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

Hi Shunté, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Creativity. It’s part of everything and it’s how we connect with others and find our place and purpose in the world. There’s a vulnerability that comes with being creative, but it’s freeing and so beautifully human.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Punctuation pulls a statement together. Jewelry is that little thing that defines a mood. Everything I create has to be comfortable to wear, affordable, and contain a special element. I’m inspired by the things I love, and I want people to be inspired by the pieces I create. There’s something so powerful in wearing things that showcase your personality. I love watching the pieces that people gravitate toward and hearing their stories about why. Jewelry is so personal and special, whether it costs $10 or $10,000.

My career journey wasn’t easy or hard: it was necessary. Every roadblock steered me toward something greater. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t take those setbacks hard, because I absolutely did. I’ve learned to take it one day at a time after experiencing obstacles and rejection. I give myself the permission and space to not feel good about it. Then I commit to doing one thing a day to recalibrate until I’m back at 100%. That’s been the key for me: feel what you feel, but don’t stop.

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’m from southeast Dallas, so we’re definitely grabbing catfish baskets at Ronnie’s Catfish & More in Pleasant Grove then having a picnic at White Rock Lake one afternoon.

Bishop Arts is on the daytime chill list. We’re grabbing coffee and cocktails at The Wild Detective and reading ALL the poetry books! Paradisio and The Botanist are also on the list because the food and drinks are amazing and you just can’t beat the ambiance. We’re grabbing some Emporium Pies for the ride home!

We’ll spend a night eating and drinking our way through Deep Ellum. Dinner and music at The Free Man Cajun Cafe. Drinks at Ebb and Flow. Chilling on the rooftop at STIRR. Maybe even walking downtown to hit up Bourbon & Banter for a speakeasy vibe with some of the best cocktails. We’re grabbing Glazed donuts for the ride home! Eating sweets in cars is apparently a hobby of mine!

Throughout the week, we’re checking out the latest exhibits and featured local artists at The Dallas Contemporary Museum, and getting messy with some Velvet Taco. We’ll dive through some old CDs and vinyl at the Half Price Books on Northwest Highway and 75 too.

As much as I love Dallas, I’m going to have to take the BFF to some of my other favorite places in the metroplex. The Rock Barrell in Richardson for beads, gems, and recommendations on where to mine our own gems. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, because I’m sure they’ll have some amazing pop culture exhibits. Lava Cantina in The Colony for amazing food and live music. The Video Game Museum and Nerdvana in Frisco, and Madness Comics and Games in Plano for some nerdy shenanigans. We’ll also satisfy our love of stationery at Kinokuniya in Carrollton.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people in my village that I could name. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most remarkable family, friends, and colleagues. There have been people encouraging and inspiring me at every point in this journey. I’m dedicating this to everyone who has ever poured into me. From offering professional advice to providing constructive feedback to making me a to-go plate when I forget to eat. I’m extremely grateful for the love, challenges, laughter, and encouragement. I’m not a one-woman show, and it’s a blessing to not have to be.

Website: www.shoppunctuation.com

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

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

Other: Pinterest: ShopPunctuation TikTok: shop_punctuation

Image Credits
Tiffini Adams Erika Margotta

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.