020 Pragmatic Crafter: Jamie Webster

If i had any control over my ADD it would probably be the most useful super power in the universe but I’m fighting it – I want to do things and it’s preventing me from even knowing how to start. Or there’s something entirely different that I need to be doing but what should take 30 minutes can take an indefinite period of time.

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That’s Jamie. Executive vice president, problem solver, mom, and organizing tornado. Recently delivered from a long bout of postpartum depression, she joined us by phone to chat about seeing color again and reclaiming her crafty cravings.

Shameless plugs: Check out Jamie and her dad Dennis’ fence company, Texas Fence Supply, in Denton, TX. Fun fact: Jamie’s fence was Open Envelope Studio (Angelica’s landscape design/build company)’s very first project back in 2011, and used material from TFS, obviously. Also, check out the Bearded Monk, just off Denton’s square, where you can get your craft brew fix, play a board game, or fill a growler to go. Jamie’s brother-in-law owns and her husband manages this cute little gathering space.

QOTW: Show us your closet disasters and organizational traumas on social media (#chattycrafties)! We know we’re not the only ones hindered creatively by ALL OF THE PILES that we know we eventually we need to do something about. Design solutions are out there, but first, let’s commiserate.

Hitchiker’s guide pillow by jamie

1/2 a carseat cover by Jamie

Jamie’s endless boxes

019 Geographic Inquirer: A.C.

You can’t go into you know, into an interview and say, here I drew some pictures to show you what I can do for your company but nevertheless, it’s creativity and it’s showing me as a teacher that they get it.

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That’s A.C. Teacher, dad, and musical influence to the stars. A.C. phoned it in to share his scholastic-grade sarcasm, classroom techniques, and what it’s like to look through his eye for design.

Listen for tips on how to engage jr. high and high school kids who might not be able to communicate all that they’re learning by using art! And find A.C. on Twitter and Instagram at @bigfabAC.

Question of the week: What are your barriers to being creative? What keeps you from being creative if you used to be or what keeps you from being creative if you never were? Give us your thoughts in comments, on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook so we can feature your answer!

AC’s bedroom (photo by Casey Kopecky)

Atomic clock ((photo by Casey Kopecky)

Shelves in the office (photo by Casey Kopecky)

Guest room pre-Michael (photo by Casey Kopecky)

Stretched vintage fabric by AC (Guest room pre-Michael (photo by Casey Kopecky)

Stretched vintage fabric for Eloise by AC

018 Metaphorical Magician: Billy Moreno

Everything we do with language and communication is all metaphors. It’s all somewhat ambiguous and it’s all alive in the moment, after that it’s a different thing; before that it’s a different thing.

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That’s Billy, a.k.a. _Bill_Nice_. Rapper, Game Designer, imperfectionist, incorrigible wordsmith, and long time husband of our producer. Billy chatted about the wondrous opportunity of personal vocabularies, meditation, his methods for world class deck building and stage fright.