Hunting for dragon treasures
How did this DragonsTreasureHunt store come about?
My love affair with jewelry and other beautiful creations must have started earlier than I can remember: my father once told me that when I was a toddler I used to decorate trees with my mother’s beaded necklaces. I do remember that around the age of eight I would create beaded necklaces to adorn the beautiful neck of an uncle’s charming goats (although most of the jewelry I made back then was not for farm animals!) As a child growing up in a dysfunctional family, crafting with all sorts of media (beading, painting, sculpting, embroidery, collage, candle-making…) was my safe space and healing practice. One of the fondest memories I have of my father was to watch him for hours as he would make his one-of-a-kind silver leaf brooches that were his signature creation. He was a self-taught jewelry maker in Athens, Greece. My true desire was to follow in his footsteps but the older I got the more he did his best to keep me away from anything artistic, including his own workshop. He was concerned that I would not make a good living for myself, but he also wanted me to fulfill his own dream, which was to become a history professor. Hungry for his approval and too insecure as a teenager to do anything else besides what my family expected of me, I dropped all my artistic practices to study hard for college and pursue an academic career. My only “rebellion” against my father’s wishes was to become an art historian rather than a historian, as my fascination with artistic creativity was too strong to ignore. I pressured myself to the point of breaking into the demanding environment of academia, and since I had forsworn my own creativity, I started spending my entire salary, month after month, to buy other people’s creations, focusing in particular on jewelry of all kinds, original ACEO miniatures with animals, and fantasy art. Twenty-five years later, I had accumulated a huge collection of beautiful pieces that I never had the time to enjoy. After some soul-searching, I decided it was time to turn my retail therapy on its head: I could now cherish selling rather than buying treasures that would bring joy to others. I could rediscover the excitement of creativity in being a curator of bejeweled beauty and hand-painted visions. I could enjoy taking photos of special and unique items to showcase their loveliness in a visually enticing store. This is how DragonsTreasureHunt was born on Etsy, a platform I chose because it allows me to to connect with other like-minded people who also have an appreciation for the joys of personal adornment and inspired art. I would like to thank you all for helping me liquidate my collection so that I am more prepared to face the rainy days ahead.
What will clients find in their DragonsTreasureHunting?
My collection is very eclectic with a wide variety of pieces that speak to different people (you can browse through the many sections of the store for some unifying themes or do keyword searches, but you will still find a dazzling variety in most categories). If you take the time to stroll through the store, you will probably find a few items that call out to you, and are bound to be even more wonderful in person (my photos are never as good as the items themselves). I have always been fascinated by the designs and materials of all sorts of styles and time periods, and during my decades of collecting I have had a hard time passing-by even the humblest creation if it has that something special about it—be it that antique Victorian charm or Art Nouveau organic beauty, a vintage vibe, a sweet, corky or unusual detail, or a bold simplicity that showcases a special gem or inspired design. For a few years I was also an avid collector of animal and fantasy art that gave me great solace and a sacred refuge in the beauties of nature and the whimsy of artistic imagination. Now I curate these treasures for other jewelry enthusiasts and collectors of unique, hand-painted creations. Most of the pieces I offer were either bought directly from artists or found in antique fairs, or online marketplaces. In every case, the acquisition was the result of tireless hunting for beauty and inspiration. Back then, I never planned to sell these finds; they were to be my lovely and faithful companions, always there to inspire me and put a smile on my face with their special beauty and unique character. Now that I have turned myself into a bringer rather than owner of beauty, I hope that my treasures can do the same for you! I like imagining how each piece of jewelry, painting, or collectible item bought from my store will bring excitement to somebody else who can enjoy the piece they selected much more than I could ever do by keeping it in my jewelry trunks or art albums. I am grateful to the hundreds of people who have honored me with their purchases and positive feedback and I hope to continue to serve fellow jewelry-lovers and art enthusiasts for many years to come. I try to list new items regularly, so check back often for new finds. Do ask me questions about your preferred treasures, I am happy to provide more information or photos, facilitate your purchases with layaway plans, and share my passion for beautiful and soulful creations with you.
What does your store name stand for?
I chose DragonsTreasureHunt for a number of reasons. Of course, I am fascinated by dragons, especially as they are imagined in Asian traditions: powerful creatures of wisdom and beauty, hunting for treasures like the flaming pearl of spiritual wisdom. I have a huge dragon tattoo on my back, and many of my favorite jewelry pieces feature dragons, as you can see through a keyword search in the store. In DragonsTreasureHunt, I offer special pieces I have accumulated through decades of treasure-hunting, sharing the joy I drew from finding and owning beautiful and soulful creations. In an alternate, mythical universe, I like to imagine myself as a seasoned dragon who is happy to open her treasure cave for other like-minded creatures to choose their special finds. In Chinese tradition, dragons stand for excellence and good luck which are also qualities I hope you will find in my store and in the pieces you will buy. I am committed to excellent customer service and I wish for the treasures you acquire from me to have an auspicious presence that brings positive energy and joy in your life. Enjoy your dragonstreasurehunting!