thanks to her father, jewelry designer MK BYRNE had a hammer in her hand as soon as she could hold one…
In the summer of 2015, MK hauled a box of handmade jewelry, a table, and a sign to an outdoor market where she pinned the message to the front of her booth: All Good Things are Wild and Free.
Years later, MK opened shop in the Boston Public Market and traveled to Tuscon to collect precious gemstones with dreams of an elevated new line. But within weeks, the pandemic closed the city and her business shuttered not long after.
In the same year, she would move into one of the most iconic spaces in the neighborhood with her beloved dog, Ashitaka, ready to greet and dazzle all who enter. And her next chapter could truly begin.
MK sold nearly everything she owned and traveled west with only her dad’s tools, a box of rocks, and her favorite plants. She came to the Northwest, and one mild-weathered Saturday night she journeyed to Ballard, unaware of how in love she would fall. Ballard’s bright energy, hand-built atmosphere, and unfettered self-expression sang to her, and she knew instantly this was the place for her new beginning.
FIND YOUR BALLARD BEGINNING
Feel inspired & forge connections with yourself & nature when you step into the world of BEGIN.
In the Studio
Ashitaka
MASCOT & EXPERT TUG-OF-WAR PLAYER (Taka/Takamaca)
Our prince of the forest, champion greeter, and grade-A nuzzler - Ashitaka was rescued at eight-weeks old by MK in 2021. The exact variety of his breed is unknown, but the team will usually say he is “100% Big Dog” or a Pony-Bear. He can usually be found snoozing on his bed next to the register at Begin or showing off his newest toy to customers.
Taka’s recipe for a lovely day: Snuggles with mom; playtime with his girlfriend, Sabina; going for a walk and picking out a great stick; some light birdwatching; and a romantic pork-chop dinner with Tommy, Taka’s favorite restaurant owner; with plenty of time for naps in between.