This week’s Woman Crush Wednesday is all about Jessica Blume. Known to most as Jume, she’s a textile designer whose love for animals, mates, lush interiors and the beach make her Instagram one juicy feed to scroll through. Working from home most of the time, Jume creates tapestries and textiles that will inspire you to finally get your own house in order. Her eye for colour, organic beauty and a chill as heck attitude make her one to watch.
Name?
Jessica Blume.
Nickname?
Jume or Joom.
Where are you right now?
At my house on my deck.
What do you do for work?
I weave tapestries and make chairs from my home studio. I also work as a creative assistant and florist for Pop & Scott and Gemma Patford.
What do you do for fun?
Surf, hangout with my pals, look at dogs on Pet Rescue. My girlfriend Marian and I go camping, too—that’s the most fun.
Who was your hero in high school?
I found this book called Absurdistan by the ABC foreign correspondent Eric Campbell that belonged to my mum’s boyfriend and I read it twice in early high school because I found it so inspiring. I thought that it was the perfect job for me and became fixated on the idea that my career and private life would be interwoven and full of passion and meaning. I also became obsessed with Aldous Huxley when I was a teenager and wanted to be a writer for many, many years.
Who is your hero now?
I have so many so I’ll narrow it down to textile related heroes. Eva Hesse, Sonia Delaunay, Lenore Tawney, and Sheila Hicks were all making art from the 1940s onwards. These strong feminist women made the most inimitable and beautiful artworks with knotting and weaving techniques. Using textiles—a medium that was previously regarded as craft—and bringing it into the realm of fine art, they paid homage to all of the incredible artworks women have created in textiles throughout different eras and cultures.
Who are the members of your dream girl gang?
I am in it already! My girlfriends are the funniest, wisest, most interesting, intelligent and stylish women I know.
What lyric sums you up?
Life, oh life, oh life, oh life
Doo, doo doo doo
What song will forever put you in a good mood?
Blast It by Shabazz Palaces.
What do you cook when you want to impress someone?
Vegan lasagne or a Japanese feast with nasu dengaku and ginger tempe.
What’s something that you’re passionate about?
The preservation of indigenous cultures, communities and practices around the world; freeing the refugees and hemp yarn. Hemp everything actually. I could talk your ear off about hemp.
What TV show will you never get sick of?
I don’t have a telly and have never actually watched a full series!
What’s your secret party trick?
I’m that nude dude, but it’s no secret really.
What’s your dream pet?
A kangaroo! Although I wouldn’t really want to own it, just be mates.
If you had to wear one label for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I had to do that I would just wear my own homemade clothes! I used to make clothes all the time and I just can’t trust that a label would follow me down the paths my personal style will take me.
What do you love about the internet?
Podcasts, discovering music and researching interesting topics.
When did you join Instagram?
About three years ago I think.
Describe your Instagram:
It’s just things I want to look back on that get me stoked about my life I guess. Friends, nice places, good colour palettes and things I’ve made.
Who are your three favourite people to follow on Instagram?
I love following my best friends because they are super interesting and I am emotionally invested in their lives, but in the stranger world I love @h_e_r_s_t_o_r_y—it’s this archive of lesbian culture from the 60s and 70s. And @chillwildlife who have a beautiful feed and post pictures of wildlife, it makes me so happy.
What’s your favourite thing about living on the coast?
It’s a tie between hearing and watching the ocean as I am falling asleep, and waking up and being able to pop out for a jog and see the dreamiest view of the coastline and all the wildlife. It’s really invigorating.
Where’s your favourite place to surf?
Back home in Byron. The water’s warm and turquoise and glassy.
How long does a decorative weave take to complete?
There is no straight answer. Setting up a loom can take a day and depending on the complexity it can take from one day to a month! Mine usually take a few days to a week.
Where else can we find you online?
jessicablume.com
Country or city?
City or beach.
Britney or Beyonce?
Beyoncé, duh.
Health food or junk food?
Health food.
Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers.
Early mornings or late nights?
Early mornings.
Dating or hanging out?
Hanging out.
Hotels or camping?
Camping.
Credits
Text Isobel Beech
Images via @jessica.blume