This is only the beginning, but I've already come a long way. To better understand who I am, what OPSMUK is and why it exists, let me take you through a few important moments in my life that have brought me to where I stand today. An honest look inside my head.
Growing up, I was a true pink princess kind of girl. I loved make-up, dresses, dolls, jewelry, and my biggest dream was to one day own an impressive collection of heels. As I got older, I started to develop an aversion to all of that. I no longer wanted to be a "girly girl" and began distancing myself from it more and more. To this day I'm not entirely sure where that aversion came from; maybe it was puberty, maybe it was self-awareness. Maybe those are just two words for the same thing.
I grew up, followed the path that had been laid out for me, got by without trying too hard, but was above all was an insecure girl. I had no idea what I enjoyed, who I was, or how I was supposed to figure that out. When I finished secondary school, I decided to study communications. After about three months I realised it wasn't making me happy. It was too safe a choice.
I quit and went looking for something more specific, something that would learn me a skill not everyone could just pick up. Looking back, that desire came mostly from wanting to stand out, to have something that made me special (read: insecure girl). My mum suggested to look into goldsmith training. Not entirely convinced, I gave it a go anyway and it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. (Momma knows best)
It was the perfect environment for me to get to know myself better. I learned a new skill, met people from all walks of life, and had the space to experiment. I discovered that I love working on projects with lots of different elements, that external pressure is often essential for me to keep going (and that's where you come in) and that I can reach a wonderful flow state when I'm completely on my own in my own creative bubble.
On the other hand, there was something else the programme taught me: the jewelry world can be quite a traditional one. Which was not what I was looking for. This led to me barely touching my workbench for two years after graduating. After I gave it some thing, I started to feel the urge to create again. I made jewelry for myself and for the people close to me, and the ball started rolling.
Meanwhile, I moved to a big city, where I met incredibly inspiring people who gave me the final push I needed. They were, and still are, young women running their own creative businesses. I thought: if they can do it, so can I. And just like that, OPSMUK was born.
Today, June 23rd 2026, I am only at the beginning. My style is evolving, and so is my knowledge as an entrepreneur and as a person in general. My aversion to being a girly girl has made way for a fun mix of jewelry but no heels. Every design I make is a small, tangible piece of progress.
Dear reader, thank you so much for showing an interest in OPSMUK, it means the world to me. I hope to bring you along for the journey through these journals. And know that your support means more than you could imagine.
Love,
Lisa
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