CKS ventures

CKS ventures Welcome to CKS ventures! A collaboration of my husband and my creations in jewelry & aromatics artistry. Along with our "ventures" through everyday life.

12/15/2025

Smooth curves. Warm woods. Built to roll. 🚂✨
This handcrafted wooden train is made from walnut, maple, and paduak—laser-engraved and finished to highlight the natural beauty of the wood. Part toy, part design object, part pure joy.

Designed to be played with, displayed, and passed down.
Because good design shouldn’t sit still.

Tap to explore more art-forward play at CKS Ventures → link in bio.

12/05/2025

A tiny landmark with big personality.
Meet our 3D puzzle of the Historic Fresno Water Tower — designed by Ken straight from the original blueprints and laser-cut in the CKS studio. Clean lines, modern details, all the charm.

We were commissioned to make 150 of these mini icons (!)... and soon you’ll be able to build your own at cksventures.com 👀

It’s the perfect mix of architecture + art + puzzle joy — a little moment of creativity you get to assemble piece by piece.

Want first dibs? Tap the link in bio + join the waitlist.
Let’s make tiny architecture a thing. ✨

-cut

BLACK FRIDAY BEGINSClean. Modern. Art-forward.20% off sitewide — use code CKS2050% off one item — use code CKS50ONENow t...
11/27/2025

BLACK FRIDAY BEGINS
Clean. Modern. Art-forward.

20% off sitewide — use code CKS20
50% off one item — use code CKS50ONE
Now through Monday only at CKSVentures.com

Treat yourself to something intentional.
Shop → cksventures.com


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Today we’re feeling extra grateful — for your support, your kindness, and the way you choose small studios over mass-mad...
11/27/2025

Today we’re feeling extra grateful — for your support, your kindness, and the way you choose small studios over mass-made things. Thank you for being part of this creative journey and for letting our work become part of yours.

Wishing you a warm, peaceful day filled with good food, good company, and moments that feel like home.

With gratitude,
– CKS

11/26/2025

A laser-crafted architectural tribute—engineered with intention + edge.

The Armour-Stiner House is one of the most extraordinary residences in America—an eight-sided, fully domed Victorian landmark inspired by Bramante’s 1502 Tempietto. When the homeowner’s son reached out and asked if we could translate this iconic New York structure into a 3D puzzle, we knew it would be a challenge worth taking on.

Working directly from the original architectural CAD drawings, we carefully extracted & resized the exterior details—column by column, window by window, shingle by shingle. Every line you see in the finished model started as a historic architectural notation. Every piece was redesigned from the ground up to function as a precision-fit laser-cut puzzle.

This project pushed our studio in the best possible way. Hundreds of parts. Countless test cuts. Many late nights adjusting tolerances by millimeters.

For the beta test, we handed the puzzle—no instructions, only designer-embedded hints—to our neighbor, a retired attorney. Not only did he complete it without issue, he enjoyed it so much he and his wife drove to New York to tour the real house.

Production Details (for fellow makers + xTool fans):

Machine used: xTool P2 / P2S
(Two pieces require pass-through or conveyor; P3 users could likely cut everything without pass-through—happy to test if you want to send one.)
Material: 3mm MDF
(3 sheets 12×24, 1 sheet 12×8, 2 sheets 14×14)
Total score/cut time: ~4 hours 15 minutes
Design: All components engineered in-house by CKS Ventures

It represents everything we love about making—architecture, problem-solving, laser precision, and the joy of transforming a historic structure into a tactile experience. It’s a puzzle, a display piece, and a small architectural love letter to one of the most unusual homes ever built.

Created intentionally. Crafted with edge. Powered by xTool.

11/10/2025

Desert vibes + laser-cut lines = our kind of adventure. 🏜️✨

Meet the Desert Transport Hauler — a 3D wooden puzzle that’s part art, part engineering, and 100% fun to build.
Laser-cut in our NC studio and designed for makers, dreamers, and sci-fi fans who love a hands-on challenge.

Tap the link in bio to build yours — creativity comes standard. ⚙️

10/24/2025

Hope to see you at TODAY.

10/20/2025

✨ Work in progress magic ✨
This little garnet is still finding its place in a triangle of silver + stone — a perfect mix of raw + refined. 🖤❤️ Getting it ready just in time for this Friday’s trunk show in Chapel Hill (Oct 24)!

Come see it (and more curious creations) in person, try things on, and say hi 👋

👉 Mark your calendars, bring your art-loving friends, and let’s make it a night of wearable art + community.

🌟 CKS Ventures Has a New Look! 🌟Our website just got a fresh upgrade and it’s so us—creative, clever, and full of handma...
07/21/2025

🌟 CKS Ventures Has a New Look! 🌟

Our website just got a fresh upgrade and it’s so us—creative, clever, and full of handmade magic.

💌 Subscribe & get a FREE GIFT with your next order. Yup, we said free.

🧩 Jewelry • Puzzles • Playful Design
Crafted with heart in our NC studio.

Tap the link in bio → Visit cksventures.com → Hit "subscribe"
Then enjoy your exclusive thank-you gift on your next adventure.

🎈“Adventure is out there!” and now… it’s in your hands.Build your own Balloon-Ready Adventure House—a charming 3D wooden...
07/02/2025

🎈“Adventure is out there!” and now… it’s in your hands.
Build your own Balloon-Ready Adventure House—a charming 3D wooden puzzle inspired by imagination, wonder, and a little bit of magic. ✨

Whether you're reliving your favorite animated moments or just love a good creative challenge, this one’s made for you. 💛

Shop now via the link in bio and let your next adventure begin…

I’ve got my eyes on the xTool MetalFab—this beast cuts metal! 🔥 Imagine the limitless design possibilities for CKS Art J...
03/13/2025

I’ve got my eyes on the xTool MetalFab—this beast cuts metal! 🔥 Imagine the limitless design possibilities for CKS Art Jewelry—from bold, geometric statement pieces to intricate metal art. 💡✨

Sending out all the good vibes—wish me luck! 🍀🤞

📣 Fellow makers, what would you create with this? Drop your dream projects in the comments!

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Houston, TX

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+17137051706

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our story

CKS ventures is a result of rebranding my MAE jewelry line, refocusing on my business and the collaboration of my husband and me to design and create from what we love to do. A triangle is a symbol of strength. In our logo C, Cheryl, and K, Ken represents our individual strength. The S, Serdar, our last name is our combined strength. Ventures are our optimism, expression and creativity represented by the 3 connecting lines of the triangle. I am the heart, soul and energy while Ken is the technical and brains of CKS ventures.

I always thought I wanted to be a fashion designer. However, growing up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin with 7 siblings, Paris, New York or even Dallas was not in the cards! I did go to Lowthian College, now The Art Institute of Minneapolis, and got a Diploma in Fashion Merchandising working in retail upon graduation. Retail was not paying the bills though. I began working in the corporate world. Upon moving to Houston, TX, I went to the University of Houston, TX, getting a BBA in accounting and my Certified Public Accounting license. I almost switched my major to chemical engineering. I thought it would be a dream job playing mad scientist creating perfumes and beauty products like Ashley Abbott on the “Young and The Restless.” I admit it I still watch the soap! I worked in the accounting/business world for over 10 years. My fashion designer dream never quite died though.

I quit the corporate world and became a full-time Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. Sales Director. I would have rather been creating the products though! I began taking online Fashion Design classes through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I started reselling clothing, accessories and jewelry to my Mary Kay customers, through eBay, and at in home parties. I also started representing a couple lines of jewelry. This led me to take some metalsmithing classes at the Academy of Art University. I fell in love and discovered what I was truly meant to do. MAE artisan jewelry was born!