I've traveled all my life, observing character, style & culture. As a kid, the theater and its costume closets were my second home. As a teenager living in Italy, I traveled extensively throughout Europe absorbing "the Old World" Elegance & Fineries of Classic & Avant Garde Fashion, Venetian Street Theatre at Carnival & Verona's Operas.​ I returned to the United States and studied Costume Design at the University of Utah, where I designed and constructed costumes for theaters throughout Utah.​  Living in New York City for 13 years, I was intimately exposed to the creative world of fashion, by prepping clothing for many of the world's top designers' runway shows. I opened Jennifer Dehner Millinery, a tiny hat shop located in an old janitor's closet, (for $150 a month!). I designed and constructed one-of-a-kind hats for trendy, chic & funky New Yorkers. I also subcontracted for Izquierdo Studios, making both hats and costumes for Broadway and off-Broadway shows. And I designed costumes for films.  

​

Moving to Vieques, Puerto Rico, on Halloween 2000, life slowed down. While in a hammock on my favorite beach, my hands began to express nature's inspirations through jewelry. That was more than 20 years ago, and I continue to create beaded, macrame, crochet, and wire-wrapped nature-inspired jewelry with beads, trinkets & Gaia's offerings, even though I no longer live in Puerto Rico. ​On Vieques, I sold my work to locals and tourists from my now defunct, Jungle Boutique at Chez Shack, and out of the back of my Blue Dolphin Jeep Boutique, in front of Bananas, Duffy's Esperanza, and El Quenepo restaurants. I opened Beading Bikini Jewelry, another jungle boutique nestled between the 2 Restaurants on island, Tin Box and what was at first Noche and then the Jungle room.  ​When hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Vieques Island in September 2017, I had to relocate to North America where my life once again became nomadic. I dream of returning to Vieques constantly, but God/Universe has other plans for me right now. I accept the callings.

​

99% married to creativity,

​

Blessings,
Jen

​