Amazing Jewelry Making by Yulia Babenko

Yulia Babenko is a handmade jewelry maker. She has an exquisite taste and we find her jewelry design just beautiful. It was a pleasure for us to take an interview with Yulia Babenko who shared some interesting facts of her biography. We wish you a pleasant reading of Yulia Babenko success story and viewing of her amazing handmade jewelry.

AP: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your hobby.

YB: I have never thought that one day I would be involved in jewelry making. I was born in Sumy, a small Ukrainian town, and moved to Kyiv after entering the university there. I have a master’s degree in political science with a minor in PR and soon I will continue my studies, mastering liberal arts in Germany. I’ve worked mostly as a PR-specialist and also taken part in several web 2.0 projects. My other hobbies include photography, learning foreign languages, and blogging.

AP: What was you first attempt to make jewelry?

YB: I made my first attempt to create some jewelry piece in 2008 at the age of 20. At that time I was obsessed with earrings and my collection had more than 50 items. One day I decided that it would reasonable not only to buy them or receive as a present but also make them according to my taste and needs. I observed the work of Ukrainian handmade community in LiveJournal and finally created something myself. Naturally, my first works looked creepy but it was also an experience 🙂

AP: Where did you gain skills and knowledge to make your creative works?

YB: I have once taken part in a workshop on bijou making techniques, but everything I know about felting I found out on the web. There are numerous websites, forums and LiveJournal communities where people are willing to share there skills and knowledge.

AP: What genre are your works?

YB: I wouldn’t say I work in a specific genre or style. All my works, both felted and polymer clay jewelry, are bright and colorful and often funny; still, if they belong to any specific genre, I do not know it’s name. Once I have tried to make something romantic and tender but frankly speaking I didn’t succeed.

AP: How would you describe your works? What kind of equipment do you use to create them?

YB: My works are funny and bright and ‘cosy’ but I would never say they are unique. There are so many artists that create felted jewelry and the works of many of them are much more special than the things I make. Still, I have implemented several ideas I can be proud of. The main things I need for my work are wool, water, soap, and my hands 🙂

AP: Would you consider yourself as an expert in this sphere?

YB: I’m not an expert in felting as it includes not only jewelry making but I know a lot and I am constantly learning something new.

AP: What is your success formula?

YB: The only success formula I know says that any artistic work is to be your hobby but not the main source of income. Orders kill both creativity and inspiration.

AP: Do you participate in the contests, art-projects, exhibitions etc.?

YB: I have once won a felting contest organized by the largest craft materials vendor in Kyiv and I have participated in numerous exhibitions. Still, at the moment the thing I enjoy most is teaching the basics of felting.

AP: Is there someone who supports you in your creativity?

YB: My best friend Anna, a gifted graphic designer and painter (http://anna-tretiak.daportfolio.com/), is the one who supports me most and inspires me as well as she’s not only my close person but a close person with perfect taste.