Meet Lauren
Hi there! I’m Lauren, the artist behind flaurena™, and this page is where you can learn a bit more about me.
Photographer: Preston Merchant
The Natural Order of Things
I am both artistic and practical, which makes me rather fascinated by the juxtaposition of things. So it seems natural to me to create jewellery that is also both artistic and practical… strong, yet delicate… tangible, yet fantastical… bold, yet versatile… simple, yet complex… fierce, yet beautiful.
Wire lends itself very well to these juxtapositions – especially when using sterling silver and 14-karat gold-filled wire as I do. To start with something seemingly masculine and industrial and be able to transform it into a feminine piece of jewellery is a process that I am always thrilled by. I work intuitively, letting the wire guide my fingers to where it wants to go, and letting my fingers and eyes guide the aesthetic process.
The History of flaurena™
The name ‘flaurena’ is an anglicised portmanteau of ‘flor’ (flower) + ‘Lorena’ (my name in Spanish). I’m awe-inspired by nature’s striking designs, contrasts, and colour palette, and I strive to evoke this complex beauty in each of my designs.
My creativity has never let me down. I started making jewellery for myself when needed to jazz up my work wardrobe. My designs attracted a lot of positive attention because wherever I went people – friends, colleagues, even strangers on the street – kept asking me where I’d got my jewellery from. But it was when a commuter on the New York subway shouted across a crowded carriage “I LOVE YOUR NECKLACE!!” that I decided to start selling my jewellery. Thus flaurena™ was launched in December 2008.
Where I’m From and Where I’m Going
I’m British-American, which means I was born and educated in the UK, raised in Spain, and have lived most of my adult life in the US. Much of my childhood was spent living in and travelling to other countries which opened my eyes to the many different cultures, colour combinations, and flora & fauna in this big, beautiful world.
Until recently, I lived in Brooklyn, NY for 5 years – then, with our giant dog sprawled across the backseat, my husband and I drove across the US to start anew in California. To date, I’ve visited 5 of the 7 continents, and have lived in London, Madrid, Paris, New York, Andalucía (Spain), Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Miami, Assisi (Italy), and now San Diego. I’ll always be on the move, there’s so much to see!
A Few More Things….
When I’m not creating jewellery, I enjoy painting, photography, cooking, going on urban adventures, travelling to far-flung places, teaching myself CSS and HTML, performing improv, discovering new music, meeting people from all walks of life, playing with my dog, and writing about all of these things at my personal blog, Fizgiggery.
Finally, if you’ve read this far, you may like to follow me on Twitter, stop by my Facebook Page and friend me - I’d love to get to know you better! 
❤ Lauren x
