Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Welle.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My creative journey began in December 2010. My dad introduced me to hand stamping rings. At the time I had no idea that this endeavor would be my passion and my life’s work. In the years since, I have received many blessings while working with others to creative meaningful pieces of art.
It began as a way to provide extra income. I was a single mother looking to make some extra money on the weekends participating in craft fairs and vendor shows. I enjoyed the change in pace and the opportunity to meet new people and offer something special, something unique. I realized that hand stamping keepsakes was a part of my path as a means of positively impacting the lives of others through art.
In 2013, after years of nurturing my small business while still working a full-time job at a university, I met the love of my life. We were married shortly after and I was given the opportunity to manage my creative business full time. I feel truly blessed and I absolutely love what I do!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have been many struggles along the way since I started operating my business. I started participating at small shows and festivals in and around the hill country of Texas. I had no idea how difficult it was to deal with extreme weather events. In the blink of an eye a vendor can lose everything in a bad storm. This can create a very stressful situation.
As a woman, setting up and tearing down for an event can be very physically challenging. Therefore I have learned that I need to recruit people to help me with the heavy lifting.
There are other challenges in being a self-employed artist, however I am blessed to be able to have the freedom to be my own boss and craft meaningful pieces of jewelry for all of my amazing customers.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the You Name It! Handcrafted Personalized Keepsakes story. Tell us more about the business.
My specialty is in custom hand stamping. Hand stamping is an art form where I hammer each letter or symbol on to the piece one stamp at a time. I work with each customer and help them to design their own keepsake. Then, I hand stamp their selection right in front of them. I offer a variety of different letter fonts and design stamps to craft a unique, one of a kind piece of jewelry or keepsake.
I use all kinds of different tools to include hammers, a vice, an anvil, polishing wheels, a grinder and different types of jigs to craft the items I offer. At each event, I set up my shop so I can make beautiful finished pieces for my customer base. My customers really enjoy watching me work with the tools while I craft their order.
I stamp all types of stainless steel and sterling silver jewelry such as rings, pendants, charm bracelets and bar necklaces. I also work with vintage silver-plated flatware and craft very special spoon rings, spoon handle pendants, spoon bowl pendants, earrings, keychain holders and twisted fork art, all of which can be personalized.
My business is very unique because I craft everything right in front of the customer and also because I am a woman who is working with all of the tools I previously mentioned. My customers are intrigued when they see my set up and then when they understand what I do they get very excited to design their own keepsake.
My wish is to enrich the lives of others through customized keepsakes that they will cherish for many years to come.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
With regards to “luck”, I think I was just in the right place at the right time. I was helping my Dad at a show in Albuquerque, New Mexico and he said to me, “I think you should try out this new tool I bought and stamp rings while you are here this weekend.” From that moment on, I started my business. After traveling back from Albuquerque to San Antonio, Texas (my home at the time), I had mentally developed a business plan. The following week I established my DBA and booked my first show. While setting up the business, everything went very smoothly and I was ready to conduct business in just a few days.
Pricing:
- Hand stamped stainless steel name ring with one name and two symbols-$20 plus tax
- Hand stamped stainless steel name ring with two names and three symbols-$25 plus tax
- Hand stamped stainless steel name ring with unlimited characters-$30 plus tax
- Stainless steel bar necklace with stamping-$20 plus tax
- Stainless steel curved bar or infinity necklace with stamping-$25 plus tax
- Rose gold plated statinless steel bar necklace with stamping-$35 plus tax
- Stainless steel expandable charm bracelets starting at $20 plus tax (includes a hand stamped charm)
- Vintage silver plated spoon rings-$25 plus tax
- Vintage silver plated spoon bowl pendants starting at $10 and up to $100 (depending on the amount of stamping)
- Vintage silver plated spoon handle pendants-$15 plus tax
- Fork rings-$25 or with stamping up to $40 plus tax
- Spoon cuff bracelets with stamping $30 plus tax
- Stainless steel triple circle pendant with family tree of life and stamping-$50 plus tax
- Stainless steel lariat neklaces (circle pendant with bar; infinity pendant with bar or open heart pendant with bar) $25 plus $5 per stamped word
- Four sided sterling silver vertical bar necklace starts at $35 plus $5 per word stamped (includes chain)
- Sterling silver lariat necklace starting at $45 plus $5 per word stamped
Contact Info:
- Address: You Name It! Handcrafted Personalized Keepsakes
9107 Bayou Bluff
Spring, Texas 77379 - Website: www.you-name-it.biz
- Phone: 915-526-5213
- Email: jenlyn64@hotmail.com
- Instagram: jenlyn64
- Facebook: You Name It Personalized Rings and Other Things
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
