How A Hobby Became A Community Staple And Grew Confidence Along The Way

Beauty doesn’t happen by accident; it’s stitched from patience, problem solving, and a little glitter that somehow gets everywhere. We sit with Jamie Goodwin, the heart behind JG Cross Creations, to trace how a single wooden cross turned into a steady stream of custom wreaths, bows, gift baskets, wedding florals, and decor that people can’t stop talking about. Jamie’s story starts at home—learning from her mom, juggling kids’ schedules, then rediscovering craft when the house got quiet—and unfolds into a practice built on reliability, fair pricing, and the pure joy of handing over something that makes a face light up.

Pull back the curtain on what handmade really costs. Jamie breaks down the hours inside a mesh wreath, the mountain of “small” supplies that make or break a design, and the reality of price hikes that forced her to rethink sourcing without cutting corners. She shares the systems that now guide her pricing and protect quality, the improvisation skills that turned tablecloths and extension cords into elegant wedding decor, and the discipline of meeting deadlines even when life gets complicated. Along the way, she reveals how each project became a quiet vote of confidence, transforming early doubts into a grounded belief in her craft.

We also explore the power of community: makers who refer work to each other, customers who return with fresh ideas, and the unexpected tenderness of creating a funeral keepsake that comforts a family. From Highland cow wreaths that flew off the table to the signature bows that give her pieces away at a glance, Jamie’s work is equal parts artistry and heart. If you care about small business, creativity under pressure, and the kind of local craftsmanship that makes a home feel like yours, this conversation will stick with you long after the glitter settles.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow and subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves handmade goods, and leave a review to help more people find stories like Jamie’s.

Be sure to follow or subscribe!  And, if you're a local business owner who'd like to be featured - or know someone whose story should be told - get in touch at Ken@StrategicHorizonsConsulting.com

This show is brought to you by Strategic Horizons Consulting (a division of Ken Collins Marketing).

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:05

I'm here with Jamie Goodwin, the owner of JG Cross Creations. Tell us a little about yourself.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

Hello, Ken. Hi.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Like you need to tell me anything about you. I know. We've known each other for a couple of minutes, I guess. Forever. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:24

Um, I'm Jamie Goodwin, and I'm the owner of JG Cross Creations. Um, I started this business probably, I don't know, about 10 years ago. And I love it, and it's a lot of fun and keeps me out of trouble.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

So I know the answer. Why is it called obviously JG is Jamie Goodwin, but cross.

SPEAKER_03 1:48

So um why why do you well I specialized in crosses at the very beginning.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

So basically, so tell people what that is. You were you were making crosses, but they weren't just crosses.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

Right. Um uh my business is um focused on um homemade um crafts.

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Yeah.

Why Crosses And How It Started

SPEAKER_03 2:10

And um I do re you know, a bunch of wreaths, and they started off with as crosses. Um, I I worked a little bit with wood. So I would make crosses out of wood.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

And um I just and then they get decorated up and everything. It's like artisan level crosses and wreaths and and some other stuff. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:33

Yeah, I think um, so that that's just the reason why I I named it that was because that's how I first started was with mainly crosses.

SPEAKER_00 2:43

Yeah. So think back to the beginning. Um, you decided to do this somehow, some way. And and so what when did when did it move from like being an idea to being something real?

From Family Crafts To Real Business

SPEAKER_03 2:57

Well, I've always had that, always had this idea. Um, my mom used to make wreaths all the time growing up, and she did a really good job doing so. And she would, I would jump in and help her at times. And um then I got married and started having kids, and I have two children, and we got super busy with uh running them around to soccer and dance and football and basketball and baseball, softball. And so um I I got really busy with the children, and um then they grew up and graduated and both went to college, and yeah, I was sitting here with nothing to do and kind of feeling lost, and I I needed something for me to do with something I enjoyed. And um, so I started, I I was actually asked to uh help with a wedding, some flowers, smoke bouquets, and some boutoniers, and I was like, I got them done, and I was like, hey, I I think I I really enjoy this. So it took off from there, and cool. It's it's uh I've taken a lot a lot of projects on and I've enjoyed enjoyed them.

Early Wins And Custom Orders

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Awesome. Yeah, I mean you you've been kind of exposed to that arena for a while because you're I mean your mom was making wreaths, but she was also like doing custom cakes and she did cakes for weddings and and other events and yeah, I've I've uh make I've done my share of cakes and um I don't really do cakes all that much anymore.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

I I uh got sick and tired of eating the frosting. I can't stand a cake with frosting now.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

It it's counterproductive to gym time to sit and eat frosting all day, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 4:46

That's exactly right.

SPEAKER_00 4:48

Oh man. So after you got started in it, um as a business, not just in as a thing that you were doing, um, when was there like a moment when you thought, all right, this might actually work?

SPEAKER_03 5:00

Um yeah, it's always actually worked. Um I get calls all the time, you know, can is it is it possible? Or a lot of people, and especially my my um older customers, um they've always they can take a picture of something that they want and send it to me. And they always tell me when I finish it, it looks looks better than it did in the picture. So um, yeah, it would it's it's um challenging sometimes, but um like I said, it keeps me out of trouble.

Patience, Process, And Perfectionism

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:34

It keeps me on my toes.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

If you could go back to the beginning and whisper one sentence to yourself, what would that be?

SPEAKER_03 5:44

Be very patient.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

That's that's that's um not exactly been in your wheelhouse over the years. I mean, not that you're a completely impatient person, but when you have a thing set in your mind, um you're gonna work, you're gonna do that thing.

SPEAKER_03 6:07

Yes, I don't like to um per se drag my feet.

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:13

And some of these projects that I do work on, they do take time.

SPEAKER_02 6:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:18

And um, you know, like my my mesh wreaths, they drive me crazy because a lot of people, um, I am very persistent and I'm very particular. And um if I don't like the way it looks, I'll take it apart and redo it. Um dealing with mesh, it does take takes uh a lot of patience.

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:40

Because it usually takes me probably about eight to ten hours to make a mesh with wreath.

SPEAKER_00 6:45

Yeah. So if all goes well.

SPEAKER_03 6:47

If all it yeah, if it if yeah, if it all goes well.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

I mean, I could see with that level of detail that patience would be a virtue.

SPEAKER_03 6:57

So Yes. And working with dry flowers is another thing.

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:01

Um, you would, you know, a lot of people, I have to laugh because when I do the craft fairs and stuff, they will see an item that I have made and they'll I hear people say, Oh, I can make that. And I'm thinking to myself, you probably can, but it's not gonna be, you know, yeah, like like I make it. So, and then a lot of people call me back because I'll give them if I hear people say that I will give them my card and 99% of the people call me and say, I can't make that. You can you make it?

SPEAKER_00 7:36

I could totally make that. Awesome. Good luck with that. Yeah, here's my card.

SPEAKER_03 7:40

Yeah, you're gonna need it. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And I don't mean to sound, you know.

SPEAKER_00 7:45

No, it's a thing. I think a lot of um artistic people in different genres deal with that same thing. So um, an example I like to use is is uh from Kurt, Kurt Walters, Jerry's brother, um, massively famous artist, and people will look at his paintings and say, Man, how long did it take you to to paint that? And back when he was telling me this example, he said 40 years. Because that's really I loved that so much because your first one doesn't look anything like your the last one you did 10 years ago over the span of 10 years, because you've learned, you've adapted, you've adjusted, you've you've come up with new ideas and new techniques and new things. And so a person is like, oh, I could totally do that. Yeah, sure, you can get started. Yeah, we'll see in 10 years, and then you'll have it.

SPEAKER_03 8:41

So well, and you know, that's what I tell myself too, is the fact that um people don't understand the the the time and the materials and um the that is put into here. Yeah. You know, um, I've had people call me and say, you know, I'll pay you to do this, I'll buy the materials. Halfway buying through the them buying their materials, they call me and they say, um, we're just gonna pay you to do it.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Because Yeah, this is ridiculous.

SPEAKER_03 9:13

You know, they don't they don't take in consideration all the glue, all of the um placements, you know, like the zip ties and yeah, you know, the wires and with its flowers.

SPEAKER_00 9:27

It's behind the scenes of that thing.

Purpose Over Profit

SPEAKER_03 9:28

So well, and I I know the in and outs too, and and my my price is I try to be very, very fair. And I don't make a lot, yeah, per se. Um I love doing it, and that's why I do it. But um, yeah, they they just don't know.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

That's part of the reason why I mean we've known each other forever since way back in grade school. Oh, right, like early days of grade school. So um, but that's one of the reasons I I thought that interviewing you would be a great idea because yours is a a business of a different sort, which is not uncommon. And and so you're not in business to try and make a living for yourself.

SPEAKER_03 10:08

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

So you can confidently say things like that. Like I'm not trying to, you know, jack my prices up to pay the bills or anything like that. You just really love doing it and providing this for people, but it's not free and it's not cheap, certainly. So Right. Yeah.

unknown 10:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:25

So it's inexpensive, it is very inexpensive uh um, you know, uh business part doing it because like I said, people don't understand how how pricey things are. Yeah. And I do have my little secrets, but you're not gonna pay, you know what I mean? You're not gonna pay an arm and a leg for something pretty.

SPEAKER_00 10:47

Yeah, it'll be reasonable. So what what part of what you do is the most meaningful you for you, like even on the hard days?

Making People Happy Is The Payoff

SPEAKER_03 10:58

Um, my my thing is is I try to um, I know it's good my my items are gonna make people happy. And you know that I'm a very happy person.

SPEAKER_02 11:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

And um I I love making people feel good.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Yeah, you know, um handing it over and seeing that look on their face.

SPEAKER_03 11:17

Yes. And the surprise look, you know, they they're like, oh my gosh, how did you do this? You know?

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:24

And um it it makes me happy to make other people happy. And um I I love it when I get orders um and I have to deliver them and that person doesn't know I'm coming. They open the door and they see their, you know, precious gift.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

It's a birthday surprise.

SPEAKER_03 11:40

Yeah, birthday, um, you know, uh Valentine's, um, whatever. And that makes me feel feel good. Yeah, you know, and then, you know, people always come back to me and say, Hey, remember when you did this for me?

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Or, you know, so isn't that one of the greatest questions? Oh my god, how did you do this?

SPEAKER_03 12:00

Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:01

It's like the greatest question ever.

SPEAKER_03 12:03

Well, and I have people actually pay me to make their them a bow out of um, you know, uh ribbon. They're like, Um, if I bring you a ribbon, will you please make me a bow? And I'm you don't know how honestly, even at craft fairs, people will like, I had a lady, um, her, they were getting her daughter a car for Christmas, and um, she had brought me this huge thing of of ribbon, and I'm like, oh my goodness. And she says, Can you make me a bow to put on my daughter's car? Your bows are so pretty. Oh, that was a challenge, yeah. But I knew a car-sized bow. Yeah, it was it was pretty big.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Wow. But is there is there something the business has given you that you didn't expect?

Confidence Built One Project At A Time

SPEAKER_03 12:50

Um, you know, I can't really say that I everything that has happened, you know, as far as clientele, um the gift of um just making my own little money, you know, just whatever. But um not really. I I mean it it's all been a blessing to me, every bit of it. Anything that I have done or provided or whatever. Um, you know, and I I do want to throw in there that um I think it was two or three years ago, um I ran into someone that needed help during a holiday. And um I I got to take, you know, some of what I have had made that year and provide this family with with a meal and a couple of gifts.

SPEAKER_02 13:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:49

And to me, that was very rewarding.

SPEAKER_02 13:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:52

It made me feel good and um, you know, I got to help somebody out. So that that has been a blessing too.

SPEAKER_00 14:00

Kind of related. I mean, you you do that on a regular basis, you just kind of stepped it up in that case because at the same time you get to see the appreciation, the look on their face, the you know, the relief, the whatever, all those things all rolled into one. That's that's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 14:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

So very cool. How how with that, um, how has running this business changed you as a person?

SPEAKER_03 14:29

Um I I I've always been kind of um like not un unsure or like self-confidence. I've I've kind of struggled with that.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:43

And as yes, as you know.

SPEAKER_02 14:45

But um we all be.

SPEAKER_03 14:47

But this this business, I think, has like like I say, I'll I'll take it to, you know, like um my confidence. I feel like I can look at something and say, I can do this, but it's not just that, it's in other areas, you know, like traveling by myself or because I've I've had to um go to craft fairs from out of town, you know, out of town, and I know that I can do it on my own. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 15:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:16

And so I don't have to have somebody helping me or asking for permission, or you know what I mean? So um I think it's built my confidence.

Talent, Doubt, And Pushing Through

SPEAKER_00 15:27

I could see that where um it may be a bit like every project is kind of immersion therapy, where you're, you know, maybe at the beginning of a project that may maybe it's one that you haven't done before. Um thinking back, there's several that you've done already that before you did that, you had never done that before. Right. And so you start doing it like, oh no, okay, I'm gonna totally mess this up, I'm gonna screw it up, I'm gonna be it's gonna be so bad. And then you deliver it and you're like, whoa, how did you even do that? And so you hear that enough times over and over and over. You're like, okay, I actually know what I'm doing. I actually have abilities, I have skills, I I can be more confident than what I am because everybody's telling me to. Like they're all amazed at how did I even do that? So I think it's kind of immersion therapy, and it does bleed over into other other parts of your life where, you know, yeah, you get to pick up by yourself and like blast off somewhere away from your entire family and do a thing, and you're like, I got this.

SPEAKER_03 16:27

Yeah, yeah. Well, you know, and and the thing of it is is people will walk into my booth or you know, come over to pick things up and from from me that they have bought. And they're like, You were so talented.

SPEAKER_02 16:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:41

And to me, it's like, I don't feel that I'm talented. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 16:45

It's a normal human thing.

SPEAKER_03 16:46

You I kind of get embarrassed. I'm like, well, you know how many times I walked away from that thing? You know, you get right in the middle of it and you're like, I can't do I am done.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

I'm not doing this.

SPEAKER_03 16:57

But it's true, you know. So I'll go out for a walk, you know, I'll I'll take a little walk or a little stroll or whatever, and I'll come back and pick up and keep moving.

SPEAKER_01 17:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

But but that's just like in life general, the things get hard. You can't just walk away. You have to, you know, face it.

Improv Skills: Make Anything Work

SPEAKER_00 17:15

You hear those those cheesy quotes all the time, life lessons and all that kind of thing. You only you're only a loser if you quit. Yeah. You know, just failure doesn't mean you have lost. You're, you know, that's just 15 times that you know now not to do it that way. Right. But they're true. I mean, they're cheesy quotes, but they're true. Exactly. That's that's exactly it. The people who just persevere don't let the thing stop them. Like, okay, that didn't work. How else can I do this? Let me find a different way, or let me just refresh my brain. Maybe the problem is me. Maybe I'm just like wrapping my head too many times around this thing, and I need to let it go for a second, so I can come back at it with fresh eyes and go, okay, I can do this and push forward without getting in your own way. You know? So yeah, that there's there's real value in that. Um, what's a what's a small decision that you made that ended up having a really big impact in the business? Maybe like could be even something like deciding on using a different type of product. It's like, oh, why wasn't I using this all the time or whatever, but just anything.

SPEAKER_03 18:32

Um I don't know. Uh it's a good thing we aren't on camera.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

I wish you were just putting you on the spot.

SPEAKER_03 18:51

I think like we went, for instance, maybe this will be a good one. Um, we went to a wedding. Yeah, and um, they're very dear friends of ours.

SPEAKER_02 19:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:06

And um they had ran out of an item that they were decorating with, and I literally took um tablecloths and helped them, and it turned out so good.

SPEAKER_02 19:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:23

I I I you know, and we didn't have anything to tie up, so I was using like extension cords, but then uh there was extra flowers, so I stuck them up underneath the extension cords. So I guess where I'm going with this is, you know, um, you can use anything.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

Yeah, just improvise. To improvise, and and and that's kind of your work process in anyway. I mean, you're all original, one of a kind designs mostly. Yes. And so um everything that you work on, you've not done that thing before.

SPEAKER_02 19:59

Right.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

And so you're basically improvising. You're like, uh, this is probably gonna be okay. This is gonna look all right, this is gonna look pretty good. Oh, I have another idea. Let's do this, and throwing things on there and and doing that. So you've kind of trained yourself to just improvise on the spot.

SPEAKER_03 20:15

Right. Yeah, yeah. So I, you know, and and and it goes along with life too, you know, yeah, life lessons, but you can make anything work.

SPEAKER_02 20:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

You know, my dad always put always told me duct tape is an amazing tool.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Duct tape and bailing wire, nothing it won't fix.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

That's exactly right. That's exactly right. It's sometimes a hammer, yeah. Yeah, sometimes a hammer.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

Yeah, that's exactly right. For when it's being extra stubborn. Is there something that people we've kind of covered a little bit of this, but something that people um think is easy in your business, but definitely isn't.

SPEAKER_03 20:53

I think I think a lot of people think that um crafting is is easy. Um I I I know for a fact that when I first started, um I I look at my items that I started doing at the very beginning till now, and I've come a long ways.

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:15

And um there's nothing really easy about it. Yeah. There's really not. Um, you know, and the one thing I don't do is I don't take shortcuts. And I don't care how hard it's gonna be or, you know, whatever. Um, I try to do the best job I can and I back my my items up a hundred percent. And so far, I mean, I have never had anything returned. I've never had any complaints.

SPEAKER_02 21:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 21:45

Um, I I've had people come back to me and want me to recreate what I did for them. And to me, that's challenging because I always tell them, you know, every everyone is every one of my projects is a little different.

SPEAKER_02 22:03

Yeah.

Slowdowns, Weddings, And A Funeral Wreath

SPEAKER_03 22:03

And I try to leave a mark to where, you know, if I do see see one somewhere or something, I'm like, I did that. I did that.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:15

I do have a lady that is a very uh she's she's one of my best customers, and she's gotten to where she she loves Highland cows, loves them. And I cannot tell you how many wreaths I've made her.

SPEAKER_01 22:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:29

And she's always, you know, she'll bring me her sign, I'll make her work on her wreath, and it usually takes me two or three days. Um, some of them, you know, maybe a day and a half, but she calls me every hour on the hour. Is my wreath done? Yeah. Is my wreath done? Don't tell my husband I bought another wreath. I get that a lot. Yeah. Do not text or don't don't um put it on Facebook. Text me. Text me.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

So getting wives in trouble all across the four quarters.

SPEAKER_03 23:00

Yeah. Well, and believe it or not, I have a lot of Mel customers too, yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

Yeah. But see, they're gonna brag about the fact that they came to you to get something. So the wife's like, this is my 20th one. I can't let him know.

SPEAKER_03 23:16

Yeah. Yeah. Cause I also do baskets. I do gift baskets, and um I'm telling you, they'll I have I have people it most mostly males call and say, Can you make me a you know a basket for my wife or for my mom and deliver it? And so yeah, I get that. I have a lot of male customers also.

SPEAKER_00 23:38

Yes. So is there um is there a part of your business? We were kind of we were kind of um getting close to this. Is there a part of your business that just kind of one day finally clicked, like of after a long time of trial and the error, and one day the light bulb just came on, like, oh, oh, that's how I do that.

Public Fairs, Feedback, And Thick Skin

SPEAKER_03 23:58

Um I it took me a while to get into the groove, and I think it's like um the pricing and the economy, and um I was trying like I said earlier, I do I try not to gouge my prices um because I want people to own something of mine, you know, yeah, because a lot of people do like that. Um I think at the very beginning, um it was hard for me to adjust and keep my prices um where people could afford them. And um, so I won't give any of my secrets away, but I did things to um be able to get my products and that was a light bulb for me because I was like, now that I I have these secrets, you know, then I can I can set a price to where it's affordable for people to buy.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

I'm glad you went to that one because that one, that one's a challenge for it's a never-ending challenge for every business owner. That is very true. Just the pricing model, you know? I need to be profitable and I need to calculate everything in, you know, my operating, my overhead, my my um the my tax liabilities, my like all these things. I need to, I need to uh calculate all that in so that okay, I'm yeah, I'm making a profit and then I pay taxes, and all of a sudden I'm losing money. Right. Um, kind of a thing. So you have to factor all that in. But then the economy keeps changing and industries keep changing and tariffs show up, and all of a sudden things that were a certain price are now way more expensive, and it's a never-ending battle. And so I'm glad that you brought that one up as a coming up with a system on on how you approach that, um, is what everybody needs to do. Like have a system so that they know when this thing comes up, this is what I do, or when this thing comes up, this is what I do. This is what this is what works. It's proven out, we already know it, and it's part of the system. So it keeps you from scrambling and like fumbling around in reactive mode all the time.

Deadlines, Life Happens, Deliver Anyway

SPEAKER_03 26:14

Well, and the other thing is is you know, when I when I first started, I could get a grapevine wreath for three, four bucks. They're up to 14 and 15 now.

SPEAKER_02 26:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

And yeah, and so um I have ways and to to make it cheaper for the person that I'm I'm I'm you know, making the item for because uh I I I just I freaked out when I had to go buy and I'm I tr I used to buy in bulk, but I can't even do that anymore because it has gotten so expensive.

SPEAKER_02 26:49

Right, right.

SPEAKER_03 26:49

And if I you know, the last time I did, they came in and they were all trash because, you know, they were just thrown together. And so you're paying all this money for for trash.

SPEAKER_02 27:00

So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:02

But yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:03

Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

I I do try to keep it affordable for my clients.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

Very cool. Is there the like what's the hardest lesson that the business has taught you that you're now grateful for grateful for?

New Projects And Protecting Time

SPEAKER_03 27:19

Um I don't know. I I mean I'm I'm grateful all all the way around, you know. It has been very, very slow, very slow the last two years. Um it's I've kind of taken a beating on um people not buying, you know, but I understand why. Yeah, you know, um I do I do try to to sell them um at cost, but that that doesn't do me any good. And so um then again, I I I you know it's all been a blessing to me. It really has. And I I um have gained a lot of clients, um people who strive to come back and they're directing people to me.

SPEAKER_02 28:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:10

And I have picked up the I guess one would be um I have picked up uh a couple of weddings. Um I I don't do, you know, I I do decorating, um, some decorating um bouquets, bouton ears, but other than that, like centerpieces.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:30

And um I was I was kind of torn um this two weeks ago because I got asked to do a wreath for a funeral. And I I'd never done that before. And I wanted to make it perfect, yeah, because I did know the person.

SPEAKER_02 28:46

Right.

SPEAKER_03 28:47

And um it was kind of it was it was a sad thing, but no pressure, yeah. Right, yeah, man. And they wanted something that would be a keepsake for for the daughter, right? So um I I did come up with something and it turned out beautiful. And yeah, but yeah, it was just I was like a funeral sad. But but it it made the the family happy when they saw it.

Success Defined By Trust And Joy

SPEAKER_00 29:14

So yeah, yeah. So is there an obstacle that you didn't expect to face um over the past year?

SPEAKER_03 29:24

Um it being slow, I think, is is been yeah, business has been very slow.

SPEAKER_02 29:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

And I I think um the last, like I said, the last two years it has been a been kind of crushing. Um, I got to the point where um I was taking orders only, which was heartbreaking because I like to be busy, especially during football season when my husband is planted on the couch and watching his football, and I'm like, oh gosh, you know, I could be making a wreath.

SPEAKER_02 29:57

Or yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

Um that's why I came up with those Highland cows. Those Highland cows turned out so cute and they they sold like crazy. Awesome. So crazy. I and I loved making them. I'd be in here making them and I'd have them well done. And he's like, my husband's like, Who are you talking to? And I said, My gnomes and my Highland cows. We're having a staff meeting.

SPEAKER_00 30:19

Having a staff meeting. That's awesome. But yeah. Is there something that you thought would be a problem, but turned out it wasn't?

SPEAKER_03 30:32

I was scared. Um, you know, I was, well, I shouldn't say scared. I was I was kind of worried about being in the public eye because um when you go to craft fairs and um, you know, these shows, um I am a people person, but and I'm personable, I think. But I I was always wondering, you know, I I hope people aren't thinking like negative things. Sure. Um I was kind of unsure about that, but then that right there, it also tells you my self-confidence.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

Right.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

But now it's like, you know.

Community Support And A Spunky Brand

SPEAKER_00 31:12

I guess varying levels because um, you know, your your husband is on his second career.

SPEAKER_01 31:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 31:21

And you've you've retired from your career. So you had a career. When you started all this, you I did. And so you're you guys are are kind of in semi-retirement, but when when you started, you both were like full-on career people and visible to a certain degree in the public. And and then all of a sudden you're like at a a fold-up table at a craft fair. Was that part of the element that you're you're talking about?

SPEAKER_03 31:49

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 31:50

But then also you've you've lived your entire life in a family of law enforcement, and so you have ingrained in you certain things of of being wary of people in situations and and things like that. So yeah, I could imagine you sitting there like, oh no. And then it turns out, nah, no big deal.

SPEAKER_03 32:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:11

Everybody reacted really well to you.

SPEAKER_03 32:13

Yes, they they did. They did. And um, you know, like I said, it self-confidence, I think, is is um you have to have a lot of that and you have to be personable. And um, there is some ugly people out there that can make some rude comments, and I've gotten to the point where I'm like, if you don't like it, then I'm I'm sorry. You know, not my problem. That's that's that's on you, not me. So, you know, and um I'm here, you know, I love doing it, and I wouldn't change it for the world. And it has gotten me a long ways, it really has, you know, um it's it's giving me a lot of pleasure and making people happy and myself happy, and you know, yeah, all kinds of things.

Crafting Community Over Competition

SPEAKER_00 33:01

So um the confidence to do, to make that decision to like, you're not happy with my stuff. Well, okay then. I mean, fine. Um I come across that r related issue with business owners all the time, including myself. I've gone through it where I have made the mistake previously of and other business owners where you bend and flex to try and meet what people want, expect what they're doing. Or at least what you think they want, instead of just being true to who you are. Yeah. And and so when you bending and flexing, you destroy any kind of brand or identity or anything like that because you're trying to be everything to everybody. And if you just continue down the road as the person you are, and this is what I do and how I do it, then yeah, there's gonna people that don't don't like that, right? There's gonna be people that absolutely love it, and there's somebody for everybody, right? So if they don't like your stuff, they can go find somebody else because they absolutely love their stuff. And your customers maybe don't like that stuff over there, you know? It's just so embracing that and having the confidence to embrace that that yeah, this is who I am, man. You don't like it, then I'm not changing for you.

Where To Find Jamie

SPEAKER_03 34:19

It's right. Well, you know, that's what I do, and that's why we all are who we are. Yeah, it's beautiful, it it is, you know, it's it's okay. Yeah, it's okay, it's all good.

SPEAKER_00 34:30

It's just the the flavors are what make everything so cool.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

Yep. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 34:35

I so you choose your flavor and you stick with it.

SPEAKER_03 34:37

Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 34:40

So um let's see. Uh is there an area where you feel stretched the thinnest right now?

SPEAKER_03 34:47

Um, I have.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:49

I have. Oh yeah. Yeah. I got a pretty big order um a couple years ago, and I honestly I didn't think I was gonna be meet the deadline.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:00

And um my thing is is I try try very hard to keep deadlines, and I'm I'm not one when I'm when I say that we're gonna meet, we're gonna meet. If um I say it's gonna be done, it's gonna be done.

SPEAKER_02 35:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:15

And um, yeah, because I at that time um we had received some bad news family-wise. And um, you know, I I was also dealing with work because I I was still working at that time, and we had a lot of stuff going on at work. And I was coming home literally late at night and staying up for hours trying to get this this piece done. And um, you know, it may not mean a lot to to, you know, somebody else, but um, I was worried about it because I I'm I'm a person to my word.

SPEAKER_00 35:53

Yeah, it's a personal pride thing. And on customer facing, that just builds trust and confidence and people bring something to you and they know you're not gonna flake out them.

SPEAKER_03 36:02

So they um they're spending good money on it. Yeah, and I I want to make it right. So um, yes, it's it was um very difficult, but I got through I got through it. There's there's been a couple of of things happened that I'm like, why did I do this to myself? Why you knew that this was coming, you know, or yeah, and some things are out of control, you know. Life, life happens, but um and I'm sure that this person would have understood at the time that I would what I was going through, but I was like, I'm not gonna let her down, you know. Sure, yeah, I'll I'll be there and I'll I'll have her stuff done.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

So that kind of thing builds loyalty, yes. So is there something that you're working on now? Um, some aspect of the business that you're working on now that people would definitely notice later.

SPEAKER_03 36:57

Um I do have some upcoming um diff different projects. Um I I won't say what yet because uh it'll be happen happening around Easter. Nice. So um yeah. We'll we'll see how it turns out.

SPEAKER_00 37:18

Where's that confidence?

SPEAKER_03 37:19

It's gonna be amazing. Yeah, um, we'll we'll see about this one.

SPEAKER_00 37:26

If you if you could r remove one responsibility within the business, um, what would that free you up to do?

SPEAKER_03 37:35

Um, you know, I I really that one's kind of hard hard to answer because um I really don't like I mean because you are the business.

SPEAKER_00 37:47

Yes. Right.

SPEAKER_03 37:47

So if I could get somebody to do my shopping for me, that'd be awesome. I'd but I'd have to have somebody that I trust like totally because I have secrets. Yeah. Where to go and right.

SPEAKER_00 38:06

We we've been watching um modern family, Jerry and I. I've been watching Modern Family, and uh there was just an episode where they were uh having a situation need to be rectified. So uh Jay passed on a number to his his concierge, his concierge, and so it's just like a life concierge, and and he called and it was like amazing. And and uh I look over at Jerry and I'm like, I need that, I need a concierge, I need a dude that I can just call and like, hey, I need this and this and this, like work it out, man. Get back to me, right? And have him do that.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

That'd be oh that'd be awesome. Yeah, if I could get somebody do all my running around and um my ordering online and you know, I think that that would give me a little bit more time to absolutely to focus on other things.

SPEAKER_00 38:57

So well, when you figure that one out, let us all know.

SPEAKER_03 39:00

Oh, no kidding. Because we will need it. There's a lot of truth to that.

SPEAKER_00 39:07

So is there a difference in what um quote unquote success looks like now as opposed to when you started?

SPEAKER_03 39:15

I think it's pretty much stayed the same. I mean, yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm I'm getting more more clients, which is awesome. Um, more phone calls, you know, and um texts.

SPEAKER_00 39:29

But um I think Because you're you're defining success different than what some other business owners would. Yours is not again, you're not trying to pay the bills with this business. You're you're trying to do something else. So that's where you're equating your successes in there. Yes, yes. Awesome. So you've just kind of leaned into those reactions and um love flowing back your way and all that kind of stuff over the time. At first it was maybe a different a different definition of what success was when you first started as opposed to maybe now. You think?

SPEAKER_03 40:09

I don't know. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:11

A little bit. So is there one thing that you hope your business is known for, say five years from now?

SPEAKER_03 40:25

Um, I would say a lot of people I mean they say it now, but I I hope that trust and getting things done that if they would like something or to count on me. You know, coming up with something for them or um yeah. Yeah, I cool. I don't know. I that one's kind of a difficult difficult one too because like I say, I just try to make everyone happy and so far so good. So let's just keep it that way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:01

Maybe lean into lean into your you said you always leave a mark, like lean into your kind of trademark thing a little more to where people that see other people's things, like oh Jamie beat that, right?

SPEAKER_03 41:16

Yeah, if I could come up, yeah, if I come up with something, because it's it's in one spot.

SPEAKER_02 41:21

Right.

SPEAKER_03 41:21

And I well, depending on what I make. In my Reese is it's in one spot, and I I could always tell.

SPEAKER_02 41:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:28

And um if I've never not been unsure, because my bows give it away too. So it's like that's my bow. I made that though.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

Nice. How do you hope that um that your business makes life better in the four corners?

SPEAKER_03 41:47

Oh, geez. I want it to make everybody happy. I don't care where you are.

SPEAKER_00 41:54

Everybody happy, everything pretty.

unknown 41:57

That's it.

SPEAKER_03 41:58

Hey, that was a good motto.

SPEAKER_00 42:00

Use your tagline.

SPEAKER_03 42:02

Ken said.

SPEAKER_00 42:06

Is there something that the community has done for you that you'll never forget?

SPEAKER_03 42:11

Oh, absolutely. I mean, um I love I love when it's time for craft season because the community does come together.

SPEAKER_02 42:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:22

And it doesn't matter, you know, if it's the car shows or the downtown, you know, get togethers. Um and it's so nice, you know, for the most part, everybody is very welcoming. And so I the community in general, I mean my not just for me, but for everyone. Yeah. Everybody is um very supportive.

SPEAKER_00 42:49

Let me show up and support. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 42:52

And it's very nice to see see the community do so.

SPEAKER_00 42:55

Yeah, that's very cool. If your business were a person, how would you describe its personality?

SPEAKER_03 43:03

Spunky.

SPEAKER_00 43:09

A Highland cow in high heels with a glass of wine.

SPEAKER_03 43:13

Hey. Yeah, that's it. Very naked one. Lots of sparkle. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 43:25

Is there is there like a tradition or ritual or value that kind of keeps you grounded?

SPEAKER_03 43:33

Um I I can't think of one on off the top of my head. I mean, um I I feel that I kept a tradition going on for my mom, if that would be be one. Um, you know, she used to do all of this stuff a long time ago and always loved to help her.

SPEAKER_00 43:57

And um now you've got the reason.

SPEAKER_03 44:01

I do have, you know what? I do have a tradition.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:04

I leave glitter wherever I go.

SPEAKER_00 44:06

Nice.

SPEAKER_03 44:07

Especially in my husband's truck. And when I use it, I have to vacuum it out before he sees it.

SPEAKER_00 44:13

Because funny co-workers, dude, you've been going to strip club or what is the deal here?

SPEAKER_03 44:19

He went to work one day and he had glitter all on his face, and one of the guys goes, Dude, you have glitter all over you. He's all still good. Jamie and her glitter. He goes, It's in my work truck. How did it get in my work truck? And I said, Babe, just tell me you went to the strip club. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:35

Glitter is forever. You never get rid of glitter.

SPEAKER_03 44:39

He hates it.

SPEAKER_00 44:42

That's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 44:43

Yeah, he does not like his that glitter at all.

SPEAKER_00 44:48

So, what is what's something that you would want other people, other small business owners or other, say, crafters, other people who are in your in similar situation to hear? What's one thing that you would want them to hear today?

SPEAKER_03 45:01

Um just keep up, keep up the crafting. I mean the community loves it.

SPEAKER_00 45:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:09

I mean, there's always something for everyone.

SPEAKER_00 45:12

Yeah. Very cool.

SPEAKER_03 45:15

So yeah. Work together and we do support each other. Yeah. You know, I do have other crafter friends and I support their business and we do buy from each other. It's like you know, one person is better at something than another person, you know. And like I have a friend that she does wood wood pieces, and I I can't I could I don't paint. So I I I have I have redone a couple pieces of our furniture. Um, and I've I've sold a piece that I did, but I just, you know, some people have talents of painting, some people have talents of making bows and pretties, and other people have talent. So, you know, we all we all have different, you know, talents.

SPEAKER_00 46:09

I I keep running across that here is that there are these little communities of certain types of businesses that all coordinate with each other. Oh, yeah. Instead of looking at that other business as obvious competition that I need to either shun or stay away from or do better than or whatever, they're not doing it that way. They're embracing themselves as a community and cooperating with each other. Well, and leaning into strengths and weaknesses, you know.

SPEAKER_03 46:39

Absolutely. And if I get a phone call and somebody asks me, you know, can you do this? And I can't, I will give them, you know, someone that I do know crafter wise, their name and and number, because it's important to support each other.

SPEAKER_00 46:54

Yeah. And then that comes back to you.

SPEAKER_03 46:55

Oh, yes, of course.

SPEAKER_00 46:56

They'll get a call and like, oh, you know, I can't do that right. The way you need it done is Jamie. You need to call her. Yep. So yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:03

Yeah, I think we we have a really good support system that that way.

SPEAKER_00 47:07

So very cool.

SPEAKER_03 47:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 47:10

So how do people find you and look at your stuff and get a hold of you?

SPEAKER_03 47:14

Um, I I am on Facebook.

SPEAKER_00 47:15

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 47:16

Um Jamie Goodwin.

SPEAKER_00 47:18

Um And you have a page on there still, right?

SPEAKER_03 47:20

I do I do have a page. I need to update it.

SPEAKER_00 47:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 47:24

Um, it's been kind of crazy. So I have not updated. But um, the best one to go to is my my Facebook. Um is Jamie Goodwin. Okay. Um I do uh, you know, have a card.

SPEAKER_00 47:41

Yeah. But um it's hard to get that over out over a podcast.

SPEAKER_03 47:45

Yeah, it is. It is.

SPEAKER_00 47:48

And people can always get a hold of me, and I know how to get a hold of them.

SPEAKER_03 47:51

Well, yes, if if you yeah, they you can always get a hold of Kenny and all of my information's out there. And then some. And then some.

SPEAKER_00 48:01

Awesome. Well, I man, I haven't seen you like all winter. So that's that's just not right. We need to get together.

SPEAKER_03 48:09

We do.

SPEAKER_00 48:10

This has been really cool chat.

SPEAKER_03 48:11

It has been. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.