Hi everyone, I'm an artisan jeweller based in France, lucky enough to live in such beautiful surroundings, great for hiking, photography and appreciating nature.
My family is Polish so I grew up with my Grandma's stories, and visits to family farms in the wild East where my own Mother spent her childhood. This fuelled my love of folktales, forests and wild animals.
(Since childhood I've been the kind of person to empty their pockets after walks - out come pine cones, feathers, interesting rocks, leaves, bones, snail shells. Now I'm more likely to take hundreds of photos of the landscape)
England where I grew up is is beautiful, but very.. tame. You realise this immediately when visiting another country. England is a quilt, a patchwork of hedgerows and farmland. A neat and domesticated beauty.
France is probably how England felt in Centuries past (fewer people, the forests feel wilder - full of deer, wild boar and ruined farmhouses).
Poland was barely tamed in the first place. In the east, the last wild European Bison roam free in a place called the Białowieża Forest - one of the last untouched primeval forests left in Europe (google it - fascinating, love to visit at some point).
I have a slightly smaller, less wild forest right next to the house - whenever I'm bored, creatively frustrated or just need to think on things, a short walk always means I come back bursting with ideas. I sometimes even work in the forest - as it's quiet and soothing and no-one can find me until I'm finished!
Most of the wire wrap pieces were made out on the picnic table my Dad set up for me. Birds, deer wandering by, and once even a curious squirrel came down to investigate.
As for jewelry, I specialise in French beaded flowers, with moss/leaf themed pieces made out of beads and crystals. I love bright colours (seems to run in the family), gemstones and photography.
(Excuse the giant essay, morning coffee enthusiasm)
