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

Hi Jolene, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Sooner for sure!! One of my biggest regrets is that I did not start some a social media page to show off the items I crocheted and the progress I’ve made with making those items. As an amigurumi artist, I constantly learn new techniques to improve my plushies. I wish I would have started Crochet by Jolene on social media sooner to have a way to look back on where I started versus where I am now. If you’re hesitant about starting a page to show off your creations, DO IT!

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?

Keeping up the traditions taught to me by my grandmother, Crochet by Jolene offers handmade crochet and knit specialty items. The most popular item is the plushies – we bring a huge collection of plushies, from bees to turtles, and everything in between. Crochet by Jolene was created in the beginning of 2022, after crocheting plushies for my friends and family. Everyone I knew kept pushing for me to sell my items at local events, and finally, there was a local craft show at my best friend’s work, so I took the plunge and signed up! My friends and family helped me build my displays, find tables and tents, and design my logo while I crocheted my heart out to make inventory for my first market. With the help of my mother, I completed my first market and here I am now over a year later participating in at least 2-3 markets a month and hosting my own markets.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Unlike knitting, crochet cannot be replicated by a machine. Anytime you find crochet artwork in stores, online, or in person at local events a real person made that item. Crochet items can not be made by a machine, and the pricing of those items should reflect that time. Time, materials, and lots of love are put into each individual piece I create.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Consistency, consistency, and oh yeah consistency!! Figure out a schedule that works for you and stick to it. If you can post daily then do it, if not find a routine. Once you get that schedule down the algorithm with start to push your posts, reels, and stories. I have started posting daily reels and three picture posts a week on Instagram and that has started working extremely well for me. It is important to create content your targeted viewers will find engaging and to engage with those who interact with your posts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://crochetbyjolene.square.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crochet.by.jolene
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crochet.by.jolene/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@crochet.by.jolene