Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo-Anne Brewin
Hi Jo-Anne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
This little acorn didn’t fall far from the tree. I’m a 2nd generation musician, performer, mixed media artist and behavior therapist. My father was the musician, uncle was the psychologist, and my mother was the singer/master crafter. Not too many things arrived at our house pre-made. Even our Christmas presents were craft kits or assembly required, and it was up to us (me & 2 younger brothers) to do the creating. My mother was brilliant at taking one thing and turning it into another. We had the most inventive birthday cakes in our small town … hot wheels track cake that took up the room … and cake cribs and icing doll dresses that spanned half the table. My brothers and I grew up living and performing music and art. I’ve always had a studio, even though some call it a dining room, or a 2nd bedroom. In Nov 2012 I married an amazing man from the deep south … south Jersey. Being from Canada, the immigration process prohibited me from working for the first 6-8 months upon arrival to the U.S. Soooo out came the craft studio ~ sewing machines, some small tools, and a few old supplies. Twelve years later, the studio is standing room only, with the proper tools and supplies to create a dozen or more categories of mixed media. Fortunately my husband not only cheers me on, but as a graphic artist, advertising owner and musician, he joins in with either his own creations, or packaging. With each year, I’ve chosen a new craft to learn. I used my monthly net store sales to purchase the appropriate tools and supplies for that discipline. After some time down that rabbit hole, I then see where I can integrate this new art discipline in with the other mixed media forms, to create new and unique, but functional items. I create some items that is unique to Etsy and Pinterest.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? HA! HA! HA! That’s funny! In the last 10 years I’ve done 22 store installations in SC, NC & GA ~ displays that fit that store decor, floor and tabletop displays, lighting, display hardware, the products that best suit that store, and then renting a moving van to get it all there. My husband’s saying is “Guess what’s easy?!?” 🙂 I’m currently renting space in 4 stores, and have juggled 9 stores at one point. You may read this and think that I have retail ADHD and itchy feet! The retail craft store business is very similar to a bar. You’re hot for awhile, then cold, then hot again. The question is if the store owners have the finances and patience to ride the cycles. I’ve been in 2 stores for 7.5 years and I’ve seen each store on their 3rd owner. Some stores close, some change hands (with either the same or new ideas/store themes), some stores just aren’t the right customer/store theme fit resulting in low sales (yet the same items sell well 20 miles down the road). Then there are tragedies, like our beloved magical ArtiSun Cafe and Art Gallery in Hot Springs, NC that was destroyed on 27Sep24 in Hurricane Helene. Everyone invested in ArtiSun and the Hot Springs and Marshall communities lost pretty much everything. Unfortunately I lost over $4,000 of displays and creations, but I’m safe and comfortable at home in SC. My friends and store team in Hot Springs however can not say the same. Fortunately there has been financial and physical assistance. The Crafters Emergency Funding Group (CERF+) were able to assist some of us financially which was a God-send. This year I’m adding teaching mixed media art classes ~ inspirations for the mind, body & soul. However there may be side-track projects. It being January and off-season, the store owners are talking about moving spaces around. Some vendors move out, some open new stores (or they change hands) … so the odds are high that some of January will involve moving displays, maybe even creating/refurbishing more displays, fixtures, risers, and signage. Have you heard me yet, mention being in the studio, mind freely being inspired, creating away ~ you know … producing the things that actually sell and earn me an income?!? ~ nope 😉 Oh then there’s the accounting, marketing, store re-merchandising, packaging, signage & graphics. All this being said … each step is actually fun in itself ~ just not when its a bottleneck of hectic deadlines, and each “hat” could be a full-time job. Yeppers I said it … in its place and time, I actually like accounting! haha
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been a musician all my life, and continue to perform in theaters internationally. My husband and I are tribute artists, so acting and choreography mixed in with playing an instrument and singing. Its fun because with one phone call we could find ourselves anywhere in the world ~ but mostly the U.S. I’m a retired behavior therapist (specialty ~ low functioning, aggressive acquired brain injury adults). Interestingly both of these two careers require creativity and art. While at home between the road and the rehab residence, I was learning various crafts … Ukrainian egg decorating, wood burning, sewing commercial and industrial, advanced knitting etc. I’ve always been a sponge for learning new things ~ yep, a Sagittarian! I hit a huge learning curve in 2016, spreading myself out in as many art directions as I could handle … batik, glass fusion, ceramics, mosaics and ceramics pottery, candle making, hand stamping flatware, polymer clay. Since then, stained glass & soldering, resin work, soda can die cuts, soap-making … and the list continues. I think I’m most known for taking apart wine bottles, and converting them into patio lanterns, sun catchers and wind chimes. I’m also known for my polymer clay cane covered wine glasses. I love making actual mixed media creations ~ combining soda can shapes, to glass fusion (wine bottle parts melted into themed textures), air dry clay, stencils & tile adhesive, old household pieces, broken jewelry, shard glass, anything! I can have an idea of what I’m about to create, but its inevitable that the project will take on a life of its own. My role is to channel the creation … from the buyer’s idea/desire, through me to the best of my ability, back to customer in physical form. I love the way this works!
What makes you happy?
The ultimate goal is my books is to find a perfect balance between body (physical) / mind (processing, learning, expansion) / soul or spirit (high vibrational love based energy for self and connection with source (God, The Universe). The reality is, that this is basically unattainable, but its the journey of getting close that matters. Creating and being in the studio makes me complete ~ its my home. This is where I can manifest an idea into reality. I love being on stage ~ helping the audience members step back from their lives for 2 hours, be entertained, and maybe return to their life’s challenges with a new perspective. I LOVE learning new things ~ art, spiritual, or anything to expand the imagination and mind. I LOVE being an intuitive empath ~ been aware of it all my life. In this world, the more you learn, you realize how little you know. Last year I started on an awareness journey that ramped up in December, with signs of continuing to soar in 2025. As these are my loves in each of the Body (studio) / Mind (inspiration) / Soul (intuition), any general balance between them makes me very happy! If I’m too heavy on one, I start to miss the others (potential of getting cranky! ~ not a good look).
Pricing:
- Add 20% to rush orders
- Pricing depends on the surrounding location-market, although I wish it wasn’t
- Price low to move repetitive and creations that are not expensive or time consuming to make
- Sometimes pricing high, especially for one-off artwork, indicates what you’re worth, but it still depends on the venue/clientelle
- An item could sell for $450 in an art gallery, but be ignored at $85 in an antique/vendor’s market
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brewincreations.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brewincreations
Image Credits
Advertising by: Doug Brewin
