December,chocolate addiction, too many beads, new work and perfect coffee, 2012

I started the first day of the year like this…

Yesterday I got some Costa Rican coffee and was like Gollum from LOTR, waiting for the morning for a cup of my “precious” coffee.. this you see here is the typical Costa Rican way of making it, boiling water is just poured in, this particular way makes the whole house smell like coffee, brings memories of childhood, of trips around the country when you feel incredibly happy to find a place they pour coffee on the table for you..I could seriously go on..

While having my coffee I decided to write a little about these last few days

I spent December moving stuff into my house…

Arranging and arranging, buying little zip lock bags, boxers, arranging, by color, by type.. arranging the tools, hanging photos on the walls, making this place my own.

Then by the middle of the month a wave of food came by, and I had no choice but to eat it all…

I just love trying new food and one of the great things about living in another country is discovering all kinds of favorite things..

Plus I’m extremely lucky, H. likes to cook and he makes beauties like this..

If you want to see more photos look at this album..

But to be honest with you I had way too many of these platters in front of me and they are the ones responsible of me stepping out in the cold streets and running every other day.

Little by little I am getting ready for my shop to open, making some new pieces,  I apologize ahead for the poor quality of the photo but I took it right after finishing  tonight.

 

2011 was a year of many lessons, which I will not take for granted, as for this new year, all I want is health, make the best jewelry that I can, seeing more of Spain, and always remembering what really is important and living as humble as I can, being grateful for the opportunities life gives us every day..

2011 was a year of sacrifices, 2012 will be one of enjoying everything around me.

As much as I love changes and places, today I can tell you I am happy where I am , with who I’m with and what I am doing, and not having that self-pressure of “What’s next?” is  the best feeling I’ve ever had.

By handmade, we mean it..

When making jewelry is not just about making the piece, you can make all the findings as well..

I think is important, what if you are stuck in the middle of no were and you want to make a specific piece and just because you have no earring backs.. you can’t make the post rings..or they sent you the wrong ones and you have to ship the order this friday..

Or you are working with gold, where findings are crazy expensive..

I have several friends here in CR who focus in this, in working from scratch melting our own metal and making all the findings too.. for this we have to thank our wonderful teacher who always has an answer for us

I decided to take some pictures of the process of  the making of a pin back for a  brooch…

the making of the wire…

Making the pieces to form the pin..

The soldering without burning your hair…

Making sure the heat is everywhere…

Lots of cleanup to do after soldering..

But happy  it looks like it’s supposed to..

Yeeeeeeee

A stong handmade pin, for a brooch perfect for a scarf…

A hat…

Or your favorite paisley bag :

But the best part is that is  100% handmade..

Made a Vintage Shrine for a good friend..

I made this out of 3 white canvas wrapped with leather painted all over , aged, made a collage and wrote the following quote by Anais Nin..

“We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another, unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. “

Just added .. Time flies.. to be able to use the clock with wings I made..

This was for my friend George.. for his birthday he loved It

Think of it as a Bday card you could use as a shrine/decoration afterwards… the pictures :

For the front:

Open:

Beads,small pieces of wood, leather here it is standing.. :

Details..

 

…

Someone’s Christmas Gift..

I got told “heart and pink”… this is the result..

Today I got told she loved it, I’m not working much in this kind of jewellery this days because I’m focusing on going back to knitting and working with silver.. still one can always help a friend