Spotlight on Jewel Nye

Jewel Nye, otherwise known as Piece Mama on Etsy, is a fabric artist who creates folksy quilts and fun and functional accessories.

Her handcrafted quilts and other fabric creations are designed to reflect the key principles of her business: family, nature and love.

Living and working in central Oregon, Jewel is surrounded by the beauty of nature and many of her designs express her serene and relaxing environment.

Piece Mama offers quilts, housewares, wearables, book covers and more.

What initially attracted you to sewing and working with fabric?

As a young child, I liked playing in my Nana's button box and watching her hand-sew alterations. Later, in home-ec class, I loved making my own clothes and coming up with unique designs and color combinations. I like taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into something with dimension. It's my creative outlet.

What was the most challenging aspect of teaching yourself how to quilt? The most rewarding?

The most challenging aspect is the fear of making a mistake. Nowadays, I often throw convention out the window and just try to have fun, experimenting with different colors and turning patterns inside out.

It's very freeing to work in your own style. The rewarding part is seeing the final product and seeing it used.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by nature and color - a natural canvas where thoughts and ideas can grow wild. I like to take nature walks and let my senses be filled with colors, textures and patterns.

I'm also inspired by "need" - so when I know someone needs something to make life easier in some way, I try to create a product for it. I love custom orders!

Who do you admire most, and why?

I admire a "mosaic of people" - people who are compassionate and empathetic, artistic and sensitive, free-spirited and funny.

What does quilting mean to you, personally?

Personally, quilting is the relationship between wrapping a loved one in warmth and surrounding them both figuratively and literally in art.

I love old-world ways, so by creating many of my pieces by hand, I'm hoping to carry forward this art form.

What is your favorite piece from your own collection?

My favorite piece is definitely my first quilt (there's a picture of it in my banner on Etsy). It's a log cabin design with 13 fabrics in 35 blocks. I made it during our wait for our daughters' adoptions. It went along with us on that journey, so those memories were "stitched" into the fabric layers. Thoughts and feelings go into making a quilt, kind of like a "fourth" layer, bonding it together.

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I'm working on several projects at one time. Quilting-wise, I'm working on a Kansas dug-out lap-sized heirloom quilt in blue tones. Since my business is "Folksy Quilts and Funky Designs," I'm also working on some winter wear pieces along with adding more inventory for the holidays.

What do you do to relax and unwind?

Well...hmm. That's a tough question. I have four children (ages 3 to 15) and we home school. It can get pretty crazy around here, but everyone has been super supportive of my business! Since my husband and children all have creative sides, there are always various projects going on. It's great!

Designer Spotlight on Jewel Nye To relax, though, I try to get some time in nature. Sometimes, it may be simply having a cup of tea while sketching outside or taking a small bike ride on my cruiser. We're very blessed to live in a town where we have so much nature around us. There's a lot to be inspired by.