Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Stephanie Jensen of Conifer

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Stephanie Jensen. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Stephanie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Since it’s summer break, a typical day for me looks a lot like being a full-time camp counselor for my 8- and 9-year-old. Somewhere between the chaos, I’ve reopened my shop after a long hiatus and have been sneaking in time to work on orders—which I’ve truly missed. Once school’s back in session, my days will shift to school drop-offs, a bit of movement (for my sanity), and then diving back into shop work until it’s time to pick up the kids and shuttle them around to their after-school activities.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sure! My name is Stephanie, and I am a wife and mom to two wonderful kids, as well as the owner and maker behind DI4U Creations. My shop is all about turning love and memories into tangible keepsakes. I use actual handwriting from loved ones and laser engrave their words onto handmade signs that I make myself or other items like cutting boards, mugs, and keychains. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and tells a story—capturing a moment in time you can hold onto forever. Whether it’s a crisp, clean note or an old, wrinkled one with smudges and lines, I can edit out the background and bring the handwriting to life in a beautiful way.

In addition to personalized keepsakes, I also create funny tea towels and branded items for other small businesses, by using my laser engraving and sublimation machines.

I truly love helping people celebrate life’s special connections through my work, and I feel incredibly lucky to do that every day through my small business.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world was living in South America at a young age. I spent part of my childhood in Colombia and Brazil, and it gave me this deep sense of how big and beautifully diverse the world really is. Between elementary and high school, I lived in Texas, Alaska, Colombia, Brazil, and California—so I grew up constantly surrounded by different languages, cultures, and ways of life. That experience taught me to appreciate people’s stories, backgrounds, and the meaning behind things. It’s a perspective I carry into my business today—creating personalized, meaningful keepsakes that reflect people’s unique lives and relationships.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something important was when I decided to leave my part time job at my children’s school and fully reopen my shop. I had originally stepped away from my business to focus on my family and health as the shop had grown to a point where it was hard to keep everything in balance and at the time working at the school felt like the right move. It allowed me to be more present for my kids, slow down, and support a community that needed the help.

But over time, I felt myself being pulled back to my creative work. I missed designing, creating, and the fulfillment that comes from helping people preserve their memories through meaningful keepsakes. I kept thinking about the shop, and eventually I realized that my heart was still in it. Changing my mind wasn’t easy—I really loved working with the kids—but it was the right shift, and I’m excited to return to what I’ve built and to the work that inspires me.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that I had to say yes to everything in order to be liked, helpful, or seen as reliable—especially when it came to last-minute holiday orders in my shop. As a natural people-pleaser, I thought keeping others happy (often at the expense of my own time, energy, and well-being) was just part of being a “good” person. But over time, I realized that constantly saying yes was draining me and leaving little space for what mattered most. I’ve learned that setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Saying no to what doesn’t serve me doesn’t make me unkind; it allows me to show up more fully, more authentically, and make a greater impact where it truly counts.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss the personal connection I bring to each order. Many of my products are tied to deeply meaningful moments, and I take the time to treat each customer with care and attention, no matter how big or small the order. I think they’d miss that feeling of being seen and valued, along with the unique, custom keepsakes that reflect their loved ones and their memories in a way that’s personal and heartfelt.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Taylor Hendry
Lisa Obermyer

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