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.

Handmade Dreams Exhibition + SoBazaar in the Heart of Sofia

  Winter is already here and the biggest proof is the first snow outside. Just two days ago Sofia was covered all around with snow. You can sense the festive spirit and the upcoming winter holidays everywhere - in the nicely decorated shops, cafes, local bakeries and bookstore. 

  What we really liked and we attended these snowy days is an exhibition that takes place in the Czech Institute called Handmade Dreams - Contemporary Czech Jewelry. The closing of the exhibition is on 2nd December and we strongly recommend to have a closer look at the pieces of jewelry exposed at one of the halls of the institute. 

 The project itself is curated by Petra Nového from the Museum of glass and Jewellery in Jablonec. 
In the exhibition are also featured students' works as well as works crafted and finished during the contest Master of Crystal.

 Apart from the glass, Czech jewelry is an established traditional brand of relatively small country in Europe and definitely it is worthy to get closer to examine its gorgeous collections and artifacts. 

  One more event grabbed our attention and more precisely this is the Christmas Edition of SoBazaar is going to take place on 3rd and 4th December at the space of SOHO. Plus we cannot hide we are in love with their beautiful poster for the event. Meet all the artists and participants in advance at the Facebook event here and of course in person right at the spot you can have the opportunity to have a chat with them and will get to know more about the creative process, the materials or to choose something special for yourself. 

And the rest you know just take your time and pick up the best gifts for the loved ones.

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.

Hello March! Martenitsa Time!

We love it! Yes, we really do! If there is something that we are waiting for impatiently every year it is definitely the first day of March, which is our Baba Marta Day (Grandma March).

If you haven't heard of Baba Marta Day then you should know that the tradition features exchanging and wearing martenitsas - a piece of red and white adornment supposed to bring you good health and luck. It has to do with spring and new beginnings. When you get to see a stork for the first time you should tie your martenitsa on a blossoming tree. This is a great native custom that has been around for quite some time.

Martenitsas could vary from a simple red and white string to some quite sophisticated pieces. 

It is not rocket science, so you could understand city streets blooming in red and white just like spring trees starting already in early February. Freestyle marketing is on a spree. As much as inventing new martenitsa designs is for the sake of lovely, lovely money, and China representation is sky-high, tradition is still holding its ground and we do not expect it to give in to industrial pressure to an extent that all sweet custom-based romance is completely lost.

Craftwomen are keeping it real and again managed to unearth some worthy gems in a vast realm of mediocrity. Here are some of the most interesting martenitsas out there:

You could of course just stand there with a good bottle of white wine and a better bottle of red wine, playing cool and mixing them bottles ol'martenitsa style, but then again a little gift for people around you wouldn't hurt, now would it? It's not a Valentine thing just meant for your lover. All are welcome.

Spread the love!

September Weekend Ideas

An upcoming bash weekend in Plovdiv - the European capital of culture 2019!

 Here there are some inspiring events that you do not have to miss if Plovdiv is your destination.

 The program is full of cool parties, tons of exhibitions, art and cultural related events. 

Just Plovdiv turns out to be a vibrating melting pot as it has always been and we really like it! 

Handmade Day Plovdiv

Night of Museums and Galleries 2015 Plovdiv

DARK LIGHTS: félin amour @ Night ’15, Plovdiv

Handmade Fest Code: LOVE

Hello, Lovers!

You already know what this post is all about don't you.

It's that time of the year when you're supposed to honour you relationship with the Significant Other, preferably in a rather special and unusual way.

We know, alright. Love is Craftwomen's main engine after all.

There will be a mind-boggling lot of teddy bears and chocolate, and wine, and balloons, and flowers, and all kinds of heart-shaped stuff going on. You will have to spent time and nerves, huff and puff, just to make the right choice. Valentine's Day is not supposed to get you mad and cursing hell, now is it?

You need a proper gift. That is what Craftwomen are good at. 

We are happy to announce our participation in Handmade fest code: LOVE that will take place in Sofia, in the National Palace of Culture, 12.02 - 14.02, everyday from 10 am to 8 pm. 

You will be able to see and buy jewelry, wine, ceramic, books, cookies, cosmetics and etc. More than 40 local designers will be there joining forces in a true Alliance to preserve, promote, lift and boost love and affection (look out its headed in your direction).

Our studio has prepared some new staff just for the occasion. Here's a taste:

You can also check our Facebook page for the new photo uploads.

See you tomorrow!

OLX Atelier

Now then. 

Here's an interesting challenge both for CRAFTWOMEN Studio and our dear friends. 

We are taking part in an OLX.bg contest with our jewelry designs. 

The contest is devided into subcategories - art, home decoration, jewelries, clothes and accesories. All the local designers are welcome to join the competion.

Rewards are very attractive - 20 designers will have the chance to win 1000 BGN to support their businesses.

Of course it's not only the prize that drives us. We appreciate a good opportunity to shine showing our stuff in the new sales platform that OLX represents.

So, if you are fond of our jewelry designs and share our views, concepts and freelosophy, please vote for CraftWomen on the link below.

http://olx.bg/atelie/people/3326154/

We wish good luck to all the participants.

Well, why not complete this post with some new stunning braclets? 

There you go:

Fashion Weekend

Happy Friday, guys!

Craftwomen will spend a whole weekend /13.09 - 14.09/ in one of our favourite city - Plovdiv. We will participate in an interesting event called Fashion Day, oraganized by Incubator and Mgb Fashion Studio. The moto of the event is The Devil Is My Fashion Idol.

You will be able to see and buy jewelry designs from our last collection Shapes and Colors and of course the hand-painted bags will be there as well.

Here are some of the new designs:

It seems that it's going to be a very interesting weekend starting today with the Nights of the Museums and Gallaries Plovdiv - an event truely worth attending.

Stay tuned for a photo story from our trip to Plovdiv!

Giardinoblu Exclusive Organic Jewelry

Hi there!

We are eager to share with you one of our favourite artists we found in the ocean of Etsy shops.

Francesca Mancini - an organic designer and jewelry maker. You can find her works under the name Giardinoblu, an independent lab that works with organic and recycling materials. 

Watching her jewelry designs one might end up in some sunny green woods and at the same fall under the spell of Italy. An explosion of urban and countryside emotions you would want to experience every day.

Our favourite collections of Giardinoblu are the Beetle Collection and the Drop Collection.

Striking varaiery of bracelets, brooches, rings and necklaces that fascinate with magic and style.

Should you be willing to dig deeper into Giardinoblu's world, make sure to check out her website where you can find more info and see all the collections or select a fine item if you will.

Five Years

Hello there!

We are happy to announce that our blog has an anniversary!

Yeah, 5 whole years of hard work, many trips, new friends and followers, inspirations, different projects and events.

We passed through restoration of old furnitures, crafting different handmade items and participations in many local bazaars. We experimented with "strange" materials trying to find the hidden elements in ourselves and in the same time to share a little part of our world.

      

These are some unpublished photos from some of our trips.

Thank you for being our readers!

Craft for Community - DIY Projects

Hey, hey it's Thursday and the time has come! That thrill!

You all are welcome to join the local craft community at Art Hostel Sofia, 5 pm to 10 pm.

Don't forget the READ MY BOOK initiative. Cultural exchange for the win, so bring over books and magazines and share for a better world.

We have included DIY PROJECTS with original Etsy materials in the programme. It's a chance to create your own heart brooch and get a colorful crown for yourself or for somebody you care about.

The homemade truffles are ready...but some things are best kept secret!

You are up for some little surprises too!

See you there!

Craft Party Bazaar Participants - Part II

Hello everyone!

Before moving on with the presentation of the second part of the hot shots that will take part in the Craft Party Bazaar we wanted to share with you a lovely song that we found deep in the archives of our blog. It was the summer of 2010! Yeah, years are flying, would you believe, but some songs stay cool forever.
So enjoy Karen Ann: Lay your Head Down while reading the rest of this post.

And now on the summer trends that the local artists will be showing this Thursday.

Flyin'Panda 

Flyin'Panda is a relatively new label that appeared on the Bulgarian local craft market. It features a balanced  combination of high quality materials, perfect sewing skills and super cool designs.

Design by Mario Ivanov

The bags are made of calico fabric, 100 % cotton,  double stictching to ensure durability and long life. The new designs have a nice inside pocket.

You can find more bags' designs at their Facebook page and follow the latest updates.


Natural Soaps Freen

The phylosophy of Freen is simple: 100 % natural products, biodiversity preservation, biocertificated ingredients, no tests on animals, biodegradable eco-friendly materials. Or in other words natural high quality handmade soaps.

Don't miss the chance to meet these great artists on the Craft Party Bazaar where they will also organize a  workshop. Their workshop will be open for everyone willing to join in and making their own custom bar of soap.

You can find the full collection of soaps in their shop in Sofia, 7 Prespa Str. or visit their website and Facebook fan page.

Raklata

When you see the ceramic works of Raklata you cannot remain indifferent.
A great variety of shapes, colors and unconvential ideas will immediately enchant your mind and trap in a world you will be reluctant to leave.

Raklata will participate in the upcoming bazaar with suitcase full of new cups designs. Make sure you come early enough so that you will be able to see these masterpieces before they have found their new owners.

You can find more ceramic designs at Raklata's Facebook page, follow her blog for the latest news and check out her website and Etsy shop.

That's all for today, guys. 

Tomorrow we will show you the last three artists that will join the local party, so don't go anywhere...