Tina and Sakura jewelry

Sakura: (especially in Japan) a flowering cherry tree.

Tina on display at the Thursday night market in Tamarindo

For Tina Sakura means jewelry. Hand made, unique and one of a kind.

Over two years ago Tina attended the Haliburton school of fine art and design. She liked it so much, she attended again last summer and plans of going again for her third week long class in jewelry crafting.

When she asked me if I could photograph some of her creations, we quickly realized she had way more items than originally thought.

See, after she took the course her first summer, we bought some tools, set up a work bench in her office at home, and she quickly got to work.

I could hear her from the main floor in our house. It sounded like a work crew hammering, drilling and pounding.

When we took her first round of photos she replied, when asked ‘how many pics ya got for me to photograph?’, “Oh, about 28..”

Wrong. She lost count. It’s that simple. There were over 55 pieces. And that was two years ago. I think she’s close to hundred pieces now.

One of her best looks is working flawed seashells found on the beach.
The beauty is in the flaw.

This winter when we flew to Tamarindo, Costa Rica for 3 months, we thought we’d try and sell some of her creations at the local Thursday night market. (she feels somewhat bad about the cost of all that equipment)

You have to keep in mind this simple idea. She started this on a whim. I encouraged her. We had no plans on selling jewelry, and really never gave it a thought as to why or what, with her taking the courses, setting up a work space and eventually creating so many unique pieces.

But there you have it. Is what it is. Wait and see what happens.

I can say this much, and I’m not being biased, and others have confirmed this. The main proof is in the sales (people vote with their wallets). Her stuff is really nice!

Sales have been brisk and the feedback very positive. Boom!