We’re looking forward to introducing you to Christina Magdolna. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Christina, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My day begins with my two parrots, who are always eager to announce the morning. Jolly, my crimson rosella has been by my side for over two decades and brings a calm, familiar presence, while Basil, my hahn’s macaw is still very young, endlessly playful and curious about anything and everything. Preparing their breakfast and spending a few quiet (or not so quiet!) moments with them is how I ease into the day. It is grounding and joyful, and it creates a sense of calm before anything else begins.
I make a coffee and sit at the breakfast table, which is usually covered with notebooks and art, botany and design books from my husband’s latest book hunting excursion. I peruse the pages slowly, jotting down notes or small sketches as ideas and forms begin to surface. This is when concepts tend to come forward most clearly, before the day becomes structured around logistics and decisions.
I have found that this early window is the most important time to let ideas emerge naturally. Beginning the day this way ensures I feel inspired and centered, and it sets the tone for a day that is both creative and productive.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the founder and designer behind Christina Magdolna Jewelry, a Los Angeles based fine jewelry line centered on color, movement, and individuality. I design each piece in recycled gold, working with carefully sourced gemstones chosen for their character and presence.
What makes the brand special is the sense of life within each piece. Many designs incorporate subtle movement and unexpected color combinations, creating jewelry that feels expressive, joyful, and deeply personal. I work in small batches and often create one of a kind pieces, so each carries its own identity.
My inspiration comes from art and the enduring role jewelry has played throughout human history. I am drawn to creating pieces that feel intimate and lasting, something that becomes part of the wearer’s daily life and evolves with them over time.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My father taught me the most about work. As a production designer in the film industry, he was completely immersed in what he did. His days began at dawn and often stretched late into the evening, most often on location, where his full presence and attention were required. Watching him, I came to understand that meaningful work demands discipline. It is built on consistency, responsibility, and a willingness to show up fully each day, regardless of how demanding the circumstances may be.
He approached his craft with a level of care and precision that made it clear that excellence is the result of dedication over time. He showed me that doing something well requires patience, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to your vision.
What shaped me just as much, however, was the way he showed up for our family. Despite the intensity of his work, he made a conscious effort to be present. Whenever possible, he brought us with him, allowing us to witness the worlds he was creating, and when he was home, he was fully there. He showed me that deep professional dedication and deep personal presence are not mutually exclusive.
This shaped my understanding of what was possible. He taught me that you can build a meaningful and joyful life around something you love, and that discipline and devotion to your craft can exist alongside a rich and connected personal life. That example has guided me in creating a life and career that feel both purposeful and whole.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Don’t forget how capable you are.”
This was something a woman said to me a few years ago at a dinner party, and it has stayed with me ever since. She was a successful lawyer and a mother of three, and she carried herself with such grace and calm confidence. I remember asking her how she was able to manage so much without seeming overwhelmed, because it was something I was struggling with myself.
She paused for a moment and said, “Don’t ever forget how capable you are.”
It was such a simple statement, but it shifted something in me. It made me realize how often we underestimate ourselves or move through challenges with doubt, even when we are fully equipped to handle them. It is something I return to often, and I only wish I had understood it and lived by it sooner.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that dreams come true on their own, that if something was meant for you, it would simply unfold without requiring an extraordinary amount of effort. There was a certain innocence in that perspective, and in some ways I think it allowed me to dream freely without immediately questioning how something would be possible.
Over time, I came to understand that while intuition and vision are essential, they are only the beginning. What brings a dream into reality is consistency, resilience, and a willingness to continue even when the outcome is uncertain. There is an immense amount of unseen work behind anything meaningful.
That realization was not discouraging, but empowering. It made me understand that dreams are not distant or reserved for a select few. They are built, patiently and deliberately, over time.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Yes, I truly am. There is a sense of excitement and purpose in my work now that I had not experienced before.
I originally set out to become a costume designer, coming from a family deeply connected to the film industry. While I was drawn to the creative world, I eventually realized that path did not feed my soul in the way I had hoped. I also spent time working in translation and interpretation, in French and Hungarian. It was intellectually engaging and rewarding in its own way, but it did not fulfill the deeper creative instinct I have always carried.
Founding Christina Magdolna Jewelry changed that completely. It allows me to live in a constant state of creation, while also bringing together so many of my passions. Designing the pieces often begins with painting and drawing, photography allows me to shape the visual world around them, and travel continually expands my perspective and inspires new ideas. It is deeply fulfilling to have a practice that engages both my creative and intellectual curiosity.
It also enables me to connect with people in an incredibly personal and lasting way. Jewelry becomes part of someone’s life, carried with them through time, and knowing that something I created holds meaning for someone else brings me a profound sense of joy and purpose. It makes the work feel truly alive and meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinamagdolna.com
- Instagram: @christinamagdolnajewelry
Image Credits
Christina Magdolna
Annabelle Foucher
Nikki Finn
