Mary Ann Pickens * May 16, 1937 - July 11, 2014
Mary Ann, joined her beloved husband, J.P., and her beloved son (Paul Desmond Pickens II) in heaven on July 11, 2014, after a long illness.
Mary Ann was an accomplished seamstress. A pioneer in Wearable Art clothing, she designed and produced countless pieces of clothing, using the beautiful fabrics of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. J.P. loved to dress flamboyantly, so Mary Ann would decorate his vests and pants with woven/embroidered braid trim, in bright colors or gold and silver. Together Mary Ann and Jean Paul created many items such as purses, belts, vests, boys’ and men’s shirts, girls’ and women’s skirts, and hats for all, knit in beautiful wool, or made of leather, paisley broadcloth, deep-pile corduroy, printed cotton velveteen, and other luxurious fabrics. As young parents they delighted in making a kid friendly environment of our house and yard; building a puppet theater, fixing up small dollhouses and sewing doll clothes, hanging a circus tent-like drapery over the swing set in the side yard of orange and white parachute silk. In later years Mary Ann enjoyed crocheting fabulous multi-colored caps and hats. Her sense and appreciation of design, color, and pleasing composition never left her.
Mary Ann was an accomplished seamstress. A pioneer in Wearable Art clothing, she designed and produced countless pieces of clothing, using the beautiful fabrics of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. J.P. loved to dress flamboyantly, so Mary Ann would decorate his vests and pants with woven/embroidered braid trim, in bright colors or gold and silver. Together Mary Ann and Jean Paul created many items such as purses, belts, vests, boys’ and men’s shirts, girls’ and women’s skirts, and hats for all, knit in beautiful wool, or made of leather, paisley broadcloth, deep-pile corduroy, printed cotton velveteen, and other luxurious fabrics. As young parents they delighted in making a kid friendly environment of our house and yard; building a puppet theater, fixing up small dollhouses and sewing doll clothes, hanging a circus tent-like drapery over the swing set in the side yard of orange and white parachute silk. In later years Mary Ann enjoyed crocheting fabulous multi-colored caps and hats. Her sense and appreciation of design, color, and pleasing composition never left her.