Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Vannest.

Hi Jenna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Growing up a lover of crafting and creativity I always knew I wanted to become an artist. Starting off with a passion for fiber arts grew into a love and obsession with clay and ceramics in adulthood. Taking my first ceramics class in 2018 I decided I wanted to make as many ceramic mushrooms as my little home could hold. Soon I had too many and fellow class members were asking if they could purchase them from me. Realizing the potential, I signed up to vend at the Brookings Mushroom Festival and sold my mushroom pottery for the very first time with great success. The pandemic hit, the shroom boom followed and now, here I am with a pretty decent following of fungi enthusiasts and nature lovers collecting my work and supporting me both locally and from afar. It makes me giggle to remember where it all started and to think about how whimsical and fun my art is for people to find.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Pottery is very expensive. When the pandemic closed all public studios every tool I needed in order to get started on my own was outrageously expensive. The biggest issue from the get go has been finding affordable space to work in. Landlords really take advantage of artists in my town, if you’re able to find space at all. It’s still a huge issue today. People sell their buildings, they double rent, close their studios. It’s a big problem. Since starting my business I have had to move my studio 4 times, which is very disruptive to my business every time. I am once again going to have to move within the next year in order to expand my business.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I’m a potter who specializes in whimsical mushroom art selling to my local Eugene, Oregon community and all over the Pacific Northwest. When looking for a handmade mushroom or nature inspired item, that’s when they think of me. After all, I am TheMushroomWoman@gmail.com ! After the “shroom boom” as many of us jokingly call it, it seems that just about every corporate store has jumped on the mushroom bandwagon selling everything from clothes to couches slapping a little fungi friend on just about anything. Being a small handmade business brings in all sorts of folks who recognize the difference and appreciate the look and feel of handmade pottery vs manufactured and mass produced goods, knowing they’re supporting local by shopping small helping their neighbors and community is a good feeling and it brings me great joy to sell someone their new favorite cup.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?

Costs of materials are rising every year. Hopefully things will level out at some point, but I don’t see the cost of studio space or renting going down anytime soon, which can feel frustrating an disheartening to new potters. My goals change every year and this year my goal includes teaching classes and creating an engaging youtube channel to interview and hang out with my talented friends who are also in the arts so we may lift one another up and share skills and knowledge together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.forestfloorshop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestfloorstudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forestfloorstudios