Here is Jackie to tell us more:

The Beginning...

I started making pincushions years ago, but never really did anything with them (except give them away as gifts). With lots of encouragement, I started selling them at "The Quilter's Inn" in Danville, CA when I worked there (I stopped working there about 6 months ago - just too busy). Jane, the owner was nice enough to let me try selling the pincushions there to see how they did. I decided to go ahead and see what would happen and it's been successful! It's still surprising and always exciting when you actually see someone buying something you've made or designed.

I stated out making fruit pincushions - I always loved beaded fruit and thought I could make pincushions that were elegant and useful at the same time. I tend to just cut things out and start putting them together --- sort of trial and error. I don't draw everything out first, though with some of the fruit, I do actually take the real fruit and draw on it to get a feel of how many sections I need to make it the right shape. It's fun to see what you end up with (of course, doing patterns, I pay more attention and I have actually gone back and taken things apart to see exactly how I made it and take measurements and everything).

Wren's Nest and Other Places

My little company is called Wren's Nest. I do sell a limited number of finished pincushions in a few shops and boutiques in Alameda and Berkeley as well as at
Thimblecreek Quilt Shop in Concord. I have an Etsy shop --that is currently sold out! (That is a good thing for Jackie, but you and I will have to keep checking back to see what new stuff Jackie's puts up for sale!) I am working with Cherry Menlove selling things on her website.. The items on her website are exclusive to her and then she is also taking some pincushions (pears, the nests) and needle books to a Christmas Fair in England. So far the items on her website have done well - it's really exciting that people in the UK like them. My husband teases me that Wren's Nest has gone international!!

Friends At Fig Tree

My patterns are published through Fig Tree. (See related post about Fig Tree here.) I've been friends with Joanna for years and she kept telling me that when I was ready we could talk about doing a pattern for the pincushions. So my first pattern called "Orchard's Bounty", came out last May at Spring Market in Minneapolis and this latest one "You Say Tomato..."at Fall Market. I also do simple pincushion patterns for Fresh Vintage, the quarterly publication that Fig Tree puts out.

At the Dining Room Table...But Not For Long

I currently work in my dining room on the table. It's always interesting - with 3 kids around - I lose my scissors and glue and materials constantly. We are starting a remodel, which will be done this spring and then I will have my very own studio!! Can't wait!!

Inspirations

I'm inspired by vintage design - I love antique sewing items, toys and books (and quilts). I have a few antique pincushions and love those. I am also inspired by fruits, vegetables and flowers and have made pincushions based on all of those. I also love to bake and have made a cherry tart pincushion (featured in the latest Fresh Vintage) and the tartlet on Cherry Menlove. I also love birds (hence the name) and have made bird pincushions with birds on nests and also a pincushion that is a nest with 3 eggs in it--that one has been very popular and is one of my favorites. I've also been inspired by Nicol Sayre and Dee Foust and their creations - I have an original Nicol Sayre pincushion and I also have lots of her reproduction Christmas and Halloween decorations. I love the designs and colors
she uses.

Besides pincushions, I do quilt and I love hand appliqué - with cotton or wool. Future designs, hmmm... more patterns that include pincushions (of course) and other small, handwork items, perhaps some wool appliqué and embroidery thrown in...we'll see!

Blogging and the Community...Wren's Nest is 100 posts strong!

I started blogging about 5 months ago (last June) and though I didn't know if I'd stick with it - I have found it to be a great outlet and a wonderful journal of my days. I have also found the blogging community to be absolutely amazing and supportive and I'm so glad to be a part of it! See my blog at Wren's Nest and you can e-mail me at wrensnest@yahoo.com.

Editor's note:

I am glad to have met Jackie and to have "partaken" in the fruits of labor. Well, actually I have her "Tomato" pattern (thanks to Joanna) but have not made it yet! Looking forward to more fresh patterns...Keep up the great designs Jackie.

(Photos thanks to Jackie.  Last photo is of Jackie (dark hair) and my Threaded Pear Business Partner, Stephanie at Spring Quilt Market debuting Jackie's first pattern, "Orchard's Bounty")