We were lucky to catch up with Deborah Fessenden recently and have shared our conversation below.
Deborah, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I create art every single day in some crafty form or fashion, whether it’s selecting beads for a bracelet, making pressed flower greeting cards, or foraging around town! I feel energized when I’m making jewelry out of foraged flowers, blending cucumbers for cold processed soaps, and crafting real mushrooms into charms. It brings me endless joy to upcycle worn or broken items into something new to be loved again. I go with the flow of my creativity ~ I enjoy challenging myself and producing quality items for my business, Apples & Oranges Jewelry And Apothecary. I make it a habit of learning new things, too ~ this week, I’ve been eco-printing leaves into thrifted blue jeans! In short, if you want to bolster your creativity, create something small (or big!) each day and allow yourself to enter a state of play without criticizing your work. Pick your favorite colors, a medium you enjoy (paint, ceramics, fabric) and put your brilliant mind to work! The most important part of creating is trusting yourself throughout the process. Keep in touch with me on IG (@apples777oranges) and visit my website to view my jewelry and upcoming events in DFW: https://apples777oranges.square.site
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hello, everyone! My name is Dr. Deborah Fessenden and I am the owner and founder of Apples & Oranges Jewelry And Apothecary. I create one-of-a-kind jewelry with flowers I forage and press myself. I craft a variety of handmade pressed flower jewelry, nature charms made from real mushrooms, and plant-based beauty products like soap, body butter, and body spray. In addition to my artistic skills, I am a proud activist for human rights in the U.S. and abroad, using my platforms to spread awareness about the atrocities faced by Black and Brown populations. I earned my Ph.D. in sociology and focused in refugee and immigrant studies. I am heavily involved in the nonprofit community and serve as an Advocate for BeKinder Coffee in Dallas, TX, where we provide essential job readiness skills to refugees who participate in our program. As an artist with compassion, it is my duty to illustrate the truth with facts and educate others about the struggles faced by immigrants in our communities, because the acceptance of oppression destroys any people.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that community connections, personal ambition & perseverance, and finding my voice impacted the success of my journey so far. First, connecting with community members and local business owners who also attend local events (or may guide you as mentors in the process) is an incredible resource. Finding your community is essential, we aren’t meant to do it alone, so reach out for help when you need direction! Next, you must believe in your abilities and don’t quit when the going gets tough! Sales will fluctuate, markets can be slow, and learning the ins and outs of owning a business can feel overwhelming. So please, go easy on yourself and keep trying, and if you aren’t seeing results, try one new thing each day until you notice a shift! Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself in the most productive ways possible. If you’re burned out, allow yourself time to reset. Rest is vital! Lastly, speak up for yourself in ways that matter most to you ~ for me, it’s my boundaries in business, my handcrafted art and jewelry, fellow business owners, important social issues, and so much more. Silence is not an option for me!
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am looking to collaborate with fellow activists, scholars, community leaders, artists, and anyone interested in discussing issues facing all immigrant groups in the U.S. and other marginalized groups. Specifically, I envisioned interviewing refugees, undocumented immigrants, permanent residents, and all others who wish to tell their immigration story, in addition to those who work at immigrant serving organizations. I would also like to emphasize the intersectional relationship of immigration, so scholars and activists from other fields or subject areas may offer more nuanced perspectives of how these factors (i.e. race, gender, class, immigration status, nationality, disability, etc.) impact immigrant lives. If this message speaks to you, I highly encourage you to join. If you are interested in turning this idea into reality, kindly email Deborah at [email protected] or message me on Instagram (@apples777oranges). Let’s build a community to spread awareness!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://apples777oranges.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apples777oranges?igsh=MW5hZXpkdHU1eTE4eA==
- Linkedin: https://share.google/ume1IA9NaCCSIa1sS
