We were lucky to catch up with Adia Jamille recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I absolutely love being self employed as an artist/ creator and doula. I love having control over how I spend my time, and being available for my family when they need me. I love being able to spend my time creating beautiful things, and am often surprised by what I’m able to create. I don’t so much think about what it’d be like to have a regular job, because I’ve had enough to know I don’t want to do that anymore. But what I do think about is if I had chosen a different creative path. I recently stumbled upon videos of people who mix watercolors. It’s mesmerizing to watch, especially the ones that metallic or iridescent, and I absolutely love creating new colors. I also feel like it would just take up so much less space than my giant print table and loom. But ultimately I’m grateful for the skills and and path I’ve chosen, because I know not many people do what I do, and even less do it how I do it. So it feels special, and ancestral. I’ve chosen outlets that not many have the patience or desire to learn. And that’s really cool to think about. Also, fiber arts are some of the oldest art forms in the history of humankind. And that’s even cooler.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Art has always been a staple of my upbringing as long as I can remember. My mom was always sewing and quilting and drawing. She would take me to art museums and concerts, etc. So the arts were always there. My understanding of the fiber arts and the desire to do more and more on my own (growing my own fibers and dyes) lead me even further than I ever imagined. Wanting to grow cotton to see what it’s like to grow, and to honor my ancestors, led me to learn about all the non fiber related uses and applications. This is directly connected to my work as a doula and herbalist. It feels like all the creative and healing avenues finally met up together to help me feel truly fulfilled in my life. My love for gardening has grown into growing fiber and dye plants, as well as medicinal plants, and gourds for artistic purposes. I currently create wearable items, clothing for adults and children. I also have a line of herbal medicinal remedies made from the cotton and plants I grow. I also, have art kits that highlight Black artists, living and dead, and provide supplies to create your own art. We also sell seeds and produce at the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Ultimately all I want is to live life on my own terms. I don’t like needing an alarm clock, so working for myself allows me to wake up as necessary, for example. But more importantly I’m just trying to build a new world for my babies. I want them to grow up knowing that they can do what they want with their lives. That it’s ok if their lives look different than others. I’m trying to honor the sacrifices of my ancestors and live in a way that feels free, because they didn’t have such luxuries. I’m working to reconnect folks with their bodies and with plants, and just build a more harmonious life.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Something that I know people around me don’t understand, is the taking a chance on something that doesn’t provide consistent income or health insurance, etc. But our family has experienced repeated hardships, many of which consisted of us losing steady paying jobs with insurance. So I’ve learned that your career is always a gamble and that anything can change at any moment. So to me it makes more sense if I’m in control of at least what it is that I’m doing to bring in income. And that it be something enjoyable. I can’t imagine spending my life doing something that I don’t like, or that maybe I did like at one point, but now the joy has been sucked out of it. I like the flexibility of being able to say “this isn’t working” and making changes as necessary, because I don’t answer to someone else.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.adiajamille.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adiajamille
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madebyadiajamille
• Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adiajamille