I have made it my mission as a photographer, to not only take portraits of amazing women, but to empower them and encourage them to follow their passions. I am often asked about my experience of leaving a day job to pursue my art, and whether it was a scary thing.  I always answer the same way. I ask them about what makes them happy, and what they would do if money was no object. Then, I ask them, “why don’t you do it?”. There is no question that working for yourself comes with many uncertainties, but if you truly want to be happy, you have to be doing what you love. Whether it be working a 9-5 behind a desk, or traveling the world to take beautiful pictures. Everyone is different, but everyone has amazing potential, some just have to dig deep for it.

This is Jenny, a lovely, doe eyed beauty with such a vibrant spirit, and an incredible talent for the knitting craft. I first found Jenny through Instagram, and fell in love with what she did as an artist. So I reached out, we met, and we were instant friends. It was a true honour to be able to capture these images for her.  She has so many lovely pieces on Etsy, and although Spring is here, who doesn’t love a warm hat and scarf cuddle up to a campfire with, or wear for a cool summer walk on the beach.

The name Lily Lake Knits comes from a beautiful piece of land in Cape Breton which is owned by Jenny’s boyfriend, Ryan. It was owned by his grandfather and his father before. The wildlife on this land is abundant and feels like a step back in time when they camp there. If she had choose to be anywhere in the world it would be sitting along Lily Lake next to a campfire listening to the owls. It’s where her heart is, and why she chose to name her brand Lily Lake Knits.

Jenny first fell in love with wool knits when she visited The Blarney Woolen Mills in Ireland. She said that the detail put into their work is incomparable. She was fascinated at how all of the beautiful items were created by natural fibres, and had been used this way for so long. She has always been in love with creating art and this was just another form of art that she wanted to dive into. After many failed attempts she finally taught herself how to knit, and has been hooked ever since.

She takes great pride in her work and uses only the best of wools. Most of her wool comes from a family owned sheep farm here in Nova Scotia. This 100% natural wool has no bleaches or chemicals, locally sourced grains are used to fed the sheep. It is a very organic process and why she chooses it for my knits.

Jenny feels that there is no better gift than a handmade one. She gets an amazing feeling when she finishes an item for someone and ships it off. To be able to create something from scratch with her own two hands that will keep someone warm, just makes her all kinds of happy!