Conversations with Robin Cook

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Cook.

Hi Robin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
From the start, I’ve been creative at heart. Growing up in my parents’ jewelry store, I always had an affinity for beads and still remember receiving my first bead box. Originally, our store was adjacent to a hair salon, and I remember one day taking a small rack of my handmade earrings to sell to the salon patrons.

Returning to our store with cash in hand and a smile on my face, I excitedly shared this success with my parents (I was about 10 years old). Ever since, my parents have graciously given me an opportunity to showcase my earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in their store. Serving customers and traveling to jewelry shows with my parents has been enriching and impactful.

The essence of being part of the family business is more than the sum of its parts. I cherish the relationships that have been cultivated with customers and the honor and art of crafting treasures for special occasions. Being inspired by my parents’ entrepreneurial passion and integrity fueled my desire to create my own business 9 years ago.

As a teenager, another branch of interest emerged in the midst of my mom’s health crisis- a passion for nutrition and healthy cooking. Providentially, my last name is Cook, and my mom and I were inspired to co-author a cookbook commemorating our family’s journey to a healthy lifestyle.

As a blossoming jewelry designer, health coach, and author, Cook 2 Flourish is the business that has emerged. It’s a unique tapestry of offerings from pearl jewelry to seasonal produce recipes, but I am grateful to be thriving in the gifts God has given me to bring beauty and inspiration to my community and beyond.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Every journey has challenges, but we can learn, grow and be creative in the midst of them. My mom’s health crisis was a monumental struggle, but seeing the fruit that’s come from it has been so worth it! On the jewelry side, there have been supplying shortages and discontinuation of beautiful beads that comprise best-selling designs, but it has made space for new creations.

Having a creative-wired brain is a gift, but the logistics of scaling the business and positioning for new open doors have its challenges. My dad has been so supportive, lending the wealth of decades of experience. I remember sharing with a business-minded friend a few years back that I had the capacity to make larger volumes of jewelry but just needed the right platform.

Not too long after, a new boutique (Ivy & Sparrow) was opening, and the owner extended an invitation to be a jewelry vendor for them! Prior to being a vendor at this boutique, I didn’t have a catalog of my designs. This opportunity sparked the need to create one, and we just celebrated the 300th documented design!

With the unique jewelry and health coaching offerings, it can be a juggling act sometimes, but the diversity is invigorating to me!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Cook 2 Flourish is all about designing everyday treasures, inspiring creativity in the kitchen, and encouraging others to flourish in soul and health.

From the bench to the box, it’s a delight to envision a jewelry design, fashion it, put it on the rack, and hear how a customer will enjoy it. My jewelry designs feature pearls of all shapes and sizes as well as other gemstones, and my favorites to work with are the funky “baroque” pearls.

To me, their uniqueness enhances the beauty of the design. Jewelry doesn’t have to be elaborate to be treasured, so offering simplistic elegant designs featuring real gemstones is what I love to do. Upon request, I get to collaborate with brides locally or via Etsy to create the wedding earrings, necklaces, or bracelets of their dreams.

Inspiring others to flourish from farm to their fork is another passion. Whether it’s teaching kids how to make veggies taste good or blogging about market-inspired menus, I love equipping others to make sustainable healthy habits. Getting to cook with kids in the kitchen is one of my health coaching “hats,” where they explore colorful, flavorful foods.

Encouragement both nutritionally and spiritually is important to me, so I’m grateful to offer both the Cook 2 Flourish cookbook and Encourage 2 Flourish devotional.

Any big plans?
I’m excited to continue growing, creating, and serving my community!

With each season comes new recipes and jewelry designs, and the summer Art Walk meets and greets at Ivy and Sparrow are events I always look forward to! In partnership with a local school, I’m developing a new kid’s cooking class series that will be a fun challenge!

I have a vision for two more books- another devotional book and a seasonal eating cookbook, so stay tuned for those in the coming months!

Pricing:

• $39.95 Cook 2 Flourish Cookbook (Amazon)
• $9.95 Encourage 2 Flourish Devotional (Etsy)
• $20- 120 Jewelry Designs

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cook2flourish.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cook2flourish/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cook2flourish
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Cook2Flourish

Image Credits
Abundant Moments Photography – www.abundantmoments.com