Hey! I'm Citrine!

A little bit about me! I was born in Idaho Falls, ID. Every summer, no matter where we lived in the USA, we'd travel to Higgins Lake in central northern Michigan. Over the summer I'd spend my time exploring & connecting with nature as well as inventing different experiences to share with people such as nature walks; where I'd identify different kinds of plant life. This is where my love for rocks, minerals, and gemstones began. I'd spend hours digging for Petoskey stones, fossils, agates, and anything interesting on the shores of Higgins Lake. Oddly enough this is also the place my love for making jewelry began. My sisters and I would make jewelry to sell to people as they walked by during the day.

Our family moved around a bit with the military until about 2000 we landed in Kalamazoo, MI. where I graduated from High School in 2010. In middle school my creative & artistic abilities began to expand and grow. I'd paint large canvases, drew anything I saw, painted murals, Play sets, and discovered photography. I was always drawing. While in HS I played several sports and my relationship to art deepened. I fell in love with film photography and continued to refine my over all expressive skills. Eventually applying to University of Michigan School of Art & Design. I was early accepted on my portfolio. After 4 years at the Stamps School of Art & Design in Ann Arbor my love for designing jewelry was rekindled. College was also when I fell in love with graffiti and the City of Detroit. I spent the summer of 2012 in Brightmoor teaching kids art and painting the neighborhood with colorful works by the kids.  I graduated with a BFA in 2014 from the University of Michigan.

After college I worked for Shinola creating leather watch bands and was one of two skilled screen printers to launch their screen printing lab in Cass Corridor, now known as Midtown. It was this short time with Shinola that made me realize I needed to start my own business. Why do all this work for a company that does not give a shit about me AND exploits the name of Detroit for profit? (IT HAS TO BE SAID!)  A few of the creative people I met working there and I teamed up to do a fashion photography session. This is when All Around Style came to life. While gaining experience in the City I worked for Ken Garff as an Inventory Photographer. Later I briefly worked for Pewabic selling fine Pottery as well as photographing team sports all around the metro Detroit area until in 2015 I participated in Art Prize 7. 

Art Prize 7 changed my entire life. We fund raised for supplies to build 3 large scale paintings. These pieces were so large, we had to rent a moving truck to transport them. Art Prize was one of the best experiences of my life. If you ever get the chance to participate or attend, DO IT! Show some love. Buy some art!!  This exhibition was iconic. I made a full blown collection featuring screen printed up-cycled clothing, an up-cycled fine jewelry line, three large scale paintings, a Detroit city scape poster with the Love Your Self hearts and some smaller paintings to sell. The two part panoramic paintings were donated to Major Chords For Minors after the event. 

Travel, collaboration and sample sales became my focus 2016-2019. If I wanted my brand to succeed, I needed more exposure. I show cased fashion creations in Los Angeles in multiple sample sales, was lead photographer with Raw Artists Detroit for several years, published multiple independent magazines & catalogs, and have worked with independent fashion designers all over the country; Photographing the hottest styles, walking runways with the freshest model faces, designing some of the most exciting jewelry in our life time.  I even showcased a collaborative collection in NYFW 2018. I screen printed fabrics which were turned into garments and adorned with All Around Style Jewelry. Over the years I've put in the work, the blood, the sweat, and the tears to build my business and master my craft. I was born to do this. I believe in creativity, style, and fashion. That is why I now own and operate two fine jewelry brands Citrine Tangerine & Smokey Citrine. 

​I currently live in Metro Detroit where I met my partner Craig while on my art nude modeling journey. Some day I'll make a book full of the drop dead gorgeous photos over the years. It was truly a remarkable journey I went on. Craig and I have been inseparable since we met.  In more recent years my focus has been turned back to education and personal growth. It's been a priority to develop ways to be less wasteful in our creative process and learning ways to be more sustainable with sourcing and lifestyle. The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference and Susan Wheeler have had a huge influence on my most recent collections as far as jewelry design. It is my priority to directly source materials, so my partner Craig and I have been traveling to Central NY to mine for Herkimer Diamond Quartz. I've also been sourcing more gemstones directly from businesses like Anza Gems, Nature's Geometry, Local Shops, and artisanal miners. 

I am currently in the beginning phases of developing new products and collections. We have some exciting works on the way. Thank you for being here and if there is any way I can add value or share any knowledge with you, please extend a hand. Be Blessed! 

​-Citrine