Life & Work with Christa Hanna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Hanna.

Hi Christa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my journey with laser-cut acrylic in 2020. I had no knowledge of laser cutters at all. Honestly, I had never even heard of a glowforge! I woke up one morning to my husband, Mark, looking at Glowforge machines and mentioning how cool it would be to own one. I looked at the price tag and immediately thought it was out of reach, especially while still navigating through a pandemic. However the idea stuck with me, and throughout the next 24 hours, I found myself picking up my phone and looking into the Glowforge and looking at different products I could make with it, and during those first 24 hours of having just discovered the machine, I ordered one.

It arrived within the same week along with materials and supplies I ordered. I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t figure out how to set up design files and was struggling with settings for different materials, but I stuck with it. I watched hours upon hours of youtube videos, read tutorials in every spare moment, tested out materials and settings, writing everything down in a notebook.

One day, it all just clicked. I was making ornaments and wall signs, and taking all my profits and buying more and more material. I registered my business, purchased my domain name, and filed for my sales tax license, then in March of 2021, with no idea how I would do it, I quit my full-time job at a coffee shop.

I knew it was now or never. I had the idea in my head to make guillotine earrings. I made one pair just for fun, posted them in an art group on Facebook, and watched my post go viral within a few hours. I had 27 orders for those earrings within 6 hours. A little over a year later, since I made that post, I’ve sold over 1,000 pairs in a variety of different colorways. I’ve worked endlessly, pouring every bit of energy and soul that I have into this business. I’ve been selling full-time now for a year and four months, and I think I’ve finally embraced my niche.

I started doing in person market events. I found a community of loving friends and supporters and I just kept pushing and growing myself and my business.

I’m still over the moon with how far I’ve come in a short time. I’m beyond thankful every single day for the support, the loyalty of my community and my family, and for the opportunities that I’ve been given. I now wholesale to 4 different locations and have big plans in the pipeline for expanding my product line. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for myself and for Fallen Pine Studio.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish I could say it’s been a smooth road, and an easy process, but it’s honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s really hard to put yourself out there at first, and it’s even harder to really gain traction on social media these days when so many people and small businesses are also putting themselves out there. I try really hard to be personable, friendly and unique in what I do.

There have been many nights where I feel like I’m out of ideas or I don’t know what to create next. It’s hard to push through creative blocks.

It also took some adjustment when it came to understanding, some weeks will be slow and some will be so busy I won’t know what to do. The slows can be really discouraging, and the busy weeks can be really overwhelming, but it all evens out and I wouldn’t trade this in for anything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a primary focus on laser-cut acrylic jewelry. It all started with one pair of guillotine earrings, and once they took off and went viral, I really doubled down and started to focus on jewelry. I purchased new acrylics, I spent hours searching for different colors and specialty acrylics and I spent more than I ever expected on supplies. I know have at least 75 different colors and styles of acrylic on hand at all times.

I’m known for making “witchy, magical jewelry and art, from my home to yours” which is the tag line on all of my social media accounts.

I try to stay within my niche. Year-round, I sell cauldrons, crystal balls, potion bottles and crystal earrings. I make SO many different pairs with an iridescent material that’s extremely loved by my customers and my communities.

When I started doing in-person markets, I started doing home decor, which caused me to do viral again for making a sign with the phrase “live laugh lobotomy” on it. I started making cutting boards with witchy phrases, bathroom signs with ghosts, slate coasters with horror movie characters. Once I really embraced my magical and spooky year-round niche, I opened up more doors for myself.

I’m beyond proud of myself for never giving up, never slowing down, and always pushing myself to be creating what I want to create. I’ve always stayed true to making art and products that make me happy. I stopped making things that didn’t bring me joy, and once I did that, I really blossomed.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think my most beneficial quality towards my success is my pure determination. Even when I felt I was out of ideas, I’d watch movies and read books and think to myself, “what can I take from this to turn into art?” My brain is constantly churning and thinking of ideas, I had to start writing everything down because I’d get so many ideas in my head, I didn’t know where to start with them.

I’m extremely hard-working, and I’ve been pouring everything that I have into growing my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: fallenpinestudio.etsy.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/fallenpinestudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/fallenpinestudio