We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Knikki Murrell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Knikki below.

Alright, Knikki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

Most jewelry brands follow a familiar path—mass production, predictable designs, and materials that often come at an environmental cost. But I’ve never been one to follow the standard route.

I like blending the old with the new, honoring traditional jewelry-making techniques and materials while adding my refreshing artistic vision. I see potential where others see scraps—repurposed textiles, paper, and wood become vibrant, one-of-a-kind, or limited edition pieces in my hands. Precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones become an artistic statement of wearable art. Each piece is crafted with intention, ensuring that once a color combination is gone.

Drawing from my background in 3D modeling, instructional design, and dance, I approach jewelry with a focus on movement, balance, and structure. My designs go beyond aesthetics—they’re crafted to tell a story, highlight versatility, and spark that “aah ha” moment when someone sees a piece and instantly feels a connection.

I even approach my permanent jewelry services differently from most of the industry. I curate unique Creations by combining chains, charms, and connectors. I even create custom connectors or bangles for my VIP PJ experiences. I help people create wearable stories—pieces that are always with them, holding meaning in every link and detail. Whether it’s a symbol of strength, connection, or a personal milestone, each design reflects the wearer’s journey.

My approach fuses tradition and innovation, sustainability and storytelling, art and function. Whether I’m helping my son build a robot, designing a lightweight statement piece, or guiding a customer to the perfect pair of earrings, my purpose remains to create something that makes people feel understood, valued, and cherished.
I make pieces that connect people to experiences in a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends.

Knikki, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! I’m Knikki, the designer behind Eclectically Simple, where I create meticulously crafted, eclectic, high-quality wearable art. My journey into jewelry design began as a new mom. Like many mothers, I found myself in a phase where I stopped wearing jewelry altogether. Everything I wore was broken by my infant’s and toddler’s nonstop curiosity and relentless grasp. I can’t tell you how many earrings, necklaces, and bracelets were destroyed in the chaos of little hands. I even feared my earlobes might split one day from the constant tugging!

During my season as a stay-at-home mom, I spent years in workout gear and sneakers (no shade if you’re in that phase; I still love some workout and lounge clothes, but I do now elevate with accessories). During that season, I completely lost touch with the part of me that loved to color-coordinate, play with different looks, and dream in the closet. It wasn’t until later that I realized how much of myself I allowed to go dormant when becoming a mom because of all the family caretaking. A little confession: My love language is serving, and I believe in doing everything I do with excellence! :-) LOL. Well, I had a little wake-up call called postpartum depression and was urged by all my loved ones to find something I enjoy and make it a priority, so I started taking jewelry-making classes to fix the pieces my children had broken. In that process, I fell deeply in love with the techniques, the creative process, and the potential to give new life to what seemed like discarded materials.

From that point, my passion for jewelry-making blossomed. I realized I could create pieces that would allow women, especially moms, to add a bold splash to their style and feel beautiful and confident again. I wanted to create jewelry that wasn’t just pretty—it was resilient, versatile, and designed to withstand the energetic chaos of everyday life.

At Eclectically Simple, I don’t just design jewelry for aesthetics; I craft wearable art that tells a story, evokes emotions, and creates personal connections. Drawing inspiration from my graphic design, animation, and dance background, I blend traditional jewelry-making techniques with a refreshed artistic vision. My creations are inspired by nature’s beauty, storytelling, history, and the rhythm of dance and music. They embody a harmonious blend of artistic expression and wearable elegance.

My collections, like Viva Terra and Thread & Timber, feature sustainable, repurposed materials and are designed to be limited edition collections—a reflection of the individual wearing them. I also offer permanent jewelry, creating custom designs using chains, charms, and connectors that reflect the wearer’s personal journey and connection to the piece. These designs are crafted to last, symbolizing strength, milestones, and memories. My more traditional collections, like my Typology and Noeme Nicole Collection, feature and highlight my abstract and bold eclectic designs.

What sets me apart is my ability to combine multiple artistic disciplines. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted with a focus on versatility, comfort, and quality. I pour my heart and soul into every design, ensuring each one is as meaningful as beautiful.

Ultimately, I want my clients to feel that when they wear my jewelry, they’re not just wearing something beautiful—they’re wearing a part of their unique story. I want to create pieces that help women reconnect with themselves, whether dressing up for a night out or simply adding sparkle to their everyday lives. Jewelry is about feeling connected, confident, and powerful—and that’s what I aim to give every person who wears my creations.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A time when I had to pivot in my business came when my children’s extracurricular activities began increasing. As any parent knows, when life gets busier, your time gets more limited—and I found that jewelry design and creation, which is already a time-consuming process, became even more complicated to manage. On top of that, as a recovering perfectionist, I put a lot of care and attention into every piece I created, which was a challenge with my increasingly packed schedule.

I realized I needed to brainstorm ways to keep bringing in cash flow without sacrificing quality or my original business premise of offering limited edition or one-of-a-kind pieces. While I knew I could have pieces manufactured, I didn’t want to stray from my core values or offer what so many other jewelry businesses were providing—machine-made or mass-made jewelry.

So, I pivoted by adding permanent jewelry to my offerings. I already had a micro TIG welder, which I used for my metalwork. This pivot allowed me to still offer custom creations on the spot, with clients present. It efficiently provided them with unique pieces while maintaining my commitment to artistry and craftsmanship.

This shift enabled me to increase sales and maintain the uniqueness of my work, all while reducing the time it took to create new pieces from scratch to keep my inventory levels up. It also allowed me to connect with clients in my community one-on-one, which I genuinely love. I hear their stories, build relationships, and offer them a personalized, meaningful experience. This pivot was a game-changer for my business, and I’m so grateful for it!

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My best source of new clients has been while vending at local pop-up events and farmers’ markets, such as the EatLoco Farmers Market. These events allow me to connect directly with people, showcase my pieces, and offer a personal touch that resonates with customers. What’s even more rewarding is the word of mouth that follows. Many clients I’ve served at these markets share their positive experiences with others, which helps spread the word about my work and brings in even more clients. It’s been an excellent way to build relationships and grow my business organically.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eclecticallysimple.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclecticallysimplejewelry/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eclecticallysimple

Image Credits

Sierra Briant
Marquel Yvette