Region Riverina is committed to celebrating our local producers and creatives and encourages everyone to buy local.
If you know someone who’s making something amazing that we should know about, let us know!
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