I was in Vancouver for a market, sharing an apartment with three amazing friends. After a long day setting up my booth, I came back to our place, thrilled to finally sit down and enjoy my banana yogurt.
My friends couldn’t help but laugh: “Wait, what? Banana yogurt? Seriously?!”
That moment sparked a running joke between us. Every time we saw something banana-related, we’d send each other photos, laugh, and keep the joke alive. (Strangely enough, bananas suddenly seemed to appear everywhere!) Before we knew it, the banana had become our little symbol of friendship and shared laughter.
Then one day, one of them sent me a photo of a banana-shaped piece of jewelry and teased:
“Lidia, when’s your banana collection coming out?”
And I thought, Oh my God… challenge accepted! I had to make it happen.
From Joke to Creation
I didn’t want to literally make banana-shaped jewelry. So I started experimenting, testing, failing, trying again, exploring new ideas and techniques to see what would work.Banana + sterling silver = jewelry!
I took real pieces of bananas, peels and dried slices, and cast them in sterling silver. Gradually, organic shapes and textures began to emerge, and I let myself be guided by intuition.
The result? Bold, textured jewelry with polished contrasts that catch the light and reveal every detail.
It’s a little wild, but that’s exactly what makes them unique. Who would have thought that a simple fruit and a little inside joke among friends could turn into a piece of jewelry?
Throughout the process, I kept the project a secret. I loved the idea of surprising my friends, that moment when they’d finally discover what I had been secretly working on for months.
And that moment came during the September pop-up. Their reactions? A mix of laughter and disbelief:
“No way, you didn’t actually do it!”
Oh, but I did. And I was so proud, not just of the result, but of daring to take on the challenge.
Friendship as a Source of Creativity and Growth
The power of friendship
True friends have this incredible power. They push us to go further, often without even realizing it. Their words, laughter, and support can spark ideas or projects we’d never dare to attempt alone.
Even a simple gesture, a word, a smile, a joke, can have a huge impact on confidence and motivation. Friendship is a creative engine, a safe space where we can take risks, try new things, and rise to new challenges.
Growth through connection
Stepping outside your comfort zone feels easier when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you. Those shared experiences remind us that our biggest achievements often come from the encouragement and kindness of others.
Embracing small, unexpected opportunities can lead to personal growth and discovery. Perseverance and experimentation are key to any creative journey, and friends often provide the spark that keeps it going.
My jewelry collection embodies all of this. A project born from the laughter and teasing of my friends, one that pushed me to challenge myself and discover a new sense of pride.
The beauty of small gestures
Sometimes, just being there for someone, with no grand intention, can make a huge difference.
Friendships are often a quiet force behind growth, that invisible support that helps us take risks, create, and thrive, often without realizing it.
Laugh, Create, and Grow Together
This collection isn’t just a funny nod to bananas.It’s a celebration of friendship, complicity, and self-growth, a reminder that even the smallest moments, jokes, or gestures can have a transformative impact.
Through these pieces, I celebrate not only the laughter and shared memories with my friends, but also everything they’ve given me: the courage to take chances, to push myself, and to create something I’m truly proud of.
Launching Let’s Go Bananas! 🍌
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