Spreading Joy

Daughter Alice says, "I liked coloring cards for people who stay at the Ronald McDonald House. And I like seeing my mom's mural there. It's cool."

Brooks mother says, “Emily has innate artistic talent and spatial intelligence for creating large scale pieces such as murals, and can visualize end results. She and her many machines work very well together.”

Taea Made products are available at Unglued (Fargo), several Kittsona stores nationwide, Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau, Amy’s Hallmark (Fargo), The Market on 4th (Minot), Grounded (Timber Lake, South Dakota) and online through Etsy. Most of her business is from custom orders and word of mouth. It’s her goal to get more online presence. She also teaches sewing classes, individually, or occasional group classes at Unglued.

This entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family. Along with her brother-in-law, they opened the Fargo Pinball Club (FPC) in 2015. The brothers wanted to share their lifelong interest with other gaming enthusiasts. FPC operates like a fitness club and has about 400 members.

Bill says, “We try to change the machines every month so there is always something fresh for members. Members can book parties and we lease machines to companies for break rooms. Growing up with life threatening allergies and asthma forced me to be indoors when my allergies were at their worst, so my brother and I did a lot of gaming. Sharing our love of gaming with others is a dream come true for us!"

The family enjoys spending time together at FPC for tournaments, special events and maintaining the club.

Brooks admits, “I have a passion for pinball too but not necessarily a talent.”

Yet talent is abundantly visible in so many other areas.

While most people can spread peanut butter on bread, Brooks seems best suited to spread joy, even through paint. Brooks painted the goldfinch piece mentioned earlier, and her mural work is scattered around town.

AMI’s motto -- Seeing. Caring. Serving. -aligns with Brooks’ pursuits to make the world a better place. At the Fargo Ronald McDonald House Brooks painted a wall mural for a room with no windows. A painted sunrise and hearts rising out of the chimney brighten the popular room for guest families.

Brooks says, “The sunrise symbolizes new hope, a new day, a new beginning. We chose a house theme to coordinate with the children's playroom donated by the Cullen family. The hearts in my mural complement a painting with hearts by Rando that's also in the house.”

Development Director Erica Johnsrud says, “Emily is such a delight and is willing to help in any way possible to make the community vibrant. And she’s doing something right with her kids.”

Her mural art can also be seen at Prairie Den, Washington Elementary School, South High School, FM Visitors Center, Gamma Phi Beta - MSUM, occasionally for plays at Oak Grove Lutheran School, and in private homes around the region. You can find Brooks creating chalk murals at Chalk Fest on August 9 at the Red River Zoo, and August 23 in Jamestown at Downtown Arts Market

As if that isn’t enough to fill a calendar, she is involved in the FM Modern Sewing Guild, MOPS at Olivet Lutheran Church, The Arts Partnership, Pride of Dakota network, Gamma Phi Beta Alumni Association and her local PTO.