Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Pinto.
Hi Vanessa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
JV Country Creations started in 2015 from what was supposed to be a one-time project. My parents handcrafted birch wood candle holders as centerpieces for my bridal shower and wedding, and they received so much attention that people encouraged us to sell them with their own personalization. Right after my wedding, my mom, Janet, and I decided to see where the idea could go, and what began as a small creative project quickly grew into a full family business.
In the early years, we focused primarily on handcrafted wedding décor, but as our customers continued to support us, we naturally expanded into nature-inspired home décor and personalized gifts for all of life’s occasions, selling both online and in local shops and pop-up markets. While the business has expanded and my own family has grown with the addition of four children, our values have stayed the same. We’re still a family business, with now three generations playing a role in bringing our products to life. My dad sources and prepares the birch wood, my mom and I work side by side creating each piece, and every product is handcrafted at our workshop in Massachusetts using birch we sustainably source from the trails of northern Maine.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish everything had been smooth, but like most small businesses, it definitely hasn’t been.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was making the decision to leave my full-time career in corporate fitness in 2019. At the time, I had two young children at home and a business that was growing faster than I could manage in my spare time. Although it made sense on paper, walking away from a career I truly enjoyed and the security of a consistent paycheck was incredibly difficult. Looking back, it was the best decision I could have made. It gave me the time to fully invest in the business, which ultimately led to the expansion of our birch product line and allowed us to grow into what we are today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in creating handcrafted home décor and gifts from real birch logs. Every piece begins as a birch tree that we sustainably source ourselves in northern Maine, where we help clear trails by harvesting trees that need to be removed. From there, we cut, dry, prepare, and handcraft each log before individually wood burning every design by hand in our Massachusetts workshop.
Our signature products are our birch tea light candle holders, but over the years we’ve expanded that same concept into planters, propagation stations, vases, magnets, keychains, and seasonal décor. We love taking something as simple and natural as a birch log and transforming it into something both beautiful and functional that people can use and enjoy in their homes.
What I’m most proud of is that we remain involved in every step of the process. From sourcing the wood ourselves to hand burning each design and shipping the package, our family creates every product from start to finish. That level of craftsmanship and connection to our materials is becoming increasingly rare.
I also think what sets us apart is that our products are truly unique. Many customers tell us they’ve never seen anything quite like them before. By combining the natural beauty of real birch with original hand-burned artwork, we’ve created pieces that feel both rustic and modern while celebrating the beauty of nature.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is building a business where family and work can exist together. One of the greatest blessings of this journey is that the business has grown right alongside me. I’m incredibly grateful to work so closely with my parents while also being present for my own four children as they grow. Having the opportunity to build something meaningful with my family, while expressing my creativity and sharing my art with others, is something I never take for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JVCountryCreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvcountrycreations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JVCountryCreations/
