Meet Sheinata Carn-Hall | African Jewelry Artist & Crystal Healer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheinata Carn-Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sheinata, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I have operated my African Jewelry business for 21 years. When I first started I was in a relationship with my husband. Two years later we got married, bought a house and started a family. For the first 14 years of operating my business most of the attention was on my entrepreneur endeavors. My business ideas are original so I had ups and downs but the majority of my goals I accomplished with ease. Participation in collaborations, volunteering at fashion events and networking created a large community that I could work with. But something happened in my 15th year of business. I realized that although I had accomplished many things in my career I wasn’t completely fulfilled. Spending time with my two growing sons, husband, mom, sister and niece and nephew starting to become more important. It lead me to begin to work with crystals and stones, go on nature walks and deeply think about what future happiness would look like. Many messages came to me in this state of being. I realized that it was time for me to create more work life balance. So I left the Charleston City Market which was where I popped up everyday to sell my work. The world was changing and my children were getting older. I wanted to spend more time with them before they graduated. All of a sudden I realized how much I had already accomplished in my African jewelry making career. The path that I created can inspire those that choose to learn and grow just as I was when I researched and studied how to create and sustain a successful business. This was a pivotal moment for me because in this I realized that it was okay to put more calming elements in place for myself in fact it helped me to feel more secure in my entrepreneur dealings. It also helped me to realize that operating a business has it’s cycles too. If you create your products, services ect with positive loving intentions and nurture them over time you manifest a dedicated customer base. Customers that refer you to other people, respect your products and services, purchase your products and services over and over and look for you online, by phone or text. When you have created a strong foundation in business like this you will always be successful if you stay humble and grateful. You see one thing that most people don’t talk about in business is how once you get to a certain point you don’t have to put in so much effort because you laid a strong foundation. As long as you create a business with strong intentions and not based on a trend happy customers will always be there to support you. These days I find myself spending less time trying to figure out what everyone else is doing and feeling and more time creating beautiful works of art that are sold in museums, boutiques and shops throughtout the United States. I struggled with selling my handcrafted products at a lower price when I first began to wholesale then I realized how it creates another avenue for potential customers to find out about my work. I don’t have to sell face to face so it gives me more time to spend with my family, play with crystals, meditate and enjoy the beauty of life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My handcrafted African jewelry is one of a kind art. It is a combination of African & Cherokee tradition. The materials that I use are indigenious to Africa and made of natural and recycled elements. Some of them are also infused with crystals and stones. I like to set a variety of beads on the table and my creativity just opens up. Bright colors and African beads with texture are my favorite to design from. The thing that I am most proud of is how I have always allowed my creativity and devotion to sharing my traditions and heritage be seen in my work. It has not been easy but there has been more rewards than failure. When I finally realized the failures were only leading me to where I needed to be I stopped struggling with the things that did not work. I began to deeply understand they were not for me. If there was one thing I want the world to know about me and my brand it would be to embrace your uniqueness by allowing yourself to gravitate to accessories that have meaning, symbolism and that you connect on a deeper level to the beauty of life. Self expression is not how much we pay for something or if everyone is wearing it. Self expression should be about adorning and surrounding ourselves with items that create balance and harmony on our bodies and in our environment. It is important to know that my brand represent these themes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I visit Atlanta a lot but I live in Charleston, SC. So I here is a list of are some of my favorite spots in the city. Palmetto Island County Park
It has lots of nature trails and a whole island to relax and relieve stress.
Reggae Nights James Island County Park
A live band plays reggae while attendees sit on the lawn on a blanket to listen and dance.
PickersHullabaloo Flea Market
It’s a Vintage Flea Market that sells clothes, furniture, crystals, stones, handcrafted jewelry, plants and more.
Beidler Forest
It’s a two mile boardwalk through the oldest Black Swamp & Tupelo Forest in the world. You can camp there too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my mom. Her name is Betty Ann Carn. She is so inspiring and my best friend. My mom really deserves recognition and respect for how she has held into place and instilled the morals and values of my ancestors so that our family line can continue to grow to it’s highest potential. She is my mentor, inspiration and guru.

Website: http://www.reflectionsafricanjewelryllc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reflectionsafricanjewelryllc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheinata/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsafricanjewelryllc/