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

Alright, Mélina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

When friends told me ten years ago that I should make more of a leather bag I had just sewn for myself, beaded earrings, a felted bag,… I knew one day I would start my own business. In 2016 I registered my trade name and started on the venture of Mélina Be as my business.
I started selling at markets, and over time tried to make more than one of a kind pieces.
I started making series. From a maximum of twelve at the time today I am able to make two dozen and up to four dozen of a creation.
I still enjoy making them myself and find that within a series every piece is still unique and one of a kind.
I believe it is the artist in me that cannot make two identical pieces.

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.

When I was twelve my mom taught me how to knit and crochet. Shortly after that my grandma taught me how to sew. My dad is a carpenter and my mom has always drawn, painted and knitted.
When I came to the United States at age 20 I met my husband and started working for Lambspun of Colorado. There I learnt to spin, weave, felt and taught every fiber art trade I knew. I designed knitting patterns for the store.
After working for Lambspun fifteen years on and off and selling my creations at markets in France – when we lived there three years – I decided to open my own business.
I now knit, crochet, weave, spin, felt, sew, make baskets, leather work, jewelry and teach all of these trades.
I feel as though I am getting better at the danse of making what I want and love and making what my customers appreciate and love. It is a fun balance that I have learnt over the years. Not forgetting oneself and pleasing others at the same time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I went to school I studied Modern Applied Languages. It was fascinating but I also had to choose this route because my grades didn’t allow me to follow the literature or science route. And I feel like we were asked too young what we wanted to do when we were older. How to know when you have not tried different things. And there was a big emphasis on intellectual work as opposed to manual.
It is when I started to work at Lambspun of Colorado that I discovered an unknown passion for fiber arts and teaching.
I literally fell into the profession and trade of fiber arts by being bathed in it for fifteen years.
I am grateful to have found a passion and to be able to make it my work and business.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

More than a story, I feel like a few times when I have been close to giving up someone came along and purchased an important/pricey item from my collection of creations. Or another time someone expressed how important it was for me to teach – the therapeutic aspect of what I do – or work helping others in my business when I was about to give up because of low enrollment in my classes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melinabe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melina_._be/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelinaBeArt

Image Credits
Sunshine Lady Fotography & Passion House Media