JOURNAL

  I’m Christina (yes there is a real, live Christina)! I started making jewelry in a tiny kitchen where I had to choose between cooking dinner or making jewelry—never both. (Spoiler: jewelry usually won.) What began as a curiosity turned into a business, a team, and a whole lot of meaningful pieces made by hand, start to finish. Moving into...

The last twelve years have been a blur of pushing and hoping—building a business, raising a family, holding myself together through loss. My dad’s long decline, infertility, realizing the dream I was chasing wasn’t actually mine. Each grief layered onto the next, and I kept going by becoming smaller, quieter, numb.After my dad died, the hope I’d been carrying finally...

There’s a lot of pressure at the start of a new year to reinvent yourself. To fix what’s unfinished.To become more disciplined, more productive, more something. But there is another way to begin—one that doesn’t demand reinvention, only honesty. Instead of resolutions, I choose a word. A single word that feels like an anchor. A word I can return to...

It’s that time of year again — cozy season. The air feels a little crisper, the days a little shorter, and suddenly all I want to do is settle in for a holiday movie marathon. As an introvert through and through, there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a soft blanket wrapped around me, a mug of...

My love language is giving gifts. I love taking the time to really think about the recipient — who they are, their hobbies, inside jokes, the little things they’ve mentioned wanting or needing. All of these details go into my gift planning. Even the packaging is part of the story — favorite colors, flowers, or the theme of the gift...

In recent years, kinetic jewelry—jewelry with moving parts—has found a place in many people’s lives as more than just adornment. There’s something powerful about being able to touch, shift, or slide a bead when your mind feels scattered. These small motions, almost imperceptible to anyone else, can bring a surprising sense of calm. It’s why many have come to call...

Grief is sneaky. Sometimes it crashes in like a waterfall, knocking the wind out of you. Other times it comes quietly, like the soft lapping of waves against a lake. Today, it crept in through small triggers that pulled me under :  It began with a movie. Then came the memory of our father-daughter dance. An embrace felt again. His...

I love wearing a stack of bracelets, they are like little conspirators in joy. They don’t announce themselves the way a necklace or pair of earrings might. Instead, they sit quietly on your wrist, waiting for those small, stolen glances throughout the day. And it’s in those moments—a flash of silver, a word tucked into the curve of your wrist,...

I’ve been making production jewelry for nearly my entire career—it’s how I make my living. But while preparing a workshop to teach other jewelers how to approach production, I had a bit of a realization: most people don’t know what “production jewelry” really means.  And honestly? I don’t blame you. It’s not something we (makers) talk about, and it definitely...

Handcrafted means intention. It’s about creating with purpose, care, and presence. Each piece holds the marks of its maker—the subtle details and tiny imperfections that make it human, honest, and real. Whether working with wood, food, silver and gold, porcelain, or any other medium, the maker brings something from within themselves into what they create. Give ten people the same...

This July marks 18 years of CKD—and as I reflect, I’m struck by how much has changed. I started out chasing a version of success that looked like big numbers, a big team, and constant growth. And while I’m proud of what I built, I eventually realized it didn’t feel like me. In recent years—especially after some personal and team changes...

Charleston, SC - Think classic Southern elegance meets coastal casual—with a heat-conscious twist. Charleston has a style rooted in tradition but adapted for warm-weather living: perfect for everything from front porch sipping to afternoon strolls under the sun. Los Angeles, CA - California has this effortless cool that’s hard to replicate—a unique blend of comfort, confidence, and understated elegance. It’s...

One of my favorite things about summer is how my skin naturally starts to tan. Now, I’m absolutely that person on the beach—hiding under a wide-brimmed sunhat, slathered in SPF 50, and camped out beneath a giant umbrella—but somehow, the summer sun still manages to give my skin a warm, golden glow. And nothing pairs more beautifully with sun-kissed skin than...

When I began my business, it was mostly through face-to-face interactions at art festivals. I met people who would buy my jewelry or place an order. But I was meeting my customers, learning who they are, and building relationships. As more shopping is moving online (I’m no exception, since I have stopped participating in in-person events since having children) - it...

For some people, this comes easily, while for others, it's really difficult. But, as with anything, it does take practice. When I recently went on a girls trip, I helped many of my girlfriends style their outfits and had a blast - it made me realize that with a little help of tips and tricks, they could really take their...

Christina shares her inspiration behind the design of the dandelion and what it means.