Welcome to Charmmen designs, I’m Shelly:
I am a jewelry designer and maker and passionate about the freedom and beauty of creativity. Since childhood you could find me busy with some sort of hands on creative outlet, A desire towards anything tiny and detailed. Back then, dime stores were my sources of finding those little colored rounds, packaged in clear glass tubes with a cork top. Fishing line
and sewing thread were my only choices for stringing my little treasures. I stored my treasures in cupped sea shells with the ruffled edge, collected from the beach in Galveston Texas. I also organized my little treasures of rounds, by color in Aluminum Ice trays. My love for beads and jewelry construction continued as a hobby through college, and lived in the background as I worked professionally in the visual merchandising profession. Along the way floral design was an addition to my work responsibilities. This made my heart happy similar to designing jewelry. The excitement of arranging and assembling shapes and colors appealed to me, and I was paid to do something I loved. One late evening inspired with the upcoming annual Fourth of July family picnic. I decided I wanted to design a bracelet reflecting Patriotism and wear some red white and blue. Not knowing that in the same year 9/11 was months away. Just like that, this bracelet design became an expression of uniting Americans by Literally wearing your heart on your wrist. Working day and night out of my home studio, I produced and sold a few hundred bracelets. I continued to focus on this design adding new concepts and expanding my collection. I participated in the fall markets and building customer relationships, while also working full time. I soon made the Decision to break away from the corporate world, leaving my merchandising Career of 20 years and follow my heart. My love for jewelry making became my only focus. Today I have developed my own style. I love the idea of old treasures re-purposed. My jewelry collections include various vintage trinkets and unique elements. With a passion to further create designs that were truly my own, I explored additional ways to make my own beads. I moved further away from commercial supplies and resources. With a desire to be unique in a competitive market I pursued experimenting with materials and textiles that I could work into jewelry. This Is when I discovered the ancient art form of glass bead making. A new chapter begins. With many months of practice and determination to learn this new technique, I spent many all nighters in my glass studio forming glass into beads. A true labor of love. It has been 10 Years since I began this chapter, and well worth the journey. I have reached many of my jewelry goals. My jewelry designs reflect so much of who I am. My style is vintage inspired, featuring a soft color pallet, unique details, quality and craftsmanship. My most sold design is still a hand strung, single strand beaded bracelet,
with a vintage button for the enclosure, featuring tiny charm-lets. Inspired over 20 years ago. The patient bracelet. To capitalize on growing my business and offer additional hand made gift ideas during a busy show season. I have taken the opportunity to introduce a variety of gift ideas into my mix. In keeping true to my style. I have created pendants, hair accessories, and hand made greeting cards and journals. Utilizing Vintage images, papers, and textiles. I embrace the holidays and seasonal changes as an opportunity to work with many of my other creative projects. Areas of interest that most people are unaware I have. Floral design, trimming Christmas trees and professional ribbon work are just a few avenues that resurface. I still work all nighters just because I like to. It makes me feel special that one day when I have gone on from this journey, nestled in a velvet lined jewelry box somewhere, will be a little piece of jewelry hand made by me and from the heart. I truly hope you can enjoy wearing one of my jewelry designs, as much as I have enjoyed making it for you. Hugs,
Shelly
Charmmen Designs
