10 years ago I moved to Barcelona.

As a freshman, I lived with other 30 girls in a student's residency. I usually did their nails so they gave me lots of work. I did my own nail designs, so one day I thought, why not change the canvas, evolve into something new?

Then I began collecting old advertisement pins to re-paint with my nail polish. Everyone would bring me these old pins so that I could start my mini business by selling them. I had so many ideas on my mind. At that time, nobody was making these original brooches you see everywhere today. There was nothing like that and I yearned to flaunt all the cultural symbols I used to draw everywhere: adinkra symbols, pretty faces with natural Afros, uplifting conscious messages...
and Luce Cultura was born!

Some time later, something inspired me to take yet another step. Evolve again. Reinvent my craft.

By updating the materials I used, I grew able to add more detail to my artwork and thus expand the range of images I could turn into reality: portraits of my favorite history characters, more text, more shades... My partner, also an artist in many ways, helped a lot in this process, encouraging me to be more meticulous, advising me about the best materials and techniques, etc I own him credit for that and I'm thankful for his daily inspiration.

Sawing my own wood pieces and getting better and better at it increased the possibilities. By now I am able to hand cut the shape of letters, maps, animals, symbols... A whole new world opens in front of me.

Finally, it was last year 2012 that I discovered Etsy, got addicted to browse through all the beautiful creations designed by the talented artists around here. I spent weeks looking for the perfect handmade bag. It was crazy. Lots of images and designs started to fill my mind, not only of bags I imagined, but of jewelry designs. Those I would like to wear. I couldn't even sleep! ...I thought:
"I think I CAN DO THIS! "
(Exactly the sentence I murmured when half-sleep.)

So I took my last step and decided that I wouldn't only create brooches, but I could also design rings, earrings or necklaces... I started finding, buying or recycling new materials again and one month later what you see now in my shop came into being.

It's been an exciting journey. 6 months ago I was yearning to get my first sale and now I can't believe how busy I feel! Who knew opening a shop was not only about displaying your creations, but also about time planning, space organizing, photography skills, promotion, social networking, web design, new vocabulary and more engaging descriptions, economics!! and a long etc. And it's been only 6 months...!

I give thanks!