Jessica Lewis - Doing More With Less

Jessica Lewis is a Montana-based metalsmith who is best known for the beautifully unique jewelry she creates for her online shop, Ruby and Revolver. She is also the mother of a two-year-old daughter, who she is raising with her husband in the home they constructed with their own hands in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Thanks to her tireless work ethic and disciplined creativity, Jessica has built an authentic and full life around the things she loves most-- her family, her craft, and Western landscapes. Montana’s rugged mountains and valleys have been a part of Jessica’s life for as long as she can remember, and even though she has traveled widely, she has always returned to Big Sky Country. The Rocky Mountain landscapes inform many aspects of her work, as does her ethic of “doing more with less.” By American standards, she and her family embrace a purposefully minimalist lifestyle which allows Jessica to focus on quality over quantity in both her professional and personal endeavors. In our world of constant connectivity and endless distraction, I’m truly inspired by Jessica’s genuine and mindful approach toward living a simple yet rich and meaningful life. Jessica was kind enough to take a break from her numerous projects for this fun conversation about her life, creative process, and love of Montana. We chatted about how she got her start making jewelry and how the impending birth of her daughter inspired her to pursue art full time. We talked about how she began making jewelry with the simplest of tools, and how the desire for fancy equipment can distract from the act of making art. We talk a lot about parenthood, and Jessica explains how becoming a mother shifted her perspectives on work and life. We discuss our shared appreciation for Stoic philosophy, and how several specific books have impacted Jessica’s creativity. We talk about the importance of international travel and wisdom gained from spending time abroad. And as usual, we discuss favorite books about the West, the best advice she’s ever received, and several of her unexpected hobbies. I really loved the conversation and know you will too. Thanks again to Jessica for taking the time to chat. Enjoy! https://mountainandprairie.com/jessica-lewis/ https://rubyandrevolver.com https://mountainandprairie.com/support/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:40 - How Jessica describes her work 5:00 - Jessica’s jewelry described 7:00 - Embracing the rawness of her work 8:50 - Materials used for her jewelry 10:30 - Why she was drawn to metalworking 12:15 - Starting out with simple tools 14:30 - Importance of her studio 17:00 - Making the leap into full-time art 19:45 - The bravery to pursue artistic dreams 22:50 - How kids change parents’ perspectives 23:45 - Creative mentors and influences 25:50 - Books that have influenced creativity 29:30 - Daily routines 30:55 - Importance of exercise 31:50 - Living in the Bitterroot Valley 32:45 - Growing up in Montana 35:30 - International travels 36:45 - Lessons learned from international travel 39:00 - “Doing more with less" 42:00 - Ed’s weird story about accumulating junk 44:00 - More on parenthood and its effects 46:10 - Advice to new parents 48:30 - Current project of building a new house by hand 52:00 - Jessica’s healthy relationship with technology 57:15 - Advice to aspiring creatives 59:50 - Favorite books 1:03:25 - Favorite films 1:05:30 - Surprising activities 1:07:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:08:30 - Best advice received 1:10:30 - Request of the listeners 1:11:50 - Connect with Jessica online