Meet the Maker

Chereen Leong Schwarz

owner | Designer | Maker

Hi friend! I’m Chereen...owner, designer, and maker of Smeeny Made Wild (formerly Smeeny Beanie Knits). Moving from the Pacific coastline and redwoods of Northern California to the mountains of Colorado, I’ve always loved and cherished time spent in the great outdoors. I loved hiking and camping as a kid, and after college, spent two seasons working and living in Yellowstone National Park. From there, my passion for the parks grew even more!

This led to my husband and I pursing our dream of an outdoor lifestyle and moving to the small ski town of Steamboat Springs. After our first winter, I really wanted to pick up a crafty hobby. I am a chef by trade, so most of my time off was when other people were working. I spent a lot of my winter days skiing, but I wanted something more.

I’d always wanted to learn how to knit and found a couple of knitting needles at the local thrift store. I taught myself how to knit watching YouTube videos, and what started off as a fleeting fancy became a passion. I LOVED seeing my stitches become something more. I was obsessed with figuring out new patterns and new techniques. After several years of making things for close friends and family,

I decided to start Smeeny Beanie Knits (now Smeeny Made Wild) in 2018, and opened my shop in January 2019.

What started as a side hustle has now become something that I am extremely passionate about. In addition to making knitwear, I want to spread the joy of knitting and help others in the maker community start on their creative business journeys.

I’ve been fully self-employed with Smeeny Beanie Knits (now Smeeny Made Wild) since 2020 and also run a summer part-time farm-to-table private chef business, Wilderbean Provisions. Through these ventures, I strive to inspire and connect you with nature and the outdoors and to encourage you to care more deeply about these incredible places. I am passionate about protecting our planet and preserving its beauty for the generations that come!

When I’m not knitting or cooking, you can find me skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, camping, foraging, on the river, farming, and overall just enjoying time outside with my husband and friends in our little mountain town :)

Thank you for being a part of my story.