Meet Jenny Seidel

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

Hi Jenny, why did you pursue a creative career?
How did I get here? I broke my leg and ankle in an accident and spent my 21st birthday in a wheel chair. I had a lot of time to think about my path and I shifted from being a musician to fine jewelry sales and design. In college, my main focus was studying classical music on clarinet and music theory. I took clarinet and piano lessons, I gave clarinet and saxophone lessons to over 30 students, I played tenor saxophone in the jazz band, sang in the choir, played clarinet in the band and orchestra and also gigged on sax on the weekends with other bands in bars and venues; music was my life. Time in recovery faced me with this little voice in the back of my head saying, “this isn’t it…there’s got to be more to life than this.” I could just see the end of the path; I would direct bands and orchestras and have hundreds of students over the years and then I would get married and die. I knew I would touch a lot of lives and spread my love for music, but I knew it just wasn’t enough for me.

There was a pivotal moment where I got to play saxophone with Jeff Coffin at a jazz festival and he told his story and he didn’t even start playing saxophone until is mid 20’s and still ended up being of the of best sax players in the country, touring with Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, and Dave Matthews Band. His message was that is is never too late to start over and try again. Its ok to pivot and choose another path. We are meant to evolve and grow and we don’t have to do the same old thing over and over until we die- that is the old paradigm.

I have always been a creator, a maker, a dreamer… I’ve had this insatiable urge to create, whether its through cooking, fashion, sketching, making music or creating jewelry; it’s a way to channel that creative energy to express myself and see how beautiful I can make something. There is also an aspect of myself that enjoys the challenges of learning new techniques and doing things I’ve never done before and seeing how far I can go with something, which often keeps me out of my comfort zone. I came to a point where I knew something had to change, so I took the Myers Briggs personality test through school and the career counselor went over the results and he said that people with similar personality types to mine were successful as musicians, coaches, and artists. I’ve always loved doing crafty things so I gave being an artist in a different light another try. A friend and I had made some feather earrings together and I was hooked. I started making earrings and keychains for the kids on the swim team that I coached and I eventually got a job working a jewelry store selling fine jewelry and gemstones. I didn’t start off making one a kind engagement rings and custom fine jewelry, it evolved from beads and feather earrings into that – it has been a journey that led me here.

I found that I could find that flow state that I always loved about music, through jewelry. Getting lost in the creation and in the process of making a piece can be addictive in the best way possible. I think its important to find something in your life, whether it’s a hobby or an actual career that you enjoy so much that you can lose yourself in it; like running, swimming, hiking, cooking, gardening, painting, making jewelry… whatever that is for you, whether you are great at it or suck at it, its just good for the soul to find things that you love and to pursue them. At the end of the day that’s what it’s been about for me, I just love it. I love what I do. I love the process of making and creating and designing, playing with colors, patterns and shapes. I love making people feel more special and beautiful and inspired through my art. I feel immense gratitude for being able to share this thing that I love to do with my hands and my heart and make a living at it. “I say follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.” – Joseph Campbell

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Next Saturday September 17th at the Medusa Collective In Westminster, CO I will be showcasing some new projects I’ve been working on alongside over 30 other talented artists. I’ve mainly focused on custom jewelry so this will be something new for me because It will be my first art show, Come check it out!

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?
SOMEBODY PEOPLE!!! My absolute favorite restaurant. Vegan plant based chef curated seasonal menus using local organic produce, a local gem.

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?
I’m grateful for my Grandma Sue Seidel. She passed in 2005 but she was a huge influence on me and my biggest supporter. She always came to every concert, took me to lessons and events and always encouraged me to explore my creativity.That mindset of being open to trying new things and exploring what I liked and didn’t like, got me here.

Website: jlovejewelry.com

Instagram: @ jlovejewelry

Facebook: facebook.com/jlovejewelry