We make Portland awesome: The Cozy Project

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Jenny of The Cozy Project

Who are you?
I am Jenny P of The Cozy Project. I am a Native Oregonian and have lived here all my life aside from time away for college. I have lived in Southern Oregon and Northern Oregon... and I spent some time in the middle too. There are great things about each of those places.

What do you make?
I design and make crocheted cozies, for coffee, beer, mason jars etc. I use all sorts of yarn and buttons and felt.

Besides making things, what do you do?
When I am not making cozies.. I like to spend time with family and friends, wandering outside, absorbing sun if we are lucky enough to have it. Sitting in the sun on a bench with an iced coffee or hiding inside from the gray skies with a beer and some pals. I love being on the water... the ocean, a river, a lake. I love to travel.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by lots of things. I love music. Rare is the day that something is not blaring from speakers while I work. Color is my favorite. I love matching colors and coordinating colors and contrasting colors. I love it when people have ideas for me. It is fun to have someone want something so specific and then work up a design and make it happen for them.

Where can your work be found?
My work is mostly on Etsy. I would love to get the cozies up in a brick and mortar shop. It's one of my goals for the year!

What do you love about Portland?
I love being in Portland. I know everyone else does too. We can all share, right? Its a big city and a small city at the same time somehow. I love that there are super cool places within walking distance of where I live. We have lots of great bars and restaurants and food trucks. And there are loads of creative people here. I love that you can be driving somewhere in the middle of the city and be so surrounded by trees that you feel like you are in the country. Finding vegan and veggie fare is super easy here. I love that on any give day you might walk down the street and in the span of one block see a mime, a man carrying his leashed cat on his shoulders, a boy with pink hair and knee socks, followed by a regular old fam of a mom a dad and two kids. It's really easy to just be yourself here.