We had the good fortune of connecting with Izaskun Zabala and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Izaskun, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON”

This affirmation became my main mantra when I left home at age nineteen. From the Basque country I moved to Dublin, Ireland, and then New York City. At that time, we did not have cell phones or whatsapp, and we had to buy a phone card to call our family.
Time difference and a new life in NY resulted in making important decisions without parental advice: get married, go to design school, etc..
Nevertheless, when things went wrong, I would apply “Everything happens for a reason, Izaskun. Continue doing and you will understand why.” and it worked!
How to explain? Stay positive and that high vibration will tincture with a good outcome the negative event. There is always a teaching, understanding, evolution, and the creation of a new possibility from what seemed a not so good happening..

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My jewelry is meant to travel with you whenever you go. Built on a framework of fine art, IZASKUN ZABALA marries my interest in mythology and the cosmos with design elements inspired by life’s constant search for Beauty, its all encompassing force in our lives, and the way it presses us to feel. This energy informs my sculptural and delicate point of view, further emphasized by offering an impeccable craftsmanship.
I consider myself a sculptor of miniatures, as my models are carved in wax and then casted.
I don’t come from a wealthy family. I paid my tuition for design school and rent in NYC by working two jobs (waitressing and life modeling) while being a full-time student at FIT.
When I founded my business, I had to babysit to cover rent.
Easy? Not at all, nothing was given to me. Hardwork, kindness, my accent (!), dedication, curiosity and a tremendous vitality have placed me where I am today.
My brand is a one-woman-show: I create jewelry, build and maintain my website, shoot my content, ship the orders, do customers service..
I moved to Spain in 2019 (after 18 years in NY) and live in a farm. My life has drastically changed. I feel I am getting to know my Self in nature and I really like it. It is time my jewelry translates my believes, my sense of beauty, my knowledge. Coincidentally, my name -Izaskun- means ‘star in the hand’, and I create jewelry and read hands..

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, I live in a 1,500 people town in one of the most remote regions in Spain! Think history, castles, farmers..
The nearest city is Cáceres with a magical old town inside the city walls.
Sierra de Gata, where I live and work, is the northern part of the region. I would take you to all the medieval small towns in the area: Robledillo de Gata, Trevejo, San Martin de Trevejo.
Each town has at least a great culinary option with a farm-to-table menu. Note that here, we don’t need to use the fancy word farm-to-table as farmers from the area supply the restaurants, neither is price is overwelming!
If you come on warm season, we will go the cold river and have a beer at the chiringuito (summer bars by the river).
Another amazing activity is that Extremadura is one of the best places in Europe to see the stars. We have astronomers form all over the world come here to study the sky!
Not bad, eh?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first shoutout is to my mother, who always believes in me and despite her fears, lets me fly. A big shoutout to Start Small Think Big, a nonprofit that helps small businesses with high potential and limited access to the resources needed to create thriving businesses. Without them, my jewelry company in New York would not had grown as it did.
The most grateful shoutout to all my fans and customers, without your support I wouldn’t live off from what I love doing.

Website: https://izaskunzabala.com/

Instagram: @izaskunzabala

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