We were lucky to catch up with Jen Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jen, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

My art practice is a dynamic blend of skills and techniques, each picked up in its own unique way. From a young age, my mom introduced me to sewing and cross-stitch, laying the foundation for my love of fiber arts. Years later, I picked up knitting in Austin, but it wasn’t until I discovered embroidery that everything truly “clicked.”

I started with the most basic embroidery stitches, learning from PDF patterns on Etsy, but my skills grew through practice, experimentation, and an insatiable curiosity. Through workshops, online resources, and sheer trial and error, I’m always chasing new techniques. Sometimes I take a structured approach—seeking out lessons or tutorials—and other times, I dive in headfirst, figuring things out as I go.

At this point, I’d say my most valuable skill isn’t any one technique—it’s my ability to follow my curiosity, embrace experimentation, and not be afraid to fail. The biggest challenge? Wanting to learn everything and occasionally battling the cost of supplies.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I didn’t follow the traditional artist’s path. Instead, I took what felt at the time like the “safe” route—business school, a Marketing major, a structured plan. But creativity has a way of sneaking in, and it found me in unexpected ways. When I moved from Austin to California, the stunning coastline left me in awe, sparking a photography practice that remains an essential part of my art today. And over time photography led me to embroidery, starting with embroidering versions of the colorful landscapes I saw on my weekend adventures across the state.

Fiber art has become my true home. Weaving, embroidery, and the occasional playful pom-pom are my mediums of choice. I’m irresistibly drawn to the unusual, the colorful, and the whimsical—all of which find their way into my work. In marketing, there’s a term we use often: surprise and delight. I like to think that’s exactly what my fiber art does, too.

Being unique—carving out my own artistic path—is deeply important to me. Few things are more rewarding than hearing someone say, “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” That thrill of discovery, of experimenting and blending different fiber techniques into something completely new, is what keeps me creating.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is having the freedom to bring something entirely new into the world—something that didn’t exist before. There’s a deep satisfaction in letting my mind wander, chasing down even the vaguest spark of an idea, and exploring different ways to bring it to life. It’s both a challenge and a thrill, especially when a piece I wasn’t sure would work out ends up exceeding my expectations. Those unexpected moments of magic—the ones that surprise even me—are what make the creative process so exciting and fulfilling.

Have you ever had to pivot?

For me, like so many of us, COVID brought both unexpected challenges and unexpected opportunities. Before the pandemic, my embroidery income came primarily from selling monthly PDF patterns. But when craft stores became harder to access, I quickly pivoted—creating monthly kits to make it easier for people to keep creating during an isolating time.

That shift taught me an invaluable lesson: adaptability. Embracing change not only helped me navigate that moment but also opened the door to entirely new creative explorations. During COVID, I dove into polymer clay jewelry, then resin, then beading—eventually bringing it full circle by incorporating embroidery into my jewelry designs. I also learned to weave, macramé, and even dabbled in pom-making.

What started as a necessity became a revelation. That initial pivot didn’t just sustain my business—it gave me the confidence to experiment, evolve, and push my creativity in directions I never expected.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jenannhandmade.com
• Instagram: jenannhandmade
• Facebook: Jen Ann Handmade

Image Credits

Jen Smith