Re: Focus....

I took a week break from social media to re focus on my jewelry design. I can't say it was easy, breezy. Sometimes the only social interaction I get in these snowy, winter months is from Facebook and Twitter. The time away paid off. I found myself trying new designs that I'd had floating around in my head but had been to distracted to attempt, like these soldered cuffs:

I also took some time to look back through past designs to see what really worked and was inspired by what was there. Sometimes what you were looking for was in your backyard the whole time Dorothy:

I also completely updated my website with all new pieces, you can see them here:

http://karynshonkdesigns.bigcartel.com/

Making It Count!

Can we just skip the part where I say I haven't posted in a while? 2013 was busy!!!

 In the span of the year we were lucky enough to travel to Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica with some small family trips to the Outer Banks and Michigan thrown in. Icing on the travel cake was that two of the trips were made with a big groups of friends that I've known forever and treasure more than words, and the absolute joy of making some  amazingly special new friends. Added to that were my Country Living Shows in Rhinebeck, NY (where I camped in a tent for the first and last time) and Columbus, Ohio (which rocked as it always does) and traveling to Jackson, MS with Sweet Tea Clothing Company to help out at the Junior League show where I got to meet the coolest marine on the face of the earth in the form of my friend Crystal's little brother Will.

I added a few new shows this year in Virginia Beach which turned out to be well worth the drive and was lucky enough to spend all my time there with my best friend Christina and her family. I will be looking for more shows out that way this year! (any suggestions are welcome:)

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which I lucked into last year, has been doing really well with KShonk Designs and I am so lucky to be selling there and getting to see their fun and fabulous buyer every time I go as well as their staff who always greet me so warmly. I am also looking forward to working with some new shops this year.

So what's in store for the New Year?

The New Year for me is going to be all about taking it to the next level. Exploring and stretching as KShonk Designs and personally figuring out what makes me happy within myself and within my work and life. At the end of it all we only get a limited time on this earth and I want to make it count. I am thankful for the absolute luxury of time and the stability of home for that opportunity.

A HUGE thank you to everyone that bought a piece of jewelry, came out to the shows and showed your support for my little dream. I love every one of you and could not do this without you!

Here's to making it count!!!

Magazine!

I am getting dangerously close to  a "Time to update your blog" email from my dad! So much has happened in the last 2 weeks. I have battled a cold and gotten lots of work done. There is also the not so small matter of my first national magazine coverage!!! Way to bury the lead right? I will be posting pictures this week. I have lots of custom orders to work on this week and a BUNCH of shows and stores to fill. April is going to be INSANE!!! Look for my magazine post later today.

Encouragement...It's Free!

When I was a little girl I liked to draw. I wasn't Van Gogh but I was good enough that the kids in my class wanted my drawings. Being entrepreneurial at a young age, I charged about a nickel a picture. I remember feeling such a sense of pride. These weren't adults indulging a little kid, these were other kids like me that wanted to pay hard earned money for something I had created. And then the teacher found out. She made me give back all the money, let the kids keep the pictures and told me I wasn't good enough to charge money for what I did.

Maybe I shouldn't have been selling the drawings in class, but I was 5 what did I know?


Luckily she was the exception and not the rule. Once I figured out that jewelry design was what I wanted to do I was blessed to have people encourage me and help me along the way. From my parents and step parents to Elizabeth Spahr of Wagoner's Jewelers who gave me the my first paid internship when I was just a  30 year old with a dream. Not to mention all the fabulous people who have paid good money for my designs for the past ten years or so.


Now I make a living doing what I love to do which is an amazing gift that I am thankful for every single day! Imagine what would've happened if I had been encouraged at 5!

Pinsperation!

My morning ritual consists of coffee, breakfast bar and Pinterest. I love looking at all the pretty pictures and this morning I was going through my Inspiration board and thought I'd share a a few of my favorites.

Breathtaking! Vintage paris 1800's

Obviously blues and greens and seaglass! 

This picture makes when want to pillage my stash for deep reds and turquoise immediately! Don't be too surprised if there is a picture up tomorrow inspired by this picture!

Ring by Armenta. I love the mix of metals and the medieval vibe.

Victorian hair jewelry was meant to keep your loved one in your memory. There are some amazing examples of this practice. Love the little key and lock.

Ugh. The absolute beauty of the deep blues and greens with the touch of weather wood.

Thank you Ryan. I appreciate you appreciating me;)

Feel free to follow me on Pinterest:http://pinterest.com/kshonkdesigns/

Earrings Without Partners Support Group

You pull off your sweater, take off your scarf or come home from vacation one earring shy of a pair. It's happened to me more times than I can count. If you are lucky you find it hiding under your bed or still stuck to the scarf. If you are not, you call me. (if I made it that is;)

If I have the components to make a  new one I am more than happy to do so, however, I spend a lot of time finding beads, trinkets and baubles to use in creating small batches of  unique jewelry and a lot of the times when I run out of the goods I can't replicate the exact earring that is missing. (especially if a couple of years has passed)  Sometimes we can put the remaining earring on a chain and make a necklace. Sometimes I have to make a brand new pair. I am happy to help with either outcome!

In an effort to avoid the lost earring sads these little goodies are your best friends:


Clear, plastic earring backs. There are you first defense in keeping you earrings together. Here are a few links to where you can find them:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79604470/50-earnut-safety-sleeves-clear?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=GPS&gclid=CLWluPSwgbUCFU-d4AodAQcAFg

http://compare.ebay.com/like/200652283955?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

Thanks for your reading and fight the good fight! Let's keep our earrings together!

A Sunday Surprise!

I was a little under the weather this weekend and sadly had to reschedule my Sunday studio appointments and dinner with my mom in law. To my surprise (and delight) my friend Karen did not receive my message and showed up on my doorstep excited to get her leather cuff bracelet. She got me with messy bed head and full of cold medicine but it was such a nice break in the day. Here she is modeling the leather cuff AND a pair of bullet casing earrings she had to have:

She wears them well and looks very angelic doing so!

Karen's bracelet

This multi layered necklace was inspired by the view from a restaurant in Honolulu. I was trying to capture the fire and ocean. I had just finished it and had time to snap this picture before another customer popped in and snatched it up! I know I should be resting but there is so much more I want to make!