Ana Maria, a Colombian-born jewellery maker and designer, currently resides in Boorloo/Perth running her small business, Merana. Using jewellery making as an outlet for her inner creativity, Ana combines her personal style with the artisan traditions of her home country to create pieces that capture nature, colours, and joy.

Always having a connection with the visual arts, it was in university that Ana discovered her passion for jewellery making. During this time, Ana would spend hours browsing jewellery supply stores, mesmerised by the colours, materials, and textures available.

“I was fascinated by the possibility of transforming such simple elements into small pieces full of character.”

With this inspiration, Ana began her small business, realising that jewellery making was not only a form of creative expression, but a way to connect with others through what we wear.

Growing up in Colombia, Ana was surrounded by inspiration, from the cultural diversity to the richness of the landscape. The vibrant colours, natural shapes, and traditions directly influenced the style of Ana’s pieces. The traditional use of small seed beads, “mostacilla”, by Colombian Indigenous communities to create works of art enriched with history and symbolism inspires Ana. In her practice, she has replaced mostacilla with miyuki delica; the combination of these with thread and needle allows creation, craftsmanship, and connection to culture to flourish.

“The connection with handcrafted work inspired me to experiment with small beads from a more contemporary perspective… I like to think that each piece carries something of Colombia’s soul: its colour, energy, and identity.”

Ana begins her creative process in her small workshop; a space filled with her materials and vibrant energy. Not following a strict routine, Ana soundtracks her days with podcasts or movies that resonate with mood of the day, drawing inspiration from vibrant flowers, picturesque places, and the swirling ocean.

“Each accessory is born from the need to connect with an emotion and transform it into something that others can wear proudly.”

Speaking on the impact of her pieces, Ana reflected on ideas of self-expression and identity.

“We wake up every day and choose how we want to present ourselves to the world… the fact that someone might choose to wear one of my pieces in that moment feels very special.”

Each of her creations is unique and more than just an accessory; they are extensions of the wearer’s style and personality. For Ana, her pieces reflect happiness, joy, and positive energy. These are the emotions she hopes people take with them when they wear her jewellery: an emotional boost of light that makes them feel their most authentic, radiant self, connected to their true essence.

Images courtesy of Ana Maria.