Self-Taught, Overcaffeinated & Crushing It: TheJRuthCo Origin Story

From Bowl Covers to Boss Moves: TheJRuthCo Origin Story
Come for the wax, stay for the chaos.

It all started in 2012 when I was designing shirts and window decals —back before Etsy was cool and algorithms were terrifying. I’ve always been creative, stubborn, and allergic to being told what to do (unless I Google it first). Everything I do is self-taught, fueled by YouTube tutorials, Pinterest rabbit holes, trial and error, and enough caffeine to raise concern. Sewing? Self-taught. Web design? Self-taught. Figuring out how to not set beeswax on fire? Also self-taught (though that one took a few smoky lessons and a couple wax burns.)

I grew up in Clarence Center, NY, raised in a hard-working, entrepreneurial family that didn’t take shortcuts and never waited around for permission to chase dreams. My parents owned their own businesses, and I watched firsthand what grit, hustle, and sacrifice looked like. It wasn’t always glamorous—but it was ours. That work ethic is burned into my DNA. And sure, I’ve made more than my share of dumb choices and bad mistakes (some impressively terrible, honestly), but as I grew, healed, and matured, I found myself coming back to those roots—back to what I was raised on: doing it myself, working hard, and building something real.

I’ve always had a million ideas buzzing in my head and a desperate need to bring them to life. I’m a full-blown DIY maniac who can’t sit still when I know I could be building something bigger. I’ve had my hands in everything from designing shirts to running a bait and tackle shop (Yes, seriously. Yes, it’s a long story. Yes, he’s still the ex.) But even then, I knew I wanted more.

I’ve made furniture—seriously, if you count a production counter and a high-rise bed for my daughter (which I absolutely do), painted signs, made home décor, and stitched up solutions for everyday life because I simply cannot not create. I see a problem and think, “I can make that better.” And then…I do.

Currently, I work full-time as a real estate paralegal (because health insurance and capitalism), but make no mistake—this is temporary. TheJRuthCo is my passion, and one day soon, it will be my only job. I’m a go-getter through and through. If I don’t know how to do something, I learn. If a door doesn’t open, I build a new damn door. I don’t just dream—I do.

Now, let’s talk about how TheJRuthCo came to be.

It all started with a bowl cover.

Not some mass-produced, bland thing, but a reusable, adorable, eco-friendly bowl cover made by me—because cling wrap is the devil and my kitchen deserved better. That one simple swap turned into a full-blown obsession. Suddenly, I was elbow-deep in fabric and realizing, “Oh, I can fix that. I can make that. I can make that cute.”

Then came the beeswax wraps, made with locally sourced beeswax, because I’m extra like that. Not only did they work beautifully, but they made me feel like a crunchy woodland witch every time I packed a snack.

And then? Y’all started talking. Asking. Suggesting. Requesting.
I listened.
And so the Beeswax Bread Bag was born—because if you’re gonna put your heart and soul into baking bread that could get you adopted into a pioneer family, it deserves a storage solution that doesn’t come from a roll of plastic.

Next came the un-paper towels—for wiping up life’s messes without killing trees or your vibe. And just like that, TheJRuthCo evolved into a full-blown brand. Not just products, but solutions. *Not just eco-friendly—eco-fabulous.

And the best part? I’m still just getting started.
Every item, every post, every design comes from this messy, driven, sometimes-overcaffeinated brain of mine. I listen, I learn, I pivot, and I create.

I’ve also always been drawn to homesteading—the crunchy, self-sufficient, DIY-everything lifestyle that makes my inner earthy gremlin absolutely swoon. I may not have chickens yet, but I dream of growing more, preserving more, and learning all the skills our great-grandmothers somehow just knew. On the flip side, my current love and I are both obsessed with traveling—give us a map and a long weekend, and we’re gone. Whether it’s chasing sunsets or checking out weird little roadside attractions, I live for the adventure. So now I’m weaving all of it—homesteading dreams, chaotic travel tales, recipes, and creations—into this brand and this blog, because life isn’t just one thing. It’s messy and beautiful and full of stories worth telling (preferably over coffee in a handmade mug).

If you're here for the wax, the sass, the sustainability, or the shirts—welcome. I'm Jamie. I run TheJRuthCo. I do things a little differently, I take requests, and I make the kind of stuff that’s just a little too wild for Target but perfect for your real, messy, beautiful life. I also cuss like a pirate, make catastrophic messes that somehow turn into cute products, and live on the edge—usually of a fabric pile, a mental breakdown, or both.

So if you’re into handmade chaos, eco-friendly sass, and a little magic tucked between the messes—I’m your girl.
Welcome to my beautifully unhinged, mildly feral, wonderfully messy life.
Let’s make stuff. 💛