In June 2014, Bainbridge Island jeweler Robin Callahan took her first official jewelry-making class at a local parks and recreation center. It was a gift from her kids who knew their mom had always been interested in the creative process of creating jewelry.
Little did Robin know then that a decade later she’d be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Robin Callahan Designs with multiple prestigious local, national and international awards under her belt.
“It’s no secret that I had a late start in life when it comes to making jewelry. I was 54 when I started,” Robin reflects. “I had lived multiple lives in various sectors before getting started in the world of fine jewelry design and creation, but from the moment I got started, I felt like I was on a mission. I had this need to push myself and see just how far I could take things, determined to see what I was capable of.”
Robin’s formal education was in film and writing. She worked in television for many years before opening a production company in Hawaii, the first of its kind on Maui. She eventually ‘retired’ for the first time, but before long found herself owning and operating what would become one of the largest cargo-carrying airlines in the Hawaiian Islands.
After her second ‘retirement,’ Robin and her family found themselves closer to the mainland but still enjoying the island lifestyle after moving to Bainbridge Island.
Retirement, it seems, is the one commitment Robin can’t keep, and approximately nine months after her husband opened an art gallery, Robin found herself back in the workforce, this time as a gallery owner, operator and artist agent. Somewhere between running a successful art gallery and launching her career as a fine jewelry designer, she also ran a popular clothing store that housed the only independently owned and operated Chanel counter, and even explored competitive bodybuilding.
To say that Robin Callahan has lived a fascinating life as a successful female entrepreneur would be an understatement!
“Sometime after I won my first award in jewelry design, I remember saying to my husband, ‘Can you imagine if I had started working in jewelry earlier?’ He pointed out that all of my past experiences in film production, as an agent, running high-end, complicated businesses – each of those experiences has played a crucial part in my ability to be as successful as I have been with Robin Callahan Designs,” Robin reflects.
“I now feel that my journey and experiences were always leading up to this point and played an integral part in my ability to succeed as a jeweler.”
Over the past 10 years, Robin has won over 25 local, national and international awards for her jewelry design and has no intention of slowing down.
“I feel like I’m just getting started. I’m always finding new inspiration in the beautiful materials I work with and through custom orders from my clientele,” she says. “Competing in design contests helps to keep me focused on pushing my designs and skills to new heights. I’ll be entering many of my new pieces into a variety of national and international contests again this year, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me.”
Keep up with Robin’s latest fine art creations, nominations and awards by following Robin Callahan Designs on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, or by visiting robincallahandesigns.com.
