ELLIS DUNN EXPLAINED
THE STORY BEHIND OUR LOGO
The floral pattern of the Ellis Dunn logo is based on a set of dishes that I inherited from my grandmother Brigid Ellis. She called them her “kitchen best” and I always loved them. When we were developing the logo, my dear friend and collaborator Jonathan Rachman, kept pushing me to come up with a name that could grow with the business. His vision for the new company was based on Mary Poppins and her large travel bag that contained everything magically. He asked for items I had from my grandmothers. He then took the plate pattern, and made it black and white. Voila !
The smiling angel was taken from a coloring book that my sister Tessa gave my daughter Bryn when she was 2 years old. Tessa had found an Andy Warhol coloring book on a business trip, gifting it to Bryn. I made the mom executive decision that the book was way too cool to be destroyed by a two year old, so the pages were framed and have been artwork in our home for 26 years.
THE STORY of BRIGID NUNAN ELLIS
Brigid Nunan Ellis hails from Ireland arriving in 1900. Born on a large farm she developed a love of the land. Growing up she delivered messages hidden in her bicycle tire for her brothers who were members of the IRA. She met and married a handsome irishman who whisked her off to Casper, WY. There she helped build Ellis Sheep Company. She was an amazing mother of four beautiful children.
Eventually grandchildren came along, and she named herself Mom Senior. Humorous and smart, she was famous for her laugh which was really more of a snort. She was the perfect mediator between teenage grandchildren and their parents with humor and wise words. She was a poet + writer and sent sincere messages in her beautiful handwriting. Weeks before I married my husband I received a card, in part it said:
“I wish you good years, long ones that fly by: good health and good common sense.”
She was quiet yet powerful- everyone knew she was in charge
THE STORY OF TESSA DUNN SCHULTE
Tessa Dunn Schulte was Born in the late 1800’s in the caboose of a train during a wild snowstorm outside of Casper, WY. She was delivered by the local veterinarian - the only doctor my great grandfather could find at the time. After Tessa’s arrival, William Dunn ( her father) chose to leave his position at the Union Pacific and settle in the newly incorporated town of Casper, WY population at the time was 544.
Tessa absolutely cherished the art of theater. Both performing in as well as directing. She also comes from a bibliophile background. Her love for reading carried through many of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Tessa graduated from the University of Wyoming. At this time women getting education was quite unique (and uncommon) but her father William strongly encouraged her to take that leap. She became a teacher and inspired my Dad to follow her footsteps into education. Legend has it - that she filled out my Dad’s application to Notre Dame. Since he was the youngest she wanted to make sure one of her boys went there.
prim and proper, she was a lady who lunched. she was quiet yet powerful, - everyone knew she was in charge.
THE STORY OF TESSA ruth SCHULTE
Tessa Ruth Schulte was named after Tessa Dunn Schulte (Ironically I also have a sister named Brigid too.) My sister Tessa inherited her passion for reading. At minimum she was reading 3-5 books at the same time. She also inherited Brigid’s wry sense of humor and the ability to negotiate with wise words. If you look closely at the Ellis Dunn logo you will find an angel, that’s Tessa.
Twenty-six years ago, she left this world when a rare and aggressive cancer was not willing to negotiate.
She wasn’t quiet, she was powerful - everyone knew she was in charge.
RIP
1964 - 1997
Mary Nelson - principal
Mary is the principal and sole proprietor of Ellis Dunn, The back bone of it all! With over 15 years of experience in the design industry, selecting fabric is like picking a canvas. It is the foundation of good design. At Ellis Dunn we edit out the noise and personalize the process. Each fabric in our collection is high quality, well-priced, fitting for any style and chosen with you, the designer, in mind. The fabrics are named after the strong women in our lives, our fabrics are woven in boutique U.S. and European mills. We offer a select palette of sophisticated, timeless colors in a variety of textures.
