Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Wagner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Linda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am first-generation American, native Houstonian and I come from a long line of makers and craftsman. Growing up, my mother’s motto was “only boring people get bored”, so I grew up in a very creative household.
In 2000, due to adverse side effects to drugs I was taking to combat an illness, I was unable to sleep for an entire month. One night, after realizing there had to be more than TV infomercials and the internet, I picked up one of my earrings, carefully looked at how it was made and thought “I could do that.” A trip to the amazing Bead Shop in the Heights the next day and I was hooked – a new hobby was born.
I spent the next 11 years working as a web-developer in the high-tech industry by day and using jewelry designing as a way to relax and de-stress in the evenings. I took evening, weekend and week-long classes all over Houston and in Albuquerque, New Mexico learning anything and everything I could about jewelry making, metalsmithing, wax casting and small business.
In 2010, I started doing a few small shows and selling to co-workers, but it was still very much a hobby. I wanted to get laid off from my high-tech job so that I could make jewelry full-time, but it wasn’t meant to be because the gemstone jewelry that I was making at that time wasn’t my true passion.
In December 2011, I created a silver wax seal pendant from the antique initial “W” wax seal stamp I had used on the invitations for my husband’s grandfather’s 90th birthday. Granddad, the patriarch of our family, had suffered a stroke and I felt the women in the family needed something to wear to better connect us to him and to each other while he was recuperating. I was surprised to see the reaction to this talisman, especially from those who usually aren’t sentimental.
When Granddad passed away in early 2012, I searched for the symbol for deep sorrow—which is the willow tree—to create a talisman for my mother-in-law, but couldn’t find a wax seal stamp anywhere. Out of desperation, I carved the willow tree out of wax and cast a stamp to create a pendant for her in time for the funeral. The response to that talisman fueled my true passion to search for symbolic wax seals and create meaningful jewelry.
In August 2012, I was laid off from my high-tech job, had collected over 150 wax seal stamps, and was ready to go full-time with my jewelry business. But my husband had stipulations on the “leaving the high paying high-tech job” dream of mine. I had to sell a specific amount by the end of the year or it was back to being a web-developer. At my first show at City Center, the manager of Multiplicity in Katy came into my booth and I ended up with my first wholesale account. I did four more successful shows in the next three months and I was never going back to corporate world again.
Over the next five years, my show schedule grew from 36 to 50 shows per year in Houston and cities throughout Texas. In 2015-2016, I had a studio/showroom at JoMar Visions and my work was in The Tinderbox in Mid-Main, Space Montrose in Montrose, Multiplicity in Katy, as well as a couple of other places nationwide.
I have been very blessed in my business and believe in giving back to the community. As a huge animal lover and animal advocate, I established my Gifts That Give. I have 15 different dog and cat talismans and $50 from each sale of these pieces went to Forgotten Dogs of the Fifth Ward during my years in Houston. Now Rescue4All, which is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-breed discriminatory animal rescue and sanctuary made up of volunteers and foster homes in the Spokane area, is the recipient of these donations.
I have an exceptional following of very loyal customers in Texas who have stayed with me when we relocated to Spokane, Washington in July 2017. Thankfully, I have been able to find my place in the Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana art show scene and am going a very loyal customer following. There is a tremendous amount of growth here and I look forward to being part of it.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road, but luckily, I came to my business with a background in marketing, branding and web-development and the first class I took before starting my business was “How to Run a Small Business” taught by a CPA. I also had the tremendous support of my husband and family.
What I did find the most disheartening and struggled with the most at the beginning was the lack of support between artists and entrepreneurs. Having started my business before social media was popular, there weren’t the resources available like today. If I would ask for a referral for reputable wholesaler for an item or help with finding good shows, no one would respond. I spent months researching items I needed to open and operate my business and oftentimes it would be hit-or-miss with certain wholesalers. I decided then that if any artist or small business owner ever asked for help with their business, I would help them in any way that I could.
Struggles and some unfortunate dealings with wholesale accounts and certain galleries taught me valuable lessons about what I really wanted for my business.
But my greatest struggle so far was relocating from Houston, Texas to Spokane, Washington. After spending years cultivating the shows that worked for my business, establishing my customer following and artist support system, I found it difficult to find my niche and establish myself again. The show season is much shorter in the Pacific Northwest and so I have gone from 50 shows per year to 12 shows per year. Going from working art shows non-stop all year round to working shows four months throughout the year has been a drastic shift in my business and my lifestyle. I also really miss the camaraderie of the Houston artist community.
The Silver Acorn – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Silver Acorn jewelry embraces the uniqueness in all of us and celebrates the beauty of things imperfect. Understanding our desire to belong and to connect, I create meaningful jewelry for men and women designed to inspire, to help you share your life story, comfort those in need, or just connect with someone in your life.
I collect symbolic medieval, antique and vintage wax stamps, wax seals from antique documents from the 17th and 18th century, and intaglios from the Grand Tour. Then I use the stamps and seals as tools to cast the talismans in fine silver and bronze with each item slightly different. Once I have the talismans, I use them to make necklaces, earrings, bracelets, key chains, cuff links, wine stoppers and custom items, each having a symbolic meaning. Each item comes packaged in a tasteful gift box with a meaning card ready for gift-giving.
I’m known for having a large variety of choices of symbolic talismans, customizing the talismans into pieces of jewelry or gift items that the customers want, and my obsession for my wax seals and the history behind them. I started with 150 wax seals and my interest grew into a passion and then into an obsession of over 600 wax seals to date.
The effect that my jewelry and gift items have on my customers, both women and men, is what makes me most proud. I have done hundreds of shows and at every show, at least one customer gets emotional over my talismans. A piece might remind them of something in their past, or of a special person, or be unique to the situation that they are going through at the moment. Sometimes they cry, become overwhelmed, enthralled or speechless, but every time it happens, it reminds me why I do what I do.
Apart from my jewelry being very different than gemstone jewelry, I would have to say that flexibility sets me apart from others. My talismans all start out as a charm, so if a customer wants the hole in a different place, several soldered together for a necklace or bracelet, a ring and earring set, or a special wine stopper, I’m usually able to accommodate their request. I also have several customers who have their own seals from which I make items for them.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think Oprah Winfrey said it best, “You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job and not be paid for it.”
For me, success is the ability to share my passion with others, to truly be present in my life and in the lives of my family and friends, to contribute to my community, and to continue to be creative, learn and grow.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7128 S. Pheasant Ridge Dr.
Spokane, WA 99224 - Website: www.thesilveracorn.com
- Phone: 281-794-1180
- Email: linda.wagner@thesilveracorn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesilveracorn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSilverAcornHandcraftedJewlery/
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