We recently connected with Jessica Rangel and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I absolutely wish I had started sooner.

Before launching Copper & Stone, I owned a housekeeping business. I loved the flexibility, my clients, and the lessons it taught me about running a business. But the truth is, my real joy always waited for me after work. I was constantly creating, whether it was painting, sewing, sculpting, I just couldn’t sit still creatively.

In 2015, I made my first pair of copper earrings. Something clicked! What started as making jewelry for myself and friends slowly turned into a deep passion. Still, fear kept me from fully going for it.

Then 2020 happened. When the pandemic halted my cleaning business, I was forced to pivot and ask myself what I really wanted. Of course something creative was the answer, so I took the leap! I launched Copper & Stone in June 2020 and I haven’t looked back since.

Sometimes the right timing finds you. But if I could do it again, I would’ve trusted myself sooner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Jessica, the artist behind Copper & Stone. My husband Jason and I live in a small, 100 year old house in a rural area along with our Malamute/husky, red heeler and tabby cat. Jason built me an in home studio space where I create hand-forged jewelry inspired by a lifelong love of rocks and minerals.

As a kid, I was always collecting rocks. I’d fill my pockets everywhere we went! I was fascinated by their colors, textures, and natural beauty. That fascination never left me, it grew into a passion for making wearable art that could showcase each unique stone.

As for how copper entered the picture, I have my husband to thank for that. As a former electrician, he had plenty of copper wire on hand and encouraged me to experiment. He set me up with a hammer and an anvil and turned me loose! I immediately fell in love with the warmth and character of copper. It seemed to complement every stone I paired it with. Ideas started overflowing, and I couldn’t stop designing, slowly bringing each vision to life, one detail at a time.

I’m completely self-taught as a metalsmith, shaping, hammering, and soldering every piece by hand. There’s no mass production here, just intentionally crafted, slow-made jewelry. Everything from earrings and necklaces, to bracelets, cuffs, rings and beyond! Over the years I’ve expanded my skillset to include working with sterling silver and rose gold, which has opened up even more fun and unique design ideas!

My goal is to create jewelry that feels meaningful, bold, and personal. I want my work to give you a little extra confidence, like a subtle lift when you catch your reflection and remember who you are. Seeing so many amazing women step into their day wearing something I made with my two hands is what makes me most proud. I’m deeply grateful for the connections and opportunities that have come from simply sharing what I love.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think one thing non-creatives might not realize is how common imposter syndrome is in the creative world.

For most, when we see art we love, we’re impressed by what that artist created. Many creative types feel just as impressed by the work of others but that feeling can quietly turn into self-doubt. We start to question whether we belong, whether our work is good enough, or whether we should even be doing this at all.

For me, every time I came across handmade jewelry that I admired, it sparked joy, but at the same time added to that small voice of doubt. I had to learn that appreciating someone else’s art doesn’t diminish my own. The world doesn’t need less art; it needs more voices, more perspectives, more expression.

What helped me push through was remembering how much joy I felt when I connected with someone else’s creation. If their work could move me, maybe mine could do the same for someone else. But that only happens if I’m willing to put it out there.

The self-doubt never fully goes away, but I’ve learned to keep it in its place and keep creating anyway.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Don’t stay quiet!

If you love an artist’s work, tell them. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Share their name. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of support a creative can receive.

I can’t fully describe what it means when a customer tells me they showed their best friend, their mom, or their coworker something I made. When someone gets excited to share a piece of my work, it’s not just a compliment, it’s fuel. That kind of encouragement is priceless!

Artists don’t just thrive on sales, we thrive on connection. The more we talk about the makers and creatives we admire, the more opportunities they have to keep doing what they love. And when artists are supported, the entire creative ecosystem grows stronger.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://copperandstone.art
• Instagram: @copper.and.stone
• Facebook: Copper and Stone
• Other: tiktok: @copper.and.stone
  email: Jessica@copperandstone.art