magpie apparel

Emily Harper Beard has a BA in Graphic Design with a Minor in Painting but her roots in art education dig much deeper than her formal education. Her mother, an art teacher for over 30 years, encouraged and nurtured her daughter’s artistic expression, and Emily quickly became a prized pupil.

Emily’s interest in fashion began after graduation when she and Rhiannon became roommates. Rhiannon suggested that, after a few years of friendship, it was time for the two to room together and reap the benefits of what they might learn from one another. Their livelihood quickly became nights trying their hands at sewing, knitting, and jewelry.

It was those skills that Emily took with here when she started working in the costume department of Animax Designs, a design company which creates puppets and other creatures for clients such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Nickelodeon. During her time at the puppet shop Emily continued working on her own art work and soon her background in Graphic Design and love for art lead her to work in the Communications Department at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts.

Today, all passions have combined forces for magpie apparel. She not only assists with jewelry and other accessories but she is the Creative Director…

Okay, okay…let me break in here to acknowledge the fact that I, Emily Harper Beard, am currently writing this. It’s part of my job. As Creative Director I have had the joy helping to brand a company that I love and believe in, watch dreams unfold, and work along-side one of my best friends. Life is good…but it is also a lot of hard work. “You are the only one who determines the level of your success” a friend reminded the other day. As long as I go to bed knowing that I did my best, I am pretty happy.

CLICK HERE to jump through another rabbit hole into the world of my artwork

(image from Fusion 07 show-coined/guitar-string necklace by Emily Harper)