artist feature: dirty laundry ~ my girl thursday

Jeanee Duval of Dirty Laundry

I’m a professional graphic designer for Hallmark Cards, Inc. by day and a crafter by night with a love for cute.

Have you ever noticed how there’s just so much cute in the world? I always notice – products, prints, patterns, palettes, silhouettes, trends, type, textiles and the list goes on! I couldn’t just keep it to myself, so I started crafting as a way to share all the amazing inspiration I find in the world around me.

I’m also a Zumba fitness instructor. Crazy combo huh?

When did you start crafting?

I started crafting April 2007. I took a sewing workshop at work. I didn’t know how to sew at all, but I ended up making a beautiful apron.

I found that I was a natural at sewing so I signed up for a local basic sewing class. My plan was to reconstruct t-shirts to sell. But a few weeks after the class was over it was Memorial Day a friend of mine was having folks over for a BBQ. I got up at 9am and whipped up a hostess apron by noon. She and everyone loved it! I posted it on my Flickr page and it’s one of the most viewed photos I have.

In July 2007 I opened my Etsy shop and that winter I did my first craft show.

I did small crafts like needle point and some sun catchers growing up. But I wasn’t really into arts and crafts. Somehow I found my career path into being a graphic designer.

I have a BA in journalism from Michigan State University with an emphasis in publication design. My first job I worked as a web designer. I learned on the job and taught myself HTML. My second job was a web designer for Borders Books. I got laid off and I went back to school for graphic Design and Portfolio Center in Atlanta.

Then I became a greeting cards designer for Hallmark Cards Inc. That’s where I currently work full-time.

I suppose having design and mock-up skills allowed me to learn the craft scene quickly and figure out what I wanted to do and how to brand it.

Do you have any other hobbies/passions?

I am a Zumba fitness instructor. I teach three classes a week. It’s so fun to dance and see that other people are enjoying my class. For someone to tell me that my class is the highlight of their day, that they lost 90 pounds, that they’ve quite smoking, or I’ve inspired them to become a Zumba instructor too is priceless. I’ve made lots of new friends over the years.

I’ve been teaching since January 2007.

If you had an extra $500 sitting around, what fun thing would you spend it on?

My iPhone has this awful squiggly line of broken pixels going across it. I have the 1^st iPhone, so it’s time for a new one! I LOVE the iPhone!!!