Resident artist Feature: SHELLEY MOON
Behind the JEWELRY
Unique, luxurious jewelry with a modern and mystical twist.
How long have you been making art?
"I started my jewelry journey in 2006, but didn't open my jewelry business until 2019. I design all my jewelry, including custom engagement rings, and work with skilled artisans from LA & Utah to bring them to life."
How did you get your start?
"I never planned on becoming a jewelry maker. It started quietly, almost accidentally, in the months leading up to my wedding. I wanted something meaningful for my seven bridesmaids, so I taught myself how to make jewelry — one piece at a time, one experiment after another. For a year, my hands were busy with wire and stones, and then, just as quickly, life shifted and the hobby slipped into the background.
In 2010, I left California for Austin with my husband and my mom. I stepped into a completely different creative world. Photography was something I wanted to do for a very long time and it became my new language. For more than a decade, I documented boudoir sessions, births, and the beautiful, unscripted moments of family life. When my first son arrived in 2011, and my second in 2013, I pressed pause on my business to be fully present with them. I thought I was stepping away from creativity, but really, I was circling back to it.
One night, after the kids were asleep, I made a small piece of jewelry just for myself — something simple, something that felt like me. I snapped a photo, posted it on Instagram, and didn’t think much of it. But that tiny spark caught fire. People connected with it. They asked for more. And suddenly, the path I thought I’d left behind was calling me forward.
In 2019, I opened my LLC and stepped into this work with both feet. Around that time, I discovered meditation and mindful practice, and everything clicked into place. Jewelry wasn’t just jewelry anymore — it became a way to talk about presence, intention, and the quiet power of slowing down. It became a way to share what I was learning, one piece at a time.
And in that alignment — creativity, mindfulness, and meaning — I found a sense of fulfillment I didn’t even know I was searching for."
What's a fun fact about you as an artist?
“I never planned to be a jewelry designer. I just followed curiosity, motherhood, and mindfulness — and they led me right back to my hands.”
SHELLEY’s art practice:
“I approach my work as both a designer and a mindful practitioner. Every piece begins with a moment of stillness — a breath, an intention, a quiet check‑in with myself. From that grounded place, I sketch, refine, and shape each concept with care, then collaborate closely with highly skilled artisans who bring those designs to life with their craftsmanship.
My practice blends mindful design, intentional creativity, and I treat each finished piece as a small reminder to pause, soften, and reconnect. Whether I’m developing a jewelry concept or crafting a mindful message, my work is rooted in presence, collaboration, and the belief that art can be a gentle companion in everyday life.”
Where can we find your work?
“I am available online, at ArtUs Co's gift shop and my studio.”
Want to see more? Check out her work at shelleymoondesigns.com and @ShelleyMoonDesigns on Instagram.
