Ancient “Lithuanian gold” jewels come to life in the hands of Živilė: this passion was born in Mexico

Amber was remembered in Mexico

“We traveled to a region of Mexico and there they showed us how blue amber is extracted, something very rare and expensive. And such a thought shot me: it is rarely extracted, it costs a lot … After all, there is also amber in Lithuania! I ran to buy that blue amber and it all started ”, Živilė recalled his experience eight years ago.

Was the love for Lithuanian amber born in Mexico?

Živilė laughs and agrees: “When I came back, I was interested. I hadn’t done it until then, so everything from the beginning, you don’t know how it’s done, who you eat with. I started to get acquainted with the colors of amber, the types where it is found, how it is extracted, how it is captured, how it is processed. Then I came to ancient amber and its jewelry and other items. “

It was the old products that interested him the most, says Živilė who went to flea markets and found many “worthless” old products there.

“As I say, our gold, but the cheapest, so I have to revive it! It is not possible that some litas (then there were still litas) is for sale, nobody appreciates it, to drop it in some corner. It was jewelry, jewelery details, paintings. Thus was born the idea that I have to resurrect old jewels, “said Ž.Bružienė, showing his works.

Like I say, our gold, but the cheapest, so I have to revive it!

Update old products

Looking at them, it’s hard to believe that it was made in the Soviet era, not the fanciest amber jewelry. Živilė raised them to a new life.

“Then I started combining with pearls; a pearl is also made of water, like amber. As the man says,” you can’t think about that “, Živilė laughed, without hiding – the support of the man and the children was and is very important, it allows you to try, make mistakes and try again.

The beginning was not as difficult as one might expect, says Živilė, but here it is more difficult to find people who “get on the road”:

“Men usually work with amber and they know it,” says amber here. Whats Next? And beyond all, for them, amber is just amber. I wonder how it came from, where it came from, etc. “

Živilė’s work began six years ago.

“I think I created the first piece of jewelry, it is beautiful for me, but I wonder if it will be beautiful for someone else. That is, social networks, facebook. I see trust after trust, good echoes”, mentions Živilė about another of his activities.

In this way, the Ziba The New CODE of AMBER Collection has been gaining notoriety and women adorn themselves more and more boldly with amber.

I think I created the first piece of jewelry, it is beautiful to me, but is it beautiful to someone else? That is, social networks, facebook. I see game after game, good echoes.

“I knew I had an artistic streak, but I started creating from what is beautiful to me. But I do jewelry and to order. Here I noticed that if a person gives me freedom, says: “create, jewel, an ornament with amber for me”, then you will definitely succeed.

But if you say what to do, what not to do, then everything, the reaction of rejection, I cannot, no longer creativity, when there is no freedom, it is restricted. However, it often happens that someone creates something and a buyer appears who wants this particular jewel, ”says the creator about the creative process.

The “droplet” stage

When asked if he has his favorites among jewelry, if he mainly creates earrings, necklaces, maybe necklaces, Živilė says that it happens in stages.

“There was a time when necklaces alone were huge. Then only the earrings came, then only minimalism. Now I focused on the amber “drops”, the pendants, such a minimalist setting.

Sometimes there is something you do and suddenly a thought arises: oh what fun I came up with! Then you have to throw everything away and run, because otherwise the idea can escape, – laughs Živilė. – And sometimes it’s bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody again. I can fasten the jewel quickly in five minutes and I can not do anything in five weeks. You don’t understand what’s going on here. “

Amber is not difficult to work with, but it is, as Živilė says, a capricious material: scrubbing and grinding requires care.

“It just came to our attention then. After all, gold is glued and a diamond must be cut and polished. Amber is soft enough, it takes a lot of care, ”admits the developer.

She says that she does not do everything herself, a man and a daughter come to the rescue.

Živilė does not intend to start mass production, as he claims, because he appreciates both his work and vintage and non-vintage amber.

He also says that he likes raw amber, which already has a certain shape: it leaves, say, “drops”.

This is our diamond. After all, gold is glued and a diamond must be cut and polished.

Amber is gaining popularity

The jewelry travels to various corners of Lithuania, as well as other countries.

Each item is completely different: “There is not exactly the same amber, even the color can be very different. Say, say, white amber, but your pieces can vary greatly. If at least one piece is cut, but it may not be the same. “

Živilė is convinced that the popularity of amber is quite changeable, certain stages can be seen: when she started working with jewelry, she often heard compliments about how amber products fit her, but the women, when saying it, did not hide that they did not they dared to dress.

“They used to be grandmother’s jewelry. And I said I would prove that grandmothers are not really amber. An additional engine of this type has been started. And I have to say that women who wear amber are getting younger and younger. Of course It depends on the type of jewelry, some are suitable for older women, others for young people, here are the “drops” of amber.

I have pierced a lot of jewelry, women bring a mom, maybe something will occur to me because I can no longer look. And I believe for them, I modernize. And it happens that I do not overdo it, it is a pity, I suggest not to damage it, because it is a legacy, but I will do it again. I have put off many, ”said the creator about the changes in popularity of amber.

Živilė is convinced that amber is suitable for all women and all men, you just need to feel its energy, find out what is suitable for a particular person.

Because it happens that the jewel is beautiful but it does not attract, and the other one is not impressive, but so own.

Some are suitable for older women, others for young people, here are the “drops” of amber.

Men also decorate, says Živilė, admitting that they are more courageous to apply, and for others, their wives and friends do: they ask to create something, which they then give them as gifts.

Smells like tomato

Another activity of Živilė is scented candles. Elegant and luxurious, whose aromas are also exceptional.

“I have been interested in aromatherapy for a long time, as soon as it appeared in Lithuania. I kept thinking that I would have something with scents, maybe perfume, but I found it very difficult. We became interested, my daughter was studying pharmacy and suggested trying to make candles. At first, we talked about soap operas, but we decided it was too simple, not a challenge, ”laughs Živilė.

“We send scents from abroad. We mix some, we use others, only they smell very different in a bottle than in a candle. Here it is more difficult than with jewelry”, – Živilė opens.

According to her, the most pleasant thing was to select the scents and create the design, but in the production of candles you have to do more work, which is necessary, but not so creative. Suppose you find the right wick.

Now eight scents are used for candles, but women are going to give up four, instead there will be a new collection of three scents.

“The first fragrance we created was ‘Tomato Mist’. I was ecstatic, convinced that buying would be the best-selling item. In the end, it didn’t work out,” explained Živilė why he was going to give up this scented candle.

Ž.Bružienė says he has many ideas for the future. Now preparing packages for amber soap. There may be something else, but while Živilė smiles, thoughts need time to mature.