Time to introduce you to another Corn Wagon Gal and her Curated by Corn Wagon fat quarter bundle! Take it away Lexi... ;-)
Well hello there! I didn't see you there! Lexi here! I’m here to tell you about my very good friend, Jen.
Jen was born and raised in Springville, Utah. Being a self proclaimed color enthusiast, prompted Jen to enter into the design world. Shortly after high school she graduated from SUU with an Interior Design/Family Consumer Science degree. Funnily enough she actually met her sweetheart Jake in a seventh grade art class. Jake and Jen were high school sweethearts and are still making art projects together today, along with their two kids, Mikey and Sims. And don't forget Nanuk! Basically the coolest dog on the planet. We’re besties. (I forced Jen to include a pic of her and Nuk... Isn't she literally the cutest? The dog aaaaaand Jen).
Jen has quilting running through her veins. She distinctly remembers helping her grandmother, mother, and aunts hand quilt wedding quilts. One thing that she loved about that experience was noticing how everyone had a different stitch, but they all were needed and appreciated in the long run. Although at the time Jen was a beginning quilter, her stitches were never taken out. Her paternal grandmother, Grandma Beverly, taught Jen to embroider from a young age, but the quilting bug hadn’t yet bit Jen. After Jen’s interior design days, she still had the desire to make and create things, but no longer had an army of professional seamstresses’ to help, so she figured many projects out on her own. Due to that, and the exposure that fabric designer Kaffe Fassett offered, Jen was hooked. (I mean, have you seen the man's stripes?)
One thing that I’ve found interesting about Jen, is that she rarely, if ever, keeps quilts. I asked her about this and she said she has about ten quilts in rotation at her house. (I have about ten quilts in rotation in my room haha!) Knowing Jen, she likes to give away many quilts. Most of the time when she is making samples for the shop, she has a distinct someone in mind throughout the whole process, which in my opinion makes the quilt that much more special. Some quilts that made the cut for Jen's house, were Moda’s Modern Building Blocks quilt from a few years back, a Kaffe pickle dish quilt she made with her mom, and her son's baby quilt that her mom hand quilted. (psst… and the Halloween quilt down a couple scrolls…)
I asked Jen what one of her favorite experiences at the Corn Wagon was, and she said the first day that I started working! … Jokes, jokes, jokes. One thing she loves is how people-oriented the Corn Wagon is. She loves the fun atmosphere and the inspiring creativity that comes through the door on a daily basis. During her time at the Corn Wagon, she's had some amazing mentors that helped her learn many things about life and quilting, MaryAnn, Marsha, and Marianne, have been a great inspiration.
Another thing I asked Jen was “what makes your heart pitter patter? (Non fabric wise…)” Some things she listed, were the outdoors, specifically gardening, earthing (a voodoo thing that I actually think is legit, go google it), mountains, the beach, and all that go along with that with the exception of long hikes. She also loves good food but doesn’t like to cook it and she’s a die hard chocolate and MIO lover. In fact since working here I have developed an addiction to MIO. So, thanks Jen. And I can’t forget Jen’s love for sushi! Jen and I work together on Thursdays, and Smiths’ sushi is a must (don’t knock it till ya try it). Jen also appreciates the finer things in life, like really expensive sushi. Its a good balance.
Jen is the reason that the Corn Wagon functions like a well oiled machine. She is in charge of fabric ordering, the website and newsletter, all social media, shop displays and decor and more that I probably can’t think of right now. All I know is that the Corn Wagon, and the people within it, are better in many ways because of Jen and her influence. Thanks for a good 13 off and on years, Jen.
Love, your wanna be shadow,
Lex