A new life

This is what I see everyday if I wake up when the sun is rising

At the back buildings at El Cabrero and the lagoon shining. Front old town's façades glowing lilac with the morning light and far away the sea, hiding behind an early mist.

And how did I end up living here, in Cartagena de Indias? As it always happens when I wish something. By whispering a phrase to the wind, very close to my beloved's ear.

After the four years we spent in an idyllic German small town moving back to Bogotá proved to be too noisy, cold and perturbing. We wanted to feel the sun and be neighbors to the ocean so we risk it all once again, packed and jumped into the Caribbean adventure.

A lady from Getsemaní neighborhood enjoys the "fresco"

It was hard for me to leave the beautiful studio I shared with a dear friend and realize that I would have to start building my life again, for the hundredth time, well, the seventh time. To expect the loneliness of one who's new to a town and has no friends. To leave behind my clients and the beloved  downtown jeweler's neighborhood where everybody knows each other.

The streets of Getsemaní

Now I live in this beautiful city, The Heroic, amidst day-to-day warriors, travelers and exiles from other parts of the country; I live between the old town's legends and the harsh present.

Castillogrande

And I have to say that this life is delicious but far from easy. The incredible heat and the sea present uncalculable challenges for someone who's not born in this ardent region. It takes a lot of energy and fruit juices to perform any task. But...

Photo by Pablo Abitbol

There's the breathtaking beach, recharging and alleviating you, still providing plenty of protein

and those magnificent sunsets followed by breezy nights

Yes, I like this new life and it excites me to plan LIRIO's future. By the way, I have already begun to work. Soon you will see.

Drop

Some days ago Nicolás came to my studio because he wanted an engagement ring for his girlfriend.
We talked about what he had in mind and draw some options. We let the ideas rest for a couple of days until he decided on this design:

After agreeing on the form we set out to pick the stone for the ring. It's very exciting to find the perfect stone; there's something about the brightness and color of a stone that makes you want it. It doesn't have to be the heaviest or most transparent one, it's rather a kind of sparkle that arouses a strong desire to choose it.

Once chosen the stone I began to work on the ring while Nicolás anxiously waited to see the finished jewel.

The day Nicolás returned to my studio to see the ring we both were surprised at the result: he because the ring didn't turn out the way he had imagined it, and me because I was satisfied at the result and expected full approval.

This is how the ring looked like the first time:

In my profession it is true that the key is in the details. The same ring changes enormously by modifying the finish of its surface. The first time the matte finish highlighted the yellow hue of gold of this white gold alloy and the well defined edges gave the ring a very sharp and geometric character.

But when Nicolás saw the smooth and glossy interior of the ring he knew that was how he wanted the exterior finish as well. He also wanted the edges to be soft and rounded.

This is how the ring turned out:

By completely polishing the ring the gray tone of palladium became predominant and the smooth surface reflected changing hues from gray to warm greenish brown. The soft edges made it look fluid and delicate.

This time Nicolás was pleased and I, although initially reluctant to change, also fell in love with this new version.

As in every project I work on this one gave me the opportunity to appreciate more my profession and to learn. I love having the opportunity to know a little about my clients while we talk about what they want. It also makes me happy to listen to their ideas and be able to make some changes to obtain the desired piece.

I have learned that I need to count on the surprise factor, which translates into time.  Sometimes the details look great on paper or on other jewelry projects but are not necessarily appropriate for the present occasion, so I need to have time to change them. I also learned that the view of others can point to which design solutions I'm limiting myself and of course, that I should not fear the glossy finish ;)

 

What version of the ring do you like the most? Matte or glossy?

A talisman

Many years ago, when I decided to become a goldsmith, an image came to my mind: that I would spend countless lonely hours in front of the shinning fire transforming precious metals and gems into objects with a soul. I was fascinated by the idea of creating and blow a certain spirit into the little metallic sculptures.

This is an object created with an intention: that the person who wears it should remember how strong she is and the lessons she has learned.
This is a talisman for a friend of mine.