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ABOUT K ROBINS
"My work with symbols began about 22 years ago at a time of extreme upheaval. I changed from making art that was functional to art that was very personal and symbolic. I found that this was a way to deal with the confusion and pain I was experiencing. It gave me comfort, strength and insight. As my life continued to challenge me, I began the practice of going to Symbolic Art for healing, much as one goes to prayer, goes to meditation or goes to the mat. What I am looking for are the simplest, most direct lines I can find to express my emotion. When I get it, it often breaks my heart open. I imagine it works much like one looking for the most direct line to God and when one feels the connection, love flows."
Expression through art and craft has been K's lifelong companion. The images and themes of K's designs tell a personal, yet universal story.
K Robins was born and raised in Virginia and resides there in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The soft green hills and fresh mountain rivers of Nelson County have provided a comforting and nourishing place to raise her three children. Twenty-two years ago, in her home basement shop where she normally made furniture and cooking utensils while the children played upstairs, she suddenly began a series of small female sculptures that have evolved into the K Robins Symbolic Jewelry Collection.
Family, deep friendships and an arrray of teachers have been a steady source of inspiration. This outpouring of talent, courage, and wisdom has profoundly affected K's work."Some pieces, such as Aphrodite, Shakti and Changer are visionary, that is, I see them in my mind first. They work as affirmations or visualizations. Others, like Raven, Cerridwen and Vrksasana are attempts to capture qualities that amaze me in people I know and love. Designing symbolic pendants is a spiritual discipline in itself and a place to go much as one would go to ones corner (special place) for help when times get tough. As a visual artist I have come to know I see things that others feel but do not see. It is my responsibility to put them into form as best I can."
"Many of the jewelry designs come from my fascination with the language of symbols and how the art of different cultures and times echoes around the world."
Passed reverently from generation to generation, the symbols that surround us encourage us to carry on steadily, with faith and love, celebrating life's interwoven cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth. K Robins Symbolic Jewelry is a collection of iconographic imagery whose origins reside in our history and in our hearts. It is offered with deep gratitude.
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The Staff at K Robins Designs
Kathryn Ponn-Muhler manages day-to-day operations for K Robins Designs. Her life journey has encompassed a focus on personal growth and development for women. As a yoga instructor for 14 years, she encourages those who study with her to seek peace and beauty within. "K is such a joy to be around... she makes working seem like play. Her gentle spirit and her incredible creative ability translates into designs that touch the essense of one's heart, soul and life."
Betsy Greenleaf (on the right) is our bookkeeper and office assistant. Besides keeping us straight with the books, Betsy is a mother, wife, landscape designer and herbalist. She also is a cranial sacral student and involved with co-housing development in the Charlottesville area. "K is my tennis buddy and I love whooping up on her. She, Kathryn, Kelsey and I have fun in the office together and I do not cuss as much as I did at first."
Sidney Lockaby, our webmistress, is K's sister and lives in North Carolina, where she spends much of her free time volunteering with Mecklenburg Ministries, an organization that strives to build bridges across religious, racial, and ethnic differences. "K and I are very different. 
She is the artist with a spatial mind and a gentle spirit - I am the 'project manager'. K has always loved design and art. This love, combined with her searching, inquisitive mind, is expressed in her wonderful symbolic jewelry creations. I believe in K's work, particularly when I see the 'spirit' it awakens in those who wear and give it."
Kelsey Vergin has been working with us all summer, helping with packaging and shipping.
She will be going to Guilford College in North Carolina in the fall to study environmental science.
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Apprentices
Ailey Greig will be attending Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan this fall.
Eli Chanin" is studying Reike along with other esoteric arts and is currently on retreat at the Meher Baba Center in South Carolina. We hope to have him back in the shop doing finishing this fall.
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Deborah Justice (Justice) has moved on to pursue her own career in art. Her experience as a professional artist and a craftswoman is reflected on our website and in our designs from 2006 (Namaskara Mudra, Gratitude, Shou Butterfly and Trigram Turtle). These designs are collaborations between K and Justice. Her keen eye for art and enthusiasm for this business is already missed. Keep an eye out for progressive and visionary art from Justice Galactica. Find out more about Justice at www.nelsoncountylovechild.com.
Gerry Riddick-Bernard has been an inspiration to the business, helping out with  overall office management and many, many projects. She has taken a teaching job in the school system and is no longer here except in spirit. Many of you have spoken with her over the years as our in-house representative. Gerry and K have shared a long-time friendship immersed in the wonderful abundance and community of Nelson County. We are keeping her on staff as advisor.
" The fact that K’s jewelry touches a deep core of empowerment - reminding people of aspects of themselves (and verily all life) that they wish to celebrate, evoke, and multiply - is a delight. The spring of ancient symbols, women’s spirituality, nature, archetypes, and creative vision echos the divine. "
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Lillian Robins
K and Sidney's Mother
Mom's exquisite sense of design, beauty, and style and her guiding principles of honesty, hard work, generosity, and family love have been an integral part of K's evolving business.
Lillian is 92 and lives in Richmond overlooking the Richmond Studio in her backyard.
 | | We now have a new satellite studio in Richmond, Virginia, built by K's brother, Clark Robins . The Japanese-style studio sits serenely in the backyard of Lillian Robins and allows K and Sidney a beautiful place to work on the business while visiting and watching over their mom.
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