Meet Jessica
Pellon: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Jessica: Nature plays a big part! The flowers, the colors, and the many different shapes and textures you find out there. Colors can drastically change the mood and feel of what you make and how you want others to see it. I love to match what lots of people wouldn’t and play with different prints and patterns. Never be afraid to step out of the box and be different.
P: What does your creative process entail?
J: A lot of the time my whole process can start out of nowhere. A middle of the night thought or walking by certain fabrics can give me a pretty good vision on what I’d like to create. Techniques can play a big part as well. If I see something with a gathering or a ruffle, for example, I think to myself “How that would fit into different projects?” I believe that fabric speaks to you and can really spark the idea of what you want to make.
P: Why do you enjoy sewing/crafting/quilting?
J: I enjoy sewing because I feel like it is a chance for me to put all of the creative thoughts in my head into something for people to see and enjoy.Crafting is something that gives me a wonderful sense of accomplishment. It is something to be very proud of whether sewing a basic pillow or an elegant ballgown and EVERYTHING in between.
P: Do you create mainly for satisfaction, gifts, art or another reason?
J: I create a lot of my items because, to me, sewing is an art. I love to have something different that I know no one else will have that truly expresses who I am. The feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction I get once I see my finished project is simply amazing and something that is hard for people outside of the DIY world to understand.
P: What tips or tricks learned through experience can you share?
J: I have learned so many things along the way. As we’ve all heard many times”Measure twice, cut once.” It’s the truth! But not just that… read the directions twice… measure twice, and then cut once! Another one of my favorite tips is always press your seams! Not only will it make working with the project much easier but it will also help to produce a more polished end result. One thing I always keep in mind is that even the best seamstress keeps a seam ripper on hand. Mistakes will happen and that is more than okay. Never give up.
P: When and why did you start sewing/quilting/crafting?
J: I wanted to start sewing because it is an expression of who I am — being able to express myself through something I have created is just awesome! My grandmother taught me the basic sewing skills I needed to start in late 2010. Since then I have been pretty much self taught and have continued to learn from videos,blogs and books! (You can never have enough sewing books!)
P: What inspires you to start a project?
J: People can play a HUGE role in things I want to design and create. Someone with a pretty outfit will make me think “Wow! That would look great with a zippered clutch with pleats or flowers. Or seeing something in my home that could use a little “dress up.” Anything that is DIY, I want to do and teach others how to do it.
