Rising Stars: Meet Jessica Wacker of Clinton, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Wacker.

Hi Jessica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was around 5 years old, my maternal grandmother babysat my little brother and I while my mom worked. She was an avid crafter, mostly sewing and beading. That year she taught me how to make beaded jewelry and I was hooked. In 2009, when I was putting myself though college again and working full time at a daycare center, a co-worker complimented my earrings and when I told her that I had made them she said, “ I would love to buy a pair!”. Shortly after that, I started selling beaded earrings for $3 pair and I opened my first Etsy shop-now known as Tree Lover’s Co. As my little business grew, I started working with metal clay in 2011, then I added copper electroforming in 2013 using the recycled copper wire we pulled out of our 1940’s home while remodeling it, and in 2015 I taught myself to metalsmith with sterling silver. It was also in 2015 that I started doing live markets and art shows and I was hooked. I now have 2 home studios-one is my main studio and the second is my classroom where I teach private metalsmithing lessons. I also started cutting my own stones and working with gold! I’m a big animal advocate and a portion of my sales has always been donated to a variety of animal rescues. I also only use ethically sourced, animal friendly, and fair trade supplies in all of my designs.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the biggest struggles have been finding balance between my career in healthcare and my career in metalsmithing, let alone just trying to live a full life full of adventures (mostly outdoors!) and volunteering with Knox Vintage Pet Project and MoCo Mutts Rescue Center!

Another “struggle” was, at many points in the life of my business so far, I have definitely been a stereotypical “starving artist” so finding materials that were both ethical AND eco friendly helped grow my creativity and I’m grateful for it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
-I use as much recycled material as possible
-I create all of my displays for in person markets from vintage or thrifted items and reimagine them.
– I am completely self taught
– I’ve participated in some of the most prestigious art markets in the country
-I design and hand craft every single piece myself; I do not have any apprentices or assistants.
– I’ve never taken out any loans, borrowed any funds, or received any grants for my business-it’s completely organically grown from nothing

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
In the studio I usually watch movies and shows that I’ve seen hundreds of times before. I like podcasts and I love reading, but I don’t utilize either in my metalsmithing work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/treeloversco/?etsrc=sdt
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TreeLoversCo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreeLoversCo