We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Spoon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Oh my goodness, how I learned what I do… through so many trials and errors. I just love jewelry, but I struggled to find pieces that really spoke to me that were quality made. I knew what I wanted, but I could not find it… so I set out to create some thing for myself that just felt Right, and was made right. And that’s where I stumbled across the historical wood available from all over the world! I became really drawn to the history and I wanted to share it with others! My husband became very supportive of this new found passion… And so my journey of Spirited Spoon was created!

Making jewelry was the easy part. That was just watching a few YouTube videos and hanging out at Hobby Lobby. Finding the wood is where it got interesting. That took a lot of research and a lot of reaching out to people around the world I wanted to make sure that what we were using was all ethically sourced, and handmade. Most of all that we were also helping other people while bringing this beauty to our community. But what I figured out over the last 3 years, is that it isn’t just about the creative process. It’s about sharing my passion, networking, understanding business, demographics, marketing, and customer service. I’ve learned so much from fellow makers and artists, show coordinators, … It’s about being inspired while inspiring others!

Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Absolutely! I’m Jen, proud creative and owner of Spirited Spoon. I’d like to think of myself as sociable, funny and very talkative! My closest friends and family would say I’m energetic, spirited, and passionate. I am a wife, mom, and a patient service specialist full-time for a physical therapy clinic. My family and I enjoy hanging out in nature, walking in the woods, tending to our herb and flower garden. We also love to play with our dog and 2 cats.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My biggest rewards are the artisan community and time with my husband.

I absolutely love talking, sharing and networking with other makers and artists. The talent that everyone has it’s just simply amazing to me. And it’s inspiring to see the love and respect these vendors have for each other! When you find that most just wants to help one another, it’s a beautiful thing! That, to me, is what community is all about.

And of course, Kris, my husband and best friend, is always with me and we love doing this together. We enjoy the road trips to the markets and shows, making new friends, building memories. Life gets busy, so it’s wonderful having all this time, outside of the regular grind, to just be while doing something we are both excited about experiencing together.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In today’s world, post on social media, coming to shows, and telling your friends how amazing the products are! Finding that artist or creative, that you really love and letting people know is huge for the crafting community. Word of mouth is what we’re all about.

With all that’s going on in the world, there’s a lot of uncertainty in this economy. So many people are affected… and makers definitely feel it! Buying and supporting local and from small businesses is huge. Sharing posts on social media, word of mouth, and coming out to the shows makes a great impact. When you find that product or creative that impressed and inspired you, or the show that provided a positive atmosphere, talk about it! Share it with your friends! We spend a lot of time, money and energy working on these products, making sure our booths draw you in, and our social media is engaging. It means the world to us when we hear from customers that we were noticed and appreciated. A simple compliment, like and follow means the world to us.

Continue interviewing makers, artists, and show coordinators. This community is full of amazing people who genuinely have so much to offer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Spiritedspoon
• Facebook: Spiritedspoon

Image Credits
Ten Thirty Four Photography