When I was in middle school, I made my first accessory, a messy little bag charm. Now, years later, I’m in Japan studying how to make jewelry, fire, metal and all.
I’ve always loved some form of art, being that kid in school art club, the one who always got A for art class. Though, I must confess, I enjoyed the painting and drawing far more than the “craft” part. My breaking point came the year we had to decorate yet another paper bag for Mother’s Day. I quietly retired (ran away) from the club soon after. Clearly, I was an artiste, not a paper-bag decorator.
Years later, my creativity resurfaced as endless drawings of anime characters and cute bag accessories. I distinctly remembering spending one of my school holidays drawing, hours going by just working on perfecting my lines. But back then, art was more of a fleeting hobby than a calling. There just wasn’t much time to truly explore it.
The start of my "Jewelry Phase"
Fast forward to the Covid era -- yes, that phase where everyone either learned to bake bread or picked up a new craft. I, for one, fell down the rabbit hole of beads, wire, and the magic of turning the tiniest materials into something wearable.
I had just graduated, and making accessories started as my little escape from job hunting. While I was sending out resumes and going to interviews, my dressing table quietly turned into a miniature jewelry bench. Even after I landed my job, I kept working on my beads and wire. I made and made and made… until I realized it wasn’t just a hobby anymore. It was the part of my day I looked forward to the most.
My earliest works: Earrings that I arranged on a plate I made in a pottery class.
Somewhere between the tangles of wire and scattered seed beads, I found my rhythm... and maybe a piece of myself. Making jewelry became my way of expressing that inner, whimsical self: soft, detailed, and a little bit dreamy.
This necklace led to to a date with my best friend. We went to the botanical gardens for a little photo-shoot!
Why Jewelry School?
After a while, I began to feel the limitations of my wire and beads, as if my ideas had outgrown the materials I knew how to use. (Although I will later realize that I have NOT explored the full potential of wire and beads.) That was one of the factors that pushed me to take a leap and study jewelry in Japan. I wanted to learn how to make “real” jewelry from the ground up, to understand craftsmanship properly, not just through instinct and internet tutorials.
At the same time, I discovered fine jewelry brands like Cece Jewellery and Laurie Fleming, and it was like someone opened a window I didn’t know was there. Their work showed me that fine jewelry didn’t have to be sleek and serious, it could be whimsical, soft, and story-like. It made me think, Oh… I can make jewelry that feels like my imagination too. That was a huge motivating factor in why I decided to go for jewelry school.
Well, why Japan? With its quiet devotion to detail and artistry, Japan felt like the perfect place to grow. It certainly helped that I’ve been learning the language since I was thirteen, and even attended university here. I missed Japan’s beautiful seasons, the transition on seasons making it feel like a completely new world every few months. I wanted to experience that again while deepening my craft, especially since nature featured heavily in my work.
Always with the beautiful scenery, even with Mt. Fuji being shy that day.
What My Days Look Like Lately
Most days start with a train ride, a cup of coffee from Family Mart, and the familiar sounds of metal being filed, torches flaring, and dust flying everywhere. By lunchtime, my classmates and I are usually coated in a fine layer of silver. (It’s practically our unofficial uniform.)
My work table at the start of the day, with a coffee and hot bun for breakfast.
Some days we’re sketching and designing; others we’re soldering, polishing, or trying to figure out why something didn’t quite turn out the way we planned. (That part happens more often than I’d like to admit eek.)
Honestly, I still get sweaty palms every time I have to solder anything. But when it actually goes right? I still can’t help but cheer.
I think my brain resets every time I solder, why do I make the same mistakes??
More Than Just Jewelry
This blog will be a little mix of everything: jewelry-making, life in Japan, and the stories behind each piece I create. I want to share my process as it is, the inspirations, the mistakes, the tiny moments of magic.
If you love crafts, Japan, or just watching someone figure things out step by step, welcome! 💕
