PDX Profile: Jen Fosnight, of Never Felt Better

I see Jen Fosnight's work at boutiques around town all the time - her label is called Never Felt Better. I'm always amazed by how diverse her product line is, and I'm a big fan of her soldered pendants, which preserve small pieces of fabric under glass.

After you read this interview, you should go poke around her website and Etsy shop. There's lots of cool stuff to see there.

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How did you come to start your crafty business?
Back in the fall of 2005, I was home with a newborn and just could not get out to shop and check stuff out like I wanted to. I missed being a manager of a local buy-sell-trade where I was surrounded by clothes, great vintage, fabrics and accessories all day, I figured I needed an outlet somehow. I found Etsy.com in November of that same year, said "What the heck," and opened a shop there. My website came the next spring and it continues to make me pretty happy!

I think it's really interesting that the things you make are vegan - tell us a bit about what this means exactly.
Simply, you won't find any animal parts or by-products here! No wool-bone-shell-feathers-pearl-leather-silk. Even the glue has no ground up animals in there! :) Some folks have a love-hate relationship with acrylic yarns and craft-felt but it hasn't been much of an issue with my customers, who aren't all vegans by any means. Being vegan helps keep my prices down and my conscience happy, so it is a definite win-win for everyone!

What kinds of things inspire your work?
I would have to say textiles - fabrics and vintage mostly. I am a true textile junkie, and which is why my soldered pendants with the vintage fabric appeal to me so much. I have scraps of fabric that are on their last legs, but when I encase them in glass it just fascinates me. That is why I leave the back of the fabric alone on the pendants. Sometimes the backs of materials are just as interesting as the fronts! I could not bear to cover them up with paper or little words.

You have so much variety in your product line! Do you have any favorite tricks to help keep you generating all these new ideas?
Oh god I know--it's a curse! I just re-did my sections on my site to organize my inventory and focus on not only the things that sell, but the things I love to make the most. I am really digging on the soldering and as a plus they are working out well so far so they are a keeper! And then I have my roots in vintage fabric covered buttons-big stitchy brooches-vintage component jewelry and crocheted items such as scarves, pouches and bags.

I collect vintage crochet books and magazines and like to browse them for inspiration, plus you can't help but be inspired by all the crafters you encounter in the PDX craft-circuit. I just keep trying out new ideas and see what generates interest and what bores people half to death!

What's your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
Man, you had to ask me the thousand dollar question didn't you? Hmmmm. Take wood block or linocut blocks for example - there is a definite craft to the actual cutting of the block, but the prints make the art. So, which is it? I dunno. I have personal pet peeves about some crafts just as I do about some fine art, but I don't count anyone out. I am cool like that.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I love anywhere that features local crafters. Such as the wonderful places that have allowed me to sell: Motokitty, In Other Words, Herbivore, Union Rose, Presents of Mind and more. You can't go in those shops without a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Since I have two little ones and one big one (my husband!) we love to go walk around downtown to check out as much as we can about our fair city. I love any chance I get to do "grown-up" things where i can people watch and check out street fashion too. The street fairs and "thursdays" we have here in Portland are a favorite for the whole family, and I plan to sell on Alberta at least a few times over the summer. If you are out and about be sure to stop by and say "hi"!