Jenny Hart is an indie craftin’ superstar. She was one of the earliest indie entrepreneurs to start selling on the Internet. In 2001, she founded Sublime Stitching, her line of edgy (this ain’t your gramma’s embroidery) embroidery patterns and kits, which I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of before. She’s also a founder member of the Austin Craft Mafia (the founders of the whole Craft Mafia scene). She’s an accomplished artist, author and has even been on TV! She’s a featured artist in the Handmade Nation Documentary and that’s not to mention that her work has inspired collaborations with rock bands including The Flaming Lips, The Octopus Project and The Decemberists. Um, she’s pretty famous in the indie world.
But recently, Jenny took some time from her super busy schedule to look through her old pictures and be interviewed for When They Were Kids.
1. Share a favorite book(s) from your childhood.
– Any of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. After that, anything by Judy Blume. I also had a book called Memo to Myself When I Have a Teenage Daughter that I read over and over. I also loved A Wrinkle In Time and read it more than once.
2. What’s your favorite childhood movie of all time?
– Probably Kingdom in the Clouds. It’s a really bizarre Armenian fantasy film they used to run on PBS that haunted me for life until I found it again thanks to the glory of the internet.
3. What types of games & toys did you like to play with?
– My mom used to give me markers and let me draw all over the surface of the kitchen table because she could just wipe it off afterward. I loved that. I also loved, loved, loved to roller skate! Then we got a computer at home, and I was all about computer pinball, Asteroids and a narrative game called “Cranston Manor”. It was one of those games where you give prompts like “Pick up the dagger and put it in the drawer.” I used to get so spooked by it, which is pretty funny considering it was pixilated green lines on a black screen!
4. Were you a creative? if so, what types of things did you enjoy?
– I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love to draw. I was always wanting to make things or try to figure out how to make things by myself.
5. What have you learned as an adult that you wish you knew as a kid?
– What constitutes a true friend.
6. Share one of the best things about your childhood.
– Growing up in a small town surrounded by countryside.
7. What did you want to be when you grew up?
– I have always wanted to be an artist.
8. What are you up to now?
-More than I can say in a few sentences! You will check have to check out the website to see what I’m up to!