Mar 16, 2009

Artists have luck o’ the IrishBy Samantha Maziarz ChristmannBuffaloNews.com

Two local artists have spun lifelong passions into successful business enterprises and, this St. Patrick’s Day, both have special reason to praise the luck of the Irish.

When Susan Hettrich-Makoczy gave up her career as a legal secretary years ago to raise her daughters, she never dreamt the crafting hobby she was so passionate about would one day be considered art, let alone a livelihood.

“My kids kept saying, ‘Mom, you’ve got to do something with this,’ ” she said. “I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, what am I going to do?’ “

Neither did she dream the line of microglitter ornaments she started eight years ago would become sought after by name.

But the reality of just how fortunate she’s been hit home recently, with a rush order for the ornate pieces.

Local shop owner Anne Petri, anticipating a vast amount of foot traffic passing her store during Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, sought Hettrich- Makoczy’s signature handmade ornaments for the display window of Pitt Petri Gifts, Stationery & Bridal Registry.

“Her work is funky, it’s elegant, it’s meticulous,” Petri said about Hettrich- Makoczy. “There’s something for everyone. People just love it.”

The only problem? There were no Irish-themed ornaments in Hettrich- Makoczy’s collection.

“They take me one to three hours to do by hand,” the artist said. “But somehow I made 23 in one day.”

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