Ridley jewelry designer offers custom creations at Holly Mack Designs
RIDLEY PARK >> Part jewelry store, part gift shop and part artisan mecca, Holly Mack Designs offers one-of-a-kind custom jewelry pieces, handcrafted by owner Shawn Cannon, as well as an array of merchandise made by local artists and craftsmen.
Opened this past spring at 204 E. Sellers Ave., across from the Ridley Park train station, Holly Mack Designs offers dozens of unique gift ideas as well as a wide assortment of items that customers just may want to keep for themselves.
The store is a dream come true for Ridley Township resident Shawn Cannon, who named the shop after her two children.
When her daughters Holly and Mackenzie started school, Cannon, who had been a stayat-home mom, found she had some extra time on her hands.
“I took a few jewelry classes and from there, the passion grew,” Cannon said, explaining how her enjoyable hobby turned into an unexpected career path.
Cannon created a studio in the home that she shares with husband John and her two teenagers, where she crafts jewelry by hand, using high-quality sterling silver, gemstones, freshwater pearls, sea glass, and leather.
“My jewelry has an organic feel,” she stated. “I like to say it is perfectly imperfect. My main goal is to create a piece that will bring joy and a keepsake that will last forever.”
It didn’t take long for Cannon’s newly discovered talent to shine and her jewelry business to grow. She began by selling custom made and designer pieces to friends and family, at area craft shows, and online through Etsy.
“My designs are inspired by the things that I love most in life - the sea, nature and family,” Cannon said.
With her daughters now in high school — Mackenzie, a senior at Ridley High School, and Holly, a sophomore at Archmere Academy - Cannon was ready to make
the move into a brick and mortar shop. She looked at vacant storefronts in Media and Swarthmore before discovering the shop on Sellers Avenue, which she said, is “an ideal size and location.” She held her grand opening in March and never looked back.
Cannon still designs and crafts her jewelry in her home studio, and then brings the pieces to the shop, where she carefully arranges and designs her displays so customers can easily browse the neatly organized shelves and racks. Cannon is usually on hand to help customers choose a gift, help with customizing, or find the right piece of jewelry or the perfect gift. Her daughters also frequently work at the shop.
In addition to her own designed merchandise, Cannon carries local artist’s unique wares, such as Ridley pint glasses, Delco mugs and Delco designer board art. She sells matted photographs of local landmarks and greeting cards crafted by Jennifer Kearney Photography, soap and soy candles made by Nether Providence Soap Co., alphabet photography pieces by Michelle Jordan of Broomall, crocheted blankets by Marge Henry, handblown glass pumpkins and other pieces by artist Ron Hinkle, and other original merchandise made by local fine craftsmen.
The shop has a varied inventory, all selected with her tasteful eyes and standards for high quality, from designer onesies and booties for babies and wooden cutting boards, bowls and decorative items for homes, to scarves, bath bombs, hats, headbands and other accessories for women and hand painted wine glasses and wine accessories and plants that grow in a bag, for the gift giver. Among all of these treasures, are lots and lots of eye-catching jewelry pieces.
“I believe that jewelry can stir emotion and sentiment,” Cannon said. “When a customer sees and wears my jewelry, I want them to experience the thrill of finding a treasure on the beach, to see the colors in changing leaves, to hear the silence in falling snow, to smell the first bloom of spring, and to feel the joy and laughter in inspiring words.”
Cannon said one of the best aspects of selling merchandise in the Ridley Park store vs. online is getting to meet and know customers. She has already started to take custom and personalized orders for the holidays.
“I’ve gotten to meet so many wonderful people since I opened,” she said. “I really enjoy helping customers find the ideal gift for someone or seeing them get excited when they discover a piece of jewelry that is appealing or meaningful to them. I always look forward to coming into the shop — I am just so happy to be here.”
Store hours are 12-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday. The store has extended hours on assorted days, like 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, for the Ridley Park Fall Festival. For information, call 610-521-1424 or visit “Holly Mack Designs” on Facebook.