Summertime is my favorite time of the year. I have more time to create and make things for me, but I also have more time to create for others. I know a lot of people don’t like making custom orders, because sometimes it’s hard to read into what people want and sometimes they really don’t know what they want.

Well, my parents made sure I started working and I started as a waitress when I was 15. I will tell you, that is a hard job. My first job was at a bed and breakfast inn and they were just opening. They decided to host a grand opening private party for around 100 people. None of us had experience except for a couple of us. People can be very demanding and unforgiving when it comes to mistakes and how they want their food. I went home that night crying because I was so overwhelmed and emotional.

My Daddy and Mama asked about how things went and I told them that people in general are not that kind. They were demanding, impatient, and some outright rude. My Daddy said , “Unfortunately that’s how the real world is…My advice is to smile like you always do. No matter how hard they try to make your job, just kill them with kindness.”

Now, that was extremely hard to do, but as I went on I realized that when people try to anger you by trying to get a rise out of you and see that they can’t, well then they usually stop. I learned a lot that first summer about people and customer service. I learned to listen….I also learned to take cues from people and I also learned to ask questions if there was any confusion.

In the 10 years that I waited tables, I learned also that communicating with people involved a lot of give and take. You have to listen as well as know the right questions to ask and when you do custom orders, it’s the same. I try to find out their vision and then I try to make it a reality with my art.

Here are some of my custom quilled letters I’ve done from A to Z. I hope you enjoy them!

Click here to see the letters from A to Z… www.instagram.com/reel/CuHnTCbgp_-/

Jennifer