September 3, 2025 • 24 mins
What happens when creative passion meets entrepreneurial spirit? Suzanne McKinney's journey with Beauty in Stone Jewelry provides a masterclass in turning artistic talent into a thriving business.
Suzanne believes jewelry is the essential finishing touch that completes any outfit. "Even if you're wearing just a T-shirt and jeans, when you add beautiful jewelry, you've put the icing on the cake and expressed your personal style," she shares. This philosophy has guided her from hobbyist to professional jewelry designer, creating pieces that help women feel polished and beautiful.
Working primarily with freshwater pearls, leather, and gemstones, Suzanne crafts everything from chunky statement necklaces with interchangeable pendants to precision-cut leather bracelets adorned with hand-wired crystals. What truly distinguishes her work is the personal connection she establishes with each piece and customer. One of her most meaningful services involves transforming family heirlooms into modern, wearable jewelry—preserving sentimental value while creating fresh, contemporary designs that often bring customers to tears.
The shopping experience with Beauty in Stone goes beyond typical retail. Customers can schedule private appointments at Suzanne's home studio, or host "Sippin' Shop" events where friends gather for wine, cheese, and jewelry shopping. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, Suzanne offers jewelry-making workshops where participants create their own pieces while enjoying a ladies' night out.
Suzanne's entrepreneurial wisdom comes from decades of experience, having run a successful glass engraving business for 28 years before finding her "happy place" in jewelry design. Her advice? "Everybody will tell you why you can't do something. You just can't listen to anybody. There really isn't anything stopping you but you." This resilience has not only built her business but created a family legacy, with her daughter now running her own successful glass engraving company.
Discover Suzanne's beautiful creations at beautyinstone.com or on social media @BeautyinStoneJewelry. Contact her directly at 423-262-7840 to schedule a shopping appointment or event.
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:23):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee and onthe way we'll have discussions
about mortgages and we'llinterview people in the real
estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, welcome back everybody to another episode of
Benchmark Happenings.
And so every time we alwayshave a wonderful guest who's the
star of our show, and so todayI'm so excited to have Suzanne
McKinney that has the mostbeautiful custom jewelry that
(01:08):
she makes, called Beauty inStone.
So, suzanne, welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Thank you, christine, it's so nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, it's great to have you.
And so, suzanne, you and I goback to being friends from one
of our social clubs, the EastTennessee Boat Club.
Right, yes, we do, and we won'ttalk about the boat club, but
maybe that'll be a podcast foranother day.
It should be, it's a lot of funthough, isn't it?
It certainly is, yeah.
(01:35):
So, suzanne, I know you've beensuper busy and we've got the
holidays coming up around thecorner, and I think this is just
a great time for you to be hereand talk about your fabulous
business that you've created,making jewelry, and you've taken
a passion, something that youlove, and you've made a business
(01:58):
from it.
So, tell us, Suzanne, what ledyou to start making jewelry.
Tell us a little bit about thatjourney.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, I love fashion jewelry and I think it's the
finishing touch to any outfitand I would always finish my
outfit with jewelry and I reallythink that if you're wearing a
T-shirt and jeans and you leavethe house with some pretty
jewelry, then you've sort offinished your style, you know,
(02:30):
put the icing on the cake andget to express your personal
style with it.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, yes, I love that .
And I remember the first time Iever met you it was at a
boating club event.
It was a Christmas party and Isaw you and I thought, wow, she
is so put together.
I loved your jewelry and thatwas the comment I made to you.
I said I love you, had thisbeautiful jewelry on and it
(02:57):
looks so fat and you always look.
You always look fabulous,suzanne, so you're a great
advertisement for what you do.
Look fabulous, suzanne.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So you're a great advertisement for what you do.
I remember that Christmas party.
Yeah, I had on layers of longchains and this chunky eight
millimeter rhinestone necklace.
That was just really, reallylong and I doubled it.
It was pretty sparkly for theholidays Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It was.
It caught my attention, and youknow me, I'm a squirrel, but I
love bling and sparkle.
So so you love making a fashionstatement, and I love that.
What, how you describe that is.
It's really the finishing touchto any look, adding your
(03:41):
jewelry, your personal style,and that's what I love about
your jewelry is it's so creativeand unique.
And so how did you get to thisplace of making jewelry, suzanne
?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well, I started as a hobby.
I've always worked, done thingswith my hands.
I've had other creativebusinesses where I had to learn
skills, and that's just what Ihave a passion for.
And then, with jewelry, wantingto make my own pieces and wear
some things, I started doing it.
I gathered so many supplies andso many things.
(04:16):
I mean I had more supplies andstuff that I could possibly make
to wear myself and I thought,wow, it would just be really fun
to make a business out of this.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And so.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I did and I just I launched my website and then I
had a few local boutiques whooffered to have it in their
stores and that was reallyexciting for me and that also
got my kind of my name andpopularity around town, because
we live in this small wonderfultown and people love to talk
about you know, and so it's kindof cool that so you developed a
(04:49):
lot of skills, not just, youwere making jewelry for yourself
, and I love that, it was ahobby.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So, really and truly, you don't feel like you're ever
working.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
That's the truth.
You don't when you, when youlove your work, you just never
feel like it.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
It's just, and you know and people say that all the
time find what you do and dothat for a living.
You just never feel like it.
It's just my happy place andpeople say that all the time.
Find what you do and do thatfor a living.
You'll never have to work a dayin your life.
And, suzanne, it's rare thatpeople actually do that.
And so what a blessing that youwere astute enough and had that
entrepreneurial spirit weinterview a lot of entrepreneurs
(05:23):
here on this podcast.
That entrepreneurial spirit,you know, we interview a lot of
entrepreneurs here on thispodcast.
But had that and just went outand made that happen and you
know, you kind of breezed over.
Well, I started a website.
Well, you had to learn how todevelop a website too right.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
That is true, that is true.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So that within itself is a lot of skill.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
It's.
You know, it was fun for me.
I guess for some reason it'sartistic in a way when you, when
you take a blank um templatewebsite and then you just put
the pictures and videos and putit all together yourself.
Um, so I did design my website,so I'm pretty proud of it.
It's very pretty and nice andis and it has videos.
Shows videos how to wear thingsand like I have a pearl lariat
(06:06):
necklace and I'll demonstratelike six or so ways to wear it.
And you know that helps people,you know.
It also helps to get a having avideo a little bit more up
close look of it in a video thanjust a still shot.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
sometimes Because it's Wearing it.
It is different.
Different, isn't it?
I mean, I ordered.
You know, you order stuff offthe internet all the time and
you get it, and you're like thatwas not what I thought it was
going to look like so I thinkthat's so smart, suzanne, just
having those videos, and yourwebsite is very good.
It's easy to navigate.
Beauty and stone right.
Beautyandstonecom.
(06:43):
That that's right.
Okay, so tell us about somesocial media sites that you're
present on.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Okay, I uh, I'm on Facebook, of course and.
Instagram, um, also on Tik TOKum, and I have a YouTube channel
.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Uh uh, youtube channel is you know all the
video demonstrations and stuffand um and so, and tiktok,
youtube, so facebook andinstagram.
I think you've got them coveredpretty much, and pinterest too.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Um, I can't keep every one of them up to date
perfectly, but I am present onall of them.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Wow, so you're on Pinterest as well.
Yes, oh, that's awesome.
So anybody can contact you andsee your work on social media,
and do they just need to?
Is it just Beauty in Stone forall of these?
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Or Beauty, actually Beauty in Stone Jewelry.
Okay For the social media.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, and I like that name beauty in stone.
We were talking a little bitabout that before the podcast
yeah so, as I think that's kindof you sort of got the name that
way thinking about beautifulgems, was it beautiful?
Yes, I think that stones arebeautiful and so.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I thought, beauty, there's beauty in stone, yes,
yes, and it's natural.
And then, as I decided to nameit that, and then I thought,
well, people, it makes a beautyperson.
You are a beauty in stone.
So I kind of like that.
People said I like the play onwords.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yes, I do too.
I love that.
And you know we, as women, welove to feel beautiful, we want
to look our best.
And you know, we, as women, welove to feel beautiful, we want
to look our best.
And you know, having thesebeautiful pieces of jewelry to
wear with our outfits and stuffis just really, you know, it
makes you feel more put together, like you said, and I'm looking
(08:38):
at your jewelry today that youhave on, and your necklace is
gorgeous, gorgeous.
Tell us a little bit about thatnecklace, suzanne.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
This necklace is so fun and popular People love it
for a couple of reasons.
It's a two-tone, so it's a goldand silver link.
It is very chunky, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I love it, but it's not too chunky.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
No, it isn't.
I mean it's not.
You can actually layer it,which I think people do a lot
also.
They'll still wear longerthings with it.
But this piece is about 16inches with a uh, a two inch
extension.
So that gives a littleversatility there.
And then it has a center uhring that you open up and
interchange different pendantson it.
(09:19):
So the pendants and the chaincan be sold, or I sell it
separately.
So when you come in you can buythe chain and you can buy the
pearl on it, or you can buy acoin.
Have those two for a while,come back and, you know, add
pendants to it.
So it's just a lot of differentstyles that you can put with it.
Nautical pieces, I have, youknow, anchors and, like I said,
(09:46):
coins and just flashy gemstones.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yes and one.
The one thing pendant I lovethat you have is the initials,
so it's the gold disc with aninitial letter in it, so you
know if you want to get thatnecklace and that pendant, and
so for me, my initial CR and Ithink I got the R.
I need to come back and get theC, I need to do the C so I can
(10:12):
wear that together.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah, and they do come in silver and gold.
They're stainless steel, theycome in silver and gold.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
So you could actually whichever one you want to, you
know, make prominent, because itwill go on the chain, because
the chain is yes, both of those,and I know you use a lot of
pearls, so what are thedifferent types of pearls that
you use with your jewelry?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
the pearls I use are all freshwater pearls.
Um, they're different shapes,um, smaller ones for earrings.
Then I have they're called ricepearls uh, they're a little bit
of an oval, more round shape,smooth, uh, smooth, okay.
And then I have large baroquepearls, that kind of a very
natural shape.
(10:54):
Each one is different peopleeven I even use those for
earrings and people don't mindthat they, no, don't match
exactly yeah, they're verypretty, and that one you have on
your necklace is very prettytoo.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Thank you, and also leather.
You like to work with leather?
Speaker 3 (11:09):
leather jewelry.
I do love to work with leather,and so I'm eyeing the one on
your wrist and it's gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Thank you so it has everything.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I start with just some cowhide and boy.
This was a challenge learninghow to make this.
I bet the precision of it.
It has to be cut nice.
It's about an inch and aquarter wide, okay.
Then there's five bands thatit's slit into, and you know how
I do that.
I do that using it's a grip tomy bench and it has four razor
(11:44):
blades coming out of it, andthen I drag the piece of leather
through the the razor bladesfour razor blades coming out of
it, and then I drag the piece ofleather through the the razor
razor blades and it causes theseslits in it and then all of
these pretty, pretty gemstonesand pearls and crystals to make
it sparkle a bit are, all youknow, hand wired on, so there's
a lot that goes into each piece.
(12:04):
I dye the leather and put thesnaps in it, so it's adjustable.
There's brown and blue, whitegold, all different colors.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, the one when I was at your studio last.
You had just made it and it wasso beautiful.
It was a kind of a goldish toneleather bracelet and it had
that beautiful white flower.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh, yes, I remember that so pretty, yes, and you
know, that makes me think aboutsomething that flower that I
can't get anymore here's thething someone could bring in
their grandma's jewelry theiryou know a you know brooch that
their, that their mom had or aspecial piece or anything that I
can turn it into something thatthey can wear.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I do that a lot and I made one for someone locally
recently.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
She had a piece that belonged to her mom and I just
cut the I think it was a pin andcut the pin back off and I
wired it onto one of theseleather bracelets.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
That is awesome.
She cried when I gave it to her.
I bet she teared up.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
I was like oh, that says how much you like it.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yes, yes, yeah, I love that.
So that's a great idea.
And you know, a lot of us getjewelry inherited from our moms,
our grandmothers and you know,let's be honest, most of us we
don't wear it, of course,typically Of wear it of course,
(13:28):
typically.
Of course you can put it insomething that's going to make a
fashion statement that that wewould like and be able to wear,
so I love that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
And then I noticed the other bracelet you have is,
uh, the crosses um.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
There's a curved sideways cross beautiful and
I've put it on a stretchbracelet with pearls.
And actually these little beadsare kind of special.
You don't know about it, but Iactually had these manufactured
myself because I couldn't findwhat I wanted, oh wow.
So it's kind of special and itstretches on it's really pretty,
(14:01):
really pretty, suzanne, thankyou.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So some of the fun things that you can do.
Let's just say, peoplelistening to this podcast and
they're like you know what?
I've got holidays coming up.
How about going to your home?
So how could we go aboutsetting that up, not at your
home, but let's say their home?
You can come to my home.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I actually have my studio set up to shop lots of
items on display.
Okay, if you feel like you seesomething on the website but you
really need to try it on or seeit in person.
You want to see, you know howit looks on you or what color it
really is or something you cancome make an appointment and I'd
love to have you over and shopin my studio.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Okay, bring a girlfriend or two.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Sure, you can do that .
Bring a girlfriend, and then,if you want to set something up
a little bit bigger, you canhave me come over to your home,
or again even my home.
Bring a bunch of friends.
We'll serve some wine, somecheese, and we'll just get
together and shop that way too.
But, I'll bring everything toyour home and set up displays
(15:09):
for you to have a nice evening.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Absolutely.
We know we did that last year.
There was about probably 20 ofus, yes, that came to your house
and we had a beautiful horsd'oeuvre, charcuterie and wine
and we we would take turns goingupstairs and just shopping and
it was just so much fun.
Thank you, it was a greatevening Fun, so I love that.
(15:35):
So let's remember that so wecan get that.
Set up Book by appointment.
Reach out to your website, callme.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Could they call you Suzanne?
Definitely call me, text me,call me, okay, and what would be
?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
do you mind putting your number, giving us your
number?
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Absolutely not.
It is 423-262-7840.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Okay, and this is your cell phone, correct?
Yes, it's my cell phone, socall and text go to the website.
And then so, are there any?
I know when we were at Wine,Women and Shoes this year, you
were there and you had abeautiful display of your
jewelry and stuff.
So is there any things comingup where you're going to be?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yes, actually there is and that is a storytelling in
Jonesboro on the street.
There.
That is a big deal.
Yes, it is.
You know how?
I don't know how many thousandsdo you remember?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The story.
So for those of you and I'msure if you're listening you've
heard of the StorytellingFestival in Jonesboro.
It has grown.
It's been around for probably25 years at least and it is a
huge event.
People from all over thecountry come.
We even have people from othercountries that come.
I met people from England thatwere at the storytelling event a
(16:51):
few years ago.
So it's a huge event anddowntown Jonesboro if you
haven't been there, it's just afun place to go.
But the Storytelling Festivalwhen does that start, suzanne?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
It's the first weekend in October.
It's just that Saturday andSunday.
People do come in on Friday,but the main events where the
storytelling is going on isSaturday and Sunday, oh
wonderful, so that'll be a lotof fun.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
You'll be there with everything.
Well, that sounds great.
Is there anything else that youwould like to share about your
business, or things that youlove to do, or something we've
not covered?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think I wanted to talk a little bit also about
another style of event that I do, and that is just having a
ladies night out again in yourhome or my home and you could
get together to make a piece ofjewelry.
I bring all the supplies, and Ibring different colors and
combinations so that you cansort of design your own too but,
(17:56):
then it's not complicatedtechniques to learn, it's just
something to get together.
Have fun, make your own pieceand take it home.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, and I missed that last event you guys did a
bracelet and stuff.
So, yeah, that would besomething great to do and so I
think that's a great opportunityand I think to me it's just
it's just fun getting togetherwith your friends, people that
you know, and having thatsocialization and camaraderie.
(18:27):
And then all women, we lovejewelry, right.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
They do, and that's just what I love is to see.
I don't know, everybody is sopassionate about it too.
They just they love it, youknow they.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Well, and I love how you can take a plain outfit and
you can accessorize itdifferently and always have a
different outfit, that's true,you know.
So what would be something likepearls of wisdom, suzanne, that
you would share with maybe ayounger you, or someone that
says, hey, I'd like to start abusiness of my own.
(19:02):
What would be some things thatyou would share with that
individual?
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Well, I'll tell you what.
I started my own business at 21that lasted for 28 years.
That was glass engraving and Iwas young enough to not really
let anything stand in my way.
But that's kind of because Iread a book and that book Think
and Grow Rich.
But that book it just told methat everybody is going to tell
(19:29):
you why you can't do it.
Everybody is going to say justall different kinds of reasons
and you just can't listen toanybody.
You just do you just do it.
There really isn't anythingstopping you, but you, and so
that's what I've always done.
I've.
Just I had that glass andraving business and then I
(19:50):
decided to go into fauxfinishing.
I painted walls and furnitureand decorative.
So again, that was skill that Ihad to learn.
I went to a faux finishingschool.
You know you're up onscaffolding and ladders and
stuff.
So I got older and foundjewelry.
I'm just really in my happyplace sitting in my home studio.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's probably a wise decision now yes, so that's
great.
And I know your daughter, jenjennifer.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
She does the glass engraving and she does yes, she
learned it from me, started at18.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
she she has a wonderful, thriving business
right now and I'm so proud ofher, so I'm going to bring her
on to do a podcast with herbusiness.
Because, yeah, we ordered a hada friend whose dad passed away
and she does this beautifulengraving on granite flower pots
.
She does all kinds of things,but it was just gorgeous and so
(20:44):
I definitely would love to haveher on as well.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So and you?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
passed that down to her.
How wonderful, mother anddaughter, you gave her a skill
that has supported her for life.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Yes, yes, and that was learned from my dad.
That skill came from my dad, soshe's a third generation and my
brother did that all of hislife also.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Wow that is so cool.
That's very cool, suzanne.
So you come from a veryartistic, talented family
background and you alsoattempted something new the
other day and I was so proud ofyou, for learning is how to ride
a jet ski.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Oh, my goodness, I tell you I was terrified.
You go, girl, I'm like do youdo this at my age, am I foolish?
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
No.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
I just thought I'd ride on the back with my husband
forever.
And like, okay, let me just geton the front.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And if I'm still terrified, then I won't need to
learn, It'll be okay.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
But I didn't.
I liked it and he's such a goodteacher he doesn't leave
anything out.
So I know I'm going to be safewith him.
And so I learned to ride it.
And then a couple of times Iwas out.
And then we were out one dayand one of the other friends of
ours said why don't we just stopand pick up my wife's, because
she's not here today.
Pick up my wife's and you canwrite it separately.
(22:07):
So that was the first time Iwas out on my own and I just it
was such a thrill.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
I just was so proud.
Yeah, I saw the picture and youwere smiling so big and I was
like, yay, that's awesome.
And you know, what I love aboutyou, Suzanne, is that you're
not afraid to try things.
And you know, age is really,it's a mindset, it's really just
a number, and we can eitherchoose to continue to learn and
(22:33):
grow and try new things or wecan just you know, I guess sit
on the porch Be bored yeah.
And you choose not to do that,and I love you for that, thank
you.
So thank you for being on today, suzanne, I hope you'll come
back.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
And I hope we get lots of calls and bookings to do
some Sippin' Shop.
Lots of ladies that just can'twait to see and wear and try on
and have fun and laugh withAbsolutely.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It is fun.
Well, thank you, you haveBeauty and Suzanne McKinney.
Thank you for being here.
Beauty in Stone Go tobeautyinstonecom.
On every social media platformyou can see her jewelry, her
beautiful videos as well, andyou can call her.
Contact her on her cell phone.
(23:26):
Give us that number one moretime.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
It is 423-262-7840.
Thank you, Suzanne.
Thank you, Christine.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(23:58):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(24:20):
Benchmark Happenings.
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:23):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee and onthe way we'll have discussions
about mortgages and we'llinterview people in the real
estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well, welcome back everybody to another episode of
Benchmark Happenings.
And so every time we alwayshave a wonderful guest who's the
star of our show, and so todayI'm so excited to have Suzanne
McKinney that has the mostbeautiful custom jewelry that
(01:08):
she makes, called Beauty inStone.
So, suzanne, welcome.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Thank you, christine, it's so nice to be here.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Well, it's great to have you.
And so, suzanne, you and I goback to being friends from one
of our social clubs, the EastTennessee Boat Club.
Right, yes, we do, and we won'ttalk about the boat club, but
maybe that'll be a podcast foranother day.
It should be, it's a lot of funthough, isn't it?
It certainly is, yeah.
(01:35):
So, suzanne, I know you've beensuper busy and we've got the
holidays coming up around thecorner, and I think this is just
a great time for you to be hereand talk about your fabulous
business that you've created,making jewelry, and you've taken
a passion, something that youlove, and you've made a business
(01:58):
from it.
So, tell us, Suzanne, what ledyou to start making jewelry.
Tell us a little bit about thatjourney.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, I love fashion jewelry and I think it's the
finishing touch to any outfitand I would always finish my
outfit with jewelry and I reallythink that if you're wearing a
T-shirt and jeans and you leavethe house with some pretty
jewelry, then you've sort offinished your style, you know,
(02:30):
put the icing on the cake andget to express your personal
style with it.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, yes, I love that .
And I remember the first time Iever met you it was at a
boating club event.
It was a Christmas party and Isaw you and I thought, wow, she
is so put together.
I loved your jewelry and thatwas the comment I made to you.
I said I love you, had thisbeautiful jewelry on and it
(02:57):
looks so fat and you always look.
You always look fabulous,suzanne, so you're a great
advertisement for what you do.
Look fabulous, suzanne.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So you're a great advertisement for what you do.
I remember that Christmas party.
Yeah, I had on layers of longchains and this chunky eight
millimeter rhinestone necklace.
That was just really, reallylong and I doubled it.
It was pretty sparkly for theholidays Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
It was.
It caught my attention, and youknow me, I'm a squirrel, but I
love bling and sparkle.
So so you love making a fashionstatement, and I love that.
What, how you describe that is.
It's really the finishing touchto any look, adding your
(03:41):
jewelry, your personal style,and that's what I love about
your jewelry is it's so creativeand unique.
And so how did you get to thisplace of making jewelry, suzanne
?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well, I started as a hobby.
I've always worked, done thingswith my hands.
I've had other creativebusinesses where I had to learn
skills, and that's just what Ihave a passion for.
And then, with jewelry, wantingto make my own pieces and wear
some things, I started doing it.
I gathered so many supplies andso many things.
(04:16):
I mean I had more supplies andstuff that I could possibly make
to wear myself and I thought,wow, it would just be really fun
to make a business out of this.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
And so.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
I did and I just I launched my website and then I
had a few local boutiques whooffered to have it in their
stores and that was reallyexciting for me and that also
got my kind of my name andpopularity around town, because
we live in this small wonderfultown and people love to talk
about you know, and so it's kindof cool that so you developed a
(04:49):
lot of skills, not just, youwere making jewelry for yourself
, and I love that, it was ahobby.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
So, really and truly, you don't feel like you're ever
working.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
That's the truth.
You don't when you, when youlove your work, you just never
feel like it.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
It's just, and you know and people say that all the
time find what you do and dothat for a living.
You just never feel like it.
It's just my happy place andpeople say that all the time.
Find what you do and do thatfor a living.
You'll never have to work a dayin your life.
And, suzanne, it's rare thatpeople actually do that.
And so what a blessing that youwere astute enough and had that
entrepreneurial spirit weinterview a lot of entrepreneurs
(05:23):
here on this podcast.
That entrepreneurial spirit,you know, we interview a lot of
entrepreneurs here on thispodcast.
But had that and just went outand made that happen and you
know, you kind of breezed over.
Well, I started a website.
Well, you had to learn how todevelop a website too right.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
That is true, that is true.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
So that within itself is a lot of skill.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
It's.
You know, it was fun for me.
I guess for some reason it'sartistic in a way when you, when
you take a blank um templatewebsite and then you just put
the pictures and videos and putit all together yourself.
Um, so I did design my website,so I'm pretty proud of it.
It's very pretty and nice andis and it has videos.
Shows videos how to wear thingsand like I have a pearl lariat
(06:06):
necklace and I'll demonstratelike six or so ways to wear it.
And you know that helps people,you know.
It also helps to get a having avideo a little bit more up
close look of it in a video thanjust a still shot.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
sometimes Because it's Wearing it.
It is different.
Different, isn't it?
I mean, I ordered.
You know, you order stuff offthe internet all the time and
you get it, and you're like thatwas not what I thought it was
going to look like so I thinkthat's so smart, suzanne, just
having those videos, and yourwebsite is very good.
It's easy to navigate.
Beauty and stone right.
Beautyandstonecom.
(06:43):
That that's right.
Okay, so tell us about somesocial media sites that you're
present on.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Okay, I uh, I'm on Facebook, of course and.
Instagram, um, also on Tik TOKum, and I have a YouTube channel
.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Uh uh, youtube channel is you know all the
video demonstrations and stuffand um and so, and tiktok,
youtube, so facebook andinstagram.
I think you've got them coveredpretty much, and pinterest too.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Um, I can't keep every one of them up to date
perfectly, but I am present onall of them.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Wow, so you're on Pinterest as well.
Yes, oh, that's awesome.
So anybody can contact you andsee your work on social media,
and do they just need to?
Is it just Beauty in Stone forall of these?
It is.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Or Beauty, actually Beauty in Stone Jewelry.
Okay For the social media.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, and I like that name beauty in stone.
We were talking a little bitabout that before the podcast
yeah so, as I think that's kindof you sort of got the name that
way thinking about beautifulgems, was it beautiful?
Yes, I think that stones arebeautiful and so.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I thought, beauty, there's beauty in stone, yes,
yes, and it's natural.
And then, as I decided to nameit that, and then I thought,
well, people, it makes a beautyperson.
You are a beauty in stone.
So I kind of like that.
People said I like the play onwords.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Yes, I do too.
I love that.
And you know we, as women, welove to feel beautiful, we want
to look our best.
And you know, we, as women, welove to feel beautiful, we want
to look our best.
And you know, having thesebeautiful pieces of jewelry to
wear with our outfits and stuffis just really, you know, it
makes you feel more put together, like you said, and I'm looking
(08:38):
at your jewelry today that youhave on, and your necklace is
gorgeous, gorgeous.
Tell us a little bit about thatnecklace, suzanne.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
This necklace is so fun and popular People love it
for a couple of reasons.
It's a two-tone, so it's a goldand silver link.
It is very chunky, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I love it, but it's not too chunky.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
No, it isn't.
I mean it's not.
You can actually layer it,which I think people do a lot
also.
They'll still wear longerthings with it.
But this piece is about 16inches with a uh, a two inch
extension.
So that gives a littleversatility there.
And then it has a center uhring that you open up and
interchange different pendantson it.
(09:19):
So the pendants and the chaincan be sold, or I sell it
separately.
So when you come in you can buythe chain and you can buy the
pearl on it, or you can buy acoin.
Have those two for a while,come back and, you know, add
pendants to it.
So it's just a lot of differentstyles that you can put with it.
Nautical pieces, I have, youknow, anchors and, like I said,
(09:46):
coins and just flashy gemstones.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Yes and one.
The one thing pendant I lovethat you have is the initials,
so it's the gold disc with aninitial letter in it, so you
know if you want to get thatnecklace and that pendant, and
so for me, my initial CR and Ithink I got the R.
I need to come back and get theC, I need to do the C so I can
(10:12):
wear that together.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah, and they do come in silver and gold.
They're stainless steel, theycome in silver and gold.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
So you could actually whichever one you want to, you
know, make prominent, because itwill go on the chain, because
the chain is yes, both of those,and I know you use a lot of
pearls, so what are thedifferent types of pearls that
you use with your jewelry?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
the pearls I use are all freshwater pearls.
Um, they're different shapes,um, smaller ones for earrings.
Then I have they're called ricepearls uh, they're a little bit
of an oval, more round shape,smooth, uh, smooth, okay.
And then I have large baroquepearls, that kind of a very
natural shape.
(10:54):
Each one is different peopleeven I even use those for
earrings and people don't mindthat they, no, don't match
exactly yeah, they're verypretty, and that one you have on
your necklace is very prettytoo.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Thank you, and also leather.
You like to work with leather?
Speaker 3 (11:09):
leather jewelry.
I do love to work with leather,and so I'm eyeing the one on
your wrist and it's gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Thank you so it has everything.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I start with just some cowhide and boy.
This was a challenge learninghow to make this.
I bet the precision of it.
It has to be cut nice.
It's about an inch and aquarter wide, okay.
Then there's five bands thatit's slit into, and you know how
I do that.
I do that using it's a grip tomy bench and it has four razor
(11:44):
blades coming out of it, andthen I drag the piece of leather
through the the razor bladesfour razor blades coming out of
it, and then I drag the piece ofleather through the the razor
razor blades and it causes theseslits in it and then all of
these pretty, pretty gemstonesand pearls and crystals to make
it sparkle a bit are, all youknow, hand wired on, so there's
a lot that goes into each piece.
(12:04):
I dye the leather and put thesnaps in it, so it's adjustable.
There's brown and blue, whitegold, all different colors.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Well, the one when I was at your studio last.
You had just made it and it wasso beautiful.
It was a kind of a goldish toneleather bracelet and it had
that beautiful white flower.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Oh, yes, I remember that so pretty, yes, and you
know, that makes me think aboutsomething that flower that I
can't get anymore here's thething someone could bring in
their grandma's jewelry theiryou know a you know brooch that
their, that their mom had or aspecial piece or anything that I
can turn it into something thatthey can wear.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I do that a lot and I made one for someone locally
recently.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
She had a piece that belonged to her mom and I just
cut the I think it was a pin andcut the pin back off and I
wired it onto one of theseleather bracelets.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
That is awesome.
She cried when I gave it to her.
I bet she teared up.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
I was like oh, that says how much you like it.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Yes, yes, yeah, I love that.
So that's a great idea.
And you know, a lot of us getjewelry inherited from our moms,
our grandmothers and you know,let's be honest, most of us we
don't wear it, of course,typically Of wear it of course,
(13:28):
typically.
Of course you can put it insomething that's going to make a
fashion statement that that wewould like and be able to wear,
so I love that.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
And then I noticed the other bracelet you have is,
uh, the crosses um.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
There's a curved sideways cross beautiful and
I've put it on a stretchbracelet with pearls.
And actually these little beadsare kind of special.
You don't know about it, but Iactually had these manufactured
myself because I couldn't findwhat I wanted, oh wow.
So it's kind of special and itstretches on it's really pretty,
(14:01):
really pretty, suzanne, thankyou.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
So some of the fun things that you can do.
Let's just say, peoplelistening to this podcast and
they're like you know what?
I've got holidays coming up.
How about going to your home?
So how could we go aboutsetting that up, not at your
home, but let's say their home?
You can come to my home.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I actually have my studio set up to shop lots of
items on display.
Okay, if you feel like you seesomething on the website but you
really need to try it on or seeit in person.
You want to see, you know howit looks on you or what color it
really is or something you cancome make an appointment and I'd
love to have you over and shopin my studio.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Okay, bring a girlfriend or two.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Sure, you can do that .
Bring a girlfriend, and then,if you want to set something up
a little bit bigger, you canhave me come over to your home,
or again even my home.
Bring a bunch of friends.
We'll serve some wine, somecheese, and we'll just get
together and shop that way too.
But, I'll bring everything toyour home and set up displays
(15:09):
for you to have a nice evening.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Absolutely.
We know we did that last year.
There was about probably 20 ofus, yes, that came to your house
and we had a beautiful horsd'oeuvre, charcuterie and wine
and we we would take turns goingupstairs and just shopping and
it was just so much fun.
Thank you, it was a greatevening Fun, so I love that.
(15:35):
So let's remember that so wecan get that.
Set up Book by appointment.
Reach out to your website, callme.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Could they call you Suzanne?
Definitely call me, text me,call me, okay, and what would be
?
Speaker 2 (15:47):
do you mind putting your number, giving us your
number?
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Absolutely not.
It is 423-262-7840.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Okay, and this is your cell phone, correct?
Yes, it's my cell phone, socall and text go to the website.
And then so, are there any?
I know when we were at Wine,Women and Shoes this year, you
were there and you had abeautiful display of your
jewelry and stuff.
So is there any things comingup where you're going to be?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yes, actually there is and that is a storytelling in
Jonesboro on the street.
There.
That is a big deal.
Yes, it is.
You know how?
I don't know how many thousandsdo you remember?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
The story.
So for those of you and I'msure if you're listening you've
heard of the StorytellingFestival in Jonesboro.
It has grown.
It's been around for probably25 years at least and it is a
huge event.
People from all over thecountry come.
We even have people from othercountries that come.
I met people from England thatwere at the storytelling event a
(16:51):
few years ago.
So it's a huge event anddowntown Jonesboro if you
haven't been there, it's just afun place to go.
But the Storytelling Festivalwhen does that start, suzanne?
Speaker 3 (17:03):
It's the first weekend in October.
It's just that Saturday andSunday.
People do come in on Friday,but the main events where the
storytelling is going on isSaturday and Sunday, oh
wonderful, so that'll be a lotof fun.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
You'll be there with everything.
Well, that sounds great.
Is there anything else that youwould like to share about your
business, or things that youlove to do, or something we've
not covered?
Speaker 3 (17:34):
I think I wanted to talk a little bit also about
another style of event that I do, and that is just having a
ladies night out again in yourhome or my home and you could
get together to make a piece ofjewelry.
I bring all the supplies, and Ibring different colors and
combinations so that you cansort of design your own too but,
(17:56):
then it's not complicatedtechniques to learn, it's just
something to get together.
Have fun, make your own pieceand take it home.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Yes, and I missed that last event you guys did a
bracelet and stuff.
So, yeah, that would besomething great to do and so I
think that's a great opportunityand I think to me it's just
it's just fun getting togetherwith your friends, people that
you know, and having thatsocialization and camaraderie.
(18:27):
And then all women, we lovejewelry, right.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
They do, and that's just what I love is to see.
I don't know, everybody is sopassionate about it too.
They just they love it, youknow they.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
Well, and I love how you can take a plain outfit and
you can accessorize itdifferently and always have a
different outfit, that's true,you know.
So what would be something likepearls of wisdom, suzanne, that
you would share with maybe ayounger you, or someone that
says, hey, I'd like to start abusiness of my own.
(19:02):
What would be some things thatyou would share with that
individual?
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Well, I'll tell you what.
I started my own business at 21that lasted for 28 years.
That was glass engraving and Iwas young enough to not really
let anything stand in my way.
But that's kind of because Iread a book and that book Think
and Grow Rich.
But that book it just told methat everybody is going to tell
(19:29):
you why you can't do it.
Everybody is going to say justall different kinds of reasons
and you just can't listen toanybody.
You just do you just do it.
There really isn't anythingstopping you, but you, and so
that's what I've always done.
I've.
Just I had that glass andraving business and then I
(19:50):
decided to go into fauxfinishing.
I painted walls and furnitureand decorative.
So again, that was skill that Ihad to learn.
I went to a faux finishingschool.
You know you're up onscaffolding and ladders and
stuff.
So I got older and foundjewelry.
I'm just really in my happyplace sitting in my home studio.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
That's probably a wise decision now yes, so that's
great.
And I know your daughter, jenjennifer.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
She does the glass engraving and she does yes, she
learned it from me, started at18.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
she she has a wonderful, thriving business
right now and I'm so proud ofher, so I'm going to bring her
on to do a podcast with herbusiness.
Because, yeah, we ordered a hada friend whose dad passed away
and she does this beautifulengraving on granite flower pots
.
She does all kinds of things,but it was just gorgeous and so
(20:44):
I definitely would love to haveher on as well.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
So and you?
Speaker 2 (20:49):
passed that down to her.
How wonderful, mother anddaughter, you gave her a skill
that has supported her for life.
Speaker 3 (20:57):
Yes, yes, and that was learned from my dad.
That skill came from my dad, soshe's a third generation and my
brother did that all of hislife also.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Wow that is so cool.
That's very cool, suzanne.
So you come from a veryartistic, talented family
background and you alsoattempted something new the
other day and I was so proud ofyou, for learning is how to ride
a jet ski.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Oh, my goodness, I tell you I was terrified.
You go, girl, I'm like do youdo this at my age, am I foolish?
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
No.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
I just thought I'd ride on the back with my husband
forever.
And like, okay, let me just geton the front.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
And if I'm still terrified, then I won't need to
learn, It'll be okay.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
But I didn't.
I liked it and he's such a goodteacher he doesn't leave
anything out.
So I know I'm going to be safewith him.
And so I learned to ride it.
And then a couple of times Iwas out.
And then we were out one dayand one of the other friends of
ours said why don't we just stopand pick up my wife's, because
she's not here today.
Pick up my wife's and you canwrite it separately.
(22:07):
So that was the first time Iwas out on my own and I just it
was such a thrill.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
I just was so proud.
Yeah, I saw the picture and youwere smiling so big and I was
like, yay, that's awesome.
And you know, what I love aboutyou, Suzanne, is that you're
not afraid to try things.
And you know, age is really,it's a mindset, it's really just
a number, and we can eitherchoose to continue to learn and
(22:33):
grow and try new things or wecan just you know, I guess sit
on the porch Be bored yeah.
And you choose not to do that,and I love you for that, thank
you.
So thank you for being on today, suzanne, I hope you'll come
back.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
And I hope we get lots of calls and bookings to do
some Sippin' Shop.
Lots of ladies that just can'twait to see and wear and try on
and have fun and laugh withAbsolutely.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It is fun.
Well, thank you, you haveBeauty and Suzanne McKinney.
Thank you for being here.
Beauty in Stone Go tobeautyinstonecom.
On every social media platformyou can see her jewelry, her
beautiful videos as well, andyou can call her.
Contact her on her cell phone.
(23:26):
Give us that number one moretime.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
It is 423-262-7840.
Thank you, Suzanne.
Thank you, Christine.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(23:58):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(24:20):
Benchmark Happenings.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.