Check Out Kim Cullen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Cullen.

Hi Kim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From the time I was a little tow-haired beach girl in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, I
saw the world through prisms of color and design. When I reflect on my life,
I see a tapestry of life’s joys and seasons of deep darkness. It is our flaws
that add depth, beauty and purpose to our lives. My own whimsical style
deeply influences my jewelry design. From my inner gypsy-rock star to my
“tailored-with-a-twist” corporate taste, there is a unique piece that speaks
to everyone in Beautiful Chaos.

I grew up in South Florida, graduated from University of Florida with a
degree in film production. I spent my early 20’s in Los Angeles as a casting
director where my creative juices soared. I currently reside in Newnan, GA. I
am a single mom of triplets plus two; 5 amazing kids who inspire me daily.

I find joy from being able to create jewelry that makes a woman feel
beautiful; not just on the outside, but from deep within.

MY JEWELRY

Beautiful Chaos celebrates taking risks and finding joy in the outcome. Our guests are able to express their personal
style by choosing from a wide variety of handmade pendants, chains and other found objects. The highlight from this
experience comes from the one-on-one attention given to every guest that visits with me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It was challenging starting out, I took design and metal smithing classes at night and on weekends while still working in the pharmaceutical industry. I started selling my creations at work (a little test marketing) and took an early retirement package from my job in 2014. I created a website and on line platform in 2015 andstarted selling my jewelry at farmer’s markets, office building events and then grew into larger juried art festivals. Stores started carrying my line along the way and I realized that this was a sustainable business model, that women loved what I was doing. When COVID hit in 2020, my distribution channels were crippled. No more art festivals meant a significant drop in my revenue. I pivoted to Facebook and started doing Facebook Live Shows every Thursday at 6pm. This was the start of one of my strongest revenue streams. I created hour long shows and grew my audience from just a handful of women to several thousand in a year. I remain faithful to this audience and still do Facebook Lives today. After 2020, I bought an Airstream named it the Velvet Vagabond and started taking it on the road to do art shows once again. Today, the tariffs have had an impact on my ability to source stones from other countries, There have been peaks and valleys but typically the challenges present growth opportunities.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Beautiful Chaos celebrates taking risks and finding joy in the outcome. My guests are able to express their personal
style by choosing from a wide variety of handmade pendants, chains and other found objects. The highlight from this
experience comes from the one-on-one attention given to every guest. Most refer to it as a treasure hunt. It allows them to engage in the styling process and share their stories with me. I also have Studio Days where women come spend the day with me in my studio. I let them revel in the design process while I make their ideas become a reality.

What makes my line different is that all of my ensembles are designed to be worn multiple ways. My entire line is interchangeable to appeal to most everyone; from those who choose to embrace their Chaos in a
simple yet classic style, to those who celebrate their Chaos by making a bold statement. I am recognized for my boho-whimsical style that women relate to. My customers are more than transactions, they are family. Professionally, I am most proud of my ability to create something that makes women feel beautiful, not just from the outside, but from within. The idea that I can make a living from being creative has been truly a gift for me, giving me purpose and abundant joy everyday.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I thrived in the world of my imagination. My artistic talent came from my Dad, who was my hero. I grew up on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale where my family owned a motel. Sun, sand and water served as the backdrop for most of my childhood. I made shell jewelry at an early age, driftwood cities (which I would sell to motel guest) and surfed during the summer with my band of surfer brothers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bchaos.com
• Instagram: @beautifulchaoscollection
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautifulchaoscollection/

Image Credits
I own all of the images