Joey Azoulai is an independent filmmaker who saw our original video series, Handmade Portraits, and was inspired to shoot one of his own. This wonderfully playful portrait of his mother, jewelry maker Jaz Jewels, reminds me of one of my favorite filmmakers, Agnes Varda. It’s a lovey homage to a talented woman who has obviously instilled a drive to pursue creative passions in her son.
In May I moved back home from Los Angeles to discover that my mom had transformed my old bedroom into a jewelry studio. I knew she’d been hard at work, but when I finally saw her collection in person I was stunned. I am a writer and filmmaker and wanted to use my skills to get the word out about my talented mom. I wrote a script, and over a weekend, with the help of my dad and younger brother, shot a “day in the life” of my mom, the jewelry artist. It’s the most rewarding project I’ve done yet.
Something wonderful happened along the way. I became really excited about this company called Etsy. Here I am, back home after an adventure out West, trying to figure out where I fit in a world where practical considerations are forever at odds with my ideals about community, artistic integrity, and a DIY lifestyle — when Etsy comes into my life and proves to me that there is no contradiction between pragmatism and principles.
Plus there’s never a shortage of cool crafts to drool over. I’m shopping for a pair of leather sandals now, but if I had a special lady in my life you can bet I’d be shopping at Jaz Jewels.
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78 comments
Sign in to add your ownlindsaycorr says:
what an adorable video! watching that video it is so obvious your boys are so proud of you! you brought a smile to my day!! thanks!
1 year ago
hypericumfragile says:
Beautiful jewelry!
1 year ago
eternalsourceglass says:
Thanks for sharing this Lovely video! You can see the love Joey has for his mother. She seems to be a fantastic lady with incredible talent. Jaz Jewels joyful spirt shines through her work and has brightened my day. I've been tossing around the idea of my own video and you have inspired me into action.
1 year ago
jennybradley says:
Love the enamel work and the style of the documentary is great too! Wonderful to see a fellow jeweler enjoying life! Great work!
1 year ago
KnockKnocking says:
She is just brimming with personality that is captured so nicely by her son and reflected beautifully in her work.
1 year ago
jezek says:
wonderful story!
1 year ago
beautifulanodyne says:
Cute, cute story! I really like how this biography was put together. :) Congrats Jaz Jewels on being featured!
1 year ago
Vanessa says:
What a great mother/son duo! This totally reminds me of my mom. <3
1 year ago
daniellexo says:
Absolutely adorable!
1 year ago
emilybidwell says:
This is totally AMAZING!!!!!!!
1 year ago
lovelygifts says:
Great video and beautiful jewelry!
1 year ago
fiberlingo says:
Love the video and love your jewelry. Thanks for sharing.
1 year ago
blueberryshoes says:
hilarious, awesome and powerful!
1 year ago
VeronicaRStudio says:
LOved the video! That was a really cute story! But my day is inverted from Judy's. I have to work in the early hours, as my family (and neighbors!) would kill me if I did it at night! Congratulations on the feature JazJewels!
1 year ago
Slowshirts says:
It's so wonderful to see family supporting & celebrating each other in what they do!
1 year ago
styleforlife says:
Such fun film, what a great family of artists. Its important to support each other in our arts. :-) Love her jewelry too! xx Emily from ELVintage
1 year ago
compassionmalas says:
That's a wonderful video and homage to your mom! Beautiful jewelry, absolutely gorgeous.
1 year ago
rosebudshome says:
The genius behind the son AHHHHH! of course Mom.
1 year ago
bluelala says:
This video is so sweet and inspiring :)
1 year ago
geelizzie says:
That was lovely, and I want to live where she does, it's beautiful!
1 year ago
BlackStar says:
Yes, that was an adorable video! Your jewelry is beautiful!
1 year ago
2TrickPony says:
life is beautiful...well said. thanks for sharing a bit of yours, and your jewelry and family are lovely ♥
1 year ago
LoveandKnit says:
Love this! :))
1 year ago
JanJat says:
This is such a lovely video! Thanks so much for sharing it!
1 year ago
KettleConfections says:
Such an inspiring and entertaining video clip- great job!
1 year ago
DrCraze says:
This was good! Nice to have a good laugh. Love your jewelry!
1 year ago
ArtigianoJewelBox says:
beautifully done!! congratulations!
1 year ago
jazjewels says:
Thank you so much everyone! I appreciate every single comment and I certainly hope that the azoulai family (especially Joey) inspired some of you to go out there be brave and produce a video of your own. I know that there are so many talented artists among our Etsy family. I feel like a Julia Roberts or something, YA RIGHT!! :) Thanks again, Judy
1 year ago
AZCreativeStudio says:
Love it! Thank you for sharing!
1 year ago
HelloShoes says:
love the video. I am also am a sucker for family stories:)
1 year ago
Earthystyle says:
very inspiring!!
1 year ago
beachglassshop says:
Thank you for spending the time getting this out to your ETSY friends -
1 year ago
miriam1555 says:
Love the video; JOEY great job the video is done beautiful. Judy I love your Jewelry, your work is inspiring. Hope to see more videos and more jewelry. Good luck Miriam
1 year ago
cloverduke says:
love the video and the jewelry is so amazing! i wish i could learn how to do something that complex!
1 year ago
jadewicks says:
This was really cute. :)
1 year ago
rachelungerjewelry says:
beautiful story, I love Judy's work, I wish you the best!
1 year ago
Redpeonycreations says:
Great video, and lovely jewelry work too! It was fun to see how another artist organizes her day!
1 year ago
giftsofcreation says:
This is so awesome and inspiring..Great job!
1 year ago
KathyGDesigns says:
Enjoyed the video. Judy's jewelry is beautiful!
1 year ago
BethToddCreatz says:
Thanks for this glimpse into your creative process and life. Cool video and article, I really enjoyed it!
1 year ago
JemmDee says:
I love this video. Your jewelry is amazing and you have a very talented son. Congratulations!
1 year ago
sarawestermark says:
Beautifully done video and your Mom is lucky to have such a talented filmaker as a son! What a joy to watch!
1 year ago
RamshackleStudio says:
What a great video - love your work!
1 year ago
sleepymoondesign says:
hahaha I love the end where she is hammering at night! I would be doing the same thing if I didn't live in an apartment... That would be a fast way to get evicted. :(
1 year ago
HomespunHandmaiden says:
I LOVE this! Seeing an etsy seller in their everyday life is so much fun because each seller is different and finds their inspiration from a different source. Thanks so much for sharing. :)
1 year ago
ElementsbyJulie says:
I loved this from start to finish! I will be thinking of Jaz Jewels as I take care of my family and my jewelry today...now off to make pancakes and hammer some metal :)
1 year ago
ElementsbyJulie says:
I loved this from start to finish! I will be thinking about the wonderful example of Jaz Jewels as I take care of my family and my jewelry today. Now off to make some pancakes and hammer some metal :)
1 year ago
ohbabydotcom says:
great video. what a wonderful home life, lovely surroundings. well done! : )
1 year ago
lizroca says:
Lovely video, thank you for sharing it! Love your shop, Judy.
1 year ago
sweetmixcreations says:
What a great video and a great woman! I can only hope that my kids grow up to be as inspired by me as your sons are by you. It's wonderful to think that I'm not the only woman working away in the dead of the night when my time is finally my own!
1 year ago
VintageStyleJewelry says:
Love the jewellry and thanks for the video, I really enjoyed it!
1 year ago
firecat says:
So enjoyable, both your work and the video.
1 year ago
Lambert says:
What a great portrait, it does remind me of french cinema. Well done!
1 year ago
KellyEMarra says:
So adorable! I love working when everyone's asleep. Beautiful Metal work!!!
1 year ago
glasfaden says:
Sweet video - thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Fantastic! Its great to see a mother and son connecting through craft : D
1 year ago
thecoloursoflife says:
Very nice video and beautiful jewelry!
1 year ago
soulyyours says:
Very cute video! Thanks for sharing a peek into your world :)
1 year ago
erezija says:
That's what I call an inspiration ! great video.
1 year ago
weirdwolf says:
I just love this wonderful video and Judy! I hope more folks are inspired to shoot their own Etsy portrait videos! Send us the links...
1 year ago
treasurebooth says:
Lol, such a cute ending :) Enjoyed this and really loved the sequence of lights going out on the house. Lovely jewelry!
1 year ago
trudiedavies says:
I just loove this video cause it shows me that there are all these artists creating at weird hours of the night.. trying to keep it quiet.. so funny!.. Great bold and colourful work ..:)
1 year ago
stellaloella says:
This is so wonderful! Thank you Judy & Joey for sharing this with us.
1 year ago
LookBackVintage says:
What a wonderful video and wonderful, talented woman! Your jewelry is really stunning and reflects your joy for life!
1 year ago
douina says:
what a great idea to do a video about your store. I would love to know more on how you prep the metal for the color outcome.
1 year ago
cowboybunny says:
How wonderful! Makes sellers on Etsy seem like real people.
1 year ago
jazjewels says:
Thanks very much everyone! Joey and I appreciate all the wonderful compliments. We had so much fun making this video with the help of the other family members that we are going to Cherish it for ever. Also, we hope we inspired others to follow suit. Thank you again, The Azoulai family
1 year ago
TStyles says:
love the story, great jewelry, good luck
1 year ago
EnRouteStudio says:
This is a great video! the main character is the best, so confident!
1 year ago
IlmareAtelier says:
I watched the video and it's so incredibly heartwarming and Judy is so COOL!
1 year ago
Baisimu says:
in this video i see both the talents of the mother and the son! I'm glad i watched it :) Good luck with your business!
1 year ago
kathystuffnmore says:
Great story and video. I noticed you son's t-shirt in the ending scene... you are in NJ and I am too. Talent thrives in NJ! Beautiful jewelry designs. :)
1 year ago
Yeslioness says:
Too cute! I Love seeing other artists at work. Makes me want to do one of my own!
1 year ago
VintageMaryT says:
I absolutely LOVE this video! We moved to Texas two years ago from NJ and we relate to the area that Judy lives in. We can close our eyes and be there on the patio with her! My daughter and I say to each other....Good Morningk, it's Judy!... ....Then she says to me, 'But I'm nothingk without my coffee!... AND, I go to get her coffee!!! I have an aunt from Germany who says Good Morningk to me and we love her to bits! As Cary Grant said....Judy, Judy, Judy!!!! Good Morningk!
1 year ago
VintageMaryT says:
Joey, Why don't you sell your little video clips on a CD? I would buy them! Let us share your work before you get too famous!!! Sell them on our wonderful ETSY!
1 year ago
VintageMaryT says:
I would like to buy a CD of Joey's films!
1 year ago
VintageMaryT says:
I love this video! Purchase on CD?
1 year ago
mainili says:
inspiring...
1 year ago