Meet A Mom- Jenn Breznen of Mined+Found
1. Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Ridgefield?
I grew up in Norwalk; Fairfield County has always been home! It will be 5 years ago this
summer that my husband, John & I traded high-rise condo life in downtown Stamford for 1 1/2
acres and our home in Ridgefield. We are absolutely loving it here, and couldn’t imagine putting
down roots anywhere else.
2. Tell us about your life as a working mom. You may also include details about your
husband and other family members. We see that many of your design ideas are inspired
by your daughter, Kenzie…please tell us more about your little one’s inspo.
John and I have worked a combined 25+ years at a luxury jeweler in Fairfield County (yes, that’s
where we met!), he as the operations manager and I as the lead buyer. So.. jewelry is quite
literally my life! Being a working mom & maintaining a separate business is definitely a circus
act at times, however watching my daughter Kennedy (or Kenzie, for short) grow and find joy &
sparkle in each day has greatly renewed my creative spirit. Family is always my #1, and where I
draw quite a bit of my inspiration from.
3. What materials do you use and what tools are necessary for your jewelry designs?
I source materials from all around the world! I take pride in finding new and unusual cuts of well
known materials, often overlooked gemstones, and unique color combinations to incorporate into
my designs. My jewelry is crafted in a range of metals including sterling silver, 18kt vermeil, &
14kt gold. Also necessary for jewelry design.. lots of coffee!
4. Have you always had a passion for the arts? Were there teachers, mentors, renowned
artists that inspire your craft?
My maternal grandfather was a watchmaker. I can remember tinkering with and making jewelry
from his leftover components and my brightly colored pony beads. When I was a little older, my
mom would bring me along to gem shows in and around the Northeast, too. That’s really where
my love of and fascination for gemstones & jewelry began. Later in high school I was fortunate
to have an amazing art teacher who helped to foster not only my belief in myself, but my art into
the 3-dimensional work it is today.
5. What’s been the best piece of advice you’ve received from another mother?
Never be afraid to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness, rather, strength and knowledge of
yourself!
6. What was the “push” that you needed to begin your own business?
At the beginning of the non-essential business shutdown last March, my husband and I elected to
be furloughed in an attempt to keep other employees on payroll as long as possible. Being at
home found me dusting off my long since used tools and once again working on my own
creative passion of designing and making jewelry. Mined + Found started out as delicate
sparkling bracelets in a rainbow of gemstones that I would hand make and wrap up for friends
and family members, in lieu of the hugs we so desperately missed, delivered “curbside from
Kenzie” during lockdown. I started to receive order requests, as others wanted to deliver bracelet
hugs to their loved ones, too. It developed lightning speed into a full fledged line of jewelry
that’s now available online and in local shops.
7. We love the play on words with your company name, “Mined and Found.” Can you tell
us the backstory on how you arrived at the name?
Simply put, 2020 was a rollercoaster. The name “Mined + Found” was born of this time and the
reality that on some days, we’ll have to dig a little deeper to find brightness. Hold tight through
the storm, and you’ll find rainbows. That paired with the gemstone nature of our jewelry, well,
you see the rest!
8. How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Have you been down to AR Marketplace on Bailey Ave? The artists behind each display are
truly some of the most amazingly talented and generous people that I have met in some time. The
friendships I have made in this last year as a result of joining Audrey Road’s marketplace have
been SO instrumental to my growth – both personally and professionally. Huge thanks to
Danielle and Sandrine for their kindness and dedication; they’ve brought our community
together in a fun, new way, when so many of us needed it most.
