After almost four years with Nina Designs, Yolanda moved up to Seattle with her partner in March 2010. She continues to make jewelry and explore the Pacific Northwest.
“My love for jewelry making began as a little girl when my father found some vintage beads and presented them to me. I began to make my own necklaces using old watches, glass bead and cheap chain. My exposure to more exotic pieces began with my yearly travels to Mexico where indigenous women in the local markets wear their beautiful earrings with love and pride all the while selling fruits and vegetables. Since then I have been drawn to huge, long earrings and I tend to wear them daily, not just on special occasions. My studies in fashion, Anthropology and history have taught me the art of creating a story for my pieces. Therefore, my pieces tend to be narrative and folkloric. I have recently studied the California history of San Francisco at Mission Dolores and this opportunity has allowed me to create a line where I can incorporate the past into the present. My future goals are to create couture-worthy jewelry and I hope I can use my fashion design experience in this endeavor.”
