Giveaway

Giveaway: Summer Lapicitos Necklace from Corazón de Galleta

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EDIT: This giveaway has ended.  Enter our current giveaway here!

Handmade colored pencil necklace from Corazón de Galleta

Do you dream in color?  Well Ariadna Mateu, the designer behind this week’s giveaway, lives in a more colorful world than we can even imagine.  To her, “Wednesdays are soooo orange.”  And since she is terribly more interesting than I can ever hope to be (why can’t I be a beautiful artist in beautiful Barcelona?), I’ll jump right to the lengthy but delightful interview that Ari so kindly took the time to answer.  Afterward, be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win this Summer Lapicitos Necklace from her shop Corazón de Galleta.  It’s made of “cut wooden pencils, nylon recovered wire, colors, stories not yet written and lots of love.”  How could you resist?

What did you have for breakfast this morning?
Mmmmmm I love having breakfast! I had coffee, of course, and “pa amb tomaquet”. This is a very typical Catalan recipe — it is toasted bread with tomato (not a slice of tomato; you have to “rub” the tomato on the bread), salt and olive oil. It is delicious! I also had jamón (spanish cured ham) and orange juice on my terrace 🙂

What does Corazon de Galleta mean, and why did you choose it for the name of your shop?
Corazón de Galleta means Cookie Heart in Spanish. I chose this name for two reasons. One, I love the scene in “Edward Scissorhands” where Vincent Price gives life to one of his robots by giving him a heart-shaped cookie. Second, because some time ago I had to go to a wedding and couldn’t find a bag to match my shoes, so I decided to make it myself. I needed some strong material to give it the shape I wanted, and I used a box of cookies for that. Then, I thought I would name my shop “Cookie Heart” (if I ever had one).
Etsy shop banner, Corazón de Galleta

When and why did you decide to open your shop?
I’m always doing things. It has been like this since I can remember. I knew how to sew before I could write… I always made presents for my friends, and they seemed to like them. One of my sisters, Esme, is a fashion designer (by the way, she makes these amazing recycled bags), and we always daydreamed about having our own workshop/store by the sea…  So I guess the idea of opening a shop has always been on my mind, even though I opened my Etsy store only one year ago 🙂

Your colored pencil jewelry is so unique!  What inspired it?
Years ago, my sister Angelina was studying really hard for a very important public exam. She used a lot of pencils to outline the important parts, and she decided to keep the small little pencils as a reminder of what she had gone through to pass the exam. She still keeps these small and tired pencils in a box — it is one of her biggest treasures. One day, I was thinking of a birthday present for her, and these pencils came to my mind… and voilà! The first “Lapicitos Necklace” was, of course, for my sister.

Your designs are whimsical and have a childlike delight to them.  Do you draw on memories/feelings from your childhood?
I’m not a child anymore, but I don’t feel like an adult either. Some things come from childhood memories and feelings, of course, but I also find inspiration in daily life. I guess I am a little “naïve” and always try to enjoy life as if I was still a child. There is nothing wrong with jumping in rain puddles from time to time! 🙂
colorful handmade jewelry from Corazón de Galleta

What were/are your top 5 favorite children’s books?
All of the books from the Moomin family, by Tove Jansson (Tales from Moominvalley, Moomimsummer Madness, The exploits of Moominpapa, The 3 comic strip books…) I strongly recommend all of them! Also “The little prince” by Saint Exupéry and “Young Nicholas” (with the amazing Sempé drawings) by Goscinny and Sempé.

How does color influence your day?
Color influences my life! I need colors around me — they just make me feel soooooo happy 🙂 Also, I have color synesthesia, which is a condition that makes you involuntarily perceive things such as letters or numbers inherently colored. Also the days of the week, some words, feelings… For example: to me, the letter “A” is clearly red. Number “2” is green and Wednesdays are soooo orange… it doesn’t mean it is this way, but it is so in my mind.
Ariadna Mateu

What color beach umbrella would you be, and on which beach would you reside?
Believe it or not, I have never been under a beach umbrella, even though half of my life has been spent on the beach! I am lucky enough to have a family house by the beach on the Mediterranean where I spend all the summer. But if I had to choose, I would go for a palm tree on an almost deserted beach! 🙂

Your shop says you’re in Barcelona — were you born there?  Do you like it there?  What’s your favorite place in the city?
Yes! I was born in Barcelona, and I really like this city, even though I have not always lived here and am planning to move in the near future.  Deep down, I know I will always come back. I have so may favorite places in town! I love to walk around the Gothic and Born neighborhood… maybe one of my favorite spots is a little square with a lovely fountain in the middle called Sant Felip Neri. Even though it is really close to the cathedral, not too many people know where it is — it is like a spot of calm in the middle of the city!

Where do you create your jewelry?  Can you describe your workspace?
My workspace is shared with Diego, my boyfriend. We both started our own creative studio, Haiku, one year ago with Neko, our cat. Neko is very curious and has to study and approve everything we make!!! Our studio is very open, and we make so many different things: photography, design, jewelry, amigurumi… It is a very white and sunny space, a bit too small, but cozy enough to spend most of our time in there creating happy projects and products!
Haiku Studio workspace; Neko the cat

Can we expect to see any new additions to your shop in the near future?
Sure! I have some new necklaces and rings to show. I’ll make a shop update this week!

Have you made any recent Etsy purchases from other sellers/designers?
Yes! I just received this cute pin from Yaelfran yesterday. I just love it!!! I strongly recommend his art.
handmade brooch by yaelfran

To enter the giveaway:

  1. Leave a comment with your email address (so I can email the winner).
  2. Increase your chances of winning by telling someone else to enter!  You’ll get one additional entry for:
    • Tweeting — leave another comment with a link to your tweet
    • Blogging — leave a separate comment with a link to your blog post
    • “Liking” Westervin on Facebook — leave a separate comment saying you’ve “liked” us
    • Following Westervin on Twitter — leave a separate comment saying you’re a follower
    • Each person you refer — ask them to leave your name in their comment
  3. You have one week to enter.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 9th at 11:59pm CST.

handmade colored pencil necklace from Corazón de Galleta

200 thoughts on “Giveaway: Summer Lapicitos Necklace from Corazón de Galleta”

  3. What a funny necklace! I really like rainbow necklaces cause then they will match anything you wear. Great idea, ambrerose(!at)aol.com

    Reply

  27. Synesthestics unite! For me, it’s textural- I see or hear words, I feel texture. It’s very fun, and only a wee bit annoying when someone insists on mispronouncing something so that it turns from a fine corrugated corduroy touch to snarly brambles. I can’t put that in my work the way you do-but I can go look up the Moomin books, which just sound like a cool bed in summer!

    Reply

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