ABOUT

From coastlines to swampland and everything in between, Florida is home to a wide array of plants, animals, and insects. My Florida Orange was founded by a native Floridian with a crochet hook and the dream of capturing the essence of Florida. 

About Me

My name is Jan L'Orange, and I am the founder of My Florida Orange, LLC. 

I began crocheting at a young age, learning from my mom, Ann, who had a knack for sewing, quilting, crocheting, and gardening, just to name a few of her many talents. I remember sitting on the floor in the kitchen with scraps of material or skeins of yarn, trying to get the hang of a new stitch, while my mom was at the table making masterpieces. I loved to watch her turn what looked like nothing into something amazing. By the time I was an adult, I have made numerous afghans over the years, although they were fairly simple in design. Having seen amigurumi and other crochet crafts at local festivals and on the internet, I never imagined I could learn something so complex. My daughter, Ashli, kept texting me pictures of cute crochet critters, insisting that if I could make a blanket, I could make a manatee. Little did she know that her persistence would eventually lead to me starting my own company. And, it all started with a tiny, little manatee.

My husband, Alan, has supported me on my crazy journey, is always on the lookout for events I can participate in, sets up my tents and tables, and does all of the engraving and other behind the scenes things necessary to run My Florida Orange. My son, Mason, helps me name my creatures, checks the symmetry of my eyes, arms, legs, wings, and other appendages, and reminds me that handmade doesn't have to be perfect. My sister, Stacy, texts me ideas for new projects and cheers me on. My friend, Kari, supplies me with yarn and inspires me to think outside the crochet-craft box. 

My dad, Fletcher, instilled in me a love of nature. He introduced me and my siblings to an assortment of animals and taught us to respect wildlife. Because of him, I have been up close and personal with numerous alligators, a couple of gopher tortoises, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, and too many other animals to count. Growing up I swam with manatees, hand fed deer, watched the wrangling of a rattlesnake, and had many camping adventures. 

A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to help fund research projects and conservation efforts.