Meet Janette Holland | Fiber Artist, Entrepreneur, Community Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janette Holland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janette, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
A lifelong desire to learn to quilt was awakened when I had a thought to make a quilt for my elderly mother. Following that, the pandemic occurred and I started leveraging my newfound sewing skills to make high quality masks from African print fabric that I had laying around. The demand for the custom masks exploded and I found myself starting Blessed Hands, LLC. As my sewing and quilting skills matured, I applied my creativity and began creating pieces of fiber art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a self-taught fiber artist, a retired application developer, a highly regarded cook and well known event planner. My creativity, attention to detail and ability to learn techniques and technology quickly have allowed me to excel professionally in the corporate world and as an artist and entrepreneur. The challenges achieving the success and recognition I’ve received with Blessed Hands were many but overcoming wasn’t a difficult as one might imagine because of the support of my husband, my eldest daughter Jasmine, and my niece Krystal and her oldest daughter. The explosion of Blessed Hands as a business occurred during the pandemic and all of us were home together and decided to link arms and make it work!

I’d like for the world to know that I’m an example of an ordinary person that’s accomplished extraordinary things in the business, ministry, entrepreneurial and art communities because of faith in God, the support of family and a belief that I can truly accomplish anything I put my mind toward accomplishing. If I can do it, anyone can!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live south of Washington, DC and we are surrounded by so many things to do. Here’s an itinerary: – Breakfast a the Metro Diner in Fredericksburg, VA. The best and heartiest breakfast you’ll ever have!
– National Museum of African American History and Culture (I’m a history buff and I love my culture, you can spend 2 days here and not see everything this museum has to offer).
– Lunch at Mike’s American Grill in Springfield, VA (a landmark in Northern VA whose food has not dropped off in nearly 30 years)
-Hains Point in Washington, DC to relax and enjoy the beautiful view of DC and the Potomac River
– The Wharf outdoor seafood restaurant for a quick snack of fresh clam chowder
– Wrapping the night up with live jazz and dinner and any one of a number of places on the U Street corridor in Washington, DC.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout is aimed at my husband Gary Holland who has always supported my desire to pursue fiber art on a full time basis. His financial, emotional and physical support has been critical. He also serves as my IT administrator, business manager, and jack-of-all-trades.

Website: www.blessedhands.store

Instagram: her.blessedhands

Facebook: her.blessedhandz

Image Credits
Janette Holland