Beautiful Handprinted Designs for the Home
New Wing Studio stopped us in our tracks at November’s Second Sundays in Williamsburg. With beautiful and colorful eye-catching designs, we had to take a closer look. Tea towels, aprons, cards and stickers – all designed by hand… (not a computer!) and printed on functional items and accessories that add the perfect touch to the home.
Charlottesville’s Jennifer Knight has grown New Wing Studio into a thriving business, expanding into wallpaper designs available through Spoonflower, licensing agreements with Urban Worm Company and more. With the support of her husband, and from a living room full of boxes, Jennifer’s art makes people smile and brings joy.
Here is New Wing Studio’s Story:
Adventure Around 757: When did you know that design was your calling?
Jennifer: I’ve always had a mathematical mind and from a young age I explored artistic hobbies like calligraphy, ikebana (Japanese flower arranging), black and white photography, along with making my own prints. Each one of these crafts has a precision and a gentle flow.
About eight years ago, my creative journey took a pivotal turn. My husband took me on a five-day anniversary trip to the beach. It was cold and quiet and in that restful, reflective space, something sparked. I found myself drawing—and I thought just maybe other people would enjoy these creations.
Adventure Around 757: Where do you get your inspiration?
Jennifer: I draw inspiration from a blend of personal experiences, my love for making people smile, and the beauty of nature and everyday life. My designs often start as hand-drawn elements. I’ve always enjoyed creating pieces that bring joy, whether it’s through a whimsical holiday card or a playful Bigfoot sticker. There’s something deeply fulfilling about adding humor, lightness, and the unexpected to everyday moments.
I am also inspired by the idea of creating products that genuinely make life easier and more beautiful. My kitchen towels and aprons were born out of a desire to blend beauty with practicality. We should never have to choose between beautiful OR functional kitchen towels.
The kitchen towels are soft and highly absorbent (with absolutely no microplastics in them) and the adult aprons have all the “bells and whistles” (two deep front pockets so when you bend over to get something out of the oven your cell phone doesn’t fall out), a utility loop to hold a kitchen towel at your side, an adjustable locking neck and a tie that you can tie in the front or the back. These aprons literally fit ANY human body… the waist ties are really long. The children’s aprons grow with your child, fitting kids 18 months to 11 years old… all without compromising style.
Adventure Around 757: When did you begin licensing your designs?
Jennifer: Licensing is a way for me to collaborate with other businesses allowing them to use my artwork on their products and is a way for my art to reach more people.
A fun example is my collaboration with Urban Worm Company — a brand dedicated to composting, which perfectly aligns with my desire to care for the environment. Urban Worm Company licensed three of my designs to appear on their vermicompost bags, combining their shared love for sustainability with my art.
To expand licensing is one of my goals for 2025. I would love to see my designs on wrapping paper, gift bags, bed sheets, napkins and eventually I would absolutely love to design tile. These kinds of collaborations are so exciting and allow my artwork to spread more broadly into the world, reaching people in ways I could not do on my own.
Adventure Around 757: What are your most popular patterns?
Jennifer: What is interesting is that our best selling aprons, kitchen towels, and market bags are all the same patterns.
“Cyndi’s Centerpiece” is a heartfelt tribute to my mother, Cyndi, who would always showcase whatever weed or flower I brought home as if it were a treasure. The classic simplicity of the pattern carries a Venetian elegance that celebrates life’s beauty and the joy of appreciating simple things.
Next is “Glass Bouquet.” My background as a math teacher influences my eye for patterns and symmetry. This pattern reflects my love for flowers and the intricate beauty of stained glass, making it a favorite among customers.
My love for mushrooms, particulaly mushroom soup, is reflected in “Mushroom Field.” This pattern on an apron is displayed outside our pop up markets, drawing people in with its whimsical charm.
I like to think that my personal connection with the art has something to do with its popularity. Each of these designs has a unique story, making them not just products, but pieces of art infused with personal significance.
Adventure Around 757: How does customer feedback influence your designs?
Jennifer: Customer feedback plays a HUGE role in shaping my designs! I love engaging with customers and their input often leads to entirely new products. For example, I’ve created new stickers and greeting cards based on what my customers have suggested. I have turned a few kitchen towel patterns into apron patterns due to customer requests.
This back-and-forth not only keeps my designs fresh and relevant but also strengthens the connection I have with the people who enjoy my art. Their insights are invaluable in guiding my creative process and ensuring I’m delivering what they’re excited about.
Adventure Around 757: What’s new in your portfolio?
Jennifer: I couldn’t be more excited to introduce my very first Winter Holiday kitchen towel collection called Duck the Halls! Designed to bring joy all winter long, these towels feature playful ducks in the snow, poinsettias, holiday trees, and festive berries, all in a cozy Scandinavian-inspired color palette. I even designed fun matching Christmas Cards and a really cute sticker (the sassy duck peels off) to go with this collection.
These 100% flour-sack cotton towels feature 4 playful ducks in the snow and 10 other festive prints featuring poinsettias, holiday trees, and red berries along with matching stripes. The collection of 14 designs mixes and matches effortlessly, creating endless combinations for brightening your own kitchen or searching for the perfect holiday gift.
Find New Wingo Studio on their website or at these upcoming Market Events including Second Sundays in Williamsburg this Sunday, November 10 and next month on December 8!