Martenitsa The Modern Traditional Handmade Accessories

Hello! Sorry for things been a bit slow here on the blog but have not been that slow in our studio! This New Year started full with inspiration, new design projects and a lot of work. For all these a little bit later we will reveal one by one the end results.

Now all of us are just one day away of March ready to embrace the upcoming spring though the official Spring Day is on 20th March. 

This time we are happy that we worked on very special martenisa custom orders made out of white and red yarn. Some of the bracelets and the pom pom pins are also available in our Etsy shop.

What martenitsa tradition follows:

• On 1st March starts the martenitsa exchange and lasts all month long
• Martenitsa is a piece of handmade bracelet, pin brooch, a necklace made out of white and red wool or yarn
• These traditional accessories symbolize wish for good health 
• You do not buy martenitsa for yourself. You make it as a gift for your friends, family, loved ones
• You can also decorate home with martenitsa making a corner dedicated to martenitsa details 
• Once you see a stork you can remove all your martenitsa bracelets and hang them on a blossoming tree

Find out here martenitsa designs what we found last year while hunting for the best martenitsa for friends and family.

Interview with the Jewelry Artist Lucía Laredo

Today we are really happy to introduce Lucía Laredo, jewelry artist based in Lima, Peru. 
This is an article on the fascinating art creation process of Lucía. 
Let's dive in the creative atmosphere of her studio. 
Here we go, read the full interview below.

(CRAFTWOMEN Studio)How did you start everything? What is your art background?

(Lucía Laredo) In 2006 I graduated  the Jewelry and Metalsmith Institute SENATI, the first school in Peru to teach Jewelry as a technical discipline. Before the school was open jewelry in Peru was a job learned only by practice or taught from one generation to the next. I develop my skills working at Ester Ventura workshop, a famous jewelry designer in Peru. And working at Lima Museum of Art improves my knowledge of art, art conservation and restoration. I also studied Artistic Jewelry at the School of Fine Arts and Graphic Design. I have constantly taken courses related to jewelry or related topics. 

CW Is there such kind of material that makes you to express yourself the best while creating pieces of jewelry? 

LL Metal is my favorite material to work, because it has various properties, many different manufacture processes and surface treatments.

CW Do you fancy listening to music while creating? What tunes are you up to?

LL Yes, music keeps me company while I am working. however it has to be in low volume otherwise I get distracted. I like almost every kind of music.

CW Could you tell us something about the source of your inspiration in both work and life?

LL Daily life, what I see, what I hear, what I read...whatever that generates something on me. Today I could work with some material, tomorrow I could develop a theme...this makes the contemporary jewelry a diverse and endless world. That's why I enjoy jewelry a lot. It gives to me freedom to create what I want...

CW Do you think the city you live in has to do with shaping your artistic sense and taste?

LL Definitely yes. Lima is the center of Peru, where different cultural expressions and different customs converge and interact. Sometimes this city can be friendly and sometimes it can be aggressive.

CW  Could you name some of your favourite jewelry designers and artists in general?

LL I admire the skill of the metalsmith pre-Columbian and Jack Cunningham, Karl Fritsch, Tessa Rickard. I love their work because they really seem to enjoy making jewelry.
In Art, in general, the surrealism and the installations are my favorites.

CW Could  you tell us more about contemporary craft communities in Lima?

LL Contemporary craft in Lima has a few exhibition spaces and these are, most of the time, exclusive. I would love it if more places existed in Peru where jewelry designers could show and spread our work and get the recognition that it deserves.

Thank you, Lucía! 

Find and shop online jewelry by Lucía Laredo at the following links: lucialaredo.etsy.com and lucialaredo.dawanda.com plus follow her at Facebook and Instagram

Hope you guys to be inspired by this meeting with Lucía and her creative space.
If you need some more inspiration or gift ideas learn the details around the story of Giardinoblu organic jewelry.

September To-Do-Memory-List in Progress

We are inpatient to visit the events at location 24 part of the Night in Plovdiv 2016.

This is when you realize summer is over.

Would you like to try these colorful retro clips on.

When the Messenger of the Gods is a bright star in the sky.

Pastel pink can be also an obsession.

This time we are fully prepared for a very special anniversary in September! 

September Cultural Events in Sofia

September is back again. 

The culture program is full with events like never before. What you   would need is to have time and to bring with you your adventurous spirit, couple of friends and to start exploring around the city where you will find cool event locations, great people, big parties and lots of fun.

Here follows our top three events from the program around the Bulgarian capital in September.

It is a fact we have already skipped the opening of the exhibition called simply "СТЪКЛО" /GLASS/ dedicated to the glass art making but it is never too late. There are few more days what left to have a closer look at the pieces made out of glass by the students from New Bulgarian University. The venue is the Czech Center in Sofia and you can visit the exhibition until 16th September. 

The next stop is the 9th International Fair of the Puppets that takes place from 16th till 22nd September. It is interesting fact that this year is also the 70th anniversary of Sofia Puppet Theater as well you will have the chance to see the performances of many street and puppet theaters from USA and Europe. The program of the fair you can find both in Bulgarian and English.

And now for something completely different. kvARTal is a festival that takes place for the very first time this year in one of the coziest and multicultural neighborhoods in Sofia-city. The full program of the events during the festival is here.

And one more thing - season soundtrack is never bad idea and for this reason here is our ultimate autumn track plus we are curious what is yours favorite piece of music inspired by the autumn.

5 Easy Steps to Bring the Seaside Vibes Right in the City + July Summer in the City Weekend Ideas Guide

Maybe all of you already have plans for full recreation and fun during this summer but still here in this post we share with you few of the ideas what we grabbed while daydreaming and making these two treasury lists. 

Hope these five simple ideas below make your summer to-do-list complete:

1. Throw a pool party - what could be better alternative if you cannot reach the sandy beach during the weekend than being with friends around or in the pool 

2. Summer cinema - summer under the sky is always good idea - get together with some folks and pick up your favourite movies or just check the full program for summer cinema in Sofia organized by Blok Kino

3. Make homemade ice cream - if you have not tried it yet this is the time to 

4. Do city gardening - this is definitely for all garden lovers, just look around and find your corner in the neighborhood and return it into the local oasis

5. Balcony therapy - if your balcony is not big enough to put right in the center enormous swimming pool but you have some other ideas how you can improve your terrace, right in the moment there is really cool initiative by IKEA called Balkonturist

'Summer Fun Ideas Guide' by CraftFields

♥ Enjoy your summer! ♥

Pink Parrot print, Watercolo... Ikonolexi $9	MIRROR clutch handbag, acryl... IvaDimDesign $72	Teddy bear Ring, Sterling si... lucialaredo $80	Pool Float Photography | Swi... BeachBumChix $15
Baby Shower Confetti - Pink ... PeanutButterAn... $4.75	Jarmila Cut Out High Waisted... oukymmik $186	Gold porcelain cups set - ce... ENDEceramics $115	Clutch purse, Foldover, Butt... byMART $28
LAVANDE MYHAPPYSOAPS $9	Geometric jaquard decorative... PillowCrafts $18.95	Metallic gold cocktail rimmi... dellcovespices $6.99	Beach Umbrella Print - turqu... CarolynCochran... $35
Small Hot Pink Paper Ice Cre... thebakersconfe... $6.99	Paradise - Retro Neon Sign P... HumboldtStreet $30	Coconut & Brazilian Mango Na... JoshicaBeauty $20.99	Party Favors! Handmade birth... TheRoxyGraceCo... $48

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'Summer Vibes' by CraftFields

Buddha poster, Grey Buddha p... Ikonolexi $9	beach photography, aerial be... IngridBeddoes $15	Tie Dye T Shirt Watermelon S... AfroDizziYak $14	Coconut Silhouette Sunset Oa... PatrickVieiraP... $25
40% SALE! Orange / bright ye... AZBUKKA $115.2	Woven wall hanging / Handwov... jujujust $250	Designer coat for women'... Whitestyle $300	Mid Century Gold Flatware Se... SergeantSailor $138
Travel Photography- Artistic... PetitePastiche $26	GOLD RING 18K Yellow Solid ... DragatakisJewe... $589	Jungle Palms 3 - Throw Pillo... NatureCityCo $30	Tiny Jewelry Making Tassels,... WomanShopsWorl... $10
Blue Holographic Matching Se... HomeCookedKarm... $55	Mousepad / Color Block Mouse... littlehawthorn... $11.99	Vintage Red Enamel Snack Set... WeLikeVintage $145	Two-piece swimwear set CollarSwimwear $112

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Summer Events to Visit in Bulgaria This June

June is already here and this is a fact. Apart from the sunny days what we were really waiting for daydreaming is on the schedule and at the same time plans how to spend summer time in the best possible charming and delightful ways. 

Here are our suggestions for events that take place this June in Bulgaria. Do not miss them out it is worthy or at least this is what our experiences shows. 

Kapana Fest in Plovdiv from 1st till 5th June

This festival takes place for the third year in Kapana at the very heart of Plovdiv. The program of the festival contains various events, kid's workshops and different bazaars.

Rose Festival in Kazanlak from 3rd till 5th June 

Rose festivals in Bulgaria definitely have traditions especially this one in the town of Kazanlak. 

The full program of the festival you can find here.

Week of Spanish and Ibero-American cinema from 1st to 9th June in Sofia

17 movies from 8 countries during the cinema week in Cultural Centar G8, Kino Lumiere and Euro Cinema. Just be sure that you have tickets in advance. 

Festival of Colors 25th June, Sofia

Let the colors and music to take over your senses.