Q & A With Lucy Jane

Because Lucy Jane is the fictional half of an alter ego, I get a lot of questions whilst out and about, doing what I do.  I thought you might like to see a few of them.

Q: Why the alter ego?  Why not just make the things you make under your real life persona?
A:  For a couple of reasons.  One of the big ones is privacy and security.  As I book more fairs/festivals and come into contact with a lot of the general public, I don't really want my name out there for scrutiny.  Most people are nice, but then you get that one weirdo who Googles your home address and how many kids you have and ... yeah, I didn't want that.  But it's also a creative thing.  In real life there are absolutes and responsibilities.  Bills to pay.  People's drama to put up with.  As Lucy Jane, I get to sort of put a fence around all of that and say "No, I am being creative and this is my zone right now." In much the same way that actors inhabit a character.  It allows me to think outside the box more.

Q: Where did the Lucy Jane name come from?
A: Lucy Jane draws inspiration from two of my favorite literary heroes-  Lucy Pevensie from the Narnia books (she's courageous and firm in her beliefs and I want more of those character traits), and Jane is of course either Jane Austen, or her character Jane Bennett.  (Either way.  They both had mad people observing skills.)

Q: And Pennybright?
A:  It was the most inexorably British surname that I could dream up.  I pictured Lucy Jane's father as an officer in Her Majesty's military.  Something like that.

Q: What era does Lucy Jane come from?
A:  I'm currently at work creating a Lucy Jane concept for several different historical eras/genres.  Mostly it is Regency England dress that you will see me in, at festivals and events, because it's simple, and very user friendly.  I do plan on having Civil War era, Colonial/Revolutionary era and even Steampunk style Lucy Jane images eventually.  All of that is still in the early works, and much of it depends on the events I will do.  Still a lot of concepts and rough draft work going on yet.

Q: Did you go to college for costuming?
A: Nope.  There was a 3 year stint at American Intercontinental University back when they had a campus in Buckhead, GA, towards a BFA in Graphic Design, but due to a lot of different circumstances, I didn't finish.  They had a fashion design program, but at that time I had never sewn a stitch and had not gotten to the point where I would fall in love with it.  I was always in a drawing classroom in front of an easel.

Q: So how did you learn?
A: By making a ton of mistakes and wonky stuff that didn't fit right.  Yes, there were a couple of people who helped me with some of the major things, like deciphering a pattern (which I still don't follow completely most of the time), but the bulk of what I do is entirely self-taught.  I do have plans to take formal classes and continue my education.  There are loads of sewing things that I don't know and want to learn.

Q: What do you want to do with Lucy Jane in the future?  What's the main goal?
A: The main goal has always been to use my skills and talents (they vary!) to bring beautiful things to as many people as I come in contact with.  Sure, some of them are very niche market (reproduction/reenactment costumes), but most of them are generally geared at making people smile and happy- the Funky Friends Factory stuffed toys are popular, as are the fairies.  I hope to branch out to make jewelry, ribbon bookmarks, maybe carry a line of teas or get a book published. There are a lot of ideas rattling around in my mind and I'm slowly but very surely getting them to turn from dreams into reality.  I'd love to open a physical shoppe- tea and gifts, but that's a long way down the road yet.

I hope that gives you a little insight into the world of Lucy Jane!  If you have any questions, please ask! :)