Who am I?

I am Elena Bondar, textile artist, craft entrepreneur and teacher. I make wool art and help others to find their own creativity. Crafting is more than a job to me - it's a way of seeing the world and sharing beauty.

My journey has not been an ordinary one. I was born in Russia, where I studied at a sports high school and prepared for a career as a professional athlete. At university I went into sports, but life took me in another direction. When I moved to Finland, I started a completely new phase - without any knowledge of Finnish, without a ready-made path, but full of passion and determination.

Created by The Ellunhuopa company, which has grown into a strong brand over the years. I specialise in felting and have developed my own technique for creating unique wool-themed works. I teach this skill in both physical classes and online courses, and already have hundreds of students. I have also written Guide to wool knitting, the first of its kind.

Why do I do this work?

I believe that creativity is the key to understanding yourself and finding joy in life. My mission is to help people see themselves in a new way, love themselves and believe in their own abilities. Everyone is creative in their own way - sometimes you just need the right way to find it.

This is why my teaching is not just technical knowledge, but also a journey into myself. My students don't just learn to felt - they learn to trust themselves, to listen to their inner self and to enjoy making without fear of making mistakes.

Has entrepreneurship been easy?

No. I started my business at the kitchen table, with no marketing skills, no ready-made customer networks and in a foreign language. I studied, tried, failed and tried again. I worked at the central booking office in Tahko, I studied to become an artesan Piippola Adult Education Centre and took dozens of online courses. I learned about marketing, sales and running a business in three languages - Finnish, Russian and English.

Today I have my own studio, strong brand and community, but the journey is never complete. Entrepreneurship and the arts are about constant learning and growth.

What have I learned along the way?

I have realised that there is no one right way to succeed. Many entrepreneurs will tell you that if you follow their advice step by step, you will definitely succeed. But we are all different. Everyone has their own rhythm, their own strengths and their own way of doing things.

I therefore encourage everyone to listen to themselves, trust their own intuition and find what really works for them. Success is not just about external achievements - it is above all about balance, joy and the courage to be yourself.

This idea is at the heart of everything I do. I want to give people the tools not only to craft, but also to understand themselves and find their own path.

Because when you dare to be yourself, you dare to create - and that's real magic.