HI !  My name is Chris McKinley. I'm the one-woman show that is Kinley Jewelry. Happy to meet you !  Thank you for visiting and showing interest in my creations. 

I work from my home studio in beautiful Southern Illinois on the edge of The Shawnee National Forest and the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge.  My studio is surrounded by trees, wildlife, a creek and a community of wonderful creative people in my town of Carbondale, Illinois.​

I draw most of my inspiration from nature and have a particular fascination with geometrical patterns in nature, what some might call divine design or sacred geometry.  I am constantly in awe of the "art" in nature, from the hexagonal bee hive to the patterns of a butterfly wing to the spiral of the galaxies. 

I have a background in Ecology and Forestry and I spend as much leisure time as I can exploring the forest, hiking trails and bluffs, swimming and kayaking in lakes and taking photographs of all the beauty I am so lucky to have all around me. 

Music is my other passion.  I have been singing since I could speak (before, actually), in choirs, theatre and bands.  Going to music festivals and concerts is my favorite fun thing to do and I frequent live local music venues.  I am also a DJ at my local community radio station, WDBX, where I have been hosting a weekly show for 23 years. (www.wdbx.org)

I make all of my jewelry by hand, using high quality and ethically-sourced or found materials like stones, feathers, fossils, seeds, wood and metals.  My goal is to provide adornments for women to feel a connection with nature, to feel empowered and beautiful and to make connections through creativity with kindred spirits.

I want you to be happy with your purchase, so please contact me if you have any issues, problems or wishes regarding an order.  I can customize many things like necklace lengths, ear hook metal, bead colors and design, so if you have something in mind you don't see, contact me and I'm sure we can work on something especially for you.