Meet Emily Lesch | Craft Workshop Instructor

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

Hi Emily, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The biggest factor behind my success has been building strong connections and a supportive community. Being able to get out into the world and form real relationships has opened up so many doors. When your network is solid, people naturally reach out with opportunities and collaborations. You just can’t rely on the internet alone to stay in the loop or discover every new business lead.

People often chalk success up to luck or timing, but more often than not, it comes from putting yourself out there and staying open. That said, building a network is far from easy. I’ve been rejected, overlooked, and ignored more times than I can count. It’s tough putting your time and energy into an application or email and getting nothing back.

Still, the growth of my brand and career as an artist has mostly come down to a few key people saying yes when everyone else said no. Staying optimistic and building your community one person at a time is what really moves things forward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be an artist. But not just any artist—I wanted to be a pink, sparkly artist. The kind of person who wasn’t afraid to be bubbly, girly, and full of imagination. I didn’t care if it seemed too much or too over-the-top. I just wanted to have fun, express myself, and share that energy with others. That’s the heart of what I do now and what my brand, Bambola Shoppe, is all about.

Bambola means “doll” in Italian, and to me, being a doll is about more than just aesthetics. It means being kind, generous, and uplifting the people around you. It means giving yourself permission to dream as big as you want and to live in a world where the line between pretend and real life doesn’t need to exist. That sense of play and possibility is something I carry into everything I create.

At Bambola Shoppe, I host crafting workshops designed to help people reconnect with their creativity and explore the most authentic, joyful version of themselves. I believe that making something with your hands is not just fun or cute, it’s meaningful. Every craft is a small act of magic. You take an idea, something that didn’t exist before, and bring it into the world. Now it’s part of your life and a reflection of who you are.

Getting to this point was far from easy. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin where people lived very traditional lives. I was encouraged to pursue a safe, stable path, so I originally studied chemistry in college because it felt like a smart choice. But halfway through, I had a moment of clarity. I realized I wanted to follow my passions, even if it meant the road ahead would be unpredictable.

I moved to California in February of 2020 with no job and no connections. The timing was rough and I struggled a lot financially and even more mentally. After a LOT of no’s, I landed a role as an Animator for Coolman Coffeedan, where I worked for four years and eventually became a Producer, helping run global events, brand collabs, and merch drops. It was an incredible experience, but I realized that nothing I created belonged to me. So I made the leap, trusted my instincts, and started Bambola Shoppe.

I’m proud of the brand I’ve built and the community that’s growing around it. I want people to know that crafting is not silly or small—it’s joyful, empowering, and worth celebrating. If there’s one message I want the world to take from my story, it’s this: live life to its fullest, dream without limits, and craft often. You’re a doll, and that means you can be anything you want to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit LA for a week, I would want to experiences as many firsts as possible. As someone from Wisconsin, there are so many things here that just don’t exist back home. I’ll admit, my itinerary might earn a few eye-rolls from the LA locals—Ope! Oh well.

The very first thing we’re doing is heading straight to the ocean. There’s just nothing like it. The wind in your hair, the salt in the air, the sun on your skin. Looking out at that endless water always puts into perspective how small our problems are and how much there is to appreciate. It’s where I take everyone who visits, there’s nothing like catching up and reminiscing with a beach walk.

Then, we eat. Before I moved to LA, I couldn’t understand why anyone would pay real money for ramen. That was before I had the house ramen at Akuma in West Hollywood. Life changing. I spent two years trying to recreate it at home and never even got close. I’ll also give an honorable mention to a few places in Sawtelle, —Mogumogu, Tatsu, and Killer Noodle. I’m taking you to Ramen whether you like it or not.

As someone with German heritage, I’ve searched all over LA for good schnitzel, and Rasselbock in Mar Vista is it. Honestly, it might even be better than my grandma’s, and that’s saying something.

Since LA isn’t exactly known for pool and darts, I take comfort in Q’s Billiards Club. It’s not glamorous, but it feels like home. The kind of place where you can just relax, grab a drink, and challenge someone to a friendly game.

No trip would be complete without some comedy. The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory have become regular stops for me. I had never even been to a comedy show before moving here, and now I go as often as I can. Nothing beats a night of laughing and a few drinks.

For a little reset and some views, we’d head to the East Side for a hike. My favorite trail is Beaudry Loop. When I first moved to LA and didn’t know anyone, that trail was my friend. Some weeks I’d hike it two or three times just to feel grounded. Sharing that with a friend feels full circle.

By the end of the week, my friend would leave with a full belly, a full heart, and maybe even a few new calluses from the pool table. LA might not be perfect, but when you see it through the lens of someone who didn’t grow up here, it feels like a place where magic happens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout series, first, to all the kids out there with big passions who get told, “That’s great, but what do you really want to do when you grow up?” Keep going. Adults do not have all the answers. I wake up every day hoping to inspire people just like you, and that purpose is truly the heart of my business.

My second shoutout goes to Carla Rosin, the organizer of the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Carla is incredibly kind and deeply committed to our community. She took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to host my very first workshop at the market. That moment was a turning point for me and completely changed the path of Bambola Shoppe.

Website: https://www.bambolashoppe.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambola.shoppe

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmeWtzYpZyRMErbwyN8xjww/videos

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bambola.shoppe