Welcome to the Maker classroom! Today’s subject? Chemistry! What happens when you mix A textile artist-slash- teacher-slash-clothing designer with a handyman-slash-musician-slash-woodworking expert? A tiny house project and Forge community leaders! Meet Forge shop lead and mentor Adam Joyce and Ann Tilley— an element that the Forge certainly can’t do without! These two have been together 10 years and are basically what happens when Mr. Incredible finally marries the amazing ElastaGirl. Two different, wildly talented individuals decide “hmm, let’s create together!” We honestly love to see it.
Ann started her design journey as a mere tot playing on her mother’s sewing machine. Who knew that playing on that one machine and reading one simple ‘guide to sewing’ book would lead Ann to master: garment making, knitting, fibers, crochet, weaving, dyeing, and latch hook. It would seem that Reading Rainbow’s theme song was right! “I can be anything...Take a look...It's in a book.”
Ann would go on to let that book and another she found in highschool about drafting patterns & making new clothes lead her to the illustrious SCAD. After working hard and graduating, Ann found a Makerspace in Los Angeles to teach sewing classes and rediscover her passion for not only textiles but art in general. Painting and drawing are also skills within Ann’s huge Rolodex. Those skills are certainly complementary to her knitted art as well.
Upon her return back to North Carolina Ann worked for a denim company under a master pattern maker, designed for and ran two successful clothing companies, and taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee. Ann has also launched her very own YouTube channel!
Shockingly, Adam began his woodworking in his twenties while attending Appalachian state—proving it’s never too late to master something. All you have to do is be willing to learn and sustain a practice effort. That is the charm of Ann & Adam. Adam has a general love and talent for figuring out how things work. He started down the path to become a park ranger with his degree program and finished but was gripped by his passion for woodworking. Adam then worked for two different furniture production companies and truly did everything from top to bottom which made him an expert in his field. If you thought repairing, designing, and solving problems was all Mr. Incredible did you’d be sorely mistaken. Adam is also a master musician who can play more than three different instruments. You can check out his band ‘The Bronzed Chorus’ on all major music platforms.
Believe it or not, these married makers’ Kryptonite is the other's medium of expression. Adam says ‘Fabric is too wiggy’ & Ann cites wood as too ‘unforgiving’. Even so, when they work together so many cool projects happen! Enter on screen their tiny house! They say their favorite project is their tiny house because of all the decisions they have to make and because of the opportunity to expand their skills. If you have the time to talk with them about it, be prepared for epic lessons and hilarious hijinks! You can also follow most of the tiny house-building process on Ann’s Instagram. If you see either of these two around say ‘Hi’ and ask what they’re up to and get the chance to meet them in person. Happy Monday!
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