AB - Jewelry by Andreina Brengola. How it all started

I had the fortune to grow up in a magical city and, as a child, I remember spending literally hours watching my father play the violin. He was a violinist for the Fenice Theatre and his father too was involved with music, as he was a violin maker and would also play the cello.

The elegance of my father's gestures and the naturalness of his moves fascinated me deeply and I too have always felt the need to work with my hands. In fact, in those years I would create objects with all sorts of given materials, even food stuff, and playing and having fun have always been an important aspect of my personality.

Today I have been able to transform my passion into my job; the story of how this has happened is rather incredible because I feel I need to thank my children. It was only when I had my two kids, a girl and a boy, that my playing became a necessity. I would play with them every afternoon and initially we were using modeling clay. Then I decided to use fimo clay because once you cook it, the shape remains hardened and you get a finished object. So we would create and create, and combine different media.

The tragedy was that even when my kids had gone to bed... I wouldn't stop and would keep crafting until late at night! I had an office job in the morning, but it was only in the afternoons and nights that I felt truly happy. I was already making jewelry and many of my friends and eventually, through word of mouth, friends of friends and so on... loved my pieces and wanted to buy them, encouraging me to consider doing this full-time.

I kept using fimo clay for a while and I still use it today, but the materials I am currently in loop with are aluminium and stretchy steel threads. I remember when I saw them at a trade fair and had the idea to transform them. I need to create my materials, in the sense that you don't find aluminium rings ready to use, so I must buy long chains and dissemble them.

A long process... but I prefer to have a good stock so that once I start crafting my jewelry my hands can follow the flow. I don't draw my pieces first, I follow my feelings. In fact, each piece is unique. Some are minimalist, others more important, anyway this type of material keeps the jewelry lightweight and easy to wear.

The metallic tones enhance all skin types and I have seen through the years that each piece was (unawarely) made for the women who then purchased them. 

Anyhow, when I was offered what in Italy we call 'contratto a tempo indeterminato' (life long contract) at the office... I handed in my notice and took the courage to become a designer full-time. Initially I shared a shop with another lady, but to be honest... marketing skills do not belong to me! I love the creative side of designing and crafting jewelry, but I feel uncomfortable selling.

Then my husband opened a store with objects by selected designers, and I was one of them... but he also needed help with other aspects of the management and so I ended up doing several things and felt dissatisfied because I didn't have enough time for my creative work. So... one day I decided to look for a studio only for myself and work only by appointment. Not an easy choice, but the best for me and my clients too.

I have a studio I absolutely adore located in Fondamenta dei Tolentini, with a gorgeous back garden from where I can enjoy the view of the church and its colonnade. The studio has a beautiful light, it used to be used for meditation classes, but the garden was abandoned when I found it. My husband and I started removing weeds and planting herbs and flowers and now it is a little corner of paradise. In fact I must share this beauty with others. I like to say that I work with the door closed but in an open space, where anyone is welcome.

When people contact me for a visit, the relationship I can create goes far beyond the sale. It is a human connection. I can show how I work, share my story and listen to theirs. Magical encounters happen and it is something I feel grateful for. Sometimes I think that all events in my life had a reason to happen, a fil rouge that has led me here. In fact, it is not by chance that I wrap my packages with a red string.

I have so much more to share, but for now I'll start with this short introduction. 

In this moment, what I desire the most is to have people in this magical space that is my studio, so please feel free to contact me and enter my world!

AB - Andreina Brengola