Artist Profile: From Jennifer

Those of you who ordered the May envelope should be receiving it any day! This month’s special gift is a candle holder and beeswax candle from Jennifer Compton’s shop, From Jennifer. I sent Jennifer our artist profile questions, and I think you will all be fascinated by her story. It’s amazing how selling a few crafts here and there can turn into a full-fledged business! Also, I’m so excited to announce that Jennifer is offering a breakfast board to one lucky reader. Click on the Rafflecopter link at the the end of this post for details!

Could you please tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Jennifer Compton. My husband, Joseph, and I have been married for almost nine years now and have four children ages from 10 months to 7 years old. We live in the country, surrounded by fields and forests, dirt roads and farm life. We enjoy a wholesome diet, natural lifestyle, and teach our children by example to follow our hearts.

What brought you to Waldorf?
A friend of mine homeschooled her daughter in the Waldorf ways and as my first child was little, I talked with her often about ideas for homeschooling. After much researching of different homeschooling methods, I really resonated most with the play and imagination Waldorf encourages in everyday life.

What is your favorite Waldorf celebration? Why?
In our household, we celebrate the seasons. I enjoy our Fall Harvest Party the most. I lead a children’s play to start off the season that finishes with “Happy Fall!” and festivities begin. We have a hayride, bonfire, and feast. The weather is so wonderful that time of year and watching sparks from the fire dance about the night sky is magical. The children run around, playing hide-and-seek in the dark all while a guitar is strummed and voices ring out in song.

What aspects of having a “Waldorf home” do you feel strongest in? What are you still working on?
It is my intention to give my children a safe, loving environment where they are free to explore, discover, learn, and grow within—to thrive and develop who they are. I embrace creativity and give them the opportunities to play, imagine, create, and experience life in healthy, wholesome ways. As a family, we focus on listening to our hearts for knowing what is truth and we live those truths as best we can. Within all of these goals and desires, there is still a little struggle in terms of rhythm. I often write down a desired rhythm for my children and I to follow, but every day presents a new series of events, though we are always at home. Our meals and bedtime are the primary, solid structure for our day, but what happens in between seems to vary depending on our business, the children’s attitudes, and whether or not my baby will take a nap. I am learning that rhythm is simply a flow of life and am trying to place my attention and decisions more in the moment and really choosing what is best to do in the moment rather than plan it all out and feel like I’m failing or falling behind.

How long have you been in business?
I started posting my crafts for sale on the Waldorf Tag Sale Facebook group in spring of 2014. I really didn’t know what to expect and was so delighted with the few sales that were coming my way. It inspired me to make more things and post again. Soon, my baby was due in June, and I had my first rush of orders right before his due date. I actually announced on my post when my water broke and that the snack mats I was planning to make would be delayed little later than I had hoped for shipping. With the wonderful ladies of the Waldorf lifestyle, I found so much support and love. I came back to crafting fairly quickly and found my next rush of orders from a breakfast board post. That really changed this from a hobby to a business because all of the sudden I had forty boards to make and was asking my husband (who was working elsewhere at that time) to learn woodworking and help me out. The business kept growing to the point that in November 2014, my husband left his job and we took the leap of faith to gain income solely from our crafting. I sought out a DBA right before the new year to make us official, and From Jennifer is happily moving forward with much support and has become our full time focus. The best part for me is that I have a channel for all of my ideas now where I can express them and share them with others.

What’s your favorite item in your shop?
We have many best selling items and I don’t necessarily favorite one over another. I really like creating, so when an idea comes to us, we spend time developing it, and the best part for me is posting about and sharing it with everyone. Usually there’s a lot of attention on it that dwindles down after a while and we move onto the next idea. So, rather than a favorite item, that’s my favorite part of the process. Sharing new creations with everyone and hopefully generating some interest in the product.

Thank you Jennifer! If you would like to have a breakfast board of your own, please comment below on your favorite board shape and then join the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Do you have anything from Jennifer’s shop? Please share on Instagram or the group page!

Don’t forget to order your June envelope!