Shari Johnson

Head Designer

Shari’s values always reflected those of an artist, and always felt as if this was her calling. From a very young age, she was somewhat immersed in design; she worked with her father, who was a talented carpenter, woodworker, and metal worker. She learned how to hand carve wood, cast metal, and find better means of turning her thoughts into tangible creation.

in her teen years, things shifted for Shari. Design became more than a hobby; it was a lifestyle. She worked tirelessly to make money, and it perpetuated her desire for design and creation. She would make clothing, paintings, and jewelry, and sell them to the people she knew to raise money, only to do it all over again.

At 16, she believed her talents would be better nurtured in a professional environment. She went to work in a jewelry store, where she gained a more comprehensive understanding of what made jewelry so special. She learned about diamonds, carving wax, casting rings, all to better understand the means with which she could work. While in school, she would finish her work early to spend time drawing, painting... Whatever she could to put her thoughts down on paper, later to be created. she knew what she wanted to do with her life, and had known since the time she was 12. Shari graduated top of her class in 3 years, and went on to pursue an opportunity at the art institute of Chicago.

At the age of 20, she was apprenticing under a master goldsmith on jewelers row. Shari learned to perfect her craft over the course of 5 years. Excellence was a virtue, and she never stopped working til perfection was achieved for every individual piece she created. She decided it was time to pursue her dream.

Shari went on to open Bjeweled. She finally had the opportunity to engage with her clients face to face, and do the two things she loved most in her own setting: create genuinely beautiful jewelry and make people happy.