We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jocelyn Ross a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jocelyn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I began by carving and building a book shelf because we had too many books and nowhere to put them. I didn’t want any bookshelf, I wanted an amazing intricate bookshelf. A year later it was built and I thought, “Hey, I could make money doing this.”

I knew it would be great to build a business off of it because there are so many facets to what I do. I love teaching the craft and so many people were starting to reach out to me to teach them. So many people want unique furniture too. Ikea is great for a college dorm room, but once you move out, it’s nice to find something more durable. Finding something that is an heirloom piece and will accentuate the room and add character is just the cherry on top. I see so many people building furniture and its beautiful. But not many people add something that is different. That is where my idea of carving modern furniture has a place.

Its exciting to me because it sparks a creative side in people that they didn’t know was there. Many people have mentioned they didn’t realize what they could do until they saw my work. That makes me excited, that others will envelope and delight in this style as well.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I got into wood carving three years ago. We were poor college students and needed a bookcase. But I didn’t just want a bookshelf. I wanted something beautiful. I am constantly inspired by many cultures, especially Middle Eastern, Indian and Thai culture. The movements inspire me. So my husband bought me a carving set and we picked up the cheapest hardwood we could find at the big box store and I designed, carved and built the bookcase. After that it was history. I became addicted to it and wanted to share my knowledge with others and make more things.

I am currently teaching community classes on carving. I am hoping to start some online classes soon. It has been so fun to see people enjoy the same things I do. To see them progress and design their own things that bring them joy.

I am also creating a website. I am working on carving collections to sell. I also do commissioned pieces. Though not very many. they can be tricky since I work so closely with the client to bring their dreams to life.

The thing I am most proud of is that I am continually learning and growing. I am always striving to create a better experience for everyone that comes across me. I want people to leave feeling like they can be a little more innovative, a little different. I want them to feel like that no matter what I have helped them with.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started my business a little at a time. Every piece of equipment I own was bought off of marketplace for a tenth of the original price. I had to learn to fix machinery, electrical work and do lots of things on my own. To be honest, I’m still building my business and I’m still working on making lots of money from it.

I am working on networking and marketing. I talk to lots of people in my community about business and work with them. I’ve teamed up with many tool brands. And work through funding that way. I do a lot of my work on social media. I’m trying to build a good strong foundation around me so that when I have more time to expand my business, it will happen naturally.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

A few months ago I was trying to get some work done as fast as I could. I wasn’t being as careful as I should have and my tablesaw took that weakness and ate it for lunch. I got hit with some nasty kickback which caused me to lose the ability to work for over a month. It also has left nerve pain in its path.

I was scared to work on the tablesaw by myself for a while after that. My husband had to be by my side for my first couple of cuts after that.

It definitely solidified the idea that safety is priority. Spending money on safety equipment is just a smart investment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @buildwithjocey
• Facebook: Build With Jocey

Image Credits
Jocelyn Ross