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Talent Blooms in Brittany Watson Jepsen's Creations
Her oversize paper flowers kicked off a global wedding trend. We give you a peek at what else this imaginative maker in Denmark is up to
Brittany Watson Jepsen is a multifaceted maker: stylist, illustrator, paper artist, do-it-yourselfer, blogger and interior designer. A self-professed Jane of all trades, she can't decide which craft she likes best, so she dabbles in many. "When people ask what I do, I keep it simple and say, I 'make stuff,'" she says.
Although she has the design chops to go the distance in interiors (she has a master's in interior design and has worked with Jonathan Adler and Celerie Kemble), Jepsen chose the industries of weddings and DIY blogging. She contributes to a slew of design blogs and is often asked to make installations and craft projects and to style for magazines and niche companies. At the end of the day, Jepsen thinks that the best projects are those where she turns something ordinary into something new and unexpected.
Although she has the design chops to go the distance in interiors (she has a master's in interior design and has worked with Jonathan Adler and Celerie Kemble), Jepsen chose the industries of weddings and DIY blogging. She contributes to a slew of design blogs and is often asked to make installations and craft projects and to style for magazines and niche companies. At the end of the day, Jepsen thinks that the best projects are those where she turns something ordinary into something new and unexpected.
"I think my paper flowers are a good representation of my artistic vision. Their size is a surprise; they're whimsical. Yet you find them in nature," Jepsen says.
When Jepsen, an American from California, married a Dane, she used her wedding as a way to channel her creative energy. The result was a Scandanavian garden reception complete with oversize paper flowers, which sparked an oversize-paper-flower craze for brides all over the world.
Jepsen continues to draw from nature, specifically flowers. "Walking around Copenhagen, Denmark, is super inspiring. I love how people dress in layers and how they layer," she says. "I love the old buildings and fusion of colors and royal imagery."
This tea towel reflects Jepsen's knowledge of art history and all things floral: The flower pattern is inspired by love poems from the Victorian era, where flowers sometimes took the place of words in expressions of love between couples.
This tea towel reflects Jepsen's knowledge of art history and all things floral: The flower pattern is inspired by love poems from the Victorian era, where flowers sometimes took the place of words in expressions of love between couples.
"One project usually kick-starts another project. The paper flowers were the genesis of a lot of things that I'm doing now in my Etsy shop, like the tea towels and oven gloves," says Jepsen.
This frosted papier-mâché bowl shows her knack of turning ordinary things into something special; the bowl was made using a balloon, some newspaper and a homemade paste.
Although she's aware of trends in fashion and design, Jepsen refuses to be ruled by them. "Friendship bracelets are back with a vengeance, but while I love their colors and patterns, I just can't wear them anymore," she says. So Jepsen applied the same process for making the bracelets to something for the home. The result is a multicolored rug in an on-trend chevron pattern.
Jepsen has outgrown her house and has moved into a shared studio in downtown Copenhagen. Her work desk is loaded with pom-poms, paints, packaging, paper and sewing materials.
"The DIY craze is through the roof. We have access to other people's projects like we've never had before and live in this fishbowl kind of world. It's rewarding to create something yourself. It's also nice to trust other people's voice and vision," she says.
"The DIY craze is through the roof. We have access to other people's projects like we've never had before and live in this fishbowl kind of world. It's rewarding to create something yourself. It's also nice to trust other people's voice and vision," she says.
When she's not in the studio making things or organizing blogger meet-ups, Jepsen finds "spots of sun" in light-hungry Denmark.
"Danes maximize their enjoyment of nature," she says. "The winters are long and gray, so when summer comes, life is celebrated. I hope in some way that kind of energy is expressed in my work."
More:
10 Terrific Home and Garden DIY Projects
"Danes maximize their enjoyment of nature," she says. "The winters are long and gray, so when summer comes, life is celebrated. I hope in some way that kind of energy is expressed in my work."
More:
10 Terrific Home and Garden DIY Projects
Comments
Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. The oversize flowers are great. Thanks for sharing. Charmean Neithart
12 months ago · Like
Jolanta P This was super idea...looks very romantic and eyecatching.
12 months ago · Like
SPACIFY INC, Wow that is such an fantastic ideas..
12 months ago · Like
The Highland Lace Co. I love the fresh warm white!
12 months ago · Like
Lauren Donaldson I absolutely adore Brittany's blog & all her creative ideas. It was great seeing her featured here on Houzz!
12 months ago · Like
ragsangle love the flowers, they envoke playfullness yet are feminine and you get a smile on your face when you see them...they make you feel good!
11 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 6, 2012.
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