After years of working with sheet metal and wire, MARIS is my first collection featuring pieces hand-carved from wax and cast using one of the oldest jewelry-making techniques—lost wax casting. Inspired by ancient shell carvings, these forms are designed to mimic the soft curves and subtle imperfections of a shell, gently weathered by time. 

While the collection features timeless odes to the sea and her beauty, its heart comes from a more personal place.

MARIS is a tribute to my late father, Adolfo, whose days making and selling handmade seashell jewelry in Brazil in the 1980s inspired my own journey into jewelry making. Although I didn’t grow up with this part of his story, I inherited its spirit. The sea has always held deep meaning for me—a place of remembrance, connection, and quiet joy found in small, beautiful things.

At its core, MARIS is also about the instinct to collect—to hold onto moments, places, and people we love. These pieces are not exact replicas of shells, but sculptural impressions that speak to memory, legacy, and the enduring beauty of the handmade, something I learned from my Dad early on. 

beauty of the handmade

In addition to his stories of making jewelry, he dabbled in everything from handcrafting wooden and leather clogs, working in his grandfather's bakery, knitting sweaters only to unravel and reconstruct them. It was a mixture of necessity and boredom from his upbringing in Spain in the 60's, but also his curiosity and desire to learn. It instilled a deep desire in me to learn how things are made and in turn, create them myself. 

beauty in simplicity

Through all of his skills and jobs, he eventually settled on cooking. He was self-taught through restaurant work-- nothing he ever did was fancy, but it was always so good. He never bothered with fine dining– he told me his favorite meals were always soups made by grandmothers in their home kitchens, made with the ingredients they had on hand.  

beauty in imperfection 

I spent much of my life watching him grocery shop, prep, and plate meal after meal in his cramped, intimate kitchen that opened to the dining room. Each time you would eat, the food tasted slightly different, something I loved to experience over and over again– something you could only get from someone crafting things by hand in that moment, without measuring cups or overthinking. 

These principles stuck with me and deeply influence my work and way of living.

It's beautiful how we are all going through life influenced by so many subtleties, shaping our interests one story at a time. So more than shells, the collection is a reminder to hold onto those memories. Reflect on them. And maybe create something inspired by them for yourself or to share with others. Memories, collections, and inspirations are powerful and uniquely yours.

Whether you're searching for a meaningful handmade gift or something to commemorate a special memory, Maris is a collection for those who find magic in the sea—and in the stories we carry with us.

xx

Michelle