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Meet Shelby Mullins of Studio Mullins Fine Jewelry

Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit In 2020, Shelby Mullins had her dream job working for her favorite interior designer. But downtime during the pandemic made her reassess where she was headed. As fate would have it, Shelby was also planning her wedding. She found herself reconstructing her childhood Add-A-Pearl necklace into a bracelet for her big day and helping to design her own engagement ring. Since then, Shelby launched her fine jewelry brand, Studio Mullins, and has made a name for herself recreating heirloom jewelry and offering custom design services. Meet Shelby — and keep scrolling for a peek at her stunning pieces! Pin First, tell us about yourself. I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN, attended Alabama for college, and found my way to Birmingham for interior design. My husband went to UAB for medical school and is currently completing his residency; we have been here for about eight years now. Getting into jewelry design was really about finding my medium as an artist. My grandfather was a lawyer and an amazing local artist in Chattanooga, specializing in oil painting. He taught me how to paint, and I took classes throughout school. I loved painting, but I think I was better at drawing. I majored in interior design, where I was able to apply these skills in hand renderings, and I went on to work in both interior design and interior architecture. My background in custom furniture production, cabinetry, and millwork drawing, along with my interest in art and Victorian-era jewelry, gave me the tools to do everything I am doing today. Pin How did you find your way to founding Studio Mullins? When I was planning my wedding, we worked with a wonderful local jeweler on my engagement ring, and I discovered a whole new world I had no idea about. I love to learn. When I discover something new that intrigues me, I dive right in. I decided to enroll in the Gemological Institute of America and used my side interior design projects to pay for school. I am now a Graduate Diamond. Starting the business in 2020 with $300 in my bank account, I couldn't jump right into creating a brand. But I had a plan and knew where I wanted this to go, so I began reworking some of my own pieces and doing small custom jobs. Those eventually led to engagement and wedding bands. The more jobs we got, the more we honed our skillsets, and the closer we got to our collection goal. Pin How does your background in interior design and architecture influence your jewelry design? We find pockets and opportunities to incorporate architectural and interior design concepts into our work. You'll repeatedly see the ideas of claw prongs, rounded edges, two-tone metals, repeating lover's knot motifs, scattered pavé diamond designs, and so much more that help identify our brand. Within the same fluidity, understanding how to draw and construct designs is equally important, and I owe that knowledge to my former experience. What's the biggest challenge you encounter when working on heirloom recreations? Damages. While diamonds are hard, they certainly are not invincible. We have often found minor chips and damages on heirloom stones, especially well-worn pieces that have been passed down a few generations. Often, these damages are hidden under prongs we cannot see until we unmount the piece entirely. That's why we always recommend having an appraisal and insurance on it beforehand. In most cases, we can totally work around it and even hide it, which will protect it in the future. Recently, we had an emerald with surface damage. We had a cutter recut for us without losing any overall shape diameters. We will always set or advise in your best interest. Pin What's on the horizon for Studio Mullins? In spring 2024, we launched our collection and have continued to grow it ever since. We are releasing new pieces in the coming weeks and should be completing 20 new styles before the end of 2025. We are also in the process of expanding our collection reach and hope to be in some retail spaces soon. As always, we continue our bespoke services anywhere from heirloom recreations to engagement rings — always trying to add our own unique touch. What do you like to do when you're not working? I love constantly flipping through Pinterest. I get so inspired looking at architecture, interiors, and gardens. Besides that, you can usually find me on a walk with my husband or a friend. I love that time to talk and catch up. And I always like to leave my phone behind. Pin Who or what is inspiring you right now? I discovered a multimedia artist named Sheema Muneer relatively recently. Her art is so textured, unique, and abstract, and I absolutely love it. Looking at her creative process is so inspiring. People like her always make me want to step out of my box more and more. What is your best piece of advice? Being great at what you do isn't necessarily enough to succeed. Being seen for what you do is a way to look at success from a different perspective. From the work you are doing and putting out there for the world, do you feel seen for who you are? Each of us is so unique and beautiful, and that is something worth showing. That means not being afraid to be authentically yourself as a brand. It means showing your aesthetic, your designs, what catches YOUR eye, not what you think catches others' eyes. Your brand won't be for everyone, but if you are true to who you are and what you do, you will find your crowd, your peers, your clients … and you will find so much more happiness creating what you truly love and feels right to you rather than trying to cater to everyone. If you feel happy doing your work, I think that's a job well done. This lesson can apply on many personal levels, too! Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can't live without. Crisp and clean sheets to dive into at night, candles that make me feel peaceful, and Nancy Meyers' movies. Those are my little luxuries in life. Pin Lightning Round! Last delicious local meal: The steak frites at Chez Fonfon Favorite place to vacation: We don't get to do a whole lot of traveling right now with my husband in residency, but we went to the English Countryside a few years ago, and the second we can do it again, we will. I could sit in those gardens all day long! Your go-to gift to give: Maison Louis Marie Candles Favorite recent TV show binge: If I could binge Your Friends and Neighbors, I would. But for now, I wait patiently for Friday to roll by so my husband and I can watch what happens next. Book(s) on your bedside table: I usually sketch at night, but lately, I have been reading The Motherload by Sarah Hoover. I have more on my list to read, as I am currently expecting my first baby. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. ********** Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives! About the Author Katie Leigh Matthews