Monica Marcella- Azteca Hoops

"As soon as I could put a bead on a string, I was making jewelry. My grandmother and I would sit together at the kitchen table and make compositions using a mountain of cut up thrift store beaded strand necklaces. Very much like those early experiences, I work best with parts. Rather than sketching or digital rendering I choose to keep my hands moving at my bench and that informs the direction I go. I fabricate several elements that seem interesting to me; then lay them out with stones and see where or if they match. Today, crafting future heirlooms myself honors the sentiment of generosity, love, and legacy that I so cherish."