This is a partial view of my worktable. As usual, various projects are going on simultaneously.

You can see brooches for an upcoming exhibition (more details will follow soon), work for my Spring Open Studio this Sunday and also for one of my wholesale accounts.

Some of the jewelry that I'm making for my stockist in Hydra island, the lovely boutique Speak Out:

More silver & resin pieces in progress, while waiting for the resin to set:

I'm especially happy with the colorful fishes, which are going to become earrings, a ring and a bracelet.

Also a set of three custom bridesmaids' bracelets, stamped with the couple's initials and the wedding date:

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A new pair of earrings in the colors of the sea. I purchased a nice strand of faceted amazonite rondelles long ago and I just had to start using these beautiful gems.

...and citrine earrings, bright as the summer sun:

... no-ordinary vase, made with the urchins that we recently collected!

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Last week, on a crisp, sunny day, we went hiking on the mountain. Here are some photos for you to enjoy!

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I discovered this texture by accident the other day, as I was making clasps for my braided bracelets. While roll-printing with a piece of ribbon, I exerted too much pressure and the design was distorted, reminding me more of a wave.

Immediately, I decided to make this simple sterling silver ring, to showcase the beautiful texture:

Then I also made a toggle clasp for this lava bracelet:

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....that feels more and more like summer, while also working on a couple new brooches.

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Last but not least, a few pics from the days that we spent in Sienna and Rome. If you happen to be in Rome this summer, don't miss the exhibition "Russian Avant-guarde" at Ara Pacis Museum, running until September 2nd.

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The next day we went to Faenza, located two hours away from Florence by train. This city has a longstanding tradition in ceramics.

We were very honored to meet Panos Tsolakos, a famous ceramist, who was born in my hometown Chalkida and has been living in Italy for over 30 years. He gave us a tour in Faenza's International Museum of Ceramics, we talked about art and he welcomed us in his home, where a vast collection of over 2000 ceramic pieces is hosted.

After that, we visited the workshop and museum of Carlo Zauli. After his father's death, the place is now managed by his son.

Though ceramic pieces are of much bigger scale, for me it was very interesting to observe how they're related with contemporary jewelry in form, color and texture.

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For me the highlight of our stay in Florence was meeting the wonderful Catalina Brenes in her studio.

Catalina is such a friendly and warm person. Born in Costa Rica, studied in Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewelry and now working in Florence. She welcomed us in her studio, Laboratorio 28r, that she shares with five more jewelers and showed us her work, which is even more impressive in person. We were also very lucky to meet Yoko Shimizu, who was in the studio at the time of our visit. Yoko showed us many of her pieces and I really loved her clean, geometrical, minimalistic style.

After that, we walked with Catalina nearby to Alchimia. I was thrilled to talk with the director of the school, Lucia Massei, whose work I've been admiring for a long time. Lucia showed us around the school and now I feel I should definitely come back to study there, at least for a short course!

We left feeling so inspired. I would be satisfied even if the trip had ended at this point. But of course, there was more!

Inside the Museo Marino Marini:

Sculptures by Lluis Cera:

Snapshots from around the city:

Next on our schedule was Faenza and the world of ceramics. More details about this tomorrow!

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I just returned from my trip to Italy which was awe-inspiring. Over the next few days, as I'm slowly re-adjusting and catching up, I 'll post short segments about each city that we visited.

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Just popping in today to let you know that in a few hours I'm leaving for a short trip to Florence and Tuscany. We're traveling with a group of friends from the ceramics department and we have arranged for some very interesting museum tours, exhibitions and studio visits.

I'll be back next week with more details from the trip.

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