DIRECT SPEECH: Ksenia Sapunova (Piggy Stones)
Name: Ksenia Sapunova
Brand: Piggy Stones
Age: 25
Hometown: Omsk
Current residence: Moscow
Product: Jewelry
Material: Natural stone
Web-sites: vkontakte, facebook, LJ
About education
After school I entered the faculty of foreign languages of a Pedagogical University. After two years due to hard life circumstance I had to leave the Academy and never came back. It did not go well, that was not what I needed but I never regret that I spent some time on it. English did me good.
It was a tremendous experience which taught me not to be scared of making experiments and not to waste time waiting for inspiration to come.
When I was 19 I was signed a 3-month-long contract and left for Moscow. I worked as a а fashion model for about a year. And then it got started. As I had a chance I went to study in London for a year. I took the fashion Design course in Istituto Marangoni and fell head over heels in love with London.
In Moscow I tried to set myself up in my profession but I didn’t succeed. Sometimes I didn’t like the job, sometimes I lacked knowledge and experience. I decided to further my studies and went to British Higher School of Art and Design. There I took a course in Foundation. It was a tremendous experience which taught me not to be scared of making experiments and not to waste time waiting for inspiration to come.
I understood that I did not really know myself…and decided to learn myself. I created a folder ‘I like’ at my desktop and started saving various pictures there.
About the start up
I went on studying at Product Design course there. But rather soon I realized that if I wanted to make a considerable progress in it I had to further my studies in Italy. But I had no opportunity to do so, either it made no sense studying in Moscow.
…And then I realized that I derived much more pleasure from repairing beads than from wearing them. Everything seemed to take its place.
And I started looking for what I would like to practice. I understood that I did not really know myself… and decided to learn myself. I created a folder ‘I like’ at my desktop and started saving various pictures there. Most of them were jewelry and interior… but as I couldn’t feel space well enough, I focused on jewelry. One day some beautiful beads from my vast collection went loose (setting me thinking this way). It needed repair. I bought everything what was necessary, i.e. crimps, pliers, wire and here we go! And then I realized that I derived much more pleasure from repairing beads than from wearing them. Everything seemed to take its place. I started searching for material. In Moscow everything is expensive and the supply is limited. I travel a lot and was going to India then so it was how the problem was solved.
I never sketch. I simply take the material I’d like to use right now and the creation is on. I just get an image in my head of what it is going to be and how I am going to make it.
My first bracelet was bought by my intimate friend Yulia (a bit of a crafter). I started making jewelry and sending her mms (I worried if there was anyone to like the jewelry by me)… so it resulted in her purchase of one of them.
About travelling
I like to travel very much and can’t do without it. Even my name in Greek means a traveler. When I travel I’m inspired by everything starting from the hotel and the view from the window and finishing with the ceiling in the airport terminal (I mean Charles de Gaulle Airport).
For me London is about modern art exhibitions and girls’ style. They seem to get up, blindly take a third of their clothes room’s content, put it on without a look in the mirror and go out making the world happier.
For me London is about modern art exhibitions and girls’ style. They seem to get up, blindly take a third of their clothes room’s content, put it on without a look in the mirror and go out making the world happier. But it looks beautiful, extravagant, stylish and flavored with English humor. And their Friday night style… I do rise in applause!!! No matter what the weather is (even if it is only +5) they wear mini dresses, high heels barefooted and bravely flirt with a London yappy holding a glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other one and a clutch under their arms.
India is abundance of colour, million smiles and waves of the Indian Ocean.
France is cider, baguette, oysters and of course, dresses.
But what I am inspired by most of all is slugging reading an interesting book. You know, I am a sort of creators who need food and comfort. Then I can do without inspiration at all… cosy pyjamas, warm socks, a cup of tea and I am ready to start.
About plans
I want to make hats, take a course in jewelry and photography. And of course I have many plans for travelling. Stockholm, Amsterdam, Bangkok, London are on the list.
I can’t do without travelling. At least in my dreams.
I have a weakness for beads, ribbons, and different little things which I can need for work. Sometimes I simply can’t stop myself buying everything I like… especially in craft shops abroad, sometimes I spend 3-4 hours there.
I always lack time for….whatever. Shopping food, creation, seeing my friends, yoga.
The blogs I read:
Translation by Natalia Staurskaya
