Our latest Stick Of The Week! is Jen Stephens. Jen is in the NOW as Owner and Designer of J L Stephens Couture. Jen describes her latest sticky noodle as "a creative outlet for my wanderlust mind." J L Stephens Couture started with a few published sewing patterns, a few sewn bags and morphed into thousands of sales, a line of guitar straps, classes taught on Etsy, a blog and a future that is unknown.
"I'm Jen. I run so I can eat. I'm married because I love my husband. I parent because I have to – yet mother because my children are truly crown jewels. I am the queen of my house – the only girl. I spend the clothing budget solely on myself and cut my boys' hair to save hair money for myself as well. I feel guilty about none of that. I enjoy a good cup of tea. When I grow up I'm going to read...as much as I can."
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
My noodle on the wall is J L Stephens Couture, a creative outlet for my never-ending ideas...at least I thought they were never-ending.
My noodle on the wall is J L Stephens Couture, a creative outlet for my never-ending ideas...at least I thought they were never-ending.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
My answer to this question could vary greatly. I would have to say that this week my noodle is fully cooked. I often battle with the idea of giving it up, throwing in the towel and pursuing life as a "JUST a stay-at-home-mom" not a SAHM that also has antsy hands and a curious mind. As mentioned above, I used to have this brain that wouldn't shut off. I used to wake up from a dead sleep with a brilliant idea and be searching for a paper and pencil. I used to teach myself how to do things in my dreams and wake up having tackled the previous days creative struggles effortlessly. My second babe changed all of that and at this point my creative energy has shifted from, "how to work leather on my $20 salvation army sewing machine" to "how to con my 8 month old into giving me more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep."
Yes, my noodle is fully cooked this week and on the verge of being overdone. Something in me however hasn't allowed me to roll up shop. During the past month or so, I've made an effort to slow things down. The boil is starting to slow and we may be cooking perfect pasta again in the future. Don't quote me on that.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
Contrary to all the cliches of "dream big" and "reach for the stars" for me personally, I like to set my expectations low. Unlike raising children or maintaining an executive job, cooking your noodle isn't something that needs a deadline or something that should add stress. When your love of noodle-making becomes truly a job, you may be sorry that you exposed your love to such scrutiny and pressure. Let your noodle simmer for as long as possible. Growth at a slow and steady rate will merge into your life seamlessly. When you are trying to fight your noodle back it just may win, ending in creative exhaustion.
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
I was once featured on Etsy in a "Quit Your Day Job" article about artists who had actually quit their day job to pursue more creative earnings. When they wrote the article on me, what wasn't really clear is that both my husband and I had quit our jobs, he went back to school for Nursing and we had a child all in the same month. It was ridiculous how we went from 6-figure earnings to the profits of a few wallets and sewing patterns.
My answer to this question could vary greatly. I would have to say that this week my noodle is fully cooked. I often battle with the idea of giving it up, throwing in the towel and pursuing life as a "JUST a stay-at-home-mom" not a SAHM that also has antsy hands and a curious mind. As mentioned above, I used to have this brain that wouldn't shut off. I used to wake up from a dead sleep with a brilliant idea and be searching for a paper and pencil. I used to teach myself how to do things in my dreams and wake up having tackled the previous days creative struggles effortlessly. My second babe changed all of that and at this point my creative energy has shifted from, "how to work leather on my $20 salvation army sewing machine" to "how to con my 8 month old into giving me more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep."
Yes, my noodle is fully cooked this week and on the verge of being overdone. Something in me however hasn't allowed me to roll up shop. During the past month or so, I've made an effort to slow things down. The boil is starting to slow and we may be cooking perfect pasta again in the future. Don't quote me on that.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
Contrary to all the cliches of "dream big" and "reach for the stars" for me personally, I like to set my expectations low. Unlike raising children or maintaining an executive job, cooking your noodle isn't something that needs a deadline or something that should add stress. When your love of noodle-making becomes truly a job, you may be sorry that you exposed your love to such scrutiny and pressure. Let your noodle simmer for as long as possible. Growth at a slow and steady rate will merge into your life seamlessly. When you are trying to fight your noodle back it just may win, ending in creative exhaustion.
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
I was once featured on Etsy in a "Quit Your Day Job" article about artists who had actually quit their day job to pursue more creative earnings. When they wrote the article on me, what wasn't really clear is that both my husband and I had quit our jobs, he went back to school for Nursing and we had a child all in the same month. It was ridiculous how we went from 6-figure earnings to the profits of a few wallets and sewing patterns.
I'm not sure if it was impulse or pregnancy hormones, but in the blink of an eye, there we were, living on love and late-night ironing.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Some days I would tell you that I'm inspired to raise children who are confident and comfortable in their own skin. I want to raise children that are happy and not judgmental. Some days I will tell you that my motivations are to get my two boys to survive until their school years when I can get a real job again and get out of the house. As far as what particularly inspires me? I would have to say literature, color, texture, the connectedness of all living things, silence, tea and my mixing-bowl of a life......those being just a few of the ingredients, would pretty much sum it up.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Some days I would tell you that I'm inspired to raise children who are confident and comfortable in their own skin. I want to raise children that are happy and not judgmental. Some days I will tell you that my motivations are to get my two boys to survive until their school years when I can get a real job again and get out of the house. As far as what particularly inspires me? I would have to say literature, color, texture, the connectedness of all living things, silence, tea and my mixing-bowl of a life......those being just a few of the ingredients, would pretty much sum it up.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
I juggle with caution. Some days the balls come crashing down. Some days I fight like hell to keep them in the air. Some days I juggle with a costume and not being my true self, but a really organized impostor. Often I juggle with my "Ove Glove" on because things can get heated. Today I'm juggling as the jack-of-all-trades managing the sale of our house, moving, my husband's new job, two kids at different life stages and the ball reserved just for MYSELF (that ball needs a glass of tea and a yoga class).
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My ultimate pasta dish is one with veggies (because I don't eat animals), tri-colored noodles (because they're pretty), a white sauce that reminds me of "The Neighbors Restaurant" (in Mankato Minnesota), bread (of course lots of bread), and the company of old friends that make me feel like my true self.
I juggle with caution. Some days the balls come crashing down. Some days I fight like hell to keep them in the air. Some days I juggle with a costume and not being my true self, but a really organized impostor. Often I juggle with my "Ove Glove" on because things can get heated. Today I'm juggling as the jack-of-all-trades managing the sale of our house, moving, my husband's new job, two kids at different life stages and the ball reserved just for MYSELF (that ball needs a glass of tea and a yoga class).
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My ultimate pasta dish is one with veggies (because I don't eat animals), tri-colored noodles (because they're pretty), a white sauce that reminds me of "The Neighbors Restaurant" (in Mankato Minnesota), bread (of course lots of bread), and the company of old friends that make me feel like my true self.