It all started with candles

In 2016, I started making candles simply because I was curious. No plan. No 'real' vision.
Just a genuine interest and curiosity in learning how they were made and wanting to experiment with natural waxes myself. That curiosity slowly turned into something bigger.

And in 2020, after life gave me some signals in a way, I decided; somewhat terrified, if I’m honest; to turn that hobby into a business. That’s how Lont & Co was born.

But it was not a straight line to success. Starting a business, with a newborn and a toddler running around, add to that the pandemic,… the first few years were just survival mode and figuring out things along the way...

Then ceramics entered my life

And changed everything a little. My vision became a bit more clear.

Working with clay challenged me in a completely different way.
It’s slower. Less predictable. More humbling.
And as someone who naturally leans towards perfectionism… it forced me to learn to let go a bit.

Clay doesn’t care about you.
It cracks, warps, surprises you, and teaches patience whether you want it to or not.

"Perfectly imperfect” became more than just a phrase. It became part of how I create; and honestly, part of how I try to live too.

Building this business has changed me as much as the business itself

Running a one-woman business while also being a mother, partner, and basically just a human trying to keep all the plates spinning… has stretched me in every possible way.

There have been doubts, lots of doubts and there still are.
Messy phases.
Moments of wondering if I was doing enough, doing it “right.”, growing fast enough because everyone around me seemed to grow exponentially and I felt stuck more times than not.

But I kept showing up or I tried too.

Not perfectly. Not (always) confidently.
But I did try to show up consistently, especially behind the scenes, in my atelier.
And the fact that things grow more slowly for me, with all the ups and downs, is pretty much a reflection of real life.

It’s messier than people think.
It’s slower than you hope.
And it’s more uncertain than expected.
But worth it, so worth it.

Life outside the studio

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me:

• walking through a forest
• in the garden with my hands in the soil
• playing with Diva & Diego
• drinking hot chocolates from a handmade mug while dreaming up new ideas
• Seeing my kids growing & thriving (while fighting)
• listening to music while working
• or daydreaming of travel destinations.

I’m also:
• someone who sneezes exactly three times when stepping into sunlight
• someone who loves asking questions
is always cold
• slightly obsessed with bees
• quietly holding onto the dream of one day renovating a farmhouse with enough land for a bigger atelier, a flower field, animals, and a lot of trees, a forest even.

Why I do this

Atelier Felien was never just about making products.

It is about building a life around creativity.
Around curiosity.

It’s proof to myself that you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin.
You can start scared.
You can change direction.
You can and should evolve.
You can build something beautiful slowly, one step at a time.
You're allowed to go slow.
But there’s one lesson I’m still learning every day, and it’s the only ‘must’; you really do have to show your work.

Thank you

If you’re here reading this; whether you’ve supported Atelier Felien from the beginning or only just found me; thank you.

Supporting handmade means supporting a real person, a real dream, and all the messy, beautiful in-between that comes with building it.
And I’m so grateful you’re here for it.

Warmest wishes,
Felien