Tereza Pavarini

Tereza is an artist who has mastered the skills for all of stages of jewelry crafting as an expressive creation. <br><br> "I made bracelets with beads using fabrics, but was always limited by the finishes and beads available in the market. <br><br> "This awakened an interest in creating my own jewelry. Seeing that transformation of the metal fascinates me. <br><br> "In 2005, I began studying in the School of Jewelers in Campinas. In Rio de Janeiro, I took courses in metallurgy and advanced jewelry crafting. <br><br> "Observing the teachers at work, studying and reading was the way I looked for new sources of information and inspiration. Crafting jewelry is a meticulous work in constant development. <br><br> "I've always been involved in handicrafts. I have a great deal of experience in weaving and wrote five books ? Practical Manuals of Weaving ? that are still sold today. I developed fabrics for shopkeepers, for handbags, apparel, cushions, rugs, and made weavings with beads. <br><br> "I am also an interior designer and I believe that all these activities educated my eyes to discover the multiple possibilities of objects and to try to explore all they can offer." <br><br> One of the characteristics of her work is versatility. Tereza basically uses silver, gold and copper. She adds leather cords, silk threads, enameled glass, wood, coconut shells and gemstones. <br><br> "The wood is reclaimed. I usually select Scots pine, often used in furniture. I disassemble pieces crafted with that wood and I take advantage of wood from houses that are torn down. I do the cutting, fitting and sanding. <br><br> All of the engraved lace-like motifs used in the bracelets were inspired by my grandmother's jewelry, which I've kept with a love for many years. <br><br> "Seeing the metal become a precise piece of jewelry is inspiring. <br><br> "The distance between a design and its accomplishment is something else. It's a long path full of variables, such as the temperature of the metal, the temperature of the solder, the size of the design and the solder stages. Even after all these years of working with metal, and understanding that each piece has its own particularity, there are moments that set everything back. They can add hours of work and require an extra portion of patience and perseverance. <br><br> "Many times I begin by sketching an idea on paper. Then I make a plan to craft it and begin work. Other times, I look at a stone, a piece of silver or of wood, a strand of wire, and that is the inspiration. So I work without a plan, without a project, and am simply wrapped up in the creation. <br><br> "Little by little, my jewelry project took on more force and my desire to improve it grew. I saw that it took over, then I bought my bench, my tools, and I began investing more and more in equipment, books and classes. <br><br> "I think of having an appropriate space to offer classes and transmit my learning. At the moment, my studio is very small."