The Artisan Group is proud to announce today’s Artist Spotlight Feature is Jennifer Brown of Pieceful Design!
PIECEFUL DESIGN
We caught up with Jennifer and asked her a few questions about her unique fabric-wrapped bowls, and her experiences so far working with TAG. Here’s what she said:
Everything in my shop revolves around a profound love of fabric and color. I come from a long line of quilters, and I’m sure that passion is encoded in our DNA in some way! That being said, I never thought this is the way my life would play out. I joke that I’m the most over-educated mom in all of Arizona, but my Ivy League Master’s degree is rarely put to good use driving the kids around town. This business evolved out of a desire for creative expression, a need to be occupationally flexible as my husband is transferred all over the country, oh, and some life-threatening health issues that have left me without a functioning immune system. (Yes, I know, you probably want to keep this light — but nearly dying and the process of dealing with all of that has really had a huge impact on my vocational outlook!)
What is your favorite product from your shoppe and why?
I always love this question. When the kids were little, and they’d ask me my favorite color, my answer would change on a daily basis — it depended on what color fabric I was working with that day! Although I do create other products from time to time, I always come back to the bowls. Right now, I’m really excited about dyeing my own fabrics. While I do use batiks exclusively to make the bowls, I’ve been frustrated with a lack of colors and designs in commercially available fabrics. Plus, I buy fabric by the bolt, and I get really bored with 15 yards of the same thing. So, I’ve started dyeing — and un-dyeing — the fabrics I have already to create new colors and patterns. Here’s a bowl from my favorite fabric that I’ve made so far.
When you’re not handcrafting such interesting fabric bowls and other neat accessories, what are your hobbies?
Hobbies… hmmmm… I actually do still like to sew for myself — small quilts for family members, mostly. Also, my hubby likes to do some rather hard core off road Jeeping. I’ve started to drive a bit myself, but my main job is photographer — I’m really enjoying learning more about the magic of Photoshop! I’m also an avid reader — all sorts of fiction (mostly). I can always give someone a recommendation for what they should read next. Yes, I’m that person in the book store that will pull a complete stranger around the store suggesting titles for them.
What do you like best about The Artisan Group?
This is a great question. I’ve been with the group for about 18 months… and I don’t think I’ve figured out how to get the most out the opportunities! This time (for Cannes), I’m doing it right. I’ve hired Diana Ferguson to help with the PR part. She knows the PR game in ways that I never dreamed are possible! And I think that’s what’s really the most amazing thing about this organization: the fellow members are the tools that the rest of us need to transform our hobbies into real-life companies. Before I joined this group, I never would have thought that I would have had the opportunities — or the chutzpah — to be a part of these amazing events. But just being linked through this organization, I’ve realized that other frustrated stay-at-home career women are making it work… and, I can, too!
Jennifer recently participated as a display participant in a luxury celebrity gift lounge on September 21-22, 2012 at The W Hotel in Hollywood California, in honor of the The 2012 Primetime Emmys Nominees and Presenters.
Penny Cheng says
What a wonderfully unique product!!! So nice to get to know the artist behind the art! Keep up the great work!
Pieceful Design, a Pieceful Disaster says
Thanks for the love, Penny!
Betty Miller says
Congratulations on being featured! Your products are lovely! Gifting the celebrities at Cannes – how exciting is that?! 🙂
Love,
Betty
Sari says
Love your shop and huge congrats on Cannes it is a major event and milestone for you, well deserved!
Sari <3
Rachel says
I’m so happy you’re doing the Cannes event! I’m a seamstress too, and can’t wait for the day I get to see your work up close and personal; I love the bowls and the craftsmanship looks fantastic! You are definitely a very specialized artist within the group, and I’m so glad you’re here. Great feature, Jennifer!
Pieceful Design, a Pieceful Disaster says
***beaming from all of your kind words!***