Hi there, I am J. L. Fleckenstein
You might know me as firefly—the heart behind “I Live on a Farm.” I’m thrilled to be back after a 10-year break, sharing my journey with a renewed sense of joy, creativity, and gratitude.
I come from a family of makers and entrepreneurs—carpenters, farmers, needle artists, painters, jewelry designers, digital artists, writers, builders, and more. My mother, an expert seamstress, sewed all the clothing for her children, even our winter coats, while my father, a skilled woodworker, taught himself to be a screenwriter and expert leather craftsman in his 40s, pursuing his dreams. They passed along their creative ingenuity to me and my siblings, instilling in each of us a lasting drive to create and make things throughout our lives.
For me, this creative drive has blossomed into a wide range of passions, many of which are deeply tied to my life on the farm. I’m an avid baker, sharing farm-to-table recipes like my homemade pizza, perfected over years of gathering around the table with family. My love for knitting and needle arts has led me to create over 80 published patterns, while my work as an Indie Yarn Artist with Lucky Violet Color Co has deepened my passion for fiber dyeing and painting, bringing vibrant colors to yarn and fabrics. I’m also a professional fine artist, with over 35 years of experience creating watercolors and oil paintings that hang in private collections across the U.S. and internationally—a talent I discovered in my early 30s as a self-taught painter, capturing the beauty of farm life and beyond. Additionally, I’ve embraced floral design, working with both fresh blooms from my farm and sustainable sola wood flowers.
Above all, I have a deep desire to be of service to others—a value I inherited from my parents—and my blog gives me the opportunity to do just that by sharing these passions with you.
As a writer, I’ve explored many forms over the years—poetry, children’s stories, short stories, essays, speeches, technical papers, educational manuals, marketing materials, website content, and knitting patterns. But it’s my blog, ‘I Live on a Farm,’ where I’ve found the greatest joy in serving others. As firefly, I’m here to share my stories, passions, and the lessons I’ve learned over the past decade, inviting you to join me on this journey of gratitude and creativity.
Photos Left to Right: 1) Hand painted yarn; 2) Floral arrangement featuring hand painted sola wood flowers and hand painted silk backdrop; 3) Section of a watercolor of swans sunbathing on a warped old dock, painted from a photograph I took during a canoe trip on our river—a moment that captures my passion for fine art and the beauty of farm life.