Every piece of jewelry I make at Sheena Marshall Jewelry carries a story. But today — International Women's Day — I want to tell a different kind of story. Not about the solid gold rings or delicate gold fill necklaces I craft by hand, but about the women who shaped the hands that now shape metal. This is a love letter to every woman who let me fall, lifted me back up, and cheered me on through every unexpected turn of my life.
The Young Entrepreneur: Learning Business Before I Had a Name for It
Long before I knew words like "entrepreneurship," I was already doing it. There was something in me — some restless, creative, make-it-happen energy — that the women around me recognized and encouraged, even when it probably seemed a little chaotic. They didn't roll their eyes at my big ideas. They asked questions. They helped me think things through. They taught me that ambition isn't something to apologize for.
Those early lessons in building something from nothing? They live in every piece I make at Sheena Marshall Jewelry today. When I'm designing a new minimalist gold ring or figuring out the perfect new gold fill necklace, I'm still that girl who learned that doing the work — even when it's hard, even when it's uncertain — is always worth it.
The Teacher Years: Mentors Who Modeled What Matters
My second career as an elementary school teacher was one of the most meaningful things I've ever done. And at the center of that experience were the women who mentored me — fellow teachers and lead educators who had devoted their lives to the quiet, undervalued, essential work of shaping young minds.
These women taught me how to be present. How to meet people exactly where they are. How to hold high expectations with genuine warmth. Those lessons didn't stay in the classroom — they came with me to the jewelry bench, to the retail floor, and into every conversation I have with a customer who is looking for the perfect everyday gold piece. When someone walks into my store or finds Sheena Marshall Jewelry online and says "I want something simple but meaningful," I know exactly how to listen.
Third Act: Becoming a Metalsmith (and the Women Who Believed First)
When I told people I was pivoting — again — into metalsmithing, there was every reason to be skeptical. It was a third career. I was learning a skilled craft essentially from scratch. And I was doing it in a field that requires years of practice before you find your voice as a designer.
But the women in my life didn't blink. They signed up for early workshops. They bought first pieces. They shared Sheena Marshall Jewelry on social media before I even felt confident calling myself a jeweler. Their belief — expressed not just in words but in real, tangible support — is a huge reason I'm still here, still at the bench, still pushing the work forward.
The jewelry I make now reflects everything I've learned about quality and longevity. I work in solid 14k gold and high-quality gold fill — materials chosen because they last. Minimalist designs, clean lines, thoughtful proportions. Pieces meant to be worn every day, stacked, layered, and loved for decades. That philosophy didn't come from a trend board. It came from being taught, by strong women, to value what endures.
Opening the Store: Community Showing Up in Real Time
Opening a retail location for Sheena Marshall Jewelry was terrifying. You're making a public declaration — this is real, this is happening, I believe in this enough to unlock a door and stand behind a counter. The vulnerability of that moment is something I'll never forget.
And the women who came? They came in force. They came to shop for minimalist gold jewelry, yes — but they also came to celebrate. To hug me. To bring their friends, mothers, and daughters. To turn a small store into something that felt like a community. If you've been in, if you've bought a piece, if you've whispered my name to someone who needed the perfect simple gold necklace — thank you. You are part of this story.
Strong Women Who Changed Everything: A Few Worth Honoring
On International Women's Day, it feels right to pause and name a few of the women whose courage laid the groundwork for all of us:
Marie Curie (1867–1934) — The first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person ever to win in two different sciences. She worked in a field that barely acknowledged her existence and changed the world anyway.
Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) — An artist who transformed chronic pain into some of the most celebrated work of the 20th century. She never asked permission to be fully herself — a quality I admire deeply as a maker.
Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) — A NASA mathematician whose calculations were so trusted that John Glenn refused to fly unless she personally verified the numbers. She did the math that sent humans to the moon.
Malala Yousafzai (1997–present) — Shot by the Taliban at 15 for advocating for girls' education, she survived, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and never stopped speaking. Her courage redefines the word.
Coco Chanel (1883–1971) — A woman who grew up in an orphanage and built one of the most enduring fashion empires in history. She understood, intuitively, that simplicity is the highest form of elegance — something I think about every single time I design a new piece for Sheena Marshall Jewelry.
Happy International Women's Day. To every woman who believed in me: thank you. And to every woman in the middle of her own reinvention — keep going. You are more ready than you think.
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