It all began at the kitchen table not as a plan, but as mother-and-daughter time shared. Late nights, endless cups of tea, beads scattered between us, and moments that belonged only to us. My mother and I would sit for hours, threading beads and stories side by side. Some nights we spoke about everything, others about nothing at all but there was always laughter.

We laughed more than we crafted, and after enough late nights and too much laughter, the beads would start playing tricks on us one tiny bead suddenly looking like it brought a twin. If we managed to string three beads, it felt like a victory. Even then, it was never just about what we made, but the moments stitched into every thread.

My dad would stay up with us too our loyal night owl quietly keeping the kettle going for yet another cup of tea, while filling the room with stories from his life and travels. We’d heard many of them before, but told with Greek accents and animated storytelling, they somehow got funnier every time. It was beautiful, joyful chaos. Beads could wait. We were busy living.

I’m Katerina Eleftheria, named for my parents, my mother’s strength and soul, and my father, whose name means freedom. That freedom became my compass long before I understood it, the freedom to feel deeply, create instinctively, bend rules, and design from the heart rather than a manual.

I’m completely self-taught, guided by curiosity, intuition, and a deep love for creating, a process that keeps each piece thoughtful, intentional, and deeply personal.

Born and raised in South Africa, shaped by my Greek heritage, I grew up between two cultures - warm, expressive, and full of life. For me, jewellery is never just about aesthetics; it’s about memory, emotion, and connection.

When those nights became memories, returning to that table felt natural a way to keep creating, remembering, and honouring what we shared. That’s where Soulcrafted Jewels began.

Today, I work with a thoughtful mix of new, vintage, recycled, and repurposed materials, treasures from small shops, travels, and pieces from my mother’s own collection, brought back to life and transformed into one-of-a-kind designs. Giving old materials new purpose feels natural my way of honouring the past, creating for the present, and doing my part for the planet.

Every piece is handmade and created with soul. Each one carries a memory, a laugh, or a late-night story, little love stories, waiting to be worn.

Thank you for being here and for becoming part of the journey as these stories continue with you.

With love (and probably a bead stuck to my sleeve),