Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Bolhofner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jenny , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I learned early on in my life that I like to be in control, and have my hands in everything. Saying that out loud, I sound like I need a trip to a good therapist. But honestly, those traits serve me really well as a business owner. I am self motivated because I know I am solely responsible for the failures and wins of my business. I enjoy that every day looks a little different for me because I wear all the business hats from customer service and execution, to packaging and social media posts. I also get to set my hours and limits, which is so helpful as a mom of small kids. And if I want to pivot my business plan or focus on a different aspect of my fiber art, I can.

Jenny , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I created my business during a huge shift in my life. Shortly after my oldest daughter Olive was born, I quit my job to become a stay at home mom. For the first time in my life, I felt lost. I had always gone to school or worked…or both! While I loved motherhood, I craved more. I wanted a creative outlet, and something to tie my identity to beyond simply wife and mother.

On a whim, while nap trapped by my daughter, I came across a blog featuring felt food tutorials. I thought (as one does when they haven’t ever done something before) “I could do that,” and gave it a shot. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the years Olive This Felt has changed quite a bit. I rarely, if ever, make felt food anymore. But I do stand by my tagline “Making all things felt, one stitch at a time.” Everything I make is still completely handmade and felt based.

My customers have been the reason for all of my shifts and subsequent successes. I am a total creature of habit and comfort. If I find something I can make well, I keep working on that. But over the years, I would get more and more requests for custom items- portraits, ornaments, mobiles. At first I would panic. I didn’t know what I was doing. But after each completed project, I gained more confidence and the desire to keep trying new things. I still face challenges and question if I can make “an ornament where every family member is a Lego character,” but the key is I try. Every time I try. And because of that, my business has grown.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to unlearn (and I am still fighting it) is my worth and the value of my time. Starting off, I was selling my work for pennies or practically giving it away because I would think to myself, “Well the supplies cost very little.” But I wasn’t figuring in the the most expensive supply was my time. And as I stitched longer and learned more, I began to realize that I also needed to be paid for my experience. Anyone can go out and buy felt, scissors, and thread. But it takes time and experience to create something special with them. I am still working on realizing my own worth because, let’s be honest, it is hard to judge how much to charge for handmade items. Especially when everything I make is a luxury item in the sense that no one needs a felt portrait or ornament. We all need groceries and a roof over our heads.

I really try to be more mindful of my pricing now and even reevaluate every few months. If things are selling way too fast and I can’t keep up with demand, it might be a sign that prices need to be adjusted some. Even if I sell fewer pieces, I end up working less time for the same amount of money. It is all about finding that balance between being paid for time and experience, and keeping things obtainable and reasonable for my customers.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I don’t know if there has been a specific time in my business journey where I showed resilience. I think it was the simple fact that I just kept showing up day after day regardless of how slow things were moving sometimes. I do most of my business through social media and word of mouth, and I remember feeling really disheartened by that progress at times. I spent years sitting below 5k followers and wondering if I would ever be seen or if I was just sharing out into the void. But I kept posting. I kept stitching. I kept sharing my small corner of the world with others.

The gains came slowly, but I transitioned from Etsy to my own website. I had to close custom orders to catch up on my wait-list. And now, in addition to custom orders, I am making things I want to make and selling out. It is such a rewarding feeling. One that I don’t think I would appreciate if my business has been an overnight success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.olivethisfelt.com
• Instagram: @olivethisfelt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivethisfelt?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Other: Email: olivethisfelt@gmail.com