Meet Christian Wortham | Custom Jewelry Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Wortham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
It all began when I was diagnosed with class IV lupus nephritis in 2013 while attending college at North Carolina Central University. Honestly, the diagnosis shocked me because I did not know much about the disease, and I wasn’t entirely sure how the rest of my time in school would play out as a result of it. After the eventual acceptance of my diagnosis, more research, and the solidification of my new doctors and medications, I became eager to educate others about what lupus was and how it affected the body. I knew I wanted to become an advocate, so I joined the lupus support group of Durham, began hosting panel discussions on my campus, participated in fundraising walks, and volunteered with the Lupus Foundation of America. My love and appreciation for jewelry-making began when I returned home to Dallas, Texas the summer of my sophomore year. I landed an internship as an assistant for a family friend who was a designer and business owner and over a short amount of time, designing and crafting pieces became second nature. I was swept away in both creativity and divine discipline. The opportunity allowed me to cultivate joy and appreciate the craft itself, and this truly became one of my outlets for self-care. It was hard, detailed work but I loved it. After the summer ended, I continued to make jewelry for my friends and family as gifts. While managing my life with lupus, I became more interested and intrigued by holistic wellness practices and ways of being. After learning about different forms of alternative healing, my love for working with natural crystals and stones developed. Fast forward to today, and Monarch Masterpieces has spread its wings in a multitude of ways! Each piece of jewelry is uniquely handcrafted and adorned with natural crystals and materials, and the proceeds of each sale goes toward different lupus advocacy, educational, and research organizations.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey did not start off that seamlessly. It was painful, anxiety-ridden, & sometimes very lonely. Upon diagnosis of lupus nephritis, my body experienced a series of “shutdowns.” Over the course of the past 5 years, I have undergone a kidney biopsy, a left hip replacement, & a right-sided cerebral bypass. Through the midst of breaks & recovery times, I always returned to creating jewelry, working to build a concrete foundation for my business, & striving to fulfill God’s purpose for what He has for me. I’ve been able to network with so many professionals who see a vision for Monarch & are eager to help me grow. My custom-made pieces are crafted with intention & love. It is my hope & mission to share positivity, comfort, compassion, & many forms of all around good energy to the wearer of my jewelry. Monarch Masterpieces is built on spreading awareness while supporting a cause & sharing a gift. It’s more than a piece of jewelry; it’s a token of transformative beauty, just like a butterfly, & just like us all. I have an ultimate goal of donating proceeds from each piece towards lupus research, support, & education. Every piece, whether bracelet, earrings, rings, necklaces, etc. is made & designed by me. I pick out the natural crystals, I spend time putting different patterns & designs together before the piece is actually made, & I am the one who crafts it all. So I guess you could say that I am genuinely my own team. I love including personal notes in each order that describe the crystals used & their beneficial properties, as well as just simply saying thank you for the support. There’s a certain care & consideration that even after Monarch grows, I wish to forever uphold. Integrity, authenticity, & quality is what I care about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would consider myself an extroverted introvert, so if my best friend is coming to visit me, we’d have to have a balance of staying in and chilling along with a healthy amount of fun outings and shenanigans! I enjoy both. I am a self-proclaimed foodie, so some of my favorite places to dine in Dallas are Elm & Good in Deep Ellum, Aw Shucks Oyster Bar on Greenville Ave, Roots Chicken Shak located in Legacy Hall in Plano, and Mesero in Victory Park just to name a few. I do stay closer to North Fort Worth though, so when the day or night doesn’t call for a super fancy get-up but still high quality, I’d take my friend to Caribbean Kitchen on North Beach, Thai Rice n Noodle right beside it, Bayou Jack’s Cajun Grill in Roanoke, Sushi Zen Japanese Bistro in Southlake, or really any place with some good ole bar food like chicken wings, potato skins, and sandwiches. Another fun fact about me is that I don’t really have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. I enjoy going to Klyde Warren Park and hanging out at the various art museums in the DFW area. I also love the botanical gardens, walking around 7th Street, and The Stockyards in Fort Worth… we could literally create fun anywhere. I would most likely show them the various stadiums and notable arenas if they were interested, because I do enjoy sports outings and being around environments similar to Texas Live! We could also visit various cigar lounges around the metroplex because (another fun fact) I do like to enjoy a good cigar from time to time. But overall let’s just say… there won’t be a boring moment with me, no matter what we end up doing.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to God. Without Him, His grace, and His mercy, I could do and would be nothing. I would also like to recognize my family who have been of immense support. They have carried, sustained, and encouraged me and without them, I would not be the person I am today. My friends who have become my family have played a huge role in that support, and I practically consider them part of my family also. I must recognize and show gratitude to the Lupus community in every capacity. From the first support group I joined in North Carolina, to all the selfless doctors, physicians, and healers who have cared enough to get to know me personally, to the support group I currently belong to in Texas, and everyone else in between: I am honored to be a part of such a resilient and tenacious group of survivors. The craft that I put my heart into is for the purpose of uplifting and bringing about positive energy all while spreading awareness and giving back to Lupus research, education, and advocacy groups. There are a lot of moving parts involved when I truly consider what keeps me going, and I’m so blessed for the opportunity to serve as a vessel.

Website: https://www.monarchmasterpieces.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchmasterpieces/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-wortham-a29261150/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monarchmasterpieces