Wolf And Faun Knits
Can you tell us a little about yourself, your work, and where you live?
What do you love about the knitting community?
What inspires your work?
Where I live, my relationship with nature, my friends and family, myths and legends, and my core values. My designs tell stories about who and what matters to me.
What new products are you excited about?
I have a lot of really exciting products on the horizon. I am waiting for a shipment of yarn bowls and notion dishes I had custom designed for me using elements and themes I often incorporate into Wolf & Faun. I think people will be really excited about them! I am also in the process of designing a project bag with a local seamstress and a hand care line for makers. There is a lot happening to be excited about.
What is in your project bag right now?
A shawl design that is a creative experiment play time for me. I am doing a crescent shawl shape using fingering weight Sweet Fiber Yarn. Just playing with texture and color. Not sure what it will look like yet... I am kind of making it up as I go. I also have a few Fall Collection projects on the go but those are top secret!
Do you have any advice for other creative women wanting to start a business?
1. Be willing to invest in yourself and don't try to do it all. Often starting a business we think we will do most of it ourself now and when we get to a certain point or grow enough we will bring in help or professionals. Unless you have a graphic arts background, hire someone to make your logo. Unless you really want to build a website, ask for help or hire someone to make one. You have to believe your product or service is worth it and worth investing in before anyone else will, so invest in it and invest in yourself. Your time is probably limited as it is, figure out ways to save yourself time and energy so more of that time and energy can go into creating your actual products and services that only you can offer. Having quality services and products to offer is what is going to make you successful so put your energy into that.
2. Give yourself time. It took me 6+ months to go from concept to opening my online shop. If I had been hard on myself and decided I couldn't do it all in a month or two so why do it at all, I would not have my business. Sometimes it takes me 6+ months to release a pattern. That's ok. It's ok to take a long time. I have two very young children at home, a part time job as a special ed teacher and I am in long-term recovery from two auto accidents. Life is busy and crazy and unpredictable. Don't wait for life to be normal or easy, but rather just give yourself permission to go at your own pace.
3. Reach out and find community to support you. Don't try to do this alone. Facebook, Instagram, Ravelry and locally there are many communities and groups aimed at supporting and collaborating with one another in both the fibre arts industry and as a work at home mom. Don't be afraid to ask questions or reach out to people for advice. This community is very helpful and supportive to each other.
Where can we find Wolf and Faun Knits?
Instagram: www.instagram.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Ravelry ID: Nattery
GIVEAWAY!
Nat is generously offering a Willow stitch marker (like the one pictured above) to one lucky winner! Just leave a comment below for your chance to win!
Cathi is the Winner! Congrats! We will be contacting you for your prize
72 comments
Thanks for the chance. These are lovely.
Thanks for sharing your story. Love your designs.
Thanks for the small business advise. Can’t wait to see what you creat next!
It is so beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to win it.
WOW! so unique. My ravelry Knitting group would be asking me all about this marker if I won. I will keep her items in mind as gifts for my knitting friends.