Interview: lumafina
Learn a little bit more about lumafina who will be joining us!
Tell us bit about yourself, your company.
LF: Hilary Alexander here, owner and designer behind lumafina, my little jewelry business. There is a recording of me, as a five year old girl in braids, asking in a hushed voice for "jewels" for Christmas. I guess lumafina is a creative outlet for me, and a way for me to explore staying true to myself while giving beauty and art back to my community.
When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
LF: When I was young, I wanted to be an artist. My oh my, it took a great deal to get me from a little kid believing in herself to actually living an artist's life now. I'm a blessed woman indeed to be living a handmade life.
Is there a certain person, place or object you draw inspiration from?
LF: I draw a lot of inspiration from creative sources - blogs, photographs, boutiques and the people behind them. But I love to draw inspiration from nature and science as well. I would be dishonest if I didn't mention my faith in God which keeps me in awe of the little things that matter and gives me the strength to keep looking for beauty and wonder in this world.
If you had no boundaries: money, time, space, support, etc. what dream project would you pursue?
LF: What dream project would I pursue if money, time, space and support were no matter? Securing a source of fresh, and hot when needed, water for every man, woman and child. I don't know why, but each time I step in my nice warm shower, I am so thankful for it and think of all those who don't have access to warm water, much less good drinking water. I would also, for myself and those I love, create the most beautiful garden I could think of. It would be an ongoing project, always maturing and surprising me, and huge in size, with people welcome to visit and sit with a picnic and friends.
What’s your favorite thing to do to kill time? Any secret Internet time wasters, guilty pleasures?
LF: I love killing time reading. I could read all day, and sometimes do. My favorite internet time waster is stumbleupon and Etsy, so many inspiring and fun things to look at!
Where do you like to go when you just want to get away? A beach, a mall, a market? What’s your favorite type of spot to go unwind.
LF: My favorite spot to unwind is in the works. There is a little shaded and forgotten patch in our backyard that is full of weeds but very private and it has a chair there for me to escape to. But also, I love getting away to the beach. Hearing the ocean, falling asleep to that sound, is wonderful.
If you only had one more meal to eat on this world what would it be? (It can be several courses)
LF: My last meal on this world would consist of everything I can possibly eat at Nostrana, then Le Pigeon, then Capsouto Freres, my favorite (superb!) restaurants, the first two being here, in Portland Oregon and the last in NYC. The chocolate soufflé at Capsouto...worth a trip out there right now.
What do you love most about UCU’s Summer Show?
LF: I have never attended UCU before. This is my second craft fair since starting lumafina, but I am sure I will enjoy it immensely!
Tell readers what they should expect to see when they stop by and see you at UCU.
LF: Expect to see nice pops of color amidst collections of my jewelry that are both feminine and modern. I love mixing natural, organic pieces with funky and geometric shapes. And expect to see me and my husband smiling, excited to hear your story as well!
