Rag Rugs and More Recycled Goodness!

I love rag rugs!! They are so amazing, I just have to figure out how to make them :) I introduce to you Georgia Anne Jackson a wonderful rag rug, pillow and quilt maker on Etsy.

*Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I guess the best way to describe where I'm from is to say "the central time zone." I grew up in Lake County IL, spent an extended time in Milwaukee WI working in Marketing for a lighting manufacturer and have now settled in Nashville AR, to be nearer my family, and working for myself.

*How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
My shop name is my name, Georgia Anne Jackson. I've spent years developing my personal/professional brand, and as the only designer and bottle washer it just makes sense. I am committed to quality, and I want my customers to know I am responsible for their satisfaction.

*What got you started in recycling?
Since my kids were small (many. many years ago) I always carried our cast offs to the major NFP Thrifts - Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. A couple of years ago, I had to drive behind one such store and could not believe the carnage! Clothing, furniture, small appliances, you name it, and they laid busted around an overflowing dumpster. I had an Epiphany... I was angry at the NFP for discarding people's donations and I was ashamed of the wantoned consumerism that paved this path to the landfill. I want to make a difference by reclaiming materials and raise awareness by creating only functional, relevant products.

*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
My supplies are donated or "rescued" from dumpsters (diving). I don't have a favorite color or type - I'm just excited to know that the materials are coming to me rather than being fed to a garbage truck.

*What motivates or inspires you to create?
My specialties are rag rugs and quilts - these talents come from the generations before me. I've been making rugs since I was a child. I can't remember the first thing I ever made. Sewing and crafting was always something we did together. My Mother and Grandmother taught me, as did their mothers and grandmothers before them. My Grandmother, who I was very close to, taught me about my Native American heritage. We are descended from the Choctaw nation, although undocumented. She shared with me the trials of and hardships of assimilation experienced by the generations before. This history is important to me, and I use Native American symbols in my quilt patterns. The fall of the buffalo and other fur bearing animals along with the relocation of the native population, quilts took the place of fur robes in tribal ceremonies. I try to bring that history to life in my quilting projects.

*Are there other places on the net we can find you?
On twitter I am _georgia_anne.
Facebook is Folk Art by Georgia.
I am on flickr and in the Brooklyn Art Project as georgia anne jackson.
I also have a blog at georgiaannejackson.com

And lastly, I accept donations from friends/ family and several of the businesses here in Nashville, AR. But, some business just don't get it, and throw away materials that can easily be refashioned, reclaimed, and definitely reused - so from time to time - I dumpster dive.