We recently connected with Jacobi Leckness and have shared our conversation below.
Jacobi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Oh yes, if I could eat art for breakfast I would. I want to make everything, try everything!
Jacobi, 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?
My name is Jacobi Leckness, and this is my dad, Gene. Together we are Just Crafts and Junk. We make metal yard art, firepits, and custom metal signs mostly. Occasionally taking on a wood craft or two.
My dad was a beef farmer for most his life. One day with a bucket of horse shoes and a welder as old as I was, he taught me how to weld. he let me take over a small corner of his shop and that’s where it all started. All of his farming buddies and the old men at morning coffee let me dig through their scrap piles and brought over bearings and horseshoes and conduit for projects. Things grew, tools grew, and when dad retired from farming in 2022 we became officially Just Crafts and Junk together.
Located in Hayfield MN we spend summer weekends traveling to craft shows, selling our goods, and networking with other amazing makers.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
People can shop, tell their friends, and give a small business a chance. We do 95 percent of our business locally and at craft fairs, where we meet and greet and sell. Almost everything people buy has been done on a small scale, but people have to know about it, have the budget, and give it a chance. Globalization of goods has contributed to the loss of a sense of community. help bring it back- get to know your neighbors, your shop owners, the store clerks where you’re at. A large network is key to creating a thriving ecosystem not just for creatives, but for community.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
This is fun, I will remember the many many cups of coffee drank in our shop as we talk “strategy” and “product development.” We never get too serious and we make all the fun stuff.
an alien? we make that.
a cowboy minion? sounds fun lets do it.
mini bigfoots? coming right up.
To create, and make money on the goofiest things, is just a blast. I get to hang out with my dad my dog, what could be better.
Contact Info:
- Website: justcraftsandjunk.com
- Instagram: just crafts and junk
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/justcraftsandjunk