We are so thrilled to have Jen Lake teach a vintage seed bead & hair bobs class here at Teahouse next Sunday, September 30th from 1-4. There's still space to join us if you'd like! Find out more here. Welcome to Jen's rad + colorful world! YES.
So Miss Jen, you are not only a mega-craft superstar, but you're also an amazing art school teacher! Can you tell us about your path and moreover, how you find time to do it all?Art education found me; when i moved to SF the K-8 art position opened up at the school i was at & i jumped - i developed the whole art curriculum for the school. it was a ton of work, but all mine, and i'm super proud of it & my students. i started my first business, sprout studio, after i had a few years of teaching under my belt & could handle another creative endeavor. time? who has any?
Why seed beading and hair bobs? I have an extensive collection of vintage seed beads & other really pretty japanese, czech & german glass beads. the seed bead necklaces are super fun to make, you don't need an advanced skill level - just the where with all to be loose with color combos & have fun! i make all sorts of vintage hair bobby pins & barrettes & clips for sprout studio, so i thought it would be rad to offer that up to some students creativity & see what happens for them.
When are you in your sweet spot creatively? What's the atmosphere like? What's on the radio? etc.
When i have enough time to zone out, rifle through paper ephemera, or have the time to let my mind wander. I'll have a big mug of tea & maybe some cowboy junkies on -- or if i'm feeling feisty, the heartless bastards… depends on the mood i'm in. but definitely when there's time to just be putter-y :)
What artist do you most admire?
Too many to list, but three top faves are margaret kilgallen, yoko ono, & miranda july.
I hear you're renovating your house and are a SF homeowner, Congrats! Does this fuel you creatively?
It opens up possibilities that are insane; like, this is MY home, & i can do whatever i want! tear down this wall? sure! cut a whole in the roof & put three windows in? absolutely! so while it's completely different from my other creative endeavors, it's very liberating to have a huge space to be uber creative in/with.
You were an early adopter of the Craft Fairs like Renegade... how did you get into this?
Back in 2003/04 i started to see a tiny movement pushing forward of handmade goods. specifically i remember standing in needles & pens (when they were on 14th st) & looking at a jill bliss wallet that i liked, & i thought, what am i doing? why am i not putting my creative wares out there? i've always made gifts for people my whole life, an extension of that would be all the processes i like to work with & open up a business! so i did! it was kind of crazy, but i'm super proud that i did it & i still have it going, although i'm excited about new possibilities that will be coming soon out of the sprout studio!
What inspires you right now?
honestly, pinterest! i get so much inspiration from trolling around over there; it's like everyone's brain exploded out of their sketchbooks & pin boards & it's all there for you to comb through. SO much gold to mine there.
Favorite quote?
that changes weekly… i'll share the most recent, by annie dillard, "it is possible, in deep space, to sail on solar wind. the secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. hone & spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the nearest puff."
Best thrift store score as of late?
a vintage japanese stoneware mug that looks like it has an exact replica of an orla kiely design on it but it's PRE-KIELY! food for thought… where DOES inspiration come from exactly?!
Describe today's awesome outfit including your baubley goodness:)
some bright aqua cords, a sweet vintage shirt from the thrift, a striped cardie from the thrift, a pom pom necklace my friend leslie gave me, a rebecca pearcy (of queen bee fame) scarf, some dansko clogs, and 9 striped bracelets i bought at the beginning of summer that are made from recycled sandals. a virginia bff & myself both bought them together & we have been twinsies all summer & have yet to take them off. oh! a gorgeous ring by jillian, of the noisy plume, & some sprout studio earring posts of my own making :)
all photos from miss jen's sprout studio website + beautiful instagram site
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 
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