Meet Shannon Jakoby | Wood Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Jakoby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
After 14 years of helping to manage the Dillon Marina, my family & I took a year off to travel outside the US. When we returned, I knew I wanted to do something for myself, and with no job to come back to, there was no better time to give it a shot. I have always had a creative side, but due to work and family responsibilities, there was never time to fully explore that side of myself. I now had the time to decide what I really wanted to do with my life. I also wanted to create something for myself that I could take to a new location should we ever decide to leave Summit County. Soon after, She Shed That Designs was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started She Shed That Designs in the fall of 2020 once returning from a year of travel through Central America with my family. When I first started my business, I created rustic, hand-burned signs and trays that were very well received by my friends and family, and then began getting noticed by people throughout my social media channels. I soon started getting quite a few orders, which sparked new ideas. My art expanded from wood burning into wood mosaics, utilizing wood scraps meant for the landfill to create beautiful mountain wall art. Two years into this business, I have gone from basically a hobbyist to the co-owner of an art store in our community, where we showcase not only our own art, but the art of 24 other locals artists.

The goal for my business was to keep my expenses as low as possible. Rather than buying wood, I sourced it from wherever I could. I broke down wood pallets, dug through construction site dumpsters and befriended the lumber employees at Lowes, who have been so kind to notify me when there is scrap wood available, they think I could use. Since then, even since making decent money from my art, I choose to rescue that wood as opposed to buying new, whenever possible. I love that a beat-up piece of wood can be transformed into something beautiful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Of course, this depends on the time of year. If it were summer, I would take them to the Dillon Marina where I used to work. We would rent a boat and spend a few hours cruising the waters of Lake Dillon, taking in the 360 degree views of the mountains. Once done, we’d stop in at Pug Ryan’s Lakeside Tiki Bar for some refreshments and snacks, visiting with the staff and amazing locals of Summit County. Afterwards, we’d head up the hill to catch a free (or paid) show at the Dillon Ampitheater, the best spot for music and incredible views. The next day, we’d grab some breakfast burritos to go at the Blue Moon Bakery & head out on a hike up to Lily Pad Lake. We’d come down for a late lunch/app/drinks over at Uptown on Main in Frisco. They have the best Happy Hour menu at great prices. Then, of course, I’d take them to the Silverthorne Outlets and a visit to my new store, the Summit Locals Art Market & spend some time shopping around. Before heading back home, we’d make a stop @ Saved by the Wine & enjoy some drinks and food out on their deck or inside their amazing space. Such a cool vibe!
If my guests still had another day & we were waking up on a Friday, we’d grab some paddle boards and paddle from Summit Cove over to Dillon in time to take a trip through the Friday Farmers Market, where we could grab some yummy breakfast from one of the many amazing food vend0rs, and weave our way through all of the great farm stands and artisans. If it were the 1st Friday of the month, we’d head to Silverthorne that night for “FIRST FRIDAY” to enjoy some food, music and art, surrounded by all Summit’s funnest locals. On a final day, we’d head up to A-Basin and spend an afternoon on their amazing deck, before heading back to Summit Cove to enjoy a bottle of wine at our back yard fire pit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are two people that helped this dream become a reality. First, all of my inspiration for my art came from my years of spending time with my grandfather Paul. He spent a lot of time woodburning all kinds of things as gifts for his family. I got my first wood burner when I was a teenager and did some small projects, but it never really took off. When I decided to start my “art” business, it was wood burning that seemed the natural way to begin. Next, this business would not be possible were it not for the support and encouragement of my husband, Gregg Jakoby. When returning from our travels, he encouraged me to take the next year off to explore a new path for myself. Of course, he was hoping that would mean writing a book about our travels and becoming a famous and wealthy author. I had other plans though, and he supported me every step of the way, especially after he saw that I could actually make an income from it right away. Two years post trip, I’d still be writing that book.

Website: sheshedthatdesigns.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheshedthatdesigns/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheshedthat