Today I want to introduce you to Katie Jenkins — the jewelry designer behind Baton Rouge-based Kat Noel Designs. Katie started her jewelry design company in 2014 as a stay-at-home mom with three kids. Today, she sells her jewelry on Etsy and at local pop-up shops around Baton Rouge.
SF: How did Kat Noel Designs come about?
Katie: I was going on vacation and wanted cute accessories but couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. So I started looking at the components of the things I did like and thought, “I can totally do this myself.” Friends and family started asking for custom orders and the business grew from there.
“My desire is to provide beautiful, quality jewelry at an affordable price.”
SF: Tell us about the process of creating your jewelry from start to finish.
Katie: It’s funny, because I always plan out a design in my head and order the components and never use them in the original way. I like to play with color, size and shapes. I’ll get my gemstones in and just start laying things out to see scale and color coordination. I’m such a visual person. I love the process of creating because you control the final product. I always get excited when I finish a project.
SF: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Katie: Social media (Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) and markets like Etsy are such a wonderful source for inspiration. I love looking at other designers work because you can see what’s trending and what’s selling. My favorite source of inspiration comes from seeing the gemstones themselves. Once I have everything laid out, it’s like working on a puzzle. Some pieces just fit better together.
SF: Describe the style of Kat Noel Designs.
Katie: I feel like I have a classicly modern aesthetic. I use gemstones and gold but in modern shapes and design. I love draping chain and playing with proportion to create something special. I want you to have fun with my accessories.
SF: What makes Kat Noel Designs unique?
Katie: I create fun, statement pieces with quality components. All of my chains, clasps, ear wires and hardware are gold fill. I use real fresh water pearls, hand blown glass, agate and gemstones. Most precious and semi-precious stones are hydrothermal to keep them affordable. I want to provide high style that a) lasts, and b) is affordable, and c) makes you feel fabulous.
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