Conversations with Jennifer Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Smith. 

Hi Jennifer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Since I was little, I have been interested in art and design. I wanted to go to college for it in some capacity, but whenever I would give that as my answer to those around me asking, “what do you want to go to school for?”, I was most frequently met with, “you’ll never be able to make a living out of that.” I felt pushed a lot to be someone I wasn’t and that I needed to conform, fit in, and get a job with a large company with benefits and job security. I really took that to heart. I went to Temple University in Philadelphia and I ended up majoring for something I had very little interest in, but took every class I could at the arts school, Tyler School of Arts and Architecture. I fell in love with metalsmithing and jewelry making, but based on what I believed in growing up, I thought it couldn’t be anything more than a hobby so I put it on the back burner. It was only when I went out into the working world and had an office job at a large international corporation, that it hit me: this would be my life every day, day in and day out if I let it be. I couldn’t see myself in that environment and it really took a toll on my mental health. I left that job and took some time figuring out how I could be happy in my working life and what that would look like for me. I ended up working in retail for a short time, though I would always dream about having my own studio and jewelry line. I really struggled for a long time to make it happen for myself. I would make jewelry for fun, or for family and friends, using mostly old pieces that I was either given or already had that I didn’t wear anymore. I was making only enough money to just get by with my retail job, so I didn’t really have anything I could put towards my dream. My husband and I ended up moving to Denver the following year and I decided to start fresh and work towards actualizing my dreams. 

To move here we sold or gave away a lot of our belongings, as we were going to be moving into a small one-bedroom apartment. After working in retail, I was pretty disenchanted with buying from big stores, as I saw firsthand how much waste is generated with that model. I really wanted to do better for the environment and maintain a limited budget, so I found ways to furnish and decorate our home through thrifting or secondhand finds. I was finding some incredible things here in Denver, more than I needed for my own home and that is how Ambient West got started. I created my Instagram and website where I can resell the vintage and thrifted items I was discovering. I also hoped my amazing finds would inspire people to buy more secondhand even if they weren’t buying from me. Then Covid happened and I felt the urge to get out of our apartment more since most stores were closed. I teamed up with a friend who was really knowledgeable about vintage furniture and refinishing. She taught me everything she knew and we restored and sold vintage furniture together, first from her backyard, and eventually, from a studio we rented. All along, I still had the dream and goal of making and selling my own jewelry, so I put as much of the money that I was making from the vintage furniture sales toward that as I could. This past summer, I started to merge the two passions together. I was going to flea markets and street fairs to sell my vintage finds but I brought along some of my jewelry and was pleasantly surprised that it was selling. I decided to take the plunge and added it to the website this fall. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been the easiest road! Part of the reason that my family relocated to Denver was a bad car accident that I was in while driving to work. My car was totaled and I had serious head and neck injuries that resulted in me losing my job and requiring extensive physical and occupational therapy. Since I had lost my job and it has always been a dream of my husband’s to live in the out west, he applied for a job here and got it. I was really grateful for the fresh start after the accident but was still really limited in what I could do. This was a huge factor in starting my own business. I wasn’t capable of having a job outside of my home because I was going to therapy up to four days a week for several hours each day and was exhausted most of the time. Having my own business gave me some independence and something to look forward to each day but also gave me the flexibility I needed to rest and recover. 

My health still can be an obstacle. I had covid twice over the last year and I have an autoimmune disease that makes me more susceptible to getting sick. This makes me all the more thankful that I have a job that I am able to do from home and grateful for the support from the customers I’ve had. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I have a unique vision and I think comes out in my jewelry. It is definitely a special form of self-expression for me. I think (and hope) that my designs reflect my values, my deep appreciation for nature and the natural world, and a respect for people’s lifestyle choices. For example, I offer some vegan jewelry options as some materials I work with don’t always fall into that category. I also source as much of the materials I use from local Denver shops as possible, to lessen my footprint. I strive to be true to myself and follow my own vision and not just what is trending at any given moment. I think this enables me to create timeless pieces for people to wear and love for many years to come through all the seasons of their lives. 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Supporting small businesses makes a huge, tangible, and measurable difference in that individual’s life and the lives of the people around them. It really makes a purchase something you can feel good about. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ambientwest@gmail.com
• Website: www.ambientwest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambientwest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ambientwest

Image Credits:
Patrick Gardner