INSIDE THE STUDIO : Messy, Meaningful, and Made by Hand

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 my 19th year of business, what inspires me now looks a little different than it did back then.

What do you love most about the process of making jewelry?

The process of making jewelry has always pulled me in. I love the tedium—the repetition, the messiness before beauty appears.

But even more than that, I’m drawn to the techniques themselves: how metal moves under a hammer, how fire and heat create connection where there was once separation.

It’s messy. Physical. Alchemical.

There’s something sacred about transformation you can feel in your hands.

What inspires your work, and how has that evolved?

On the surface, inspiration can be simple. Sometimes it’s just an image I can’t shake—I have to make it real. Other times it’s something I want to wear but can’t find anywhere else.

But the deeper truth is that I’ve been honest about struggling to feel truly inspired in my business. I spent months slowing down, listening, and asking myself what actually sets my soul on fire. And recently, everything clicked.

I realized that what inspires me now is helping people find power through words.

I create simple, thoughtful, and delicate pieces that allow a word or phrase to stand strong. The text is small. The scale is intimate. It’s deeply personal—meant just for you. A grounding force. A talisman. Something you return to when you need reminding.

My inspiration has shifted.
Toward intention.
Toward words that guide.
Toward jewelry that holds more than beauty.

Jewelry as an anchor.
Jewelry as a reminder.
Jewelry as something you return to—again and again.

And just as important as making the jewelry is the idea of helping someone find their word or phrase—the one that excites them, challenges them, maybe even scares them a little. Because those are often the words that hold the most power.

What do you find to be most challenging about being an entrepreneur?

Honestly? Keeping my head above water while staying inspired. Some days it feels like I’m juggling a thousand things at once—and half of them I didn’t even know were on fire.

The real challenge is holding on to why I started in the first place: making things that feel personal, meaningful, and a little magical. That’s what led me to my current work with words and phrases—helping people find something that grounds them, even when life feels messy.

So yeah, being an entrepreneur is messy. Chaotic. Hard. But it’s also kind of perfect—because it keeps me on my toes, no two days are the same, and I get to be creative, curious, and—if I’m doing it right—unstoppable.

What made you decide to teach jewelry?

I grew up in my dad’s jewelry supply store, where we didn’t just sell tools—we helped people figure out what the heck to do with them. We taught them to problem-solve, use their tools like pros, and sometimes even gain enough confidence to start their own businesses.

Now, developing classes—whether it’s a hands-on jewelry technique or the methods I’ve honed for building a production jewelry business—I get to share what I know while secretly fine-tuning it for myself. I get to hang out with other “jewelry people” and watch them learn, grow, and sometimes surprise themselves by making things they didn’t think they could.

It’s fun. It’s hands-on. It’s challenging. And it’s truly incredible to see when something clicks for someone.

Alright, let’s loosen up a little—no rules, no pressure. What are 10 things—fun, unexpected, or just very you—that people might not know?

1. I firmly believe chips belong inside a sandwich. Always.
2. My gray stripe in my hair? I love it. Not only is it glitter hair, it’s proof that I know things… like, important things.
3. I’m an introvert through and through. While I love in person events and teaching, it takes me a day or two to refuel.
4. I am a super taster. Can I taste your secret ingredient? Yes. Do I know what it is? Probably not, but it still counts.
5. Green is my favorite color.
6. As a child, my dream job was either a backup dancer for Janet Jackson or a Rockette. Not gonna lie, still my dream job.
7. I’m a recovering picky eater—though I prefer the term particular.
8. I don’t like birds (I am legit afraid of them), and I fully blame Alfred Hitchcock for that. That being said I have three favorite birds- peacocks, snowy owls, and penguins.
9. There is nothing,nothing, like seeing a movie in an actual theater.
10. A spontaneous dance party can completely change your mood.

I’ve heard about the final interview questions you ask when hiring… mind if I put you on the spot and ask a few?

Sure!

What disney character (villain, princess, whatever) do you identify with?

Belle! She’s quirky, nerdy, a little weird, loves getting lost in a book, stubborn, independent, and determined…so, same energy, minus the enchanted castle.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

If your toilet paper isn’t over the roll, or worse—you leave the empty one and just plop the new roll on top—sorry, but that’s serious serial killer traits.

What is your spirit animal?

I’d have to say a cat—I like my quiet time, I’m independent. I like napping. I’m chill for the most part. And I only want attention on my terms and timeline.