Happy Home JENNIFER PAGANELLI’S
STORY: HILLARY LEWIS | PHOTO: TIM GEANEY
NESTLED IN THE HEART OF CONNECTICUT IS THE VIBRANT STUDIO OF JENNIFER PAGANELLI. JENNIFER SPENT HER ADOLESCENCE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHERE SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE VIBRANT COLORS OF THE NATIVE WARDROBE; VIBRANT COLORS THAT ARE NOW A STAPLE IN HER TEXTILE LINE, SIS BOOM.
In the mid 1990’s, Jennifer was working for Knoll Textiles where she learned the language of textiles and began to see bits of modern mixed with vintage. It was around this time that Jennifer began collecting pieces of vintage fabrics, making a mental note that she would someday bring back those timeless designs. She started with a light box, tracing the individual elements of samples, before she learned how to scan the fabrics and use a photo shop program to break out specific patterns. Her ideal pattern is something simple that the customer can always come back to. Something simple and something saturated with color. She does not follow color trends but instead plays up what naturally comes to her, quickly admitting that this can lead you into a danger of designing for yourself. Jennifer notes that success is all about waiting for the moment though. She insists on staying true to yourself, and waiting for the right opportunities to arise. She pulls her inspiration from everywhere, everything, and everyone. When she breaks out her idea books this is plain to see. Each page is filled with sketches, magazine clippings, paint chips, ideas. Then of course, there are those moments when the ideas do not seem to flow as smoothly as she would like. It is at that point when she pulls out the needle and thread. Jennifer states that sewing by hand leaves her with a sense of accomplishment. “Call it spiritual, or whatever you would like, sewing by hand connects you. It connects you with the fabric, the texture, the color. You are taken away to a place full of ideas and are surrounded by the creativity of others who have come before you.” – Jennifer Paganelli Jennifer always wanted to write a book showcasing her fabrics and the patterns you could create with them. In May of 2011 she released Girls World and with much success she proudly released Happy Home in May of 2012. Happy Home supplies Jennifer’s fans with the opportunity to be able to create 21 vibrant home accessories to transform their individual space into a “sunny, happy home.” From draperies, to tablecloths and napkins, Happy Home includes step-by-step instructions, pattern sheets, colorful photos, and a glossary of techniques to make it easy for the reader to “pretty up every room in the house.” To learn more about Jennifer, purchase copies of Girls World and Happy Home, or to learn where you can purchase Sis Boom fabric please log on to www.SisBoom.com
FOLK | 9 | 2012