Jordan Adams is co-owner of Spoonie Creative Collective. She is a disabled maker that handmakes rugs of various designs and sizes. Their goal is to create a platform for other disabled makers to sell their creations as well. Read more about Jordan’s work in their AccelerateHER cohort story.
As one of the founders of Spoonie Creative Collective, how many days/hours of the week are you working on your business?
Right now, since I am in school, I have taken a step back a bit. However, before school started I was easily working on it 10-12 hours a day everyday.
Have you always considered yourself a maker/creative or is this more recent?
I have always been a bit of a creative, but never really submerged myself completely into it until after I developed disabling conditions and discovered fibers. I fell in love with fiber arts and creating. I never thought that I would be making rugs.
What’s your background in? Could you tell us how [each of these disciplines] emerge in your work?
I’ve worked my entire life in the customer service industry. It helped big time at our pop-up events and interacting face-to-face with customers. The face-to-face interaction is nothing that is new to me, but everything else is basically brand new.
What kept Spoonie Creative Collective from becoming a project that fell to the wayside? How do you pick back up on it when perhaps feeling uninspired?
I would say the amount of support that we received from the community. It was really what pushed us to keep going. When I’m feeling uninspired, I usually give myself a day or so to relax and give myself some grace. Then I try to think of things that I WANT to make or create new yarn colors I haven’t yet.
How did you find your way into the creative industry?
In 2020 I woke up so dizzy I had trouble walking. It forced me into bed for 8 months and it took 2 years to figure out what was wrong, and we’re STILL trying to get more answers. It completely changed my life. I could no longer do normal tasks without feeling extremely sick or like I was going to fall. I wanted to find something I COULD do, and I found that with fiber art.
What’s your favorite thing about your workspace?
I love that it’s mine, and it’s something that I made. I feel safe and comfortable there. I’m still working on it, housing and location are not exactly what I want, but it’s a work in progress that I’m always looking to improve and make more efficient.
How do you get yourself out of a creative rut or pick back up on your business if you’re feeling close to burnout?
When I feel like this I try to just dye yarn or do things that inspire me, like talk to other creatives or take a walk outside. I try to give myself some grace. When I am in a slump, I always give myself one day. One day to just do nothing and relax and take it easy on myself. Usually after that I start something that I WANT to work on and create.
Name a woman, past or present, whom you admire or look up to. Why?
This might sound silly, but I really admire and look up to my second youngest sister, Karson. She’s only 17, but she is the most hard-working and determined young-woman I know. She is always looking to improve in everything she does. She constantly seeks advice from mentors and she works so hard. She doesn’t stop until she gets it done. She’s so young, I’ve never met someone at that age with so much perseverance and self motivation. It’s truly inspiring.
