I sometimes forget..

That this is supposed to be a jewelry blog.

I have reached the conclusion that this year has decided to fly past me, and while it might not be my most productive year, it might just be the most furtive.

Over the last few months, this just happen to go in the right direction and I am quite pleased with everything right now, I know! every time I actually write in this blog, I often comment on what I am trying to do to have some order in life and work

It has been an everyday process since last year.. remember the breakfasts ? Those still happen and have worked wonders, it is quite difficult to decide to do something, to change something and actually do it, how hard can it sometimes be to realize that knowing yourself and working in your well being is pretty much the answer to many problems, only now I am seeing the result.

Now although I have like 12 hours a week of true work, I am not stressing as much about anything really and I feel calm, so so calm,  this is because I finally dived into creative escapes, there is more drawing,more reading, more paint and experiments and all is so personal without that constant pressure of it all ending in a solid jewelry piece in my hand.

I will talk about this later with more detail.

For now, I am preparing for a couple of summer craft fairs so more groups like these will be more common around this place.

Some of these pieces will make it to the shop, before the end of the week.

I have to go work now, but one more thing!

Listen to her..

I’ve spent my afternoons with this lady.

She is a hand carved shell cameo and has been with Don Juan for about 35 years, passed on to me and will be listed in my shop when it opens,

waiting for someone who wears a size 8.

14k gold details all over the frame, and on the sides little signity cubic zircons..

 

 

 

Isn’t she pretty?

I should be making some presents but I couldn’t wait to share her and wish you a beauuuutiful Christmas!

Sending hugs your way..

Nat.

Surreal days..

Let me start by telling you a little story,

When I decided to move to Spain, one of the biggest questions always my the tools, where to get the metal,etc… for this I asked my teacher which also happens to be from Spain to help me see what would work better..he advice to look for second hand things over here.

I have some tools but I always hold back on the shopping since I have just the basics, or what I can carry in 2 suitcases, and so while looking online for used tools in Spain , prices and such.

I found Don Juan.

He happened to live just 10kms from where we, were to live and well after some conversations, photos, he decided to sell us his tools.

How can I explain?

The closest I can come to, is like if you have a dream, something that you know will take years to achieve, I had an idea to have something like this in a period of 10 years, some of the larger tools like an electric rolling mill was out of that list, it was beyond my reach, then the torches, smaller tools,files,burs, so to me is  like having a loan for college and suddenly finding out is all paid for, like winning the lottery, like having that one thing that would change everything,right there.

 

 

 

No room for excuses,no need to think what’s next..

If I could only tell you how much I’ve cried, happy tears that is..

When I got here, saw the tools and started unpacking, I would cry with every single thing, had a little nervous smile, with each of the things I pulled out of the boxes, we are talking boxes and boxes of these..

I adoreeeeee that each and every one of these tools, has a story, you can see the years, I cherish and respect experience, and he as kind as he is, is willing to help me set up the workshop and explain things, his tools are his tools and well there is a bond, they are what make us earn a living, and facilitate to make whatever comes out of out head, and now little by little I’ve spent my days, sorting them out, cleaning, trying to convince myself this is real and they are mine.

The jeweler’s table, sitting there makes me think how many things have been made there, I am enjoying myself,  I feel like a little girl just playing with everything, getting to know everything..

Moments like this make me feel humble and grateful..

New work is coming soon..I’ll have fire!

I can’t wait!

And so it went..

Woke up at 7am last Monday after about 4 hours of sleep and 5 days of being in a fair for 10 hours a day.. more on that later, there is so much I need to tell you about..

 

Everywhere I go I have the luck of having a mountain near me.. so after months of seeing these mountains every morning, it was time to say goodbye.

I love how everything is always green in Costa Rica.

After a few goodbyes and the strongest hugs my arms can give, I went off to my grandmothers to have a tamal, in CR we have tamales for Christmas, and although it was a bit early, she made sure I had some home made ones before I left..

Then off I went, this time it was a bit particular, I was not alone, specially travelling and going somewhere specifically.. my house!, every time things are more planned and everything is done before I get to the country, so wow! lol! adult behavior? …I mean this is a big deal coming from a girl who used to just think “Once I get there I will figure it out” …

So first a plane, good 10h on it.. the great thing was that after such running around packing I can assure you  I slept at least 6h on the plane,this is right before landing..

Running around in the airport, changing money, 2 suitcases, ruuuuuuuun, I wanted to be out already, Madrid was so sunny, chilly but sunny, got there at noon on Tuesday.

 

Finally outside! Find the bus to the train station, literally running once again hence this photo..

 

3 and a half hours later,time for a train, AVE makes a 400km drive in just one hour and a half..

 

From the train… if you look close enough you can see my messy head haha! Of course no self portraits at this point, between excitement and jet lag, I was quite the crazy lady..

Finally in Valencia, a 1h drive..

And after all this I have to say, I was dead but you have never seen anyone happier.

H and I are in Spain! ready to start, planning around, buying incense for the house, moving things here and there..

And  my workshop, oh my workshop!… needs a complete blog post, I am overwhelmed, the first 3 days I was here when I saw the tools, I would cry, literally, I would go from the kitchen to the living room, see the workshop and smiled, is like when you were little and you liked a little boy and you looked at him and then quickly look away, dear friends, I am this crazy about it! and I am familiarizing myself with everything..unpacking has taken me a week, because every single thing is cleaned, observed and cherished for a good amount of time.

Love is all around, loving H, love for life, for work, for realizing all our hard work finally paid off, love for all the people in this world who we meet and sometimes have to say goodbye to, loving this relationships getting stronger, for adventure..

I could write how much I am grateful for, but I pretty much can sum it up to the point, I am grateful for everything, even the smallest things have a meaning and I have taken a week just to enjoy them..

These days, we wake up to this..

And excited to see what each day brings..

Saturday

My mom

Today is mother’s day in Costa Rica, and I wanted to share with you this particular photo of my mom, if I post a current one I think, as a matter of fact I am sure she will stop loving me, but she knows how much I adore this photo, and how many time I have endlessly stared at it, she was 12 years old, and it was a photo taken at school, I love her messy hair, the little pink dress, and above all her eyes, my mom is the kind of person who will always no matter what ,will have a smile for you.

Rejoice.

If a man does not think too much, he rejoices at rising in the morning, and at eating and drinking. He finds satisfaction in them and does not want them to be otherwise. But if he ceases to take things for granted, he seeks eagerly and hopefully during the course of the day for moments of real life, the radiance of which makes him rejoice and obliterates the awareness of time and all thoughts on the meaning and purpose of everything. One can call these moments creative, because they seem to give a feeling of union with the creator, and while they last, one is sensible of everything being necessary, even what is seemingly fortuitous. It is what the mystics call union with God.

Perhaps it is the excessive radiance of these moments that make everything else appear so dark. Perhaps it is the feeling of liberation, the enchanting lightness and the suspended bliss that make the rest of life seem so difficult, demanding and oppressive. I do not know. I have not travelled very far in thought and philosophy. However I do know that if there is a state of bliss and a paradise, it must be an uninterrupted sequence of such moments, and if this state of bliss can be attained through suffering and dwelling in pain, then no sorrow or pain can be so great that one should attempt to escape from it.

-Herman Hesse.

I didn’t even had internet.

Today was one day where  I finished all the work I had to do, and was left with a bit of pain on my right arm..the biggest desire to sleep, cooking seems like an obstacle between me and my bed.

Ten hours of sitting down and making jewelry,finishing the last bits to be able to take my break this week… when in the search of an old photo, ran into this.

I would lie if I said I don’t get emotional when reading this,it takes me back to that time, I lived in a house up in the mountain where internet connection was impossible they didn’t offer it for that area, I had to go to cafe internets or steal wifi from places in order to list things on Etsy or blog, I remember up to 3 hours at the time because I had to do everything at once, so uncomfortable and annoying, I also made the pieces in my house and took 2h bus rides to my teacher’s workshop to polish them and finish them because I didn’t have the proper equipment and had left my work and didn’t have the money to purchase them..

Though I’ve been accused of rambling in my blog, of writing things about myself, not just my business, going back and finding this, gives me a view of myself then which I guess  I had forgotten about and the little wishes and desires which today are an everyday thing..makes me feel incredibly happy and well at the time I was a completely different person, making jewelry has helped me seek inside myself, where I want to be, what I want to do and how.. and well I am on my way.

I think is sweet to find little notes like these..

I wonder If I will smile as much in a couple of years when reading what I write these days…

And since I don’t like posts without photos I leave you with some little mushrooms I’m making..

Ohhhh I’ve got a couple of hammers!

Longer post coming soon, have too much to say!

This song just makes me smile.

I had to tell you about this..

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a month now..

Few posts back I mentioned a new beginning

All happened so fast, until now I am really getting to enjoy it.

What happened is I moved to the little town I dreamed about, and I’ve worked for over a year to get to.

Not only that but I came here with the smallest expectations, I was hoping to get a little place one bedroom,room for at least my workshop.. and then thank you to an incredible god sent new friend , who didn’t only helped me to find the house but also to realize I deserved it..

I live here now:

And it’s by far the prettiest place I’ve ever  lived on, back in CR I had a nice little house but it was  empty , I was going through this minimalist stage in my life where I thought I didn’t need anything but my workshop,a fridge a stove and my bed..and I’ve been taught to be grateful for what I have so I’ve never asked for much.

I guess I’ve always had this little fear, everything I do , everywhere I go has to be with the money in my purse.. because of that fear of not selling jewelry anymore of something happening and having no sales to back me up ((( I know I shouldn’t think of this)))..

Since jewelry is my only income I live with that fear, but this last month living in this place, making it my own has actually given me the strength to have more confidence and not think about it..

How could I? , I am doing what I love in a place I love and have friends who lift me up and make me smile, I couldn’t ask for anything more and the realization of this I guess is what is confusing, when you’ve been working for years and running for years I guess you get used to that and when it’s time to enjoy what you worked for you kind of have that feeling of there is more to do.

I’m happy also because nowwww my friends and family are coming over to Guatemala! there is a place to stay! also a place I can tell people come over, drink coffee and search for stones! ahh!

Now there is nothing more to do for me, but enjoy and grow.. make better pieces and work with love.

And well I can’t show you the 239 photos I took of the house but my 2 favorite spots the living room:

And the roof:

I go up there every morning and every afternoon, there is this breeze that always runs through there and I look up and is just too much haaa!

That’s all, hope to be blogging more often have too much to tell you and show you.

I feel blessed