Mother Stories
Inside Doll Maker Jess Brown’s World
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Maria Del Rio
Aug 5, 2014
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s just something about the mother of teenagers that pulls at our heartstrings extra hard. Jess Brown and her family are no exception. The famed rag doll maker, clothing designer, and author (her second book, The Making Of A Rag Doll, comes out next month) threw open the doors to her gorgeous Petaluma home to invite us into her world and that of her two children, 16-year-old Stella and 13-year-old Tiger. In addition to the stunning decor, this mama’s thoughts on motherhood are equally inspiring. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and enjoy.
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- "I would describe my home as cozy and curated!" Jess and Stella in her daughter's room. Jess wears a Liberty-print dress from her upcoming Fall 2014 Jess Brown collection. Stella wears an Urban Outfitters top and Levi's shorts.
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- "We've been in this house nearly 12 years, which is nuts! We've definitely outgrown it, but just haven't found a suitable replacement."
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- Stella: "On Pinterest it would be #bohominimalist." Jess Brown rag dolls grace Stella's bed.
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- Stella: "I love my succulents, my rug, and my chair... Oh, and my twinkle lights."
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- Stella: "My bed, my desk, and my guitar."
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- Stella: "There is always design inspiration all over the house. Everything in our house is designed to be purposeful and that's a really comfortable way to live."
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- "I think you need to absolutely love everything you own. Nothing should ever be too precious to use. Everything serves a purpose and should be able to be interacted with."
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- "My favorite room is probably the living room. It's where we spend most of our time. It's the biggest room with open space. Victorians are so packed with small rooms. I love that everyone can hang out here."
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- "I love the rugs we've collected over the years. They're either antiques from flea markets or from a dealer in Morocco that I like working with. Also, our art collection. We know most of the artists that we've bought from. I love that!"
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- Tiger: "Comfortable and everything is easy to get to."
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- Tiger: "My skateboards, my loft, my books." Tiger wears a shirt from camp and H&M jeans.
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- Tiger: "She makes really good cookies and takes me to the skate park. She is very enthusiastic about doing stuff."
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- "Stella came out of nowhere. We had a rough birth and when everything had settled down it just came to me. We went to the hospital thinking she would be named India. With Tiger, two weeks before he was born, my great aunt named Bella Tiger died. He was named for her."
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- "Life totally changed. Every last priority shifted. Every path I take or decision I make is in regards to how it will effect the kids. My kids are big now, but I can honestly say that I have never experienced such fulfillment and total exhaustion in anything that can come close to mothering!"
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- "How physical and consuming it was. I don't think I understood the level of physical and emotional energy that is constantly moving between us all. Even as teenagers, I know when they need something. I can feel whatever they are going through."
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- "Challenging for sure. They are three years apart. It was always a conscious focus to make sure each felt held in their own way."
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- "Funny! That's just what I mentioned in the last question! Yes. They are different people with different needs and interests. We have lots of family time, but making one-on-one time for each was and is still always important."
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- "Find balance! Take time for yourself. Take time with your husband. I never did these things."
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- "Not ever! I had a children's line when Stella was 4 and Tiger was 1. Then I opened a children's shop with a friend." Jess, in her at-home studio, wears a Jess Brown Liberty-print dress.
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- "I think the biggest break was the combination of a feature in Martha Stewart and the project I did with Bottega Veneta."
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- "It can never come first. Before I was a parent, I was a teacher. My job was the most important thing to me. Instantly that changed."
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- "My work hours are flexible, and I can do a lot from home. That being said, it's a challenge for sure. Especially when I am deep in a project."
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- "My book, The Making of a Rag Doll, that I did with Chronicle Books gets released at the end of August!"
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- "Creativity and the people I work with."
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- "Seeing my children blossom. They are such interesting people. We guide and nurture them and then get to sit back and watch how that unfolds. Being present for the beautiful and not so beautiful moments they have is really what I get out of motherhood."
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- "Allowing them to learn from their mistakes. I hate that! It's the most important gift I can give them, though. I can teach, guide, nurture…but they will learn best from their own experiences."
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- "Laughing. My kids make me laugh harder then anyone has ever! They have mastered dry wit. They are hilarious!"
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- "I think my mom and I have very different parenting styles. But the '70s were a different time!" Jess wears a Jess Brown top and AG jeans. Stella wears a Brandy Melville top and Skargorn jeans, borrowed from mom.
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- "My mom icons are my friends. Everyone brings such a uniqueness to mothering. I see things in women all around me that inspire my mothering."
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- "Our bedroom is really peaceful. I love everything in it. I love our bedding. The bed was made by my husband. We have an antique Japanese tansu chest that is pretty great. My favorite piece in the room, though, which is so out of place, is a velvet Louis VIII-style Versace chair that I inherited from my father."
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- "Utilitarian bohemian. And not really. I still wear pieces that I've had for twenty years!"
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- "Jeans for sure, and tunics, oversized workshirts, and caftans. My day to day and night outfits don't change too much for me. It's usually jeans with a tunic or caftan."
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- "My favorites are Erica Tanov, Ryan Roche, Loup Charmant, and Isabel Marant. Erica Tanov's work is the perfect balance of bohemian to my utilitarian vibe. Ryan Roche's sweaters are just the most incredible thing ever. Loup Charmant makes perfect slips and gauzy beachy things that make me feel like I'm on vacation in my back yard! And Isabel Marant, I just love what she does, so urban but not too hard. I only have one of her pieces, but I love it!"
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- "I shop in-person in small boutiques. I'm usually coveting whatever is going to be new for fall from my favorite designers."
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- "I don't often, but I love reading the interviews on Mother!"
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- "We moved to Petaluma 13 years ago after selling our house in Marin."
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- "I love this small town with a city vibe! Good food, good shopping, artists everywhere! I love it!"
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- "By the beach for sure. I would also live in Paris in a heartbeat!"
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- "I get breakfast going for the kids and see them off to school. Then head in to my studio for most of the day. I try to be home by 3 p.m. so I can see them before they are off to their sports, friends, or music lessons. Then everyone is back for dinner and we just hang out the rest of the evening."
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- "That's probably a day at the beach."
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Jess has a great barefoot style! Her house is lovely, and so are her bare feet. Picture #19 is great. Jess’s bare feet go perfectly with her dress. And that big toe in picture #23 looks succulent! Another amazing barefoot mom profile!