Meet Felicia Wallace | Private Handwork Teacher

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

Hi Felicia, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and moved to California at the age of twelve. It was a challenging transition—navigating a new language, culture, and school system at such a pivotal age. But that experience shaped my adaptability and resilience, qualities that have been essential in both life and business.
I first learned to crochet when I was nine years old in third grade. I loved it, but at the time, my father discouraged me, saying it was an activity for older women. I let it go for a while, but the spark never really left. In 8th grade, I was introduced to sewing through a homemaking class, and later in high school, I took it further by making many of my own clothes. It wasn’t just about creativity—I loved fashion, but couldn’t afford the clothes I wanted, so I made them myself.
While studying Business Administration and Fashion Merchandising in college, I worked at the Glendale Community College Professional Development Center. There, I had access to a variety of community classes that fueled my creativity—everything from cooking and flower arranging to making cards and gift baskets. These experiences helped me explore different forms of art and design while staying grounded in practical business skills.
After college, I worked in the apparel industry with the goal of becoming a buyer, but I soon found myself drawn to the production and manufacturing side. In 1995, I sewed my own wedding dress—one of the proudest expressions of my skills and creativity. When I became a mother, I decided to pause my career to focus on raising my children.
While waiting through countless practices and activities with my kids, I picked up knitting and crocheting again. What started as a way to pass the time quickly turned into a passion. In 2005, I began making hair bows for my daughter, which eventually grew into a small side business—selling over 10,000 handmade hair bows, headbands, and accessories.
I’ve always found knitting and crocheting deeply therapeutic. Once I start, I often enter a creative flow and make multiples of the same piece—scarves, hats, gloves, baby booties and more. With so many extras, friends and parents would often ask to buy them, which led to selling at local pop-ups and holiday boutiques. As word spread, people began asking me to teach them.
Now that my children are grown, I’ve been able to dedicate more time to doing what I love. I continue to sell my handmade goods, but I’ve discovered that teaching is even more fulfilling. Offering classes in sewing, knitting, and crocheting has allowed me to connect with both children and their parents. It brings me immense joy to share my skills, inspire creativity, and continue learning through the community that has grown around my passion.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I create beautiful, handcrafted pieces designed for everyday life, using techniques such as crochet, knitting, and sewing. My work includes functional home goods and wearable accessories—one of my most popular being handcrafted children’s hair bows. Every item is made with care, combining utility with artistry.
While I love the process of making, I’ve learned over time that the market for handcrafted items is rarely about profit—it’s a labor of love. Most artists create because it brings them joy, not because it’s financially lucrative. That’s one of the reasons I’ve found so much fulfillment in teaching. It allows me to continue crafting while sharing the joy of handwork with others—and be fairly compensated for my time and expertise. Seeing others use something I’ve made, or better yet, something I’ve taught them to create, is incredibly rewarding.
Knitting and crocheting are never boring to me—in fact, they’re deeply therapeutic. They’ve been a steady companion throughout my life, especially during the 25 years I spent as a stay-at-home mom. While waiting through countless sports practices and activities, I always had a project in hand. It became a way to stay centered, calm, and creatively engaged.
Beyond being relaxing and rewarding, handwork offers genuine benefits—especially for children. Studies show it improves fine motor skills, supports mathematical and analytical thinking, and strengthens artistic development and relieves stress. It also builds confidence and a lasting sense of accomplishment. These crafts aren’t just hobbies—they’re valuable life skills that nurture both the hands and the mind.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in a quiet, charming neighborhood in North Glendale called Sparr Heights. Just a few blocks away is downtown Montrose, where Honolulu Avenue offers a perfect mix of small-town charm and local flavor. I’d begin the visit with a relaxed afternoon stroll through Montrose—exploring the boutiques, cafés, and tree-lined streets that give the area its cozy, welcoming vibe.
While Los Angeles is filled with iconic tourist destinations, I gravitate toward the more off-the-beaten-path experiences—places that don’t always make the guidebooks but leave a lasting impression. A few of my favorites include the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, and Descanso Gardens in La Cañada, where I also volunteer. These places offer beauty, culture, and a bit of peace away from the bustle.
For shopping, I’d take my guest treasure-hunting at local thrift stores and visit Remainders Creative Reuse in Pasadena, a fantastic spot for affordable fabric and craft supplies—perfect for fellow creatives.
Los Angeles is a dream when it comes to food, especially if you love global flavors. I’d make sure we enjoyed a Thai dinner at Saladang in Pasadena, and for a taste of home, we’d head to Simpang Asia in Culver City for delicious Indonesian cuisine.
As someone who loves to cook and host, I’d plan a few evenings at home featuring home-cooked meals and long conversations over cocktails in our home tiki bar—a fun project my husband brought to life.
To balance out all the amazing meals, I’d bring my friend along for a workout at the La Cañada YMCA. It’s a great way to stay active and feel like a local for a day.
And of course, no trip to Southern California would be complete without a visit to the beach. I’d plan a day at Manhattan Beach—one of my favorites. It offers great shopping, and a beautiful stretch of sand where you can relax, watch the waves, and maybe catch a volleyball game or two.
It would be a week of simple pleasures, meaningful moments, and a taste of the Southern California lifestyle I love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m incredibly grateful to the people who saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. My daughter, Paige, and a close friend/neighbor were the first to encourage me to start teaching. Back in 2018, they believed that sharing my skills would not only be something I’d enjoy but something I’d be good at. I gave it a try, promoting my classes on social media. Although there was some interest, it was challenging at the time to get people to commit, and the idea didn’t take off right away.
Then in 2021, another friend approached me with the idea of teaching a group of homeschooled children. That opportunity opened the door to what would become a growing part of my small business. Over the following months, I taught various children from that group, and gradually, more families started to find me—often through word of mouth or community connections. What began slowly has now grown into something truly meaningful.
I also want to recognize the impact of an episode from Masterclass featuring Sara Blakely, titled “Finding Your Purpose.” In it, she asked three simple but powerful questions:
1. What do you enjoy?
2. What are you good at?
3. How do you want to serve the world?
Those questions really resonated with me. Seeing a successful, articulate woman build a business rooted in her passions made me feel that I, too, could turn my skills into something impactful. That inspiration helped shift my mindset—from just creating for myself to truly building a business that serves others.
Since then, I’ve focused on sharing my art and classes with the community, growing through word of mouth, and most importantly, providing real value to my students and their families. It’s been incredibly rewarding to do work that aligns with both my talents and my heart.
I’m especially grateful to my husband, Ken and my children (Paige and Ryan) who have been a constant source of love, encouragement, and inspiration. Their support gives me the strength and motivation to keep growing, take risks, and pursue what I love. Whether it’s cheering me on during busy times or simply being patient when I need to give something my full attention, they are truly the foundation behind everything I do. I couldn’t do it without them.

Instagram: @sewfelicia and @feliciatwallace

Facebook: Felicia Wallace

Image Credits
Ken Wallace