"These gems have life in them: their colors speak, say what words fail of." -George Eliot

I stumbled upon this beautiful jewelry on Etsy last week I knew I had to feature her here on Deleting The Adjectives and couldn't get an email to Sandra fast enough. I love this stuff, especially these gold dipped pieces.

1.What’s your story?
Hi, this is Sandra from Friedasophie . I named my store after my 2 grandmothers which were fashion designers, writers, hat makers and jewelry collectors. I started out as a painter in my childhood, switched to sewing when I was 11 years old, was a band manager and ran a music club with friends back in Europe in my teenage years, studied Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine at the same time and moved to San Francisco where I now work as a Jewelry Designer.

2. When, how and why did you decide to make what you make?
I started my passion for jewelry at age 7 when my grandma gave me one of her turn of the century necklaces which I took apart to make it into jewelry for my dolls. Of course these days I would keep a piece in it’s original state but I guess that is how the fascination started. A couple years ago I got very ill and was bedridden for an entire year. To keep myself from going insane, I started making earrings for myself and my friends which turned into a full time business 3 month later. I am still astonished sometimes on where my work has taken me. I am happiest when I get sit down and draw out new design ideas and than to make them into a new piece. There is such a feeling of accomplishment and peace when it is all done.

3. What inspires you?
Usually, I get inspired by the nature of a stone itself. Each stone has it’s unique beauty which is than a challenge to create into a wearable piece, yet keeping the stone natural. I do enjoy that process a lot.

4. Other than Etsy, where else on the web can we find you?
Other than my etsy store,
I have a blog: www.friedasophie.blogspot.com
and a website: www.friedsophie.com
and you can find my collections at a couple stores.

5: What is your creative process?
I find it important to take some time off. Once a week I sleep in, grab a friend and get out of the city, usually to a place where there is water and a beach.
Nature always seems to inspire me as well as a good vintage movie
or even music.

6: What do you refuse to eat?
I have been vegetarian since i was 11 years old, after my pet pig got cooked
for my family. I do eat fish though. My dad was a fisherman for a short while
and i used to go out to the sea with him as a child, so fish comes more
natural to me.

7: What person dead or alive would you most want to spend 20 minutes with? What would you do?
Oh, that is a tough one.
I am between Martin Luther King and Alexander Pushkin.
I think i will go for Pushkin since he lived in a different Era.
I would want to just chat with him and his life experiences.

8: Top 5 favorite things to do on a rainy day:
1. sleeping in and having pancakes in bed
2. putting on a vintage moody record like Nina Simone
3. inviting friends over and cooking an elaborate dinner
4. hosting a vintage movie afternoon with hot chocolate and whiskey
5. reading a book while cuddling with my cat

{If you are thinking of adding one of Sandra's pieces to your collection or buying one as a gift, don't forget to use the coupon code FREESHIPPING to get well, free shipping and for a coupon for 15% of your order go follow her blog and let me know. I'll get it to you!}