Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison McKenna.
Madison, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Throughout adolescence, high school, and college, I poured myself into photography. It was my main form of creative expression for well over 10 years and I received a BFA in Photographic Illustration from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2014. I was infatuated with the visual image as a physical object and while I wasn’t making work of my own, I focused on creating photo books and mastering fine art archival printmaking techniques. I ended up working multiple jobs between Brooklyn and Manhattan while commuting four hours a day to my apartment in New Jersey. I had jobs assisting photographers I admired and printing artwork for galleries and museums I loved. For a while, I felt like everything was right until the day I realized I was wrong. Working tirelessly and fiercely for someone else’s dream caught up to me and in an instant, my intuition told me to retreat and reassess.
Within weeks, I had moved home to central Massachusetts and had it set in my mind that I was going to do something completely new. I wanted to create something with my hands that was important enough to share with others and I wanted to devote all of my heart and soul to do it. Crystals and minerals have always been my allies since I was a child so naturally, they were floating on the top of the idea pool – my father is a 5th generation artisanal copper roofer so that was a perfect combination. I did some research on the copper electroforming process, invested what I had saved, and crossed my fingers.
No more than a month later, I had already made and sold my first few pieces (shout out to my grandmother for being my first official customer!) and booked market dates for that spring season. It was as though I had unlocked something that had been there all along. And this was all nearly three years ago! When your energy is going towards something, you truly should be doing – manifestation is limitless and things seem to fall into place!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My mother is my partner in crime and it is just the two of us behind The Cyprus Cabinet. One of our main struggles is time and finding enough of it in a day to complete our collection of tasks. This list includes but is not limited to: communicating with customers about their orders so everyone gets exactly what they want, making each piece (a lengthy process that takes about four-six days), packing and shipping orders, maintaining a beefy inventory, staying current with our social media, beating “the algorithm”, updating our website that I painstakingly coded myself, booking markets, sourcing stones, I could go on. It requires a lot of energy and we are always on the clock but it is honest and validating work that I can’t imagine not doing.
The other struggle that I think a lot of people can relate to is developing a healthy work/life balance – and understanding when to step away to take time for yourself. Working close with stones and natures gifts has brought me closer to understanding what I require to be a better version of myself. A hot bath, palo santo smoke, spending time in nature, aligning my chakras with kyanite, a good book, making teas + adaptogenic beverages and cooking are all things I regularly incorporate into my schedule to maintain a positive mental state. It is important to pay attention to your mind and your body and to use your instincts and intuition to lead the way. If you feel like you want to change everything (or maybe just something), do it. Only you can hold yourself back.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Cyprus Cabinet – what should we know?
At the core of it, we are doing more than just making jewelry. We are fusing the natural healing properties of copper and crystals to create high vibration tools. Our pieces are made with love and intention and we hope to inspire healing and growth in the wearer. We work only in copper because it is an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory metal. It is also highly conductive and I believe it amplifies the subtle energy that each crystal resonates!! We also charge, cleanse, and infuse reiki in each piece for good measure.
Every stone has something different to teach us and it is our honor to make them accessible and approachable to anyone that needs their energy. It is important to us that each stone is united with the right person, which is why we specialize in custom orders. The stones tend to choose the people they are meant to be with, and we are just a channel for them to do so. Working closely with this energy for so long, I’ve amassed an extensive working knowledge about the properties of every stone we offer – and I am always grateful to be able to share what I know with anyone who is interested in learning more.
Some of our most well-loved designs are our Herkimer diamond pieces. These crystals are my favorite to work with because they are one of the highest vibration stones. Our Herkimers are sourced domestically from Herkimer County, New York and I’ve even mined some of our collection myself! Our triple Herkimer diamond ring and our signature Leo stacking band have been used by many brides as an ethical alternative to traditional diamonds. Our rustic Libra band is a perfect complimentary ring for the groom!! If you follow us on Instagram, we are always posting about new designs + the stones we are using + self-healing tips and tricks!
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Some of my go-to ways to boost my mindset (besides the aforementioned acts of self-care) are to study astrology and tarot for insight on my path and to help inform decisions I make. I enjoy using the Time Passages and Co – Star apps for astrological updates and birth chart reading! My favorite tarot resource is a new book by Bakara Wintner called WTF is Tarot!? Full of super relatable anecdotes and descriptions of age-old archetypes. My mother and I are also Reiki certified. We feel it enhances our experience working with stones and our ability to be intuitive with our customers.
I also love to read — mostly non-fiction — here are some of my favorites:
Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith Ph.D. – a very extensive guide to the chakra system
Love is In the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals by Melody – extremely thorough and perceptive guide to hundreds of crystals and minerals both common and rare (somewhat hard to find)
Crystals by Jennie Harding – a much easier to find the guide to crystals that includes both metaphysical descriptions and geological information about many common stones
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – a delightful companion to any creative trying to be their best self and unlock the mysteries of inspiration
Frequency by Penney Peirce – a guide to understanding and unblocking your personal vibration to live a more fulfilled and true life
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard – a longtime favorite book about wonder, nature, perception, expression, and the processes of life itself
Contact Info:
- Website: thecypruscabinet.com
- Email: thecypruscabinet@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thecypruscabinet
- Other: thecypruscabinet.com/findus
Image Credit:
Portrait of maker by Scott Ayotte, All other photos by Madison McKenna
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