Sonia Chaves

Artisan Organization: Sonia Chaves

Country: Central America

"My name is Sonia Chaves, I spent my childhood in Alajuela, Costa Rica, with my father, paternal grandmother, and my 8 siblings. My mother passed away when I was 1 year old, which created a stronger bond with my father. My maternal grandmother sewed, knitted, and cut hair. She taught me how to do all these tasks, especially knitting. My father has told me that he worked from a young age. He learned everything from manufacturing agricultural machinery to sailing. He was a person capable of learning whatever he set his mind to, and I learned from him the desire to do whatever I propose with effort.

"I have been involved in art since I was a child, making crafts with materials such as felt and paper, sewing and knitting various objects. My interest in jewelry was born in school when we were taught to make rings and bracelets with copper wire. I started focusing on art in 2013 as a hobby, learning the crafting processes by myself and recalling what I learned in school. When I finished my first pieces made with wire, my family encouraged me to sell them.

"Currently, I create my pieces using leather, thread, wire, and some semiprecious stones. The technique I enjoy the most for making jewelry is "wire wrapping" because it requires delicacy and firmness to achieve a beautiful finish. I find it to be a complex technique to master. I work alone on this craft, and my greatest inspiration is my children and my father. Each piece I create is considered a part of my life. I dedicate the necessary time so that people can see that it is an original product, not something they will find in just any store.

"I am proud and happy to have the opportunity to sell my products to different parts of the world. I appreciate the value placed on the work of artisans.""