Meet Wanda Valles of With The Trees in Littleton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wanda Valles.

Wanda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It started as a side hustle my sophomore year of college. I first started wood burning on 2-inch wood slices and making them as pendants, but quickly began experimenting with wire wrapping and I’ve combined the two things since then. I worked on my wire wrapping for a long time before I found a passion for Pyrography (wood burning). I now work with various canvas sized wood slices and incorporate acrylic painting with wood burning. I’ve never taken an art class but I always loved creating. It just took me until recently to feel like I found my “thing.”

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?
My struggles were mostly in my head. It took me a long time to call myself an artist and when anyone else did I would sort of just brush it off. I kept it as a side hobby during college for the main reason that I didn’t want to put my whole soul into it and then fail. Until one day I just had to say fuck it. If I don’t take myself seriously then how is anyone else supposed to?

So, as you know, we’re impressed with With The Trees – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in making wire wrapped and wooden jewelry on the accessories side. On the home decor side, I specialize in Pyrography art. My business focuses on using natural materials so I work with mostly stones and wood and I cut my own wood slices a lot from fallen branches that I find outside. I recently participated in my first Art Exhibit! That’s definitely my proudest moment to see my Pyrography art displayed at Conception Arts Denver Exhibit. I especially love making custom creations. I think that’s what sets me apart from others because I love working with someone to create their vision of an idea and combine it with my work. Making that connection with people and making a vision come to life is why I love being With The Trees.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My general goal is to continue to grow in my business! I would like to add my work into more stores in and around Denver. My plan is also to get a studio or to have my next home with a studio. I can’t keep working in my living room forever and I would love a space where I can get my work and my brain organized.
I have done a live wood burning event once and that would be so cool to do more of those. You don’t see people wood burning at events very often so it was a really fun experience to have people come up to me and being, “what are you doing?”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.withthetrees.com
• Phone: 7039559733
• Email: wanda@withthetrees.com
• Instagram: _withthetrees
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/withthetrees/

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