"Dancy Pants Designs "  has evolved from a long history of art and design by the artist, Nan Jester. Throughout her life her family was very instrumental in influencing her to appreciate art, dance, music, nature and creativity of many kinds.

She grew up in Ft. Payne, AL , one of the most naturally beautiful areas anywhere, near canyons, mountains, breath taking vistas, wildlife, lakes and mountain streams, the ancient home of Native American Indians. 

Much of her training, though, started in 1967 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, School of Interior Design, where she started her higher education. Shortly afterward, classes in Fine Art and Pottery formed the basis of all that has followed.  At UT in 1968, Nan's pottery was selected by Sandy Blain for display at the well-know Arrowmont School of Art and Design.

After two years at UT, she went to the University of Louisville to study Art History and Humanities and was graduated in 1972 with a B.A. in Art History/Humanities. There she also studied pottery at a small art school off campus. 

In Chattanooga she fell in love with watercolor after taking a job as an Administrative Assistant under Jim Wright, who was a known local Watercolorist.  She took classes with his wife, Carolyn Wright, at the Hunter Museum. Carolyn's watercolors and teaching greatly inspired her.

Nan's watercolor paintings were on display for a while in the Mayors office in Chattanooga. At this time, she also started to learn many styles of dance at the Dance Theater Workshop with Nancy Wright.

Later, she taught Graphic Art at Chattanooga State Technical Community College. This was followed by opening an art school in Chattanooga called Art Works, where she taught watercolor and acrylic painting, wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery.  She also taught Flute lessons there and was fortunate enough to be a part of a Flute Choir, which brought her a lot of joy.  While preparing for the opening of her art school, Nan studied at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts in Northeast Georgia with Rick Berman.

From there graduate school seemed like a good idea after she was almost killed in a horrific auto accident. She then sold Art Works and headed back to UT to later graduate with a M.S. in Applied Textiles and Business Administration.  While at the university, she also studied dance and voice.

After graduate school it was off to Morristown, TN, to use her Textiles degree. While there she was lured into dramatic and musical theatre, starring in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", playing Maggie, the Cat. Next she went on to play the Mime in "The Fantastics".  Couldn't shut her up in the first play and she couldn't talk in the second.  While there she also performed with a Jazz Dance Troupe.

Since Morristown was not her favorite place, a future move was in the stars for her.  In 1984, after a particularly snowy and treacherous winter, it was off to Jacksonville, FL, where she lives today, relatively snow free. 

During 2001, Nan worked as a graphic designer for a national human resources company. However, after the unspeakable tragedies of September 11, 2001, a week later, the death of her Mother, and a layoff, Nan felt driven to find beauty somewhere in her world and again opened up a pottery studio behind her home. She also took a semester and went to Florida Community College Jacksonville and studied Web Development. In Jacksonville she has also worked with several companies as an Interior Decorator. 

She also performed in several plays in Jacksonville. In 1984, six days after moving to Jacksonville, was cast as a Kit Kat Girl in "Cabaret". Later that same year, she co-starred in "Chicago" playing Velma Kelly. This was for the opening of the 65th year of the oldest continuously running community theatre in the country, Theatre Jacksonville, a.k.a. Little Theatre. The theatre is still going strong approaching it's 88th anniversary. 

Nan also played her flute for many occasions, and sang in a musical review at Theatre Jacksonville.  In spite of all of this, during most of the time here her main profession has been as a Real Estate Agent. 

Jewelry design has been a long time coming but this is going swimmingly so she will be taking a break from Real Estate and to pursue her artistic career instead. Good timing since the Real Estate market is currently in near shambles.

In addition to this, one of her other main pursuits is dancing, enjoying West Coast Swing all across the country, Latin dancing, most ballroom dances, and Argentine Tango. It is pretty obvious how the name "Dancy Pants Designs" evolved. 

The responses to her work have been very gracious and encouraging, as much for the beauty of it, as for it's quality. Hopefully your appreciation of her pieces will equal the enjoyment which she feels making it.

Dancy Pants Designs, creating customer loyalty through great quality and design. 

the company

High quality well designed and made costume jewelry. One of a kind and custom designs, this jewelry can't be beat.

Who We Are

Currently DPD is a small company of original art work, jewelry and accessories. If you don't see what you need, contact us, we may be able to make it happen.

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