Meet Carol McKinney, Founder of Lemon Leopard

By Jessica Cryer | Published April 10, 2008

Carol McKinney designs custom jewelry by starting with a plan, choosing a color palette, creating a focal point, and designing a piece that reflects the style and attitude of the person.

Carol McKinney is an interior designer turned jewelry designer and founded Lemon Leopard as her creative outlet. This young mom designs jewelry just as she designed rooms. Although she loved her job in interior design she felt it took too much time away from her family so she turned to jewelry design because of the flexibility of it.

Her necklaces range from chunky and fun to fine and elegant. The stones are absolutely beautiful and come in so many different sizes, shapes and colors. It makes me want to buy the necklace first and find the outfit to match the necklace. Her jewelry truly is artwork. And like many other great artists Carol has been asked on more than one occasion to donate her artwork to different organizations for fundraising and for press/media. Carol has done so many times and is happy to consider organizations for donation. Lemon Leopard is even sponsoring our very own Kelly in the Mrs. Utah pageant! Here’s a beautiful necklace Carol donated to Kelly to wear for a pageant event. And by the way, the ultra-talented Carol took all the photographs for the Lemon Leopard website!

Enjoy Meeting Startup Princess Carol McKinney!

Name: Carol McKinney/ Lemon Leopard

Hometown: Amarillo, TX

Education: Interior design degree

Professional Background (brief, please): Interior design- 12 years, Jewelry design- 3 years & photography- 1 year

What you wanted to be when you grew up: A wife & mommy

What you are: A wife & mommy/designer

Brief Summary of your Start Up: I began making jewelry for gifts for friends and family. One of these friends (whom worked for the Ralph Lauren company) asked me to make some jewelry for the launch of a new RL fragrance. I did, and the rest is history!

Company Website? LemonLeopard.com

What inspired you? I wanted a creative outlet I could do at home and be w/ my kids. Interior design took too much time away from them. Jewelry design was the perfect answer for me.

How long have you been in business? 3 years

How did you fund it? Personal funds

Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor )? I guess I was really on my own.

Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Current Business Challenge? Balancing my family & work

Favorite motivational quote: Jeremiah 29:11

How do you balance family and business? I remind myself daily that God & family and my top priorities. If I keep them straight, God works out the rest for me and blesses my endeavors business-wise.

Favorite book? Mitford Series by Jan Karon

What do you do to relax? Play outside w/ my kids or read

What do you want to change most about your world? I’d love to see foster care improved for kids and adoption prices lower so more deserving, good people could adopt.

What are you most proud of? My relationship w/ God and my family.

What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Try not to go into great amounts of debt to fund your business and never give up hope that this will work if you feel called to do what you’re doing.

Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? internet

If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? Perfect question to ask a jewelry designer!… Not all precious, but I love rubies, onyx & turquoise! And I’d want Startup Princess Shelly Kennedy to make it for me! : )

This article was written by Startup Princess writer, Jessica Cryer

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