A little about Coco Brown...



     
     Everyone in my family calls me Coco. I was born and raised in Seattle. My family originated from the South. I I love my city for so many reasons and always find myself near a waterfront. Water has always calmed me. I have always had aspirations to build my house somewhere else, but know that I'll always come back here. My favorite places I've traveled to so far are New Orleans, Kankan, Paris, Manila and a little city outside of Sorrento. I can still smell them. Hear them. And dream about going back. Traveling is much needed for my soul. When I go new places.... I get my visions and aspirations. My visions come to life and I get my ideas for creating designs, styling hair, designing clothes and making unique art. 


     When the pandemic hit, I had just gotten back from studying in West Africa and was three months away from graduating with my Masters in Teaching. I thought I would graduate, maybe teach overseas in a classroom or work locally. That's not what happened.... and all of a sudden I had this TIME. Time I never had before. I started exploring things I never had time to play with. Because... adults don't get to "play". We have to work. Have responsibilities. All of a sudden my life changed... especially my outlook on it. I didn't have to be anywhere for like the first time in forever. It liberated me in so many ways. Everyday I woke up and created something. While the world was falling apart and shutting down, I didn't know another way to cope. So I created. And Coco Brown Creations was born.


     I've always been the "crafty/artistic" one. I have been sewing for almost 20 years. So naturally I started sewing and donating masks for medical staff and people in need. I've always loved finding treasures at second hand stores and creating a new purpose for them or taking old things and recreating something new. So I started using what I had around and repurposing it. Hair ties became elastic ties for mask. Old sheets and shirts became the fabric for them.


     It was harmonious chaos. It allowed me to get back into things I hadn't touched or created in a long time and gave me the opportunity to branch out into completely new art mediums. When my children were small, I knitted, crocheted and sewed a lot of their outfits and clothes. It feels amazing to share my art with the world! I have always enjoyed making one of a kind items. One of my favorite things to create are memorial items. When a baby is born or a loved one transitions, I FEEL the energy and really enjoy creating something special for the family to cherish their loved one forever.


     I often don't recreate art pieces or collections.... so I may spend months working on something and never do it again! I get really focused on something and will give it my all. I'm human.... I make art. I don't PRODUCE products. If I don't FEEL it.... I aint makin it! Art, color, texture and sensory is what keeps me sane. My art is everything that I feel and can't say. What I envision. To provoke. A form of beauty. Created with love. And a touch of Coco Fairy Dust 💋  


     My first creative love is hair and I don't think that will ever change. I am forever changing mine! Hair is art. Hairstyles, color and texture give different feelings when you see it. I always knew I wanted to do it and took my curling iron to 5th grade camp and styled everyone's hair in my cabin. At nineteen, I put myself through beauty school and opened my salon a few years later on Alki Beach. I loved walking in the doors, having the opportunity to meet some really awesome people and helping them with their hair needs.


     My specialties were and still are braids, hair repair, extensions, color and wedding styling. There's not a texture of hair that I can't or don't work on. I have always loved the challenge and beauty of creating with different hair textures and transforming it! Currently Coco Brown Creations still offers onsite wedding hairstyling as a service. I also provide consultations to other stylists for color, extensions and hair repair needs for their clients. 


     I don't like limitations in any form and the word "no" is not part of my vocabulary! I wasn't created to be put in a box. I love "seeing if this will work" and learning from my mistakes. That means I rarely play by "rules" and will often mix different mediums to create multi-media art as a nail artist, hairstylist, graphic designer, fabric maker, and seamstress. I work with other mediums like paint, vinyl application, embroidery, epoxy resin art and more. I'm always learning and playing with a new art medium and brainstorming on how to apply this to that. I recently copped a laser cutter and can't wait to make some epic sh*t with it!!!!! 


     My future goals are to continue making art, designing clothes and opening up a salon studio again. Currently I'm working on designing and sewing my summer apparel collection. I've also been working behind the scenes creating graphic designs for other crafters to enjoy. I can't wait to travel with my kids again outside of the country. I truly suffer from wanderlust... Getting back into the classroom is important for me and now that things are getting back to "normal", I'm looking foward to what my teaching journey will bring. I miss my babies (students). I miss their laughter. I miss their honest opinions and literal understanding of the world. Children give me hope. That the world could and may be a better place. 


     There is always something new in my life so make sure to subscribe below and follow me on social media! Coco Brown Creations will be at multiple festivals, street markets and pop ups this year so stay tuned!!



 ~Coco