Jean... Jean is a radiant woman. She's one of those people that you can't help but feel love glowing around her. She works with her hands tenderly to create beautiful sewing crafts and has a thriving passion to encourage others around her to do the same. Jean has a desire to help empower women and show them how much sewing can change their situations and their community, particularly in 3rd world countries. Jean has visited a number of countries to do just this! But Jean's passion for helping women learn to sew doesn't stop there. Her latest project has been launching a small business called "Come Sew With Me": a home based business that holds workshops where members of the community can learn how to sew and take home their very own projects. How cool is that? All of the totes and little bags and sewn crafts in these images, you can learn to make with her!! Jean and I decided to create a images resolving around her work and I had a few questions for her as a small business owner in the Elk Valley.

Let's start with the obvious!

Your name?

Jean Shatalow

How long have you owned your business?

Since Jan of 2019.

Jean, if you were left in the woods with only 3 items to survive, what would they be?

1. A survival backpack kit ---- ( hey, that's cheating... or is it? )

2. Boots.

3. A journal and pen

You're a new addition to the crayon box! What colour would you be and why?

A teal shade. It compliments coral which helps anyone look great! :)

If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Here Comes The Sun by George Harrison

If you were a tree (or animal) what kind would you be?

A oak tree. They're strong, tall, full, and deeply rooted.

That's a great answer!!! So Jean, where did you grow up? Why did you choose the Elk Valley as your home?

I grew up around St. Catharines, ON. We visited the area in 2000. My husband and I fell in love with the mountains and lifestyle!

So what training was required for your career?

A bit of training was required. Mostly it was just sewing a little bit every day. Practice, practice, practice! Reading and researching is very important as well!

What inspired to you be an entrepreneur? What's your story?

There is something adventurous about being an entrepreneur. The uncertainty of it all. The desire to share a skill that an help someone else grow in some way - creatively , financially. There is so much "learning" about one's self, business world, and people when you own your own business. I think we should never stop learning, growing, or taking chances.

Did you have any motivation to create this particular business?

Yes. Going to underdeveloped countries, teaching women to sew was a great motivation for me. Culture, language, education level of women did not stop us from teaching and them learning to sew. If that was possible in those countries, it is possible for people to learn here!

What are your goals for your business?

6 workshops a month for adults & children in the Elk Valley area. A store front business, 4 years down the road where fabric, notions, and an "always set up classroom" is available for those want to learn to sew, rent a machine, or teach others their special skills.

People in our community would mainly know you as the owner of your business.... what would your family say you are best known for?

Anatol (husband) says "being smart!!" - I am going to go with that! :)

Thanks so much for joining me Jean!! It's been so fun to see all of your projects and to witness your sheer enthusiasm for your craft.

For those in the Elk Valley, ben sure to catch Jean on Come Sew With Me on Facebook to schedule a workshop!