Meet Trailblazer Tessa Crisman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Crisman.

Tessa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve had a sort of obsession with making things for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was very into making what was essentially trash into useful objects–I would make “magazines” for my barbie dolls out of folded gum wrappers, purses out of cut-up t-shirts or candy bags, etc. I always had the feeling that the objects in front of me could be given new life. And learning to knit only reinforced this: nothing looks more useless than a ball of yarn before it’s been made into something, and then this magic happens with a hook or some needles where suddenly what was this limp nothing is now a garment or vessel, something to keep your head warm or hang a plant from or whatever. My sixth-grade teacher taught our class to knit and after 15 years, I still knit almost every day.

For the past few years, my handmade items have lived under the name Wool & Hammer. I started making jewelry after graduating from college; I was working in a restaurant and needed a project that had some structure so that I wouldn’t go insane. And I’ve always loved earrings, so I just got some wire and a hammer and started experimenting. I knitted things as well, hence the name of the project. It was the first time I’d ever made things to sell, and at first, it was really terrifying and disheartening–there were several times when I resolved to quit and just make things for myself and never share them with the world. But then, in late 2016, the organizers of Witch Collective reached out to me to be part of their Solstice Market, and from there, things really fell into place. I suddenly had an audience who seemed to be excited about my work, and a group of peers who inspired me to be a better artist and community member. I got to let go of so many negative feelings I had about my work and just focus on making what I liked. I got to make work that felt true to me.

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?
I’ve definitely encountered some bumps along the way, most of them stemming from my relationship with myself. I struggled with having the confidence to put my work into the world and having the backbone to keep showing up when I received critical feedback. I had and still have a pretty bad case of impostor syndrome–I don’t have any kind of professional background in art and am just now starting to get formal training in metalsmithing, so everything felt very off the cuff and trial and error. I think that sounds sexy to some people but for me it just caused anxiety. And the work I make is so personal: it goes on your body. So, when I get negative feedback, I take it very seriously. I’m just now getting to a point where I’m able to not internalize criticism and to use it for positive growth rather than feeding my negative self-talk. I would say learning to do this–to believe in your work while also believing that it can always be better–is crucial. It just takes the pressure off.

Another thing that’s really helped me is keeping firm boundaries around what I want from Wool & Hammer. I’ve never tried to make it my main source of income or my entire identity, and I think that keeping space between myself and the things I make has allowed me to remain joyful and passionate about creating things. I’m not saying that everyone has to make art as a side gig, or that making arts & craft can’t be a full-time job. I just think it’s key to decide what you want from something, and then protect your boundaries so you don’t burn yourself out.

The last piece of advice I’d offer is this: if you’re going to sell your work, figure out what your work is worth (like actually, mathematically worth) and then figure out what you’re going to say when people try to tell you’re worth less than that price. Because we live in a world with Amazon.com, people think that artists & handmakers are entitled to try and compete with their bottom line. We’re not. If you’re making something with your heart and your hands, you deserve to be paid fairly for that labor.

We’d love to hear more about Wool & Hammer.
I handmake jewelry (primarily earrings) and knitted & crocheted wearables (from beanies to crop tops). I’m known for making unique, magical pieces that may just end up being that thing you find yourself wearing every day, or when you want to feel powerful.

I’m most proud of using the project/brand that is Wool & Hammer to root into my values. The choices we make about what to buy and wear have to do with race, class, politics, sustainability. So, when I make things and sell them to people, I get to create the kind of world I want to live in on a small scale. Do I want to use materials from a place I’ve never heard of, or from a shop in my own city? Do I want to use only new materials, or do I want to find a way to reuse old items? Do I want to create items at a price point that’s accessible to as many people as possible? Can I use the money I make selling my art to support and uplift communities I care about? For me, I can’t separate my beliefs from what I make. It all goes together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/woolandhammer
• Email: woolandhammer@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woolandhammer

Image Credit:
Willa Erickson, LaRaine Mireles

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