Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Kline.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Inclusive Pegs grew out of an unproductive search for a nativity for my own children back in 2018. I vividly remember scouring the internet a few days before advent, desperately trying to find a non-fragile and more importantly, non-white Mary and Joseph.
I wanted a more historically accurate depiction of Jesus the Refugee than the blonde-haired, blue-eyed versions I grew up seeing in church and on family members’ mantels. I wanted my kids to interact with the pieces and play out the story, without having to worry about ceramic pieces being broken by small hands.
Needless to say, I wasn’t very successful and that’s when I decided to order a set of blank peg dolls from a woodworker on Etsy and try my hand at painting my very own brown Jesus. After completing the new set (including some shepherds, animals, angels, and wise men), I shared it on social media with some words about why I painted it. What I shared seemed to really resonate with others and several folks asked if I would make more so they could buy one for their own family.
I had no idea that making that peg doll nativity for my own family back in 2018 would be the beginning of a journey towards a full-time hand-made business! The following advent I made close to 40 nativities (totaling close to 500 pegs). I also began making influential figures (such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Amanda Gorman) to celebrate hope, inclusivity, and imagination.
I now make a wide array of pegs, including inspirational women, television characters who inspire me (Ted lasso anyone?), custom families, wedding couples, pets, loved ones who’ve been lost, and of course nativities. Inclusive Pegs has been an incredibly exciting (and surprising!) experience and something I’m very proud of. It has grown so much over the last few years and it’s proof to me that we’re all looking for small sparks of joy these days.
It feels like we’ve built a community around these little peg people, one that brings joy and inspires hope, and that makes this whole experience incredibly meaningful to me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s easy for me to look back and romanticize the process of growing a small business myself. But in all honesty, there have been many challenges along the way. The biggest being the many hats I have to wear as the only member of Inclusive Pegs! Doing everything related to my business myself has been really overwhelming at times and there is so much that goes on behind the scenes besides painting.
As a parent and small business owner, I’m constantly navigating boundaries between work and home life. That has been difficult at times since I work from home and there is always more that can be done with the business. I’m learning to prioritize what matters most for my business and my family and let go of pressures to always be available and present on social media.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I make hand-painted peg doll keepsakes. I am most known for my nativity sets, inspired by Jesus the refugee, and my highly detailed custom work. I incorporate polymer clay into many of my pieces and I think the level of detail really sets me apart.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice to those who are just starting out is to really hone in on the “why” behind what you do and to keep coming back to it when things get overwhelming. Because they absolutely will get overwhelming and you will need that momentum and encouragement to push through.
I’d also say it’s important to remember that not everyone is your target customer and that’s fine! Highly-detailed peg doll collectibles aren’t for everyone and I’m okay with that. Find the people that understand and support your “why” and they will stick around.
Contact Info:
- Email: inclusivepegs@gmail.com
- Website: www.inclusivepegs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivepegs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inclusivepegs
Image Credits
First two photos (inspirational women and Amanda Gorman): Smoke Signal Media
