Art & Life with Kendall Beas and Mackenzie Riley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Beas and Mackenzie Riley.

Kendall and Mackenzie, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
The two of us go way back, actually. We’ve been friends since Middle School – then went to High School and College together.

For as long as we can remember, we were always looking for a creative project. DIYing our High School Graduation party decorations, interior designing the rooms in our sorority house, sewing everyone’s Halloween costumes, scrapbooking — you name it.

So when our careers began in the corporate world, it was no surprise that we were still craving that creative, hands-on outlet. Sharing a passion and love for statement jewelry, we began spending our free time toying around with fun, unique earrings – handcrafting that was not only fun but practical. And to our pleasant surprise, we weren’t the only ones that loved them! Friends & family began asking how they could get themselves a pair – that’s when we realized we had something.

How neat that we’ve been able to turn our artist story into an unbelievable, fun side gig?

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
We make fun, light-weight statement earrings with all sorts of materials, both conventional & unconventional. We use a combination of beads, wood & charms with fun, unique flares like fabric accents and chiffon flowers – all personally sourced and handcrafted by our own four hands.

We spend months collecting these supplies for each line & set aside weekends to lay everything out, crank some tunes & craft away.

Our inspiration for all of this is behind our belief that regardless of how much time or effort spent getting ready, throwing on our earrings ties it all together and helps speak to your personal style. We hope our earrings make our customers feel distinctive, confident and fun. In our opinion, there’s a special sort of feeling when you’re rocking limited supply, handcrafted, jewelry that is on trend but distinctive from the mainstream, accessible brands.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
We think we’re trending in the right direction in supporting local artists. The shift in buying local and the movement in less brand-focused style favors our business.

We encourage readers to always being on the lookout for local markets. These are our best opportunities to get in front of new locals & spread the word about our work. It’s also just a blast to roam these things and so inspiring to see what people in our own backyards are creating! Phoenix is buzzing with some seriously talented crafters.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can visit our website; rileybea.com & follow us on Instagram @shoprileybea.

We also participate in several pop-ups and markets throughout the year, around the valley. We will be at the Made with Love Market in Downtown Gilbert on Saturday, April 27th from 7am-11am and we’d love for you to stop by!

If you’re dying to try our earrings on in person, we suggest checking our events page on rileybea.com!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rileybea.com/
• Email: kendall@rileybea.com or mackenzie@rileybea.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoprileybea/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoprileybea/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shoprileybea/

Image Credit:
Round Lens Photography – Katie Rounds

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.