We recently connected with Elyssa Kenward and have shared our conversation below.

Elyssa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

When I was about 10 years old, my grandma taught me my first crochet stitch, the Chevron (ripple stitch). I was intrigued and attempted to make multiple blankets and scarfs; yes, they were “attempts” because I always ran out of yarn and would tell myself “I’ll finish it when I go get more yarn.”. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally started finishing my many unfinished projects. After a couple of years of on-and-off crocheting, I started to have health problems, one of which was epilepsy. Crocheting became a serious hobby during my lengthy and frequent hospital visits. I watched all of the YouTube videos I could to learn as many new stitches as possible and eventually moved on to making more complex projects. If I knew then what I knew now, I would have started taking it more seriously and could have started my business years ago, when I had more time on my hands. Crochet has now become an addiction; I take it to the movies with me, shopping, and family events. When I was getting my bachelor’s in accounting, I would even procrastinate homework because all I wanted to do was crochet. Crochet is creative, fun, and especially therapeutic. Accounting may be a career, but crocheting is my passion.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Mrs. K’s Crafts started as a tag-along to Trisha’s (my sister-in-law’s) craft shows. I have had a crocheting obsession for many years and was always told by family and friends that I could sell my work. However, it wasn’t until Trisha gave me a platform that I had the courage to create my business. I started making basic household and skincare linens, as well as decorative baskets and organizers such as plastic bag savers. After a few months of attending craft shows, I began receiving special request orders for baby shower gifts and newborn picture accessories. I now make special orders in a wide range of categories, some including holiday décor, winter gear, specialized blankets, bags, baskets, and more. All crochet is exciting to me but learning to make new items is my favorite part. It’s never just made with love; it’s also made with passion and enthusiasm.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

My creative journey has had highs and lows, but they all taught lessons or provided tools or resources. I wish I had learned of two resources sooner: crochet or creative web groups and craft shows. I discovered crochet groups and creative groups on Facebook and crafting apps about two years ago. These groups provide a consistent fountain of knowledge, networking with like-minded creators, as well as more terrific resources. While I knew of craft shows, I did not know how they work or how to become a vendor; a word that I didn’t even know to use when requesting to attend a craft show. Resources are a small business owner’s best friend and getting in front of the right resources could make or break a business.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a crocheter is when my children share in my excitement. I have two boys that are 10 and 6, and they get just as excited as I do about crafting. When Mamma gets new yarn, they are the first ones to find out which is softer. My 6-year-old, Aries, loves to get lost in Pinterest and always saves projects that he wants me to crochet. Aries is also notorious for “claiming” all items I make for the first time. After starting to attend craft shows, Bryce, my 10-year-old, started joining me to sell the small figurines he makes with his 3D pen. I have been able to show my boys that even while attending college for a “boring” career in accounting, hobbies and passions are important for the soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mrskscrafts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.ks.crafts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrskscraftsstudio
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsKsCraftsStudio

Image Credits
Bridgette Garlick, Genevieve Sweeney, Brennan Thomas, and Nikki