We recently connected with Jenny Blaschke and have shared our conversation below.

Jenny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

What I wish I had understood from the beginning of my business, is how important it is to invest in myself in order to succeed. By nature, I am frugal. I like to know the investment upfront and decide if it is worth the cost. For me, investing in a business coach seemed like a luxury and honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would actually help. In November 2020, I had a call with Rosie Chhun, owner of Wander Crafter and founder of The Craft Academy. After this call, I knew I was interested in joining The Craft Academy, but it wasn’t the right time for me. Fast-forward one year later, and I finally joined. Since joining, I have pivoted my business from product-based to service-based, I doubled my annual income in only 6-months, and as of mid-October, I have completed 27 Live Events and have 15 Live Events on the schedule for the remainder of the year.

I wish I had known in November 2020 what incredible changes were in store for me once I joined The Craft Academy. That investment changed everything for me.

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

Olive + Cedar Designs was actually born out of a painful situation, but made beautiful by endurance and where I am now. The calligraphy piece has been a part of me since I taught myself calligraphy in 2008, but it wasn’t until my husband lost his job in 2019 that I thought I could make a business out of my passion.

Like most calligraphers, I started out creating products: Christmas ornaments, wedding signs, wood signs, DIY paint kits, laser-cuts, you name it, I likely did it. What began as a passion, quickly turned to bitter work that I no longer enjoyed. First and foremost, I am a wife and mom to four young kids, and creating custom pieces was draining me. I wasn’t able to spend the time with my family like I wanted and needed to. Additionally, I was getting paid pennies compared to the amount of time it took me to create each piece. I lost my joy and purpose.

When I started to discover the Live Event Artist niche, I became fascinated. This is when I joined The Craft Academy, and it has completely turned my business around. Now, I am a Live Event Artist, offering on-site Engraving, Bottle Painting, and Calligraphy. Brand Activations are incredibly popular among companies that value their customer’s experience. My Experiential Marketing services allow brands to treat their clients to a unique experience with custom engraving or other on-site services, which provides entertainment and a beautiful take-home piece. This experience ultimately builds brand loyalty, which is why it is so valuable. People don’t remember the words you said, but they will remember how you made them feel, so give them an experience to remember.

I have been honored to work with brands such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Givenchy, Victoria’s Secret, Pandora, and many more.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative, is the community that is available through social media. I have met and connected with so many fellow creatives all around the world, many that have become sweet friends. Through this network of creatives, I have been able to build trust, ask questions, be a resource for others, encourage, and so much more. I have seen that it is possible to do this creative journey alone, but I won’t get as far and I will feel quite lonely along the way. The community has been the most unexpected reward in all of this.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In a world with social media being so present in our lives, the best way society can support artists/creatives is to use their online voice to share our services, products, and brands. I understand that not everyone can directly purchase from every creative friend they know, however, it is free to spread the news. It costs you nothing to refer a friend, to network, to be a connector. I believe in small businesses and actively look for ways to support them. Being a connector is an incredible way to support the creatives in your life. You never know who is looking and how you could change someone’s life. So go ahead and share the post!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.olive-cedar.com
• Instagram: @olive_cedar_designs
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-blaschke-houston-engraver
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuy_Ni_SgvA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/olive-cedar-designs-college-station
• Other: I would like to update my email to: [email protected]

Image Credits
Angelina Loreta Photography