Where are you from and does that have an affect on your work?

Originally from South Carolina, my roots trace back to a lineage of creators. In my family, artistic endeavors and entrepreneurial spirit run deep. My grandfather was a master of stained glass artwork, my father wielded his welding skills to craft practically anything imaginable, and my mother indulged in the realm of oil painting as a passionate hobbyist. Witnessing their creative journeys while growing up undoubtedly shapes who I've become – a jewelry designer. Their influences have seamlessly woven into my artistic DNA, infusing my work with a unique blend of craftsmanship and passion for entrepreneurship.   

Seeing as how creation was all around you, how did you personally get your start?
Hustling has been the name of the game for me for as long as I can remember. I’m that one friend who’s always working on some kind of side hustle on top of her full time job. In high school, my best friend and I hand rolled polymer clay beads and sold them to friends, family and coworkers in packaging with handwritten labels. I have always felt drawn to working with my hands and empowered to create a strong community built on connection, which led me to create Sheena Marshall Jewelry. Jewelry for women making empowered choices. I wanted to create jewelry that I know a lot of women have trouble finding — jewelry that is simple, functional, and consciously made.

You mentioned being drawn to working with your hands, is that your favorite part of the maker process?

I find it deeply satisfying to work with my hands and transfer what is in my head into a wearable piece of art. Drawing inspiration from various paintings and textiles, I will forever be drawn to creating designs with a mixture of subtle textures and organic forms that are small in size. I am a true minimalist at heart and believe this is showcased in my work.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

The most challenging aspect of my creative process is often carving out the time for it. Engaging in metalwork is incredibly calming to me, and I could easily lose track of time while immersed in my studio. However, as I also prioritize maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life, I've learned to set boundaries. Over time, I've become adept at recognizing when to wrap up my work in the studio and transition to other activities that bring me joy.

Life is all about balance isn’t it? Does your work help you in other aspects of your life?

My art is like therapy for me. It's a way to relax and have time for myself. When I create, I feel calm and at peace. This feeling carries over into the rest of my life, helping me deal with things in a more peaceful way.

Take us through a typical day at the studio for you?

A typical day in the studio depends on what part of the fulfillment process I am in with customer orders. As a one woman small business owner, I wear many hats. Sometimes that means I am at my bench during a production day, sawing and soldering metals. Other days I am working in the packaging department writing handwritten notes to each customer. I am very detailed oriented and tend to go into the studio with a plan for what I would like to accomplish that day.

How have you developed your skill over time?

I began my journey in jewelry making during my high school years, working with polymer clay before it became a popular trend. As time went on, I decided to delve deeper into the craft by enrolling in metalworking classes. This eventually led me to receive one-on-one instruction from a retired goldsmith. Through genuine determination and unwavering commitment, I progressively honed my skills over the years.

What does success mean to you?

For me, being a successful artist means finding a balance between spending time with my family and creating work that I'm proud to share with the world. When I manage to do both well, that's when I feel successful.

Love that! In prepping for Jackalope, what will you be bringing to show in Olde Town Arvada?

One of a kind pieces are always available when you shop Sheena Marshall in person. These are designs not available on the website so it is worth the trip to come say hello. Additionally, you will find a collection of everyday favorites that are simple, functional, and consciously handmade. Stopping by with a piece in mind that you saw on the website? Feel free to reach out and I can make sure to bring that design.

Final question, what do you love most about Colorado?

I grew up in South Carolina and moved to New York City shortly after graduating from college. After a few visits to Colorado, I knew immediately it was somewhere I could live long term. The friendly people, healthy lifestyles, and endless possibilities for activities has kept me here.

Thank you Sheena! We can’t wait to see you in person this October 13th - 15th when Jackalope takes over Olde Town Arvada. See you soon!

Where to see more of Sheena Marshall Jewelry:

Website | sheenamarshall.com

Instagram | @sheenamarshalljewelry

How did you start in the Handmade Community?

I started as mostly an admirer of the handmade community. Denver has such a strong group of makers and shakers and re-thinkers, there was always someone at a booth or market to ask about how and why they got started. Their stories were different, but it always came down to "so I just did it." Knowing if I did the same I would have a natural support network, I decided to jump in and open and Etsy shop in February 2016. 

What or Who Inspires you?

Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic" was totally the creative wake up call that I needed. It came into my life at the very beginning of my idea to start Tin Lizzie Apothecary, and was the catalyst for actually getting it off the ground. Her words on creativity and fear rang so true, I knew I couldn't go another day without focusing my life around creating my own Big Magic. 

What makes your work unique and truly your own? 

I've always felt more connected to pieces and brands that have a deeper, intentional meaning. From the name of the company, down to the gemstones I use on each necklace, there is always something deeper to the cute logo or pretty bead. The holistic health movement is slowly coming into the mainstream, and I wanted to help people share these tools that have helped me create a more balanced daily life. My hope is that when someone says "That's a cute necklace," it sparks a greater conversation about health and wellness.

What can shoppers expect to find from you at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair?

I'll be bringing all my favorite diffuser necklaces, along with my own essential oil blends. And some sneak peeks at items not yet available on the website :)

What do you feel makes your work unique and truly your own? 
I began creating natural jewelry years ago, when my husband's family decided to sell their beloved cabin above Poudre Canyon. I looked for a tangible way to hold on to the memory of the property, and began collecting small, beautiful artifacts that, when placed together, reconstructed a story about the cabin and what it means to be nourished by a place. 

Since then, I have used my craft as a way to polish my experiences in nature --juxtaposing materials possessing their own, divergent stories to create a piece with a single, unified future. I have seen that everyone finds their own meaning in these pieces--whether through attachment to the physical locations housing the raw materials, the sentimentality of a kind of wood or stone, or the mere tying together of different histories. Thus, each piece is as unique in form as it is in meaning.

What sort of things inspire you?  Where do you look for inspiration?
A good, old fashioned walk in the woods is the best inspiration, but particularly when I have a thought-provoking book by my side. Nature writers like John Muir, Wallace Stegner, Ellen Meloy, and Terry Tempest Williams have a way of illuminating the seemingly mundane aspects of our relationship with the world and making them instrumental to our understanding of it. My work operates in similar ways, encouraging both me and the wearer to reconsider what we know and feel about our natural surroundings.

When do you feel the most creative?
Walking in the woods outside my house in Breckenridge is the surest way to get me excited about creating. I love finding gnarled pieces of deadfall and wondering about the grain patterns that lay inside. Any time I'm out collecting lichens, too, I am anxious to be back in my shop, pairing them with new woods to see what makes each specimen come alive in a new relationship. The process of creating is equally exciting, allowing me to pair wood and lichens based on their complementary organic patterns.

Where can we learn more about you?  
My website, www.thelichenist.com, is a great way to learn about the materials I use and why I get so fired up about them. Follow me on Tumblr @thelichenist to gain insight into my daily inspirations and creative process.

Shop Lichenology at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.

I describe my design style as earthy chic with a rustic glamorous vibe. I am naturally drawn to very raw stones and I think that is attributed to the fact that my husband and I have a daughter, Mo, who graduated with a Geology degree. We were always collecting rocks when she was growing up! She gave me the love of "earthy" gems and each piece of jewelry that I make comes with the history and metaphysical properties of the elements used in the design. 

Megan, my oldest daughter, is my source of all things "color" and texture! She is a self-taught, and very accomplished acrylic artist, who paints with an extremely cheerful and vibrant style. She pushes me to get out of my comfort zone by mixing metals, textures and colors together in ways that I would not have thought of on my own. 

I'm certainly inspired by my family, but nature also gives me a boost to the creative process. Whether I'm on a walk with my dog, or a marathon course with Megan (we've completed 7), I find ideas and think about new designs. I want each piece to be meaningful. For example, I've just recently produced some hammered metal necklaces called "Stepping Stones" that were inspired by polished river rocks along a mountain stream. The name Stepping Stones" can symbolize a way to move forward, or heal, or reach our goals. I like to solder three beads onto the metal cutout to represent mind, body and spirit, but some people have customized them for number of children, anniversary dates, numerology, and so on.

I've also started hammering some new rings in Brass, Copper, and Sterling Silver. They are a wide band with a simple, yet dramatic, diagonal cutout and they are named "Pathway" rings. Megan and I were on a marathon course in Couer d'Alene, Idaho when we started talking about letting go of control and letting the path choose us, instead of the other way around. I think a lot of people can relate to jewelry with meaning. It makes a piece very special and can be a fantastic gift for someone. 

You can find other examples of my work on my website at www.StorytellingStrands.com and there is a link to my Etsy shop on that site, as well. Not everything is listed because I'd rather spend time making things that I can show at events like the Jackalope Art Fair!!!

Shop Storytelling Strands at Jackalope Art & Craft Fair on July 25th & 26th at EXDO Event Center.