Give me a sec while I dust the place and open some virtual windows for some binary fresh air to travel around a bit. OK... that ought to do it. Now take an imaginary seat and let's get this started.
2012 is almost over and since the end of a year is a good a place as any to begin new things, let's go with that particular cliche of turning over a new leaf.
As most of you know this blog was created to connect Mariana with loads of people from all over the world who share her passion for making stuff with their own two hands and for preserving the dying art of handcrafts. Unfortunately, while no one can deny Mariana's enthusiasm for her creations and goal, keeping an updated blog slid slowly but surely down her priorities list. Which was a pity and it's where I come in. (drum roll please!)
Hello, everyone! My name is Mara and I will be handling the nitty-gritty of updating this blog. Mariana was kind enough to entrust me with the blogging baton- she would much rather stick to designing and creating amazing pieces and will let me describe and spin a tale of what's going on in our little neck of the woods.
How did I end up here? Well, a couple of months ago my mum told me that a lady near my hometown was a jewelry designer. My curiosity was peaked when she also mentioned that the lady had moved back to Romania following a long stint in the good old U.S of A. You need to understand that whoever comes back from the "foreign lands" is regarded with at least a modicum of suspicion: "What do they want?" "Why are they back?" and "Will they steal my livestock?".
So off we went to meet the strange lady. Turns out she is strange, but in all the right ways: strangely enthusiastic, strangely talented and strangely determined to do something different in a place defined by its inflexibility on all planes. I was amazed by all the stuff she would pull out of different pouches and drawers and pockets and bags.... the colors.... the shapes.... the textures. I am not a huge fan of accessories (my style is more of a "waaaaay less is more" kind of approach) but her pieces made me think of outfits and occasions where they could be worn and paraded. I ended up getting a necklace for my office Christmas party- a necklace that spoke to me and sort of molded with who I am- and a promise for some bangles.
The bangles were delivered by Santa on Christmas Day and they were amazing and they make me happy when I look at them. And if that's not good advertising then I don't know what is! But Santa came up with more tricks up his red and baggy sleeves: a bunch of mismatched earrings and a fantabulous hair accessory thingy that makes me feel like an Asian princess (one living in eastern Europe, but please allow the comparison).
So everyone, that's it from me for now. Will be back soon with stuff and news and anecdotes and rants and stories and whatever Mariana will be up to.
Be good and have a great New Year!
I leave you with a picture of my current haul of Mariana's stuff and some snaps of the ye' olde' homestead (quite pretty this time of the year).
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| Be wary of deep snow (got my knee stuck for a while to the general amusement of my mum) |
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| Apple orchards and a tiny bit of lost mist |
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| Church steeple- highest church in Cimpulung. Legend mentions some star-crossed lovers, but then again most high geographical points involve one love-lorn individual taking a nose dive at one point. |
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| December haul: hair thingy, bangles and earrings. |
