Face to face: meet Andrea Zajacova!

As a proper creative, I fell in love and experimented with a lot of different techniques beyond beadweaving and bead embroidery. No one of them stick, though, and I have to confess, that I wasn’t really good at anything but beadwork. One of the materials I had the instant urge to try after seeing the beautiful jewelry made from it was polymer clay. And recently I just erased all the pictures about the lumpy, uneven pieces. Andrea Zajacová is a different piece of cake.

Andrea’s jewelry has a special atmosphere. When I look at all the earrings, rings and necklaces, I just don’t want to believe they are handmade from polymer clay. The stones, flowers, bamboo sticks, the special surfeces she developed talk about great care, professionality and her imagination’s close relationship to nature. 

You will find here interviews with jewelry makers  and fashion designers every second week. I wish you a pleasent time reading! With love, Erika

Please tell us about yourself and your brand a bit!

My name and also the name of my brand is Andrea Zajacova. I create and design jewellry from polymer clay. I create pieces which are influenced by nature and often are very colourful. I like to play with different shapes and surfaces, and I am trying to find new possibilities and ideas what you can do with polymer clay. I also have workshops and online classes where I teach how to work with polymer clay.

How did your story as a designer begin? Do you remember the first piece you sold?

Well, I have always been a creative person, I just didn’t focus on something specific. And than six years ago I have seen something made from polymer clay. I loved it and didn’t understand how had it been made. It was a millefiori cane.  So that was the beginning of my journey with polymer clay. Now when I see the first pieces I am confused about how anybody could like them :), but I think it is normal that you improve yourself by time and by practice.

Please tell us how does your average day look like! It’s so exciting to get to know more about the lifestyle of a designer!

Actually I am not only a jewellry maker, but I also manage my e-shop with creative tools and materials. So in the morning I take care of the orders, customers etc. In the afternoon and evening, it is time for me to clay (working with polymer clay) and create jewellry and polymer clay tutorials.  I also like when we have a holiday. There are days when I create in row for several days and I love it! Mostly these are the days when I create something new and innovative.

What makes your designs stand out of the crowd of other designers? Which are your favorite colors, shapes, materials etc?

I have to say that I don’t like regular shapes and borders in polymer clay. That means that my pieces are often “faux natural pieces”, and almost never made wih a ruler. I love when the shapes are organic and not “the same” as the piece before. Of course these pieces also have to be made with perfectionism, as it is possible in polymer clay. For example: polymer clay can be polished to fantastic shimmer. I prefer to work with polymer clay, but I like to combine it with Czech glass beads or wooden components. I make mostly pieces in pink, turquise, purple and also in natural colours like ivory, wood etc.

For what kind of occasions can we wear your pieces? What’s the woman who wears your design like?

My pieces can be worne for everyday occasions, like going to work or school. I make more extravagant pieces, too, and they are more suitable for a specific event. But I think fashion is so free now, that you can wear also bigger and more extravagant pieces on a casual day, too, it just needs courage, what many women unfortunately lack. Normally my customers are women who appreciate original design and handmade work.

Where does your inspiration come from? Do you have some rituals to boost your creative energy?

I have days and sometimes also weeks when the inspiration doesn’t come. If I want to create and want to boost that creative energy as you say, I normally go to the nature. I take my dog and go to the forest for a walk. I prefer a place with no noises, a place where you can just admire the nature and natural creations. If it doesn’t help, I surf the internet for photos about the nature. Normally I need a few impulses to see something new in my head what drives me to creating.

Do you have a piece of jewelry you made, that is somehow special to you?

I have pieces which I made on international workshops and these I keep on a special place and I will never sell them. They remind me of the great creative time we had on these events. When I come up with a new technique, a new collection… I always make some piece I really like and these pieces are normally the first ones people want to buy.

If you could design something for a well-known person or maybe a fictional character from a film or book, who would it be, and why?

If I could make something  really special, I think I would like to make some extravagant jewellery for some actress in a science fiction movie. I also like vintage looking jewellery, so probably something for a movie with a historical theme.

What kind of clothes and accessories do you wear? Who are your favorite designers and why?

I like black colour for clothes very much, so I prefer colourful accessories and I think this is maybe the reason I love to make colorful pieces. I have to say I don’t have a favourite desinger, I just like things which are love at first sight. I appreciate handmade projects, so I prefer to buy as much as possible from regional or national authors including food, cosmetics and other homemade products.

What is your goal in the future? Where would you like to see your brand?

My goal is to make jewellery pieces which will make happy more and more people. I would like to see my polymer clay jewellry in more handmade shops in Slovakia. I would be very happy if I had some creative boost to create new polymer clay techniques or pieces.

Where can we see and buy your designs?

I sell my jewellery online on the websitewww.sashe.sk/ZAYA, also throughwww.facebook.com/sperkyAZ  and occasionally I sell jewellery on handmade markets in Žilina or in other Slovakian cities. I sell my pieces and my PDF tutorial on ETSY: www.etsy.com/shop/ZayaPolymerClay. You are always welcome to come to my place personally and see my jewellery face to face :).

Thank you very much for answering my questions, Andrea!

I am looking forward to your new jewelry and tutorials, too!

Tell Andrea in a comment, how do you like her art!

And what do you think about the new series “Face to face?”

Whould you like to tell us more about your art and be featured in one of the upcoming interviews?

Don’t hesitate and drop me a line here 🙂