Who Even Runs Craft Club?

Hi besties

I’m a little offended you’re even asking this… JK. I’ll give y’all some grace.

Hi, my name is Janelle! The one behind Craft Club. It’s nice to officially meet. If you’ve followed me on Instagram for a while, you’ve probably seen a funny look into my life via my stories which includes primarily this angle and topics like:

• Me going to court for a speeding ticket and being VERY scared
• My many crushes (sorry, I am gatekeeping some of them)
• My visions for my future life (think me and my hot husband on a ranch with a toddler boy, and me pregnant with a girl)
• My future wedding (I’m not dating anyone but these are things we must keep up on)
• General chaos
  
  

I like to keep things a little unhinged – it's honestly the least I can do for you.

The Basics

• Name: Janelle Widtfeldt
  
  
• Age: 33
  
  
• Favorite Color: Blue like the ocean, but also orange like a sunset
  
  
• Favorite Animal: Orca whale – I have a deep obsession. They’re smart and beautiful.
  
  
• From: Philadelphia, PA
  
  
• Fun Fact: I have 7 siblings. Ya girl is from a biiiiig ole family <3
  
  

A Few Life Pivots Later…

There’s been a lot that’s shaped me into who I am today –  I’ve never been afraid of a good ol’ life pivot.

I grew up in Philly and went to BYU-Idaho, I know bet you didn’t see that one coming. I majored in Elementary Education. And honestly? I had a blast. Rexburg is so different from Pennsylvania, and that made it kinda cool for me. Its so cold in Rexburg that you don't really venture outside, but inside I met some of the best people.

Teaching Days

I student taught in Salt Lake, which is what brought me here! From there, I taught first grade for 7 years in American Fork. I loved my students and truly had so much fun. There’s something so special about bonding as a class and growing together – kind of like what we’re doing here at Craft Club, tbh.

Becoming an Outdoors Girl (Somehow)

I had never stepped foot outdoors before 2015. Then I was invited to backpack Havasupai with some of my coworkers from Tucanos — who ended up becoming my best friends.

I had just officially moved to Utah and didn’t know anyone, so I made a rule for myself:
Say yes to anything I was invited to.

That trip changed everything. It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone and honestly, it changed who I am. It cracked something open in me that’s never closed since.

From then on, I took any chance I could to travel. I backpacked through Patagonia, Machu Picchu, Europe, the Philippines, Thailand, and South Africa. Each trip helped me stretch, grow, and become more of who I am today.

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My Corporate Baddie Era (Kind of)

After teaching, I made a big pivot into tech sales. I had dreams of becoming a total sales girlie and climbing the ladder, making bank, living my corporate baddie fantasy. But… it didn’t quite go that way.

I got laid off from my first sales job, which was devastating at the time — and confusing. Every time I tried to go for the “next thing,” it just seemed to fall apart. I felt stuck. Frustrated. Lost.

That layoff led me to a new role at BambooHR, and technically, that’s when I started Craft Club — so maybe the breakdown led to the breakthrough. (Hi, silver linings.)

But even at BambooHR, sales still felt… empty. A little purposeless. It just didn’t fit.

All of these things — teaching, traveling, sales have shaped me in such a real way.

‍I’m a vastly different person than I was when I flew west for college.

Truthfully, I’m a different person than I was a year ago.

Every season has stretched me, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me learn new skills and new perspectives. Even the detours have been building blocks.

Enter: Craft Club 

All roads from teaching, to traveling, to tech somehow led here.

To Craft Club.

I couldn’t be happier. This community, this creative outlet, this weird little dream that turned into something real — it feels like everything was pointing me toward this the whole time.

Love you bye!!!!

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