Road To Your Name - Season 8, Episode 7: Kelsey Powless of Powless and Company on her journey to her dream job

Road to Your Name 
Season 8, Episode 7
Guest:  Kelsey Powless - From Scroll Saw to Six Figures of Followers
This episode was recorded in December 2025.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What does it take to walk away from a stable career to build something you actually love? For Kelsey Powless of Powless & Co., it started with a night market, a 3D sign she couldn't stop thinking about, and a Christmas present she had to talk her parents into.

Kelsey is a Haudenosaunee woodworker and artist from Six Nations of the Grand River. She's known for her intricate wooden mosaics — one-of-a-kind pieces that have found their way into the University of Utah, McMaster University, Cadbury's head office, and now the Royal Botanical Gardens. She has over 150,000 followers on Instagram and has shipped her work to customers across Canada, the US, and as far as England.

But four years ago, she was a 27-year-old programs and services manager climbing the ladder at her local employment agency, making good money and feeling miserable. It took her three-year-old son putting his hand on her face and asking, "Are you okay, Mama?" to make her finally ask herself the same question.

This episode is about what happens when you stop asking "why me?" and start asking "why not me?"


WHAT WE TALK ABOUT

- How Kelsey discovered scroll sawing at a Christmas night market in 2018 — and spent the next two weeks obsessing over a machine she'd never touched

- Growing up a "serial hobbyist" — beading, knitting, sewing, crocheting, baking — and why the scroll saw was the first thing that ever truly stuck

- Rising to programs and services manager at 27, one position below the CEO, and realizing she was anxious every single day going to work

- The moment her three-year-old son Dax grabbed her face during Paw Patrol and asked if she was okay — and why that was the turning point

- Reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne at an off-grid cottage in Mattachewan and having what she calls her "life epiphany"

- The difference between "why me?" and "why not me?" — and the mindset shift that made quitting feel possible

- How her grandmother and great-grandmother were bootleggers and entrepreneurs, and realizing she came from a long line of women who made their own way

- The terror of printing her resignation letter, standing in the hallway, and choosing to walk across the hall

- Going home to her mom's dinner night that same Tuesday, sobbing, and hearing her mom say "I am so proud of you"

- Waking up at 4 AM the next morning and thinking about texting her boss "just kidding"

- Why telling her team the real reason she was leaving was the moment the fog lifted and the decision became real

- Her partner's skepticism — and how she convinced him to give her one year

- The Six Nations community supporting her from day one, and what it means to walk into the bank or Chiefswood Park and say "I made that"

- Investing everything back into her business in year two — including a $20,000 laser she didn't know how to pay for until a huge school commission came through

- Building her own shop and the two-day window between moving in and the laser arriving

- How a chance conversation with strangers at the computer store — all of them talking about a friend who died before reaching retirement — reaffirmed she'd made the right call

- How wooden mosaics became her signature work: no two the same, the final result a surprise even to her, equal parts puzzle and painting

- Commissioned pieces for the University of Utah, Cadbury, McMaster University, and organizations in Washington and Idaho

- How a tool company sent her a $15,000 SawStop table saw in exchange for tutorials — the last item on her manifestation list

- Teaching high school students to use a scroll saw and wooden mosaics, and the joy of bringing a female perspective into the shop

- Learning to call herself an artist — and what it took to say it with confidence

- Her ornament line: over 900 sold, shipped as far as England, designed to get her art into people's hands at an accessible price point including Goldyn Mini Mo', Dawn Mini Mo', Sky Mini Mo' and Midnight Mini Mo'.

- Her artist-in-residence exhibit at the Royal Botanical Gardens (February–April 2026): four custom mosaics exploring goldyn, dawn, midnight, and sky — two named after her sister Skylar Dawn


GUEST

Kelsey Powless — Haudenosaunee woodworker, scroll saw artist, and wooden mosaic creator from Six Nations of the Grand River. Founder of Powless & Co.

Instagram: @powlessandco
Facebook: Powless and co
TikTok: @powlessandco
Website (custom orders): powlessandco.ca


RESOURCES MENTIONED

- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
- Royal Botanical Gardens artist-in-residence exhibit, February–April 2026
- Aboriginal Legal Services — aboriginallegal.ca
- Support the show: click Donate at the top of the ALS homepage
- Facebook: Road to Your Name


---
Road to Your Name is produced by Aboriginal Legal Services and hosted by Lisa VanEvery, Mohawk Nation, Wolf Clan. Recorded on Haudenosaunee territory with technical assistance from True Seed Media. Nya:węh for listening.

Creators and Guests

Host

Lisa VanEvery

Lisa has worked for Aboriginal Legal Services for sixteen years. She began hosting the Road To Your Name Podcast in December 2020.

What is The Road to Your Name Podcast?

The Road To Your Name Podcast series grew out of a program started by Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) in 2016 that helped people going through the justice system and their families to strengthen and deepen their cultural connections. Host, Lisa VanEvery, examines many aspects of Haudenosaunee culture and teachings with a wide range of guests.

Road To Your Name Podcast
Season 8, Episode 7
Guest: Kelsey Powless of Powless and Co.
This episode was recorded in December 2025.
===
Intro:

[00:00:00] Lisa: Greetings, everyone. Welcome to our Yohá:te ne kahsén:na, The Road to Your Name podcast, focusing on Haudenosaunee cultural topics recorded on Haudenosaunee territory

These podcasts are produced by Aboriginal Legal Services with the technical assistance of True Seed Media. My name is Lisa VanEvery from the Mohawk Nation and the wolf clan.

[00:00:39]

[00:00:39] Lisa: I'm the coordinator of the Yohá:te ne kahsén:na, The Road to Name program, and the host of the podcast.

This is the Yohá:te ne kahsén:na: The Road to Your Name podcast series

Welcome to today's episode of Yoha:te ne kahsen:na, the Road to Your Name podcast. On this podcast, we'll be talking with a woman who has been following her dream, and we're gonna learn all about that, what it's like to follow your dream, what brought her to follow her dream, and how she's doing now with following her dream.

So welcome to the podcast, Kelsey Powless.

[00:01:37] Kelsey: Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.

[00:01:40] Lisa: So let's talk about dreams and following them. And, what brought you to follow your dream? Because I know a lot of people, they get into a job, and that's their... That they forget about their dreams, right?

[00:01:55] Kelsey: Yes.

[00:01:56] Lisa: Yeah. so tell us your story.

[00:01:58] Kelsey: Okay. So I honestly feel like I could start my story at so many different parts. and, but I feel like I need to really start at the beginning of how I even got into scroll sawing and woodworking in general because it's not... The type of work that I do is not what I would call your traditional woodworking or carpentry.

I feel like I had this, this idea that woodworking and carpentry was very much, a male-dominated, if you're gonna do that, you're probably gonna be really good at building a bench or a birdhouse or a table, and I had no desire to do any of that. And so when I was... I ha- I also am very much, a serial hobbyist, so I have the mentality of, I'm not gonna buy that because I could probably just teach myself how to make that.

And that is honestly the reason why I am here today doing the job I am, because I had that thought. but I love crafting. I loved being, doing anything with my hands, whether that's drawing, beading, knitting, sewing, crocheting, baking. I've taught myself how to do all of those things, but nothing really ever stuck.

I would pretty much go all in on whatever hobby it was, and then I would get to a point where I'm like, "Okay, I can do it." "That's great. That's good." And then I would just, put it in the closet never to be seen or touched again. And so- My mom and I were walking around this night market, and this would've been back in 2018.

I was a young mom. I had just had my son, and he was just over a year old, and I was on maternity leave. And at the time, I was working at our local employment and training agency, and I had graduated university. I had done literally all of the things that I felt like I needed to do.

[00:03:53] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:03:53] Kelsey: And I was an intake worker at the time.

I was off on mat leave with my son. I went back early, and basically it was like, "If you come back early, then there's a promotion waiting for you." And I was like, "Okay, amazing. That's awesome." So I went back a little bit early, and I worked in employment and training essentially for about four, four or five years, and my degree was in kinesiology.

So truly what I'm doing now has, nothing to do with the higher education that I went to school for. but it all truly led me to this point. And so when I was at this job, I basically worked my way through the organization, and I w- was getting promotions and, a position was created for me and a managerial role, team lead aspect, like all of the things.

And I really, truly loved the people that I worked with, and it was s- a really interesting time for me because I was young and I... by the time I was 27 years old, I was essentially The programs and services manager, which is like one position under the CEO. So at that time I was like, I, I'm young, I'm essentially at the highest level I can be in this organization, and I thought I truly loved doing it.

It was something different every single day. but then it kinda got to a point where it was like things just, there was, it just felt like there was fires all the time. And I felt I was getting anxious just going to work because I truly didn't know what the day was gonna hold for me.

And a- and I realized, the higher you go in an organization, it's going to be like that. Yeah. But I feel like at the time I was just so I'm super young and I'm making great money, and things can't get better than this. And so when I was in that role, I felt like I just had to stay, like I should just be grateful that this is where I'm at right now, and I've worked hard for this.

but when I really had to take a look at where I was at, I realized how unhappy I was because I truly, i- in my heart of hearts, was not passionate about employment and training. That was not, I know it's a needed job and, I, love the people that I worked with, but ultimately it was not something that I felt like this is what I wanna do for the rest of my life.

I did not have that. But then I really didn't know what that looked like for me. And so my mom and I went to this night market, and it was the Paris Night Market around Chris- literally like around Christmas time, right now, and there was a bunch of vendors there. And we were walking around, and at this time, Cricut signs, like Cricut, you know the machine, okay- these Cricut-ed signs, they were farmhouse signs, they were like all the rage. Everybody was either Cricut-ing signs, they were making shirts, they were making mugs. Like everybody and their mom was creating a business- Yeah ... to Cricut these things. And so we were walking around this night market and I was like, "I'm not gonna spend $90 on that when I can make that myself."

I did not have a Cricut. I had none of those, but I was like, "Mom, I could do that." And she's "No, I know you could, Kelsey." So we walked around, and we finally get to this one vendor, and I wish I truly wish I could remember their name, but in the space now, they don't, this is no longer a business for them.

This one vendor had these, super unique signs where they were three-dimensional, and it was, whether it said, hello or welcome or what have you, it was, the sign itself was 3D, not just the frame. The actual design was 3D, and I had never seen anything like that. And I remember telling her, "Mom," "wow, I really like those.

I would spend $90 on that." that to me is just so m- like, timeless, and it just looks so much more elevated than a- Yeah ... vinyl or a sticker or a stenciled sign. And I asked the guy, I was like, "How did you make this?" And he wouldn't tell me. And I was like, "Ugh, okay, I don't know. Can a Cricut do this?

Is that what that is?" I had no clue. But I could not, I took a card, and I found him on social media, and at this time, Instagram was very much about, the, an aesthetically pleasing photo and social feed. There was no videos. s- posting on Story was a very, new development in Instagram. And so when I looked at his page, it was, like, all of these beautiful, very simplistic, but, 3D designs, and m- he, but he never said, like, how he made them.

[00:08:43] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:08:43] Kelsey: And so I was like, "Okay, I have no idea. I don't even know what to start. I don't even know what do you even call this? I have no clue." And so I went home, and I just could not stop thinking about this. Like, how do I do this? How can I make that? And I did some research, and I thought, "Okay, maybe I could buy a Cricut.

Maybe that's what cuts these out." it's not a Cricut. A Cricut cannot cut that thick of a material. I found that out pretty quickly. but it was like the universe for me just aligned, because the very next day, I had a friend, and I used to dance with her years and years ago, and she posted on Facebook that she created this 3D coffee bar sign.

And when I looked at it, I was like, "That, that's it. How did you do that? Oh, my gosh." And so I read her caption, and she tagged two different creators. one was Lesley at Oak and Feather, and she is from Ontario, and the other is Lizzie at the House of Timber, and she is from Kansas City, Missouri. And basically, her caption was like, "Thank you so much to these two amazing woodworkers for sharing their knowledge on Instagram," da.

"Without them, this wouldn't have been possible," blah blah blah blah blah. And so immediately, I was like, "Who are these girls? Where, what is this? What are they doing?" So I get to their page, and I see that they're creating these, 3D nursery signs, and they're all so intricate, so beautiful, and they're using this thing called a scroll saw.

And I had never, ever used power tools ever in my life. not even a drill. And so they're using this thing called a scroll saw And they're cutting, wood, MDF, painting it, creating these, circle backers, and I immediately thought, "That is it. I need to do that. I wanna learn everything there is to know about a scroll saw, about how to create all of these things."

And basically, over the span of, two weeks, because again, this was before Christmas, I just went all in. I followed them, and then I realized, oh, wow, there's a whole community on social media of makers, scroll saw artists, who create all sorts of different things using this one tool. Now, a scroll saw I would equate to, a sewing machine, but you can cut wood.

There's no threading involved or anything, but basically, it, to me is similar to a sewing machine except you just cut out your designs. And so there's a whole process that you have to follow. But anyway, I was just learning and soaking up as much as I could. And so when my parents asked me, "Kelsey, what do you want for Christmas?"

I was like, "I want a scroll saw and a Cricut." And they both, rolled their eyes at me. "Great, another hobby for you to do for two weeks, and then it's gonna go in the closet." And I was like, "No, I promise you, this is different." "It feels different. I just wanna know." And my dad was kinda like, Kelsey, you have never operated a power tool ever in your life."

And I was like, "I know, but I can do this, I swear." So for Christmas, they get me a scroll saw and a Cricut, and then on Boxing Day, I was at Home Depot at 6:00 AM- ... to buy all of the materials that I needed to make my very first sign. So my very first sign, again, and this is something that I didn't realize then, but my dad really had, like, all of the tools that I needed to even get started, minus the scroll saw.

But he had, the drills, the router, the table saw, the miter saw, like, all of these things that, it was sitting there really at my- And you never

[00:12:21] Lisa: paid attention to

[00:12:22] Kelsey: it ... Exactly, 'cause I had no interest in any of that. And then when I realized, oh my gosh, he has all of these tools, and they've been here this whole time, okay, amazing, we're making our first sign today.

So I did that, and I spent 11 hours in the shop that day making my very first sign, which in hindsight What took me 11 hours then would take me, 45 minutes today. We've come a long way. But I was like, it was such a huge learning curve and it- And what was the sign? So it was my parents', my parents' wedding song was How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You by, actually Marie Porter sang it, I'm pretty sure, at their wedding.

Oh. And so I was listening to... So we, I wanted to make that for them, and it was kinda like a twos- it was two signs. So one said how sweet it is and the other one said to be loved by you. And, looking at it now, it humbles me so much because I don't think I knew what sandpaper was. I didn't know what priming was.

I hand-painted everything. I used plywood. there's so many things now that I, shake my head at. But ultimately, that is truly what sparked this whole fire in me to be like, "Okay, what else can I make?" And so over this course of, three months, I had really just started making things for family and friends.

There was no agenda. There was no nothing. It was like, "Oh my gosh, okay, you wanna..." My aunt got married and I made her a name sign. Okay, I, my sister had a baby, I made the baby a nursery sign. Just there was... I had full creative freedom 'cause there was really no ordering, no nothing. And after about three months of me just making whatever I wanted, I just posted to Facebook one day, like my own personal, and I just said, "Hey, everyone.

this is what I've been up to, making these three-dimensional signs," blah, blah, blah. And again, they were not the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life. But by me posting, I remember sh- excuse me, like shortly after that, I was getting, orders. people were commenting on that to be like, "Hey, can I order this for my daughter?

Can you make me a name sign?" And immediately I was like, "Wait, you wanna... You're gonna pay me to do this?" "Oh, okay. Sure. What do you want? the world is your oyster. What do you want me to make for you?" And so That is when I realized, okay, if I'm going to have this little hobby, then I want to have that separate from my own personal so that, people, if they wanted to follow this journey that I'm just this little hobby that I'm doing right now, then they have a place to go, and I don't wanna bombard all of my family and friends with, like, all, my stuff.

So I just created my own separate Facebook page and Instagram, and I just was like... And you know what? It's so hard coming up with a business name. It truly is. But then I really thought, like, why... What I really wanted, it was for Pelis to be like a household name in the woodworking community as well because I feel like it's a household name in La Crosse.

And and s- and even in the community, right? There's... You have a handful of family names that you know whose family they belong to, all of that. And so I really wanted to encompass not only that feel, but, my indigenous roots, and I was like, "What? I don't know what else I could call it."

and I really wanted to be mindful that it wasn't just, it's not just me who creates these signs. It's like a whole slew of people that have helped me get to where I am today and who have really helped me, especially in the start, because I had no idea what I was doing. And so that's why it's Pelis & Co.,

even though as of, right now, the Co. is really me. But I acknowledge that there's so many people who still to this day will help me when I need it. And so there's the whole community behind me, and I understand that. And so as I'm, like, creating, this little social media following or whatnot, and I'm creating all of these signs, I'm also, this is also the time where I'm, like, working my way through this organization.

And so I had been pretty steady with orders. Now granted- I was not charging nearly enough. if whoever has my signs from my early days- just know that I basically did that for free. truly, 'cause it's like I was not charging w- nearly what I could have, should have in hindsight. my product now is so much better as you learn and evolve.

but really those, that's what laid the foundation for today. And so as I'm working my way through the organization and, going into different positions and leadership roles, I really had to, make my business go quiet for a little while because I felt like I couldn't be super present at work and at home, but also have this side business as well, because I also have...

at the time my son was, like, two, three years old. And so it kinda went quiet for a little bit, and I just, left my scroll saw, because that's what it started with. I left my scroll saw basically in the shed for a few months, and, didn't really share on social media. Everything just came to a pause.

And so I think at the time I maybe might have had, maybe 2,000 people on my Instagram following, which, is a, that's a lot of people. Yeah. That really is a lot of people- a lot of eyes on your work. And so when I made my business go quiet- I really had to ... I kinda just took a backseat for a while.

And, as I'm working my way in these roles, and I got to the point of, getting anxious every single day going to work, there was some really pivotal moments that happened with my son. And again, at this time he would've been three. But you know when you have, a day, y- you just have a day at work, and it's things that truly are not within your control, but you just kinda take that on.

I know I'm empathetic. I will take on everybody's energy, and I feel everybody's energy. And so I just felt so weighed down, so heavy that day. And, at the time, my partner, he works ... He was working from, anywhere from Toronto to Sarnia. So during this time, it's I'm essentially a single mom during the week.

We're together on the weekend, and then he goes to work on Monday, and we do it all over again. And so essentially, I'm at home with my three-year-old, and I had this day at work. We're sitting on the couch, we're watching Paw Patrol, he's watching Paw Patrol. And I am, like, a thousand miles away. I'm here, but I am

My mind is way, so far gone right now. And so I wasn't even paying attention. He was sitting on the couch, and next thing I know I just feel him, put his head on my cheek, and he just, grabs my face. And he just goes, "Are you okay, Mama?" And I was like- Aw ... "Oh, my gosh, no. I am not okay. And you are three years old, and you're asking me if I'm okay.

something's gotta change here." And so that was, like, really the, pivotal moment for me, where I was like, "What now what?" "What needs to change? Because why do I feel the way I feel? Why do I feel so heavy every single day?" And it's ... I'm not- the best version of me. I'm not the best mom I could be.

And, like, where is all of that coming from? Why do I feel this way? And this was also during COVID, so that was, like, super interesting to navigate as well, having a young toddler at home, but you're also working from home. And it's like at that time it was really hard, especially in the beginning, to figure out when you could, turn work off- Yeah

and when you could be home. Yeah. Because obviously you're going to... when you're home all day every day, you are going to take those liberties. if he needs to take a 10-minute snack break, I'm, gonna take that 10-minute snack break because I also have to be a mom to him. I'm also being a manager and, managing 30-plus people.

So it's y- it was really, it was tough to navigate. And so I realized that I felt if I were to get a message at, 11 o'clock at night, that I felt like I needed to answer that at 11:05 at night, and work just never really stopped. Yeah. And I couldn't really separate, being home versus being at work, even though there was nothing to say I couldn't.

my work hours are from 8:30 to 4:30, and that should've been it. I didn't feel like that. So that was really interesting to try and, figure that whole thing out. But, really I was... I had known probably, two months prior to me actually having the guts to resign, I had i- I had been thinking about it for a while.

And, it's like I'm going to work every day and I feel this way, and I don't like feeling this way. And, my son is talking to me in the back seat and I don't even know what he's saying because I'm already worried about the kind of day I'm gonna have today. And so We go on, and I had already been doing, a lot of personal development.

I had been reading a lot of books, doing, watching YouTube videos essentially every single morning trying to get myself, in the right mindset, hyped for the day. Like- it's gonna be a good day. I promise we're gonna have a good day. And, sometimes it was. Some, there were days where it was really good, and there were days where it's like, "Oh, my gosh," "when is this, when does this ever stop?"

"This is crazy." And so doing this personal development, I had went on... We take a family vacation. We have a cottage up in Mattachewan. Mattachewan is about eight hours north in the middle of, nowhere, okay? It's like a small mining town. The cottage itself, there is, no hydro unless you plug the generator in.

There's no cell phone service. you truly are either quadding, fishing, swimming, reading a book, getting bitten by mosquitoes- ... or cooking. that is pretty much it. And my son loves it up there. So every single year we're like, okay. They go up to the cottage all the time, and I'm like, "I'm good for, one trip."

So I go on this trip, and I'm reading, these books, and I read The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. And I was like, okay, there was some good, some good takeaways, and I had brought in, five books with me. And then I read this one book, it's called The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. And that book, for whatever reason, was, like, a complete eye-opening, slap in the face, just completely changed everything that I thought.

It changed how I Really, really acknowledge how I talked to myself, the things that I thought, the voices that I... the tone in which I was speaking to myself. and it really made me realize that the things that I thought could be either, A, wrong, or that I could actually change those thoughts.

I feel like if you don't have this, epiphany, that's not really something that you think about. You're just so in your head every single day that you don't think about the things that you're telling yourself because that's just the voice that you hear until you're actually sitting with your own thoughts and you're like, "Man, I don't...

Wait, why do I, think that? Like, why do I feel that way? Where did that come from? Who told me that?" And so this book, it was like something where I would read like 10 to 20 pages at a time, and I would have to close the book and like totally digest what I just read. And when I was doing that, I was asking myself all of these questions like, "Wait, why do I feel like I have to stay in this job?

If I am so unhappy here, why do I feel like I have to stay?" And it's like I... Then I immediately follow up that up with, "Well- You know, Kelsey, you're making great money. You're super young. You have a family. you have to put food on the table. And it's yeah, but why do you feel like you have to stay in this specific job in order to do all of those things?

Why do you feel like you have to be anxious and nervous and have those bad days every single day when there's... You could create that for yourself. You could create a totally different job. And then it's okay, but what does that look like for me? If I wanna be happy every single day, what am I doing?

And mind you, like I said, I had made my business go quiet, a few months before this. And so it's like I'm looking, really asking myself these questions of, what does it look like every single day if I'm happy every single day? What am I doing? really visualizing what that is for me because I really didn't know.

And then when I really sat and thought about it, I was like, man, I am actually so happy at my scroll saw. everything in the world just nothing really matters. I'm... My mind is so quiet when I'm there. I love to just listen to my music and create. That's truly what I love doing. And if I could do that every single day, I would be so happy.

so happy. And then it's but that's not a job. that's not a real job. That's- Yeah ... it really isn't. but then, okay, but why am I telling myself that? I'm hyping myself up, and then I'm self-sabotaging myself immediately after. Yeah. And it's no, you can do it. You can make that a job.

Why can't it be a job? completely shifting your mindset from, I can't to why not me. That was a question I really had to ask myself. Why not me? Why can't I quit my job? Why can't I create this, use my scroll saw as my full-time income? And, yes, things are gonna have to change, but you know what?

this is what I truly, wanna do. And so I was like, okay, And at the time I had, my, my grandmas, both of my granny and my great-grandma were at the time, entrepreneurs in their own right, but they were, like, bootleggers, okay? And so they had that, entrepreneurial spirit, and I did not know that it came from...

I realized that I came from a line of entrepreneurial women, right? Regardless of what they were selling or their job, right? My gran always had her own store. And I was like, "Wow, okay," so seeing somebody and being like, Gran did it." She, put food on the table for 10 kids. she made her own business.

Whether or not that's what she loved doing, I'm not really sure, but you know what? It can be done. You can create your own reality. You can create your own life, and why can't I put food on the table by creating art? I... it was all those. And so I had this truly what I consider my life epiphany in that moment, and I pretty much decided then and there, and I told my partner, "Okay, I just want you to know that when we get back I'm gonna quit my job."

And he was less than thrilled, mostly because I think in his mind it came out of nowhere. Like I said, he worked away a lot, and so when I laid this on him it, it did come out of nowhere in his perspective of, I wouldn't say that, "Oh, wow, I was super anxious today," or, "I had a bad day," or blah blah blah.

It was like, "Oh, today was great." on a quick FaceTime call, "Today was great," and, "Yep, sounds good. We're gonna do it all, over again tomorrow." So he was more so that's fine if you don't wanna do this job anymore, but you need to have something to go to. have a job lined up."

And I was like, "No, I don't think you understand. I'm not going to a different... I'm not going to work for somebody else. I am going to work for myself." And no one in his family is really an entrepreneur in that world, in that realm. It's like a, the mindset is essentially like you go to work, work for an organization, you get paid, and you come home, put food on the table.

there's no really, freedom in that way to do the job that you actually wanna do or, create the work you wanna create. And so it was hard for him to, wrap his mind around me creating a job out of the art that I was making. And also, because I had been making good money and we f- were, like, really financially stable, it's "You're giving all of that up for what?"

And I basically said, "You know what?" I understand that, but by me doing this, I'm going to be a better version of me. I'm going to be a better mom to Dax. I'm going to be a better partner to you. nothing for you is going to change. If anything, it's just gonna get better. Let me worry about putting food on the table.

let me worry about paying my bills. You just go to work. You keep doing what you're doing, and I'm, I'll figure it out. let me stress about that stuff. And so I remember I, when I resigned, that was like the scariest thing I'd ever done. But the day I resigned, it was like, fire after fire, and I just got to this point of "I, I don't wanna do this.

I can't do this anymore. I don't wanna do this." And so me quitting though was probably the scariest thing 'cause I'd never quit anything ever in my life. And so- basically in a way it felt like me waving this like little white flag of "I surrender. I can't, do this anymore." And

[00:30:47] Lisa: after you made the decision, that was it for you- once the decision was made.

[00:30:51] Kelsey: Yes. It sounds Yes and no. So yes and no. So I... Okay, so this is basically the conversation I had with myself. I had printed off my resignation letter, and I had it on my desk. And I was like, okay, the, end of the day came, right? It was 4:30, ready to walk out the door, and I was like holding this letter, and my boss's office was right across from mine.

And so I was standing there okay, if you take this letter and you walk across, or you take this letter and you turn to the right, you can go home and do this all over again tomorrow. But if you take this letter and you walk across the hall, you can just be done, and everything changes now. You ha- but you have to make that decision."

And so next thing you know, I'm like walking across the office. My hands are shaking, and I knock on my boss's office, and I was just like, "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" And so she says yes. And I was like, "I am really sorry, but like I, I really hate to do this to you, but like I, I can't do this anymore."

And th- we had a very honest conversation, and it was like the things that I was feeling at some point I'm sure she had felt too because she was telling me essentially how I felt, right? And I was like, "Wow, okay. so you do see. You do get it. okay, I can't do this anymore."

And so I essentially gave them three weeks. So I, after that, I remember I went home- And actually I went to, my mom's. So every Tuesday we would have dinner night, and so my mom would make dinner for all of my siblings and our kids, and we would all go over on Tuesdays, and we would have family dinner.

And so this was a Tuesday, and I resigned. And I remember going to my mom's, and I walk in the door, and my sister decided that was the perfect time to scare me. She's trying to be funny, so she, was standing behind the door. I walk in, and she's "Rawr!" I'm sobbing. Okay? I am crying. And she was like, "Oh, no, what happened?"

And I was like, "I've just quit my job." And my mom was like, "I am so proud of you. Congratulations." And I was like, "What did I do?" "Oh, my gosh, what did I do?" Because I truly did not feel lighter. I did not feel relief. It was like, "Oh, no- what did I do?" And so I basically sat with that decision, and I was like, "Okay, maybe since it's done, I'm gonna go home and, maybe tomorrow when I wake up g- I'm gonna feel so much better."

And that did not happen. I woke up in the morning, it was like 4:00, and I was pacing around my basement like, "Okay, maybe you just text them and say just kidding. maybe they didn't tell HR. maybe you can just say just kidding. it's fine. I'll just stay," blah, blah, blah. And then I had to, calm myself down and be like, "No, you did this for a reason.

let's just see how today goes." So one of the things that I really wanted to do was I wanted my team to hear from me why I was leaving and the fact that I was leaving. I didn't want it to be any sort of, rumor or os- office gossip. I wanted them to hear from me. And so we all, we got to work, and we all got together, and I was like, girls, I just wanna let you know, I did end up resigning last night.

I'm here until the end of September, but basically, this is it." And as I'm, explaining this to them and telling them my reasons why, everything felt in my mind so cloudy, but as I'm verbally saying to them, my reasons for leaving, it's like everything just, the fog lifted, and everything just became so crystal clear.

And in that moment, it was like, "No, this is what we're doing." There's no question. They're, like, then I felt Solidified in my decision. I felt lighter. I was like, "Okay, we're doing this." And so over the course of those three weeks, obviously, like button everything up, right? And I remember it was like my, either my last day or my second to last day, and up until that point, nobody had even really asked me, like where I was going.

they, everybody kinda just assumed that I had been poached by another organization. And so finally my boss was like, "Okay, so Kelsey like, where are you going? who got you?" And I was like, "Nobody. I am gonna do my woodworking full time." And I remember them being like, "Kelsey, you are so brave." And I was like, "Oh Okay.

And, they told me that if there was, if in another lifetime basically I were to do something different, like I would wanna be a firefighter, or "I really wish I did this." And, as the day progresses, I'm telling more and more people, "I'm leaving, I'm doing this."

And let's say out of 20 employees, 19 of them told me, "Oh my gosh, I wish I could do that. I wish I could leave and do... I really wanted to own my own T-shirt company. I really would own a bakery. if I weren't doing this, I'd own a bakery. If I weren't doing this, I would have my own clothing st- clothing store."

And it really was like, oh my gosh. So many people truly feel like they are handcuffed to their job. Now, most people it's because of the financial security piece of it, right? Like you have that stable income. You know the money's coming, like I understand there's bills to be paid and all of those things, but it's like you give up on your dream for, financial security.

But it's like why can't you create that for yourself? And it's who knows who's gonna buy things? Yeah, that's, that, that could be true too, but also what if 1,400 people want your product? What if you have an influx of thousands of people that see your product, that want your designs, that, would come to your business?

But I feel like so many people just see the like negative aspect of, I can't, I can't do this, I have bills." Or it's like instead of the why, it's like why me instead of why not me? why can't I do that? And it really opened my eyes to how many people... The world could be such a different place if so many people just truly followed their heart and followed their dreams.

And-

[00:37:28] Lisa: But it sounded to l- to me like it was a process to get there. Oh

[00:37:32] Kelsey: my gosh, was it ever. Yes.

[00:37:34] Lisa: Yes. And so maybe people don't wanna even start that process.

[00:37:38] Kelsey: Yeah. And so it's such an interesting thing because when I resigned, my first official day I was like, "Okay, what do I need to go get?"

And at this time, there used to be like the IC super computers, right? Yeah. In the little cabins- Yeah ... on 54. Okay, so I knew that in order for me to do the job and do the design work that I need to do for this business, I wanted to invest in a Mac computer. So I go to this store, and I kid you not, it's me, and at the time again, I'm like 27 years old.

It's me and I'm here to pick up my new Mac computer, and there is four or five older people in the store. And when I say older, probably on the cusp of either retired or on the cusp of retirement, okay? And they're having this conversation about basically have this, mutual friend in common who essentially worked, worked their whole life for this one organization and essentially chose to dedicate their whole life to this organization.

And then they were like, "Okay, when I... once I retire and I have my pension, then I'll start living, then I'll go on the cruise, then I'll do all of these things." And then they ended up passing away before they could even retire. And it's like you don't know your time here on this earth.

You- we have no timeline, right? There is... Nothing is guaranteed. And so they were having this conversation about, them all dedicating their life to whatever job they had, and ultimately it was like we, we aren't guaranteed this time, so why are we waiting till retirement? Why are we waiting till, we get a pension?

Why aren't we living, When we were young enough to do all of the things we wanted to, why did we wait till we're like 50, 60 years old to do these things? And so When they finished their conversation, it was funny because I was like, in a way I was relieved because I thought, "Man, I am so lucky I had that epiphany when I was 27 years old, and I did not have that when I was, like, 57 years old."

And so one of the gentlemen, he turns to me and he's "Sweetheart, if there's one thing I could tell you," he's "Start living your life now." And I was like, "Funny you say that. That's literally why I'm here." And he was like, obviously he would not know the, exactly the process that I went through, the reason why I was there, because y- that's not, you don't know who you're crossing paths with, right?

So- Yeah ... but it was just such a r- reaffirmation for me that, okay, yeah, I'm in the r- I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. This is what I wanna do. This is what I'm meant to do. And the first year of me being self-employed, was very much a struggle. don't get me wrong. I pretty much was like, "I just need to make enough money to, pay my bills and put food on the table," and that is it.

There is no, investing in my business. There is just, we are just trying to get by. And I had pretty much told my partner at that time, l- "Again, let me stress, but if in a year, if I cannot make it, I will start looking for another job. But ultimately, I do not wanna have a backup plan, because I don't plan for this to fail.

I will work so hard so that this does not fail. But if things are not going the way I'm anticipating, then okay. But give me, one solid year." So okay. So that first year, like I said, that was just, my goal was just to, get by, and that's exactly what happened. And, I'm leveraging social media.

I'm posting on social media. But, nothing is really super happening because, again, at that time it was very much pictures.

[00:41:22] Lisa: Did you have to learn social media? Are you- Kinda ... already into it?

[00:41:26] Kelsey: I was already into social media, not as in depth, but it was like, okay, you want me to take s- take a nice picture of my work?

I can do that. I can set up a prop and add, a little, make the picture look nice, add a little filter, whatever it is. I can do that. That's fine. but really, where the learning came from was being comfortable posting on my Instagram stories. Because I realized, I love watching people.

I love when people are talking about what they're doing. I wanna see what they're working on. I wanna see, the behind-the-scenes. That's so interesting to me. But then I thought, okay, I like watching Lizzy, my friend Lizzy. I love watching her stories. I'm, she's teaching me so much just on this small part of the platform.

And so I thought, "Okay, I need to get over myself, and I need to start posting on my stories." Because there's other people who probably want to know not only what I'm doing, but ultimately they want to know who I am as a person.

[00:42:22] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:42:22] Kelsey: Because that's the other part to building your brand is, it's not just your product, it's you are the voice of your brand.

You are, what draws people in, not just your product, but your product draws them in, but you are the reason why they stay. And so I realized that I want people to get to know who I am, and so I started posting on Stories, regardless of how silly it felt to just talk to my phone. it, because it did And I'm like, okay, the seven people are gonna see this, and they're probably gonna be like, "Oh my gosh, she's so cringey," and I probably was.

But I was like- ... you know what? I just can't, I can't care about that. Yeah. I have to care about if I just wanna do it, so I'm gonna do it. Yeah. And I was teaching people along the way, like what I was learning. And so as I'm, building my skill and learning and building my s- social media platforms, I was getting like, okay, s- other makers were seeing my work, other businesses were seeing my work, and I'm getting these opportunities from organizations.

And again, if I'm being completely honest, like Six Nations, the community of Six Nations as a whole has supported me truly from like day one. Day one up until now, they are 100% my biggest supporters, and it is so remarkable to be like, I can pretty much go anywhere in Assisiniboine and be like, "Oh, I made that."

Yeah. "Oh, I walk into the bank. Oh, I made that." Or "Oh, Chiefswood Park. Yep, see that sign over there?" I tell my son, "See that sign? Mom made that." Like truly anywhere in the community, and it's like I still get commissioned to do so many pieces of work, and that is the most amazing feeling ever.

So like truly, the community as a whole has really supported me, like from day one, and that has been the most amazing experience. And so I feel like having the community support was really what allowed me to be confident in my ability and grow my skill because I knew that there was a community behind me.

And by year two it was like, okay, whatever I make this year, I am going to invest that back into my business. We're going to... It's going to be financially uncomfortable regardless. It was financially uncomfortable year one. It's gonna be financially uncomfortable year two because everything that I make over and above putting, food on the table and paying my bills is going back into my business.

I knew... I felt like in order for me to grow, I had to invest in this huge $20,000 laser, which is crazy 'cause it's like, where is that money coming from? I, don't know, but it's gonna come. I really don't know, but I just truly believe in my heart of hearts it's gonna come. So I really worked on every single morning I would like manifest all of these things.

I'd have this whole list every single morning. I would just write it out, and all of these things on this list, it was like I had to... Essentially, I'm writing it down as if it's already, I already have it, right? You have to pretend like it's, if you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand and it's already yours.

And so I would do that every single day. And it was crazy to be like, okay, I don't know where this money's coming from, but it's gonna come and I just have to believe that it is So I knew that, in year two I wanted to have my own shop, 'cause at the time I had moved into my dad's garage, and not that wasn't conducive to what I was doing, but it's like I just want my own space.

I want my own space to create where I can leave my mess if I wanna leave my mess, So I wanted to build my own shop. I wanted to invest in this $20,000 laser. I want- there was so many things that I wanted to do. And so in year two I made all of that happen. Crazy, and like I said, how, you ask yourself, where's that money coming from?

All of a sudden, I had this insane order from, the schools in Six Nations. Okay, they ordered like four, four or five signs, huge signs. My largest commission. At that time it was my biggest commission ever, and through that commission alone I had enough money to buy my laser. Wow. immediately.

and I... So I didn't see, truly, and it was crazy because it's like I'm investing in this laser, but now I'm essentially doing all of that work for free is how it felt, because I took that entire profit, immediately invested it, and then it was like, okay, now I gotta work. now I still gotta work, I still have to, make ends meet, all these things, but I just know that I have this tool coming eventually.

And so then I worked on building my shop, like picking away at that, because I didn't want to bring my big piece of equipment and then have to move it. And when I got my own shop, I was like, hold up. I'll buy the laser, but can you keep it for me until I'm ready for it?" So that took me, an extra six months for me to be ready for this laser.

So I move into my shop. Two days later I get my laser, and then it's like a huge learning curve learning all of that, but setting up my shop, all of these things. But truly that investing in my business, I feel like that's the hardest part. As a small business owner, you invest in your business and it's oh, it's so scary 'cause it's a lot of money.

Yeah. It's a lot of money, and where does that come from, right? But ultimately, that investment has led to so many opportunities, not even just within the community, but, truly worldwide, because that is, my little employee now. And so it takes away a lot of the hard aspect of cutting some of the things, it...

Essentially, I don't wanna say it replaced my scroll saw because that's not true, but it just helped me create a better workflow and cut some of the pieces that I need so that I can create a higher output. And so that was basically year two. And so I thought, okay, two years of more comfortableness, and then by year three, I just wanna be able to, coast.

I just wanna, I wanna be, like, smiling. If we wanna take a vacation- Yeah ... I can afford to take a vacation. I can, do all these things and I don't have to be, like, worried about, making sure I get this signed down so that I can get paid and all these things, and that is truly exactly what happened.

Wow. And so within the last... So I've been doing this really full time since 2020... What was it? 2021. October of 2021. so it's four years full time, which is s- honestly so insane to think about, that I was just trying to make it one year, and here we are four years later. But honestly, year three, year four was such a huge year for me for growth because then I'm working with organizations, so I'm leveraging social media.

My page now is upwards of 150,000 people who have their eyes on my work, which is just crazy. But the power of social media is mind-blowing because you really don't know who's looking at your stuff. and because of that, like I've had some of my videos go viral, and the opportunities that have come my way have been insane.

Like I... The pieces that I create now are very different than the pieces that I started out with, so I have now found my love for creating wooden mosaics. And a lot of people like to equate that with quilting, which I- fully agree. A lot of quilters are like, "That's just like quilting." I've never quilted ever, but I could understand 100% how that process like translates.

[00:50:05] Lisa: It's design and color.

[00:50:06] Kelsey: Yes. Design, color- Shapes ... shapes. Exactly. Yeah. So a lot of people make that correlation. and it truly is like the one thing that I just, I knew even when I left, I was like, "I don't know what it is, but I feel like there's something else, like there's something else for me. I don't know what it is, but it's gonna be something that I'm like known for, over and above my scroll sawing."

But I didn't know what that was. And so now, 100%, without a doubt, like I truly feel like my wooden mosaics are like my signature pieces. Those are the things I love to make, that when I make them, people are like, "Oh yeah, Kelsey made that," without a doubt. And so now it's like those are the pieces, and really, not only does it challenge me 'cause it's like a puzzle, but I don't...

It's a puzzle that I'm creating that I ultimately don't even know what the final result is gonna be. So it's truly a surprise to not only me, but my client as well, because I can give you an idea, but it kinda just depends on what I'm in the mood for that day and what's gonna flow. Yeah. If I... Like truly.

Yeah. I have, my videos have come across the desks of a lot of people, and so it is insane to me to say, I have a piece in the University of Utah. Cadbury, like the head office in Cadbury commissioned me to make a mosaic piece for them. In Washington and Idaho, it's just, McMaster University, all of these places that I'm like, wow, little me in my shop-

sitting on Seneca Road in Six Nations, is entertaining, and creating things for these huge corporate organizations, and like they want my work. That's what they want. They want my work, and it's like those are... That's the thing I would sit and, dream about. that would be the most amazing thing, right?

To have these opportunities and, have these brands even be like, "Kelsey, k- we'll send you a table saw if you'll do a video for us." those are the things that I would dream about, and I can 100% say, like, all the things that I was manifesting on my list, four years ago, every single thing on that list has come true.

Wow. I said I wanted, this saw stop table saw, 'cause I truly am terrified of a table saw, okay? And I wanted this saw stop table saw, which basically the technology behind it is as soon as it touches anything other than wood, so as soon as it even senses your finger, the blade drops immediately, and it will not cut your finger off.

If anything, it will, give you a little paper cut, but ultimately it is one of the... The technology is just so much safer I, but this saw is like $15,000. Okay? So I was like, "I don't know how it's gonna happen, but it's gonna happen," da. And I said, I told myself in, last year, I was like, "Okay, that's the last thing that I have to invest in.

That's the last piece of my puzzle for right now. that's the only thing I have to get." And so I was like, "Okay, we're just gonna manifest this even harder." And again, through social media, that company reached out, and they basically, that's exactly what they said, "Kelsey, build your dream saw, and just create some tutorials for our YouTube page of how you make these mosaics."

And I was like, "That is incredible. Absolutely. Yes." Wow. "100%." And so now I have this beautiful table saw. But it's those are the things where you might have a plan. Like I said, if that didn't happen, I was going to invest, but it's like you have a plan, but sometimes I like to say the universe is, creating a plan even better than you could've- even thought. And yeah, all of that truly has, led me to where I am today, where I get to not only create these pieces for organizations and stuff, but I have had such the honor and pr- honor and privilege of actually teaching students, in different high schools and in different even walks of life how to, A, use a scroll saw, how to create these wooden mosaics.

I've partnered with so many school boards to be able to teach their students, and that's something that I really never anticipated. I never saw myself as a teacher in that regard, but it's man, that is, it is so fulfilling. Yeah. it really is fulfilling to teach these kids a new skill. And also having, you know- A female, perspective on everything because I know in high school I, like I said, I thought, shop class was just how to build a bench or how to build a, how to build, a birdhouse.

And I just love being able to give the perspective that, woodworking isn't just that. I don't even consider myself, I... It has taken me a long time to consider myself an artist. and actually- when someone says, "What," "What do you do for work?" Yeah. And I can actually confidently say, "Oh, I'm an artist."

"I'm a woodworker and I'm an artist. That's what I do." And a lot of times it's easier for me to show you my work than it is to explain because people are like, "Okay, what does that mean?" And I get to show people. And what I love doing is I like to walk people through all of my builds on social media, but I do it in, 30 seconds.

[00:55:59] Lisa: I've seen

[00:55:59] Kelsey: that. Yes. Yeah. And so because I truly do not like when I have to come back for part 56 to finally- ... see the last build. Yeah. so I like to keep my videos, short, sweet. You get a one-second snippet from almost every single part, and then at the end of the video you get the final result because I...

And again, it doesn't happen in 30 seconds, but it's like I just want you to have the end result. I like seeing the end result, and this is what I did and, let's move on. I'm making something else.

[00:56:30] Lisa: How did... I just wanted to ask you the question, how did you go from your first creations to that, the process of knowing the mosaics were where it's was at?

[00:56:42] Kelsey: Oh my gosh. I don't even know. That's such a great question. So I started out with a scroll saw, and it was, like, the 3D art aspect of it is what I really liked.

[00:56:52] Lisa: Yeah.

[00:56:52] Kelsey: And at the time, these wooden mosaics were, they're, they were different than what I create now, but it's a very- The designs were, like, very simple, but one of the things that, my friend Lizzy, like truly, and it's crazy to say this, but she was very much somebody who I really just admired.

One, her personality, but two, she taught so much. she, even to this day, she does not gate- keep, any of her information. It's "No, I'll teach you, and I love to teach you." but to just honestly say she is truly, just a great friend. I've met some of these people in real life, go on vacation with them, which is crazy, 'cause it's don't meet your friends on the internet.

But I have, and they are some of my nearest and dearest friends, and, just genuine people. But at the time, Lizzy was creating these mosaics, and they were, like I said, more simplistic. And then I came across this one who was doing, a mosaic, and her, she just added, pops of color.

And I was like, "Okay, how can I take that concept and, make it my own?" But also, this is all done on a miter saw, which I was comfortable with, but that was also a learning curve for me, because this was a tool that, okay, now I'm making hundreds if not thousands of cuts on this thing, and I'm trying not to, A, cut my finger off, but B, not trying to, have the piece blow up and, me blowing my eye out.

Like- ... there's a whole... And this is why it's so important also to make sure you're wearing the proper safety gear, and I do every single time, because I am so scared. So scared. And I think having a little, fear, f- you have to have a healthy fear of your tools to make sure you're safe-

[00:58:53] Lisa: Yeah

[00:58:53] Kelsey: all the time. Yeah. Because it's when you're, when you get too comfortable, that's when mistakes start happening. That's when, you start cutting things off that you didn't want to. And I think it was also me figuring that out and being like, "Okay, let me just learn." And I just love being a...

I just wanna know. I just wanna know how to do it. I wanna know how to do it, and then I wanna get really good at it, and then I wanna be able to make it my own. okay, yes, I could make a very simple pattern, but- I, don't wanna do that 'cause that's easy and I get bored easy. Yeah. So it's okay.

That's why all of my mosaic pieces, especially now, no one is ever the same. They might all look very similar, but they might have, a similar, look to them or the base might be the same, but if you look at any single one of them, no one is ever the same. I always make sure to change it up also because it's like my clients are also paying for a one-of-a-kind art piece.

Lisa: Yeah.

[00:59:59] Lisa: As, as with many artists, do you have a signature that you put into your pieces?

[01:00:04] Kelsey: so not really. Okay, this is something I had to work on. with the Utah mosaic, my mom had actually brought that up to me. She's "Kelsey, I know it's your piece, but you should really put something in there," because I'll always sign the back and everything, but that's something nobody ever sees.

And so she's "What if you start hiding, one little engraved piece in your actual mosaic?" something that nobody would really know. You don't really see it unless you're, like, looking for it or, y- it kinda catches your eye. But she was telling me, I, and I wish I knew which, beadwork artist does this, but they would basically put one different colored bead in all of their, you know- Yeah

when they do a- Yeah ... beaded earring, they put one different colored bead, whether that's, a different shade or they have a signature colored bead, but it's just, perfectly placed where you wouldn't really know it to see it. But then if you, once you notice, it's like, "Oh, there it is." Yeah. But it was a way for her to tell, that was her work.

And so I started engraving my little, just a little signature on one of the small pieces, and I have this, hand-drawn floral design that I have engraved on a couple of my pieces. And I just started engraving that on, one small, teeny, tiny piece. So it's, something new that I've started, but I was like, that's such a...

That's exactly right. 'Cause a lot of artists will sign the front of their work.

[01:01:29] Lisa: Yeah.

[01:01:29] Kelsey: And it's like, why? And but I was always just hiding it on the back, and I was like, but why do I do that? I need to just take ownership- of my work and be proud of that, and it's not like it's not going to, ruin the front or anything.

you can do it in such a classic way. And so that is something, yeah, that I have- started introducing into my work.

[01:01:53] Lisa: That's great.

[01:01:53] Kelsey: Yeah.

[01:01:54] Lisa: Yeah, how many pieces do you think you, in this f- four short years, how many pieces do you think you've created?

[01:02:03] Kelsey: Oh my gosh. Honestly, Hundreds ... hundreds.

Hundreds. And honestly, what on social media I would say is not even the half of what I've created. Because there are projects too, and this is the thing, there are projects that I will take on that I know I can do it, but it's not necessarily something that's in my wheelhouse. it's not something that I think, "Oh my gosh, I would love to do this every single day."

It's more "That sounds like a challenge, and that's something that I've never done, but I, yeah, I'll do it just to see if I can." Like- just to challenge myself a little bit and, grow my skill. But I might not advertise that because then I don't wanna get bombarded with 14 other requests for this specific thing that was, like, a one-off for me.

and I, that was, like, specific. I can give you an example of one specific thing. in, oh, what school is it? In Oliver M. Smith, they had their Cayuga language program, or their language program. They had all of these wampum belts, and their language teacher basically asked me if I would be able to build these shadow boxes, and she wanted essentially each wampum belt in its own shadow box, and wanted, a description of, the wampum belt with the name.

That way, it's like a, one, it's a learning tool throughout the school, but it's, it can be used as, a, scavenger hunt for the kids. It can be, like, a teaching moment. There, it's like a multifunctional piece of art. and so I was like, "Okay. I've never really built... I've built frames, but I've never really built shadow boxes, but they can't be that hard."

I had to build, I think it was, like, 10. And some of the wampum belts are very long. the shadow box itself was, like, 10 feet long, which is huge. And so that was a challenge because my... Also, I couldn't just say, "Okay, I'm gonna build this shadow box," and then put a paper right up in there because s- that's not, that doesn't look nice.

So I was like, "Of course." I'm going to engrave all of these, and I'm going to engrave the write-up, and I'm going to create 3D letters of all of the names of the belts and the belt, and I'm gonna build... it became this whole production a- and it took me a very long time. I learned so much.

But after I was done, I was like, "They look beautiful. I love to see them in their new home, and I will be totally fine if I don't ever make a shadow box- ... ever again."

[01:04:54] Lisa: Yeah.

[01:04:55] Kelsey: But I know, but I knew I could do it, and I enjoy the challenge. So like I said, there's honestly hundreds of things, and it's not just signage.

It's, I've expanded into, outdoor signs, and so I can do, acrylic. I've done ornaments for organizations. I've done table place settings. It's it truly, I can do so many different things, like I said, that some of them may have never even seen the light of social media. But I love showcasing any of my woodwork, like my mosaic pieces, any of my, business signs where I can really, use my woodworking skills but also, the painting and the shaping and the more technical side of things.

That is really, I think, where my heart lies. So yeah, if you look at my social media and, some of the work, it's that's what I love showcasing 'cause that's what I love doing.

[01:06:00] Lisa: So do you have the, Let's, talk about your social media. Yeah. Where can people find you?

[01:06:05] Kelsey: Okay. You can find me, I personally like to use Instagram the most.

I just find it's a more personal connection that I have with my, my, I don't even know what to call it. I don't wanna call it my following 'cause it's not that. It's wh- I just find I can get a little bit more personal with people and, make the connection a little bit better on Instagram.

so I'm on Instagram @pellissandco. Yeah. You can also find me on Facebook at Pellissandco and also on TikTok. And the pe- the handles are all the same.

[01:06:42] Lisa: Oh, okay.

[01:06:43] Kelsey: But I would say I'm the most active on Instagram.

[01:06:46] Lisa: And you also have a website.

[01:06:48] Kelsey: Oh, I do have a website. Good thing you said that. Yes, I do have a website, and I am honestly learning that one as I go.

So anybody who is looking to inquire for customs, I truly love an email. especially on social media, I find that your message can get lost very quickly through direct messaging, and so I have a spot on my website where you can inquire for a custom order, and that gets emailed directly to me, and that's by far, if you're inquiring, that's 100% the best way to get in contact with me and to inquire, because again, I don't always get to see your messages on social media.

[01:07:30] Lisa: So when people would wanna, say people would want a, custom piece, do you like it when people say, "Okay, here's my, here's what I want it to say precisely"- Yeah ... but you just use your imagination? Oh

[01:07:42] Kelsey: my gosh. Those are my dream clients.

[01:07:45] Lisa: Yeah.

[01:07:45] Kelsey: I have clients who, you might have a color palette in mind.

You might have, like you said, a phrase in mind, but I do my best work when someone's "Here's the colors. Make something nice. Do what you want." And I can get, I don't often get clients who are like, "This is exactly what I want. I want this and only this and da, because I am very honest about the fact that, one, I don't create the same thing twice, but two, it is a very fluid process for me.

But also, I try to keep you as informed as I can as I'm creating, so it might, I'm gonna give you a rough idea of what it's gonna look like, but it's probably not gonna look exactly like that. And my clients, I would say, like 98% of the time, maybe 99% of the time, will answer me back with a, "That sounds great, Kelsey.

You just do your, you just do your thing. I know it's gonna be great." And I'm like, "Okay, amazing. That's music to my ears." And I have truly never had a client, knock on wood, and I, don't foresee this happening, but- I've never, ever had a client be like, "That is hideous." "That is not what I was envisioning."

Lisa: Yeah.

[01:09:04]

[01:09:05] Kelsey: I want a refund. Yeah, right? that has never happened and, it's... I'm very grateful for that. But also, I think it's because I can give you a s- a very, a pretty good idea of what we're working with and working towards. You just understand that it's gonna look a little different, not crazy.

[01:09:26] Lisa: So one of the huge mosaics- Yeah

say that you do, what's the timeline of that?

[01:09:31] Kelsey: So- Something like that...

[01:09:32]

[01:09:33] Kelsey: it depends on how big it is, but I usually like to give myself about two weeks to build one of those out. Now, if I were to, sit there and work on it from sunup to sundown, I could probably have it done, built, framed, like all of those things, I would say probably, in a week.

But that's the nice thing about working for myself and having my own timeline, is the fact that, there are times where I'm like, "Oh, I'm stuck. I am stuck and I don't really know where I'm going with this, so I honestly need to walk away." And there is such a beautiful thing about being able to pause and just rest.

Rest and, give your eyes a break because I... There's times where, I'm like, "Oh, I could do that," and then I might try it and it just does not work out the way I want it to. And so that's when I'll, take a break. So like I said, I usually give myself about two weeks and I find that not being super rushed and giving myself a little bit of grace is usually when I make my, best

[01:10:49] Lisa: Wow.

This has been such an exciting- ... time learning about your journey, and who knew a scroll saw and creativity could, take you so far and do so much in your life?

[01:11:02] Kelsey: That's exactly... I never- Yeah ... I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that, making that one decision in my life would take me to where I am right now.

And I think that's like the key takeaway is, something that I really p- live by, and I try to tell this to as many people as I can is like you owe it to yourself to take a chance on you because nobody else, like truly nobody else is gonna do it. And if you aren't gonna do it for yourself, like why?

ask yourself that. Why? Why not you? Take that chance on you because you owe it to yourself to do that and to follow your dreams. And, I really do believe that anybody that you see who is successful or, is doing something that they truly love or are passionate about, don't think that they, didn't have any self-doubt, but just know that the voice that told them that they could was so much louder- than the voice that told them that they couldn't

[01:12:07] Lisa: Yeah. I guess that's really good advice. we gotta listen to our voices, and they might as well be positive, right?

[01:12:15] Kelsey: And it is hard. Don't get me wrong. it is hard work to be y- and I don't wanna be like a toxic positivity, 'cause that's not what it is.

It is... But it is hard work to be positive, but it is hard work to be negative. And I just know that, when I was in the head space that I was before, it was like I just did not like... I didn't like it. I didn't like the way that I felt. I didn't like the, the things that I was saying to myself or about myself.

And it's man, by changing your mindset and changing your mentality to something that is just more positive, I can tell you that it's just so much more enlightening, and you just feel so much freer and lighter. And while it is hard work to stay in that, it's like I would rather do the work to feel better than to do that work and feel miserable.

[01:13:11] Lisa: So now when you open your eyes in the morning and get up to go to work, are you just, running there?

[01:13:17] Kelsey: I have... Okay, this is the crazy thing. I have. So I've been doing this for four years, and I can tell you right now that 100%, without a doubt, the worst day that I had in this job was when I had painted something and the paint crinkled and I had to start again.

That was the worst, day. And if that is the worst day that I've had, I think I'm doing- Yeah ... pretty darn good. For sure. Yeah.

[01:13:41] Lisa: And I can see your business only growing-

[01:13:44] Kelsey: Yeah ...

[01:13:45] Lisa: throughout the world and- Yes ... because, those signs, like I go to sales now, and there's still vendors there.

There's a market for signs-

[01:13:54] Kelsey: Yep,

[01:13:54] Lisa: absolutely ... no matter, what,

[01:13:56] Kelsey: Absolutely. And, I did these ornaments, so that was the thing is I had this idea last year to do these ornaments, these very small ornaments, and I wanted essentially them to be my mosaic designs and mimic my mosaics, but my goal has always been to get my art into as many people's hands as possible.

That, that is truly what I want. I'm a, I really want my art to be everywhere, right? And so by doing these ornaments, that was my goal. And, as I'm- Creating these and packing them and launching them, and the response has been incredible. we've sold well over 900 ornaments. That's crazy to me to be like, "There is 900 ornaments, 900 of my designs somewhere in this world."

I shipped them as far as England so far, and, all over the United States, all over Canada. It's And I wanted to be able to offer them at a price point that was affordable to most people because I understand that my commissions oftentimes are not exactly affordable for a lot of people. I would consider them, a luxury purchase.

And I thought this is probably the best way, the only way that I can do this at an affordable price where I can still meet... that's my mission, is to get people, my art in more people's hands. And the fact that we had such a great turnout, but it's taking those little chances and thinking outside of the box, it's like those are how, that is how you keep expanding and keep growing in your business and your art.

Whatever, honestly, whatever it is that you wanna do, but it's like trying different things 'cause I've never done something like that before. But it's wow, the response has been incredible.

[01:15:53] Lisa: And so you have four designs, and you can sell them as a set of four or- Yes ... individual-

[01:15:59] Kelsey: Yes

[01:15:59] Lisa: from your website.

[01:16:00] Kelsey: Totally, and how the, the design and all of that, so the, there's four mosaics, and two of them, the Utah Mini Mo and the Idaho Mini Mo are actually mosaics that I've made already. They exist. They're out in the world. They are alive somewhere. And I had two other ones. One was called the Sky Mosaic, and then the other one was Juniper.

And the Juniper was more so just like a more festive, green and red, Christmassy colors. Who knows if that's gonna be an actual, piece of art in the future. It very well might. But the Sky Mosaic That one is very special to me because I created that piece a long time ago and I never had an opportunity to create it.

And I was just asked a few months ago, by the Royal Botanical Gardens if I would be a, artist... essentially an artist in residence for their upcoming exhibit in February to April. And so they asked me to create four custom mosaics for them, that... And it'll be me along with, I think, six or seven other woodworkers there, and we all use wood and totally different mediums.

but basically my mosaics will be, like, on a center wall, center... a front and center kinda thing. And I... they don't exist yet. But come January they will all exist. And the sky... The whole premise of them is I wanted to... I guess the theme of the exhibit is from, dusk till dawn, and I wanted to be able to encompass that in my work.

So the four works that I'm doing essentially are like a... one is like a golden hour, so it'll be more those golden tones. there's going to be a dusk one and, a midnight one. And the sky, I'm always, my daytime, my bright, vibrant, like, where everything kinda comes alive. And I thought it was such a fitting piece, but also...

So it's, one, because it's, the daytime, the sky mo. but also it was a dual meaning for me because I was able to name two of the mosaics, after my sister. So her name's Skylar Dawn. So the sky is after her first name, and then the other mosaic is the Dawn mosaic, and that is, yeah, after her.

Very cool. So kinda has, two, two dual meanings for me.

[01:18:41] Lisa: Wow. Yeah. That sounds so exciting. can't wait to see that.

[01:18:45] Kelsey: Yes, me too.

[01:18:46] Lisa: In 2026?

[01:18:48] Kelsey: Yes.

[01:18:50] Lisa: there... it just sounds like the sky is the limit for you and your business. Yes. And you're just getting started.

[01:18:56] Kelsey: It feels that way. I feel like I've been doing this forever, but also that I am just so new.

Yeah. And so fresh.

[01:19:02] Lisa: Yeah. And there's nothing like creativity and using it every day. Yeah.

[01:19:08] Kelsey: And it's very frank, for sure.

[01:19:11] Lisa: nya:węh- Nya:węh- ... for visiting the podcast with us, Kelsey, and, success to your business in the future. I know that, when I, travel around our community, I do see your work.

Yeah. And it's nice to see. Yeah. Okay. thanks for being here, nya:węh, and Onaki wa:hi. O:nen ki. Nya:wah, thank you for listening to this episode of the Yohá:te ne kahsén:na: The Road to Your Name podcast, which has been produced by Aboriginal Legal Services and hosted by me, Lisa VanEvery. There are 10 podcast episodes in each season.

Let's meet again on the next episode If you would like to learn more about our organization, Aboriginal Legal Services, and the programs and services we provide, please visit us at our website, www.aboriginallegal.ca

And if you feel inclined and would like to make a donation, you can click on the word Donate located at the top of the homepage of our website. You can also visit us on Facebook at Rot your Name. This has been the Yoha:te ne kahsen:na: The Road To Your Name podcast.