A Maker from the Start
Hi, I’m Jenny. I’m a graphic designer and Etsy seller for over 17 years.
I’ve always loved creating, drawing, designing and making things. My paternal grandmother was a draftsperson in the 60’s, decades before computers and created technical drawings by hand. I now look back on Grandma Gage as the first graphic designer I knew. “Camp Grandma Grandpa” was an annual summer event which came complete with brochures and a long list of creative projects from painting shirts to producing scenery for our plays. My maternal grandmother taught me how to crochet, and introduced me to Bob Ross and “Commander Mark” along with furnishing the needed paints and brushes to emulate those early influencers. These simple actions of grandmotherly love helped mold me into the artist I am today.
I pursued art throughout middle and high school and into college. After I graduated from Kansas City Art Institute with a Bachelor’s Degree in Design, I worked a few years as an Art Director with a major city newspaper. Then, when our first son was born, I started my journey as a freelance designer and maker, to maximize my time at home. I opened my Etsy shop in 2007 and began participating in local area juried shows and taking on freelance graphic design clients. As my family grew, so did my Etsy shop as well as the number of graphic design clients.
Now, suddenly, our first born is in college! Since opening my shop, my work has expanded to include many types of hand-made books and holiday decor with paper, wood and leather. My love of bookbinding and paper informs other products I offer like leather ornaments, gift card holders, and stickers. My graphic design experience is the thread that connects all my work.
Remembering my 6th grade art teacher Mrs. Gast’s favorite mantra, “A mistake is a chance to be creative”, I’m never afraid to try new processes and tools in my art. I enjoy mixing traditional techniques with a variety of modern tools and technologies. Whether it be painting tiny leaves on a leather ornament or using the century’s old Coptic stitch to add a laser-engraved wood cover to hand-torn pages of a book, I’m constantly learning something new. My designs often begin with drawing by hand on the iPad. They are then refined in Adobe Illustrator before sending to the laser to be cut and engraved on wood or leather. Once laser cut, I often paint and finish each piece by hand. With the help of Etsy, I hope to continue growing my business and making creative products for my customers.
