Hello, I am Daniela Chavez. I have been creating jewelry from natural materials for the past six years. I first started making handmade jewelry after I finished college to help support my dream of traveling. For six years I traveled all around throughout the US, Central and South America, selling my jewelry in the streets, fairs, and beaches of every town and city I visited. Many people who liked my jewelry would ask me if I had a website so they could continue to check out my new designs. I had never considered this because I was always on the road, but after so many friends suggested it, I started to think I should try it.  Last year when I decided to stop traveling and go back to school, in rainy Costa Rica, it became the right time for this new project. It was then that I finally made my jewelry site so I could keep creating and selling my designs. I enjoy this so much!

A little bit about me: I was born in a very green and cozy town called Guabira, in the tropical region of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. At age 17, I moved to Chile to study psychology and after 5 years in the crazy city of Santiago, I was ready to move on. My dream had always been to travel around. I traveled up the north of Chile to Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, and it was there that I realized my savings wouldn’t last much longer.  I did not want to stop traveling so I had to find a way to continue. That´s when I started learning how to craft my own jewelry, learning some techniques from other street artisans and then creating my own style. I enjoy making jewelry so much and I love to use different elements from nature in my creations. By selling my jewelry in the streets, parks, beaches, fairs etc. I was able to travel around living a nomadic lifestyle, moving constantly from town to town, living in tents and small hostels. It was a wonderful experience, where I was so fortunate to meet so many wonderful people.

In the middle of last year I went back to school to get my masters in psychoanalysis (my other passion), and that´s what I´m doing here now in San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. It was a very big change of lifestyle, and what I miss the most is the constant contact I had with people from all around, how I would listen to them and learn, share my ideas and thoughts, and teach some macrame. I want to share with others the art of macrame, and the wonderful things you can some with some thread and a walk to your backyard. That’s why in the blog I will also share with you macrame knots and how to’s, and also interesting information about different types on natural materials that can be used for natural jewelry. If you wish to participate you can leave your message here for all of us, subscribe to my feed, or write me an email if you prefer. If you have any questions or are having trouble with the tutorials, just email me and I will be happy to help.  Welcome and I hope you enjoy being here as much as I do.