team spotlight | ERIN E.

The Christina Kober Designs team is amazing. We are a close-knit group that sometimes feels more like a family than a business - a great mix of dynamic, dedicated and talented women, that bring different backgrounds and experiences to build a very strong team.

In our Team Spotlight series, I will be introducing you to our team one at a time. I am so excited to share who we are, the team that brings Christina Kober Designs to life. We are the people who hand-stamp, solder and polish your jewelry, the ones that answer your questions, and the ones that package up your orders with love. My hope is that you will see more of what makes us who we are, what drives us and connect to our stories of what inspires us.

Meet Erin! Erin is our newest addition to the CKD team and we love having her! She started at the beginning of the holiday season and my impending maternity leave - a rather stressful time- and she jumped right in learning our style and technique. She is a very talented jeweler and made it so I felt comfortable to step back from my daily jewelry making role. She is a great listener and always has an unexpected funny quip or comment. So happy to have her on our team!

WHAT DO YOU DO AT CHRISTINA KOBER DESIGNS?
I am a production jeweler which means that I help fabricate and finish all the pretty, shiny things.

What does your typical day at CKD look like?
My day is usually full making or completing pieces for wholesale or retail orders. So some days I’m doing multiples of the same piece for a wholesale order and other days it might be a series of retail orders with a variety of pieces. I love the structure of production work and since Christina has a ton of amazing pieces I never get tired with what I’m working on.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT HANDMADE JEWELRY? 
When you purchase a well-crafted piece of handmade jewelry you are supporting a practice that is almost as old as humanity. There is a sort of power that is imbued into a piece of jewelry that is made by hand.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Oooo, lots of things! I have a background in Interior Design and Architecture so color theory, architecture, and historical design movements have always been a driving force in my preferred aesthetic.

What is your favorite CKD piece and why?
I’m a sucker for tiny earrings so I’m going to have to say I really love the Diamond Dusted Fleck Studs. They are such a great staple earring that can be worn alone or with other earrings if you like a more curated look.

What does a “treat yourself” day look like to you?
With three kids, it’s more like “treat yourself” moments instead of days. So when I get the chance, I like to indulge myself sometimes with an afternoon nap or I  go to a fancy (aka expensive) hair salon in downtown Atlanta to get a cut and color.

What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Recently, my husband tracked down this obscure book on all things breezeblocks (decorative concrete blocks commonly used in Mid-Century architecture) that was only printed in Australia.

What are some of your free time activities?
I have recently discovered my love for embroidery. I find it very meditative, it keeps my hands busy, and it’s a lot more forgiving than working in metal.

How did you become interested in metalsmithing?
I’ve always had the desire to create with my hands. After I realized I didn’t want to further pursue my education in Interior Architecture, I quickly found myself in a metalsmithing class at a community art school. My journey began almost 11 years ago and I’m still constantly inspired and amazed by what can be created by metalsmiths.My love for working with metal and fire was cemented in the metalsmithing studio and various zoom workshops that I’ve had the privilege to take. I’m especially excited about working in a production role because it gives me the opportunity to learn aspects of the field I haven’t been exposed to and I’m looking forward to growing more.

you have three beautiful children. What do you feel is the most important lesson you want to pass on to them?
Well, along with “put the toilet seat up” and “don’t leave wet towels on the floor” which seem to be what my daily messaging is lately I really want to encourage self-resilience in my children. I want them to be able to have confidence in themselves that no matter what struggles they are facing in their life they can weather the storm.

Ok, now time for a little quick fire….

gold or silver?
both 

diamond dusted or inspired?
diamond dusted. It’s fun to look at and even more fun to make.

Savory or sweet?
I have a serious sweet-tooth and always have a stash of candy on hand.

Receiving gifts or giving gifts?
giving

Simple or Layered?
layered

wide or narrow ring?
Narrow, so you can stack 'em up!

Coffee or tea?
Iced, hot, intravenous, or whatever, I simply need caffeine to function.

dog or cat?
I want to pet them all, but I relate to cats' aloofness

instagram or facebook?
Facebook for parenting support groups, Instagram for the creative community, and Twitter for when I want to scream into the void.

SUMMER OR WINTER?
I have been in the south for almost 15 years now and I find it’s all about Spring and Fall.

NEUTRALS OR COLORS?
Neutrals (black mostly) for practicality but I dream in color.