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

Lesli, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I started making macrame in 2018 after attending a workshop, similar to what I offer now! It quickly became a hobby and I made an Etsy which averaged maybe $20 in sales a month. I did a few pop ups with very mismatched branding and no curation of products, just whatever I felt like making or trying out with whatever supplies I found to be cute. I was working full time and this was a very, very small side hustle. It eventually evolved as I was contacted by a local interior design agency for a big project in an apartment building lobby, which led to me hosting workshops for those same apartment residents, and then offering workshops to sister sites!

Enter COVID. My boyfriend and I had just moved into a RV full time to try to save on San Diego rent. Our kitchen counter space was very limited and he suggested making some sort of macrame to hold the fruit below our upper cabinets. He birthed the idea for my best seller, the Original Macrame Fruit Hammock! Since Spring of 2020 I have handmade over 8,000 fruit hammocks! It went viral and I was furloughed from my then full time job due to the pandemic. When my job was ready to reopen, I had about 1,200 fruit hammock orders to fulfill and had no choice but to quit my job and pursue macrame full time.

I was terrified to tell my parents. My dad paid for my college, which my then full time job was utilizing the degree. I knew my mom who had worked at the same place for over 30 years would have something to share that I should worry about. The thing I heard the most from family was, “What about health insurance?”, and while I pay a pretty penny for self-employment health insurance, I’m so glad I took the leap. It is also concerning how many people work at an unfulfilling job just to maintain health insurance.

I knew I would have work and income for the next few months as my fruit hammock sales stayed steady. When people asked what I would do after those sales started to slow down, I just said I’ll figure it out when I get there. I knew I could always find corporate work again if needed. It has now been about a year and a half since I quit my job and pursued macrame full time! Sales have stayed steady, I’ve acquired a few wholesale accounts, and doing local pop-ups is a great supplemental income to online sales! I recently started a part time gig that isn’t macrame related to bring in some steady income that isn’t so heavily taxed which takes a way a lot of financial pressure.

All of that to say, I quit my job, I’m not homeless, I still have health insurance and can live comfortably while being self employed!

Lesli, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I went to a pop up event and bought a macrame wall hanging from a cute mother/daughter duo. I loved their work and they had such a fun and unique macrame style! I followed them on Instagram and later saw they were offering a workshop. I attended and that is where it all started! I ordered additional supplies within a few days of taking the workshop and have been hooked since. My full time job at the time was very socially demanding and it was relaxing for me to come home after working, watch some garbage TV or listen to a podcast and teach myself macrame. I started an Etsy a few weeks after just to help pay for the rope and supplies and my business slowly grew over the next few years! At the time I was living in San Diego and have since been able to move to Indianapolis to be closer to my family in Central Illinois. It was scary to leave all of my contacts that I had made in San Diego, but Indianapolis has been so welcoming and has a huge maker community as well as a ton of locals who understand and value local makers!

My best seller online is the Original Macrame Fruit Hammock. I sell a ton of plant hangers and small items like keychains, wristlets, and stickers at in person pop-ups and events. I recently started offering workshops again and it is so nice to connect with people in person and empower them with a new skill!

While there are tons of macrame artists now, my love for symmetry and simplicity comes through in my products. I love to hear feedback from shoppers and have slowly started adding more of what people gravitate towards, which seems to be plant hangers made with thick rope that makes a statement!

I rebranded after moving from San Diego Macrame to Macra-YAY Macrame. My target customer lights up when they walk into my booth and I love seeing that reaction! I hope my brand feels happy with a nod to the retro roots of macrame.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This is so important! As the economy is starting to slow down and we start to transition back to our old ways, the maker community is taking a hit. It is still imperative to shop locally to support makers and ensure all the businesses you love stay afloat. I recently did a poll and 12/13 small business said their sales have recently slowed down. If you can, shop local for gifts, home goods, body products, and any of your other needs!

I understand there is an increased cost with this. I promise us makers are not out here buying mansions and Teslas with our profits. I personally set aside 30% of each check for taxes, then you have the cost of supplies, labor, learning skills, marketing and listing items, and everything else involved. I think most makers undercharge as they feel guilty for charging their true worth at the risk of not making a sale at an affordable price point.

I promise when you light a locally made candle, it will bring you much more joy than a candle purchased from a big box store. It will make a makers day when you tag the earrings you bought from them instead of buying from a fast fashion store. Try to buy items that you will use long term and it makes it easy to justify the purchase! I can guarantee my macrame will last forever compared to a piece that is super glued together from a discount store.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creatives are not always creative. We have seasons where we have zero new ideas, no desire to make, or start to resent our craft. I feel most creative while traveling and being out of my normal routine. This is challenging because this means no income. Also at this day in age, you have to be a social media superstar to stand out which is so different from being an awesome maker.

I think another hard to understand thing is makers all have their own style. I have turned down a few commissions as they just weren’t a fit to me. I know I could make money selling certain items, but sometimes those items don’t bring me joy to make or resonate with me. A big seller around the holidays are macrame ornaments. I personally don’t resonate with them and haven’t been inspired by other makers ideas to create something unique and true to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.macrayaymacrame.com
• Instagram: macra_yay_macrame
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/macrayaymacrame
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/macrayaymacrame