We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jen Guss. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jen below.

Alright, Jen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been a part of the maker’s scene in St. Louis for more than two decades. As a kid, I always enjoyed making crafts and teaching myself new skills. Art was an escape for me; it’s where I felt most at ease and confident. As an adult, I began to participate in craft shows. As my sales and confidence grew, I began to apply for more selective, indie-type shows. While participating in these shows, I started meeting people with whom I felt a connection, and friendships developed. Although I received a lot of acceptances, there were just some shows I couldn’t break into. Some of these events were known for being “cliquey.” In conversations with other artisans/friends, they expressed the same sentiment. It was then that I began to daydream about a place where everyone could feel welcome and their work appreciated.

Doing craft shows is a lot of work, especially outdoor, multi-day shows. They can be exhausting, but being around so many creative people is energizing. The collective creative energy is what I began to crave, so I became more determined to have a space for artisans to sell their wares, meet up to share ideas, and offer workshops. I wasn’t aware of any local places offering this type of space for artists and makers, other than a few artist cooperatives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The year I turned 50, I opened two brick-and-mortar businesses: a salon with three friends and my handmade boutique. Creating art has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. My grandfather was the creative influence in my life. Even though he passed away when I was about 9, I still have vivid memories of us drawing together. I felt so special when he would share his sketch paper with me. As a child, I always created things in my spare time. As a preteen, I took Saturday morning painting classes at a local art supply shop. I made my own dolls, worked with beads and looms, and eventually started making my own Halloween costumes. I dreamed of becoming an artist or an art teacher. In high school, I took art and an advanced art class, and I aspired to attend the Art Institute in Chicago. However, familial and financial circumstances prevented me from making that dream a reality, so I enrolled myself in cosmetology school.

In my early 20s, doing hair was my only creative outlet. While raising a toddler and going through a divorce, I took a job at a local daycare and preschool. There, I was able to introduce the kids to art, which sparked my desire to be creative again. I began making handmade gifts for friends and family and started making jewelry to sell. Initially, I sold to friends, family, and coworkers. Then people began asking me to do in-home jewelry parties, and I started participating in craft shows as well, eventually moving into more prestigious and juried shows and local art galleries.

Creativity stopped being just a hobby for me; it became a fundamental part of my identity and happiness. I am proud of how I have developed and grown as an artist, despite having little formal training in the field. I am self-taught, and my mediums have expanded over the years. I’ve overcome many hardships and obstacles to get to where I am today, and I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2018, I received the diagnosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma, which was a significant turning point in my life. The journey involved undergoing surgery, enduring six months of chemotherapy, and a month of radiation. This occurred during pivotal moments for both me and my children. We had just sold our house when I received the diagnosis, and we didn’t yet have a new home to move into. Additionally, my son was completing his senior year of high school, and my daughter was expecting her first child.

It was an incredibly challenging year for us all, but we managed to emerge mostly unharmed. Personally, facing cancer gave me a newfound sense of focus and a renewed passion for life. It allowed me to release fear and doubt, embracing each day with positivity and gratitude.

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

I’ve been told my entire life has been a lesson in resilience. I grew up in poverty. My home life was less than nurturing and often physically and emotionally abusive. I was unable to finish out my education in parochial high school, due to financial hardships, and had to take on adult financial responsibilities at the age of 17. I’ve worked since the age of 15, often working 2 jobs to stay afloat. As a single parent, I put myself through school, and trade programs, several times in order to better myself and my earning potential. When I was in my 40s, I received devastating, and life changing news…I learned that the man who raised me was not my father. While this explained a lot about my childhood, I still had to grapple with the emotional trauma of this revelation.
I do believe all of these struggles have only made me stronger and more confident. I have not let my past define me or box me in.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Downtherabbitholeboutiquellc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekitschyb?mibextid=kFxxJD
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/shoptkb?mibextid=kFxxJD

Image Credits
N/A