Jessicca Lenehan is the owner and designer of Landy Lou & Devie Too Handmade Clothing, offering trendy heirloom-quality clothing for babies, children and women. “Everything is cut and sewn from scratch using soft fabrics that both children and women love. I taught myself how to sew after having my first child and quickly found myself in search of the right ‘style’ of clothing I was looking for.” Learn about Jessicca Lenehan…
Hometown: Rudd, IA – the town slogan is “Not Bigger, Just Better” if that gives you any hints to the size of the town.
First job: I grew up on a farm so my first jobs were definitely related to farming. Picking up rocks in fields, walking beans and the best paying job I had was building grain bins on my grandpa’s farm. I assume not to many high school girls can say they did that.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in IA: Socializing! I am a talker, and I love to sit with a group of friends outside sipping some craft beers and just chatting it up. I’ve got two busy boys and this business that keep me busy so free time is hard to find.
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Leaving my job in dental hygiene after 10 years to see where I can take this… and succeeding! Being able to support my family on something I’ve built is the best feeling in the world. My husband supports me 100 percent and even helps out when needed, same with my kids.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: COVID obviously threw some curveballs my way. Markets were cancelled, stores were closed, shows I put together needed to be modified, lots of change in a short period of time. I gave myself a couple days to worry about the what-ifs, then I got to work! Photographing every item I had made, cleaning up my website, just trying to make it easy for anyone to make a purchase without physically seeing the item. I ended up having an excellent 2020, and the changes I made to our event, Locally Grown Showcase, allowed other makers the opportunity to sell their items safely and shoppers responded with record sales!
Someone who inspires you and why: All of the women entrepreneurs I’ve met on this journey are extremely inspiring. I’ve been at this for over nine years now, and I’ve seen so many businesses rise and fall. You have to keep moving, adapting and educating yourself. The support network I have with these ladies has helped me grow both personally and professionally. I hope I do the same for others.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Don’t expect this to be passive. No matter how great you are at what you do, it takes time and energy every single day, but it has always been worth it.
Favorite quote: “You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” -Maya Angelou
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I wish I could laugh face emoji this 100 times…I rap Eminem at karaoke. and I think I’m good at it.
What makes someone fabulous: Confidence in who they are and what they do.