Jessica Semerci, the owner of From the Heart boutique in Adolphus, Ky, went to the Marines right after high school. She served in Iraq, where she met her Turkish husband. They traveled the world a bit and finally came back and settled for children.
Jessica has been a stay at home mom for the last 5 years, since they found out their son was testing very high for his age. ‘This boy keeps me on my toes,’ Jessica says. ‘ He is 13 and finishing Algebra 2!’ She has worked hard homeschooling him. He will graduate high school on his 16th birthday.
Jessica also started a business out of her hobby of sewing. ‘I had been sewing out of my home for people for almost 20 years and my machines and supplies were overwhelming my living space.; She was doing on average 5 - 6 quilts per year. ‘All my friends crochet or do some kind of hand made art, too. So I thought I would invest in a space and let my friends add their art in, and maybe between all of us we could stock a store. It took a little over a year. And we did!’
‘I purchased this shell of a building and completely made it myself (with the help of friends and family, of course). I hand painted designs on the floor, decoupaged the walls, actually the local newspaper donated me several copies of that days paper so I could commemorate when the shop was being built! You will have to come by and see it all!’
Her boutique grand opening was March 13 (Friday the 13 to be specific) of 2020. She was open all day on the following Saturday and then COVID 19 hit and she was shut down.
‘My business regularly carries hand crocheted items, paintings, decoupaged glass, chalk painted furniture, hand woven things, and I even have a spinning wheel! I spin wool and other fibers!!! Basically I do all types of hand made folk art. And especially quilts. I do this whole business for the love of making, repairing, restoring quilts,’ Jessica says.
With her boutique being closed due to COVID 19, she began just making face masks for anyone who needed them, whether or not they could pay. Little did she know how much of a service this was for the community.
Jessica explains, ‘I have been swamped with custom orders since. I believe I have provided over 1,500 masks (and some sanitizer) since March, much with the help of Kim Pfefferkorn (of Mellow Matt’s Music and More) and her customer base.’
When asked what advice she had for other women who want to start their own business, Jessica had this to say. ‘Know it’s what you want to do. - Listen to friends and family, even the criticism. Address those things privately to yourself (and maybe your spouse.) Do you still want to open? - And if possible do it debt free! I saved and started my business completely debt free, without that I definitely would have went under during COVID!!! Who could have planned for that! Instead I was able to help others!”
Jessica says she is self motivated by some clean work space and music to work to. “When I lose self motivation to finish a project or job, my family and friend support system is my safety net. My mom comes by to organize things and cleans my work space to surprise me and motivate me sometimes. My friends are always sending me inspirational photos and things that spark my creativity. I am able to be successful because of a broad network of friends and family who step in, unasked, and know me and motivate me.”
Jessia feels the biggest challenge is the juggle between family and business. “ The reality is I only have so many hours In a day and so much energy. So my housework and family time does end up affected. I feel like my family is stepping up to the challenge though. My husband is planning and providing meals when I’m working and he isn’t. My children are always underfoot at the shop and wanting to do something to help.”
Of her mentors, Jessica adds, ‘I don’t think I realized until this interview, but I am surrounded by business owning successful women!!’ Jessica also had support from a few women in her past that really left a lasting impact.
‘Mrs. Debora Barfoot - Without her dedicating time and energy into helping me, I would not have completed as much towards my second degree as I did! We actually went into business together but it was less than a year before, due to my parents Health decline, I had to move away. ‘
‘Mrs Mini Henson - She was a 90-year-old little old lady when I was 16 and first learning to sew. She hand pieced quilt tops and made her own clothing. I used to love sitting in her living room with her, working on whatever she was working on and learning all the tricks of the trade. Upon her death, her family decided to donate most of her quilting patterns and fabrics to me, which I thought was very generous. As a young girl, having this material and equipment available to me, enabled me to do the hobby that I love without having to initially invest a lot of money that I didn’t have. Without this event, I don’t know if I would be where I am today because I maybe would have stopped sewing.’
Jessica’s mantra is Reduce, reuse, re-purpose, recycle, up-cycle. ‘Almost all glass in the shop that is decoupaged is up-cycled
'I harvest synthetics and reuse them and sell them, paint and re-purpose furniture, sell reuse clothing and items. I encourage the thought of reducing our footprint. I am also completely paperless. I could go on and on!!’
If anyone is in need of a protective mask and can’t afford one, call me.
If anyone is in need of anything that I can help with, call me.
Jessica can be contacted:
Cell (270) 622-0493
Jeciesemerci@gmail.com
Fb: @fromtheheartfolkart
Web: from-the-heart-folkart.square.site
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