My name is Hendri van Witteloostuijn, goldsmith & jewelry designer and founder of Mafesi Jewels, where I sell unique, handmade jewelry just for you.
How did it all start? As a child I was always looking for 'treasures' like stones, shells, shark's teeth, etc. I guess my love for jewelry started a long time ago when I visited India and bought my first semi-precious stone (a Black Star!). In Nepal we went to a shop where they set our stones in silver rings. Even though I saw the setting was kind of sloppy, I was very happy with it. A precious memory.
After many years I went to Curacao with my family and entered a little jewelry shop of a goldsmith and I realized: this was what I wanted to do as well! Still, it took me about 2 years to take this step...
At the time I worked at the Art Department of a big company. I have been working there for many years, a fun job but being pregnant of my third child gave me time to reflect. Was it really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life? I finally decided to quit my job to do something completely different; something I have dreamed of for a long, long time... a study to become a goldsmith at the 'Vakschool' in Schoonhoven. It was the best choice ever!
After a study of 4 years I graduated in 2012 and from that moment on I have been working on my own collection and could not stop thinking of jewelry ever since!
How did it all start? As a child I was always looking for 'treasures' like stones, shells, shark's teeth, etc. I guess my love for jewelry started a long time ago when I visited India and bought my first semi-precious stone (a Black Star!). In Nepal we went to a shop where they set our stones in silver rings. Even though I saw the setting was kind of sloppy, I was very happy with it. A precious memory.
After many years I went to Curacao with my family and entered a little jewelry shop of a goldsmith and I realized: this was what I wanted to do as well! Still, it took me about 2 years to take this step...
At the time I worked at the Art Department of a big company. I have been working there for many years, a fun job but being pregnant of my third child gave me time to reflect. Was it really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life? I finally decided to quit my job to do something completely different; something I have dreamed of for a long, long time... a study to become a goldsmith at the 'Vakschool' in Schoonhoven. It was the best choice ever!
After a study of 4 years I graduated in 2012 and from that moment on I have been working on my own collection and could not stop thinking of jewelry ever since!