Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Ahumada.
Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Creativity has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my dad worked for the IRS by day, but at night he was always creating. He painted, made macramé, and was constantly working on something with his hands. I think I inherited a lot of that from him. I’ve always loved painting, crafting, and making things.
When my kids were young most of that creativity was set aside. Life was busy, and there just wasn’t much time for it. As my kids got older and became more independent, I suddenly found myself with more free time—and, quite honestly, I was a little bored. I decided it was time to start creating again.
Then, in 2018, my daughter was getting married. She fell in love with a beautiful—and very expensive—macramé wedding backdrop. I remember thinking, Maybe I can teach myself how to make that.
So I did.
The backdrop turned out beautifully, but something else happened along the way: I became completely hooked on macramé. I loved the process of tying the knots and watching something come together piece by piece. I found it incredibly relaxing and almost therapeutic.
Before long, I had made so many wall hangings and plant hangers that they were taking over our house. My family was receiving macramé gifts on a very regular basis! Eventually, someone suggested that I open an Etsy shop, and that planted the seed for turning my hobby into something more.
When Painted Tree announced it was opening in the Northland, their retail model really intrigued me. I had spent 18 years working in retail operations and management, so the idea of having my own little shop where I could combine everything I loved—creating products, merchandising, decorating displays, and selling—while someone else managed the day-to-day operation of the store sounded amazing.
And it was.
Painted Tree has since closed, but Knotty Mommi has continued to grow and evolve. Today, I have a boutique inside Queen Bee in Blue Springs and will soon be opening another location inside 913 Mercantile in Mission, Kansas.
Along the way, I’ve expanded beyond macramé and added plant-lover gifts, handmade décor, and lots of fun little creations. I seem to have developed a particular weakness for tiny things, so you’ll see plenty of those worked into my collections as well.
Somehow, all of those things—macramé, plants, tiny treasures, creativity, and my love of retail—have come together to become Knotty Mommi, a name my daughter came up with and one that has stuck with me ever since.
What started with one very expensive wedding backdrop has turned into a creative outlet, a small business, and something I genuinely love doing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest bumps in the road came earlier this year when Painted Tree announced that it was closing immediately. It was a real shock. My shop was doing well, I loved the experience, and I had finally found this wonderful combination of creating, merchandising, and running my own little retail space. Suddenly, it was just gone, and for a while. I felt a little lost.
I gave myself a couple of weeks to regroup (mourn) and figure out what I wanted to do next.
Then, completely by chance, I met a woman at the post office who was preparing to open a brand-new plant store in the Northland. As we started talking, I learned that she was already familiar with my space at Painted Tree and had actually hoped to connect with me about carrying some of my products in her new store.
That random encounter was incredibly encouraging. At a time when I was questioning what came next, it felt like a little nudge telling me not to give up. It reminded me that people had noticed what I was creating and that there were other opportunities out there.
That conversation helped inspire me to keep going, look for new places to sell, and rethink what Knotty Mommi could become. In hindsight, losing Painted Tree forced me to branch out—and that has opened doors I probably would not have explored otherwise.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Knotty Mommi started with macramé, and that is still a big part of what I do, but over time it has grown into much more. I now create and curate a mix of macramé, plant-lover gifts, small home décor, jewelry, air plant holders, magnets, ornaments, and other fun, giftable pieces.
I seem to have a particular love for tiny things, so many of my products are small, unexpected, and a little whimsical. I love creating things that make people stop, smile, and say, “That is so cute!” I’m constantly experimenting with new ideas, materials, colors, and ways to combine my love of plants with handmade design.
I think one thing that sets Knotty Mommi apart is that I don’t really stay in one lane. I may be tying macramé one day, working with wood or making tiny plant holders the next, and then completely redesigning a display because I have a new idea. My retail background definitely comes into play too. I love not only making the products but also figuring out how to merchandise them and create a space that feels fun and inviting.
I’m probably most proud of the fact that this has grown so organically. It started with one macramé backdrop for my daughter’s wedding and became something I never really planned—a creative outlet, a business, and a way to connect with people who enjoy the same quirky, plant-loving things that I do.
What makes me happiest is seeing someone pick up something I made, smile, and immediately think of the perfect place for it or the perfect person to give it to. That is probably the best part of being a maker.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to stay flexible and keep going, even when things don’t happen the way you planned.
When Painted Tree closed, I really felt like I had lost something I had worked hard to build. At first, it was difficult to see past that disappointment. But looking back, that experience pushed me to explore opportunities I probably would not have considered otherwise.
I’ve learned that sometimes a setback is really just a change in direction. Meeting the owner of a new plant store completely by chance, finding new retail spaces, and continuing to expand what I create have all reminded me that opportunities can show up in unexpected ways.
I’ve also learned not to be afraid to try something new. That is really how Knotty Mommi started in the first place—I had never made a macramé wedding backdrop before, but I decided I could probably figure it out. That same mindset still guides me today: try it, learn from it, adjust when necessary, and keep creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://etsy.com/shop/knottymommi
- Instagram: @knottymommi
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/knottymommi
