The Whimsical World Of Callisto- An Interview with Lara

Callisto Jewelry's Lara is the real life embodiment of a magical being, and no one can convince me otherwise! Her pieces are the perfect melding of the beings and stories of mythology with crystals and minerals from the Earth- which to me provides the perfect reminder to find the magic in every day life.  When I think of Lara, I think of her happily musing in her garden of what she will create next; her intuition guiding her way.
It's also worth noting that Lara is one of the sweetest people I have ever come across in this life.  Her positive energy just radiates and corresponding with her always leaves a smile on my face and such warmth in my heart.
Without further adieu, here's an insight in to the creative mind behind Callisto Jewelry.
You find her shop by clicking here. She updates her shop with new creations every Thursday.




1.Tell us a little about when you started to create jewelry.  How did you know you wanted to work with crystals in this way? 
I didn’t start creating jewelry full time until 2012, but it’s something I’ve always dabbled in.
I even had a tiny jewelry studio on my boat when I was living aboard. For most of us that are drawn to the mineral world the desire to wear crystals and stones is second nature. 
It can take a lot of experimenting for each person to find a medium they connect with when they start creating jewelry. I played with silver smithing, wire wrapping, beading - so many things until I fell in love with this style of soldering. I think the game changer for me was being able to work with raw, uncut crystals and do the metalwork directly onto the stone. I was captivated.

2. What do you look for in a crystal that is going to become one of your creations?
I try to use my intuition when I’m shopping for stones and be open to minerals I haven’t connected with before. There are some I admit that I have long term relationships with and go back to over and over - moonstone and labradorite for example. They’re like old friends!
I’m always drawn to stones that have a uniqueness to them. It makes them more personable to me - I love it when they seem to tell a story about where they come from. 

 3. You tend to pair multiple crystals/stones together within one piece.  How do you decide which ones should “go together?”
Pairing stones is one of the most exciting things for me! It’s almost like building a bouquet of flowers where certain elements seem to come alive in a new way when they’re placed together. 
I usually start in a whirlwind of pulling stones from drawers and shelves and spreading them out like a rainbow on my work table. Some of them seem almost to light up when they meet. 
I think it’s the same for all of us that like to create crystal displays and altar spaces in our homes. Some stones just seem to be natural friends.

4. You come up with some incredible “names” for each of your designs.  How do you decide what you will call them? 
I’ve had a life long passion for mythology and fairytales. Those are two things I draw on over and over again in any creative process. The name Callisto is also from a Greek myth. When I can, I like to choose a name that hints at the history or the energy of a particular stone. For example carnelian is so elemental and fiery, moonstone so ethereal and celestial, moss agate such a forest jewel. It’s fun to try and tap in to their stories!

5. How do crystals play a role in your home outside of your jewelry making?
I’ve been collecting stones since childhood and many of the pieces in my cabin hold such sentimental meaning for me. One thing I particularly love is how much you can change the energy of a room by simply rearranging your stones. When the winter blues hit I often bring my larger pieces of rose quartz into the living room to anchor a loving space. If I’ve been sleeping poorly my bedside table becomes a forest of smoky quartz and grounding stones.
I’ve lived in mostly quite small spaces, and stones are one key element for me painting new landscapes inside the home. They always make it feel like a welcoming space.

6. You produce so many beautiful, well received pieces every week!  How are you able to stay so motivated to make so many beautiful creations?
 I honestly pinch myself regularly to make sure I’m not dreaming. 
The fact that I’m able to work from home doing something I’m passionate about is an incredible blessing, and one I never want to take for granted.
Like most self employed people doing this full time took a huge leap of faith! The support from my customers and the kind, welcoming nature of the crystal community online have been completely life changing for me. The positive support is strongly motivating for anyone doing this, and something I’m deeply grateful for. 
As for inspiration, I find that working with a new mineral, or ordering myself something exciting to set helps re-ignite the fire when I’ve hit a creative block.

7. Tell us a little bit about your creating “ritual.”  What does it look like when you sit down at your bench to start making jewelry?
The process has evolved for me a lot over the years. At this point I have an embarrassingly methodical ritual. Fridays I feel like a mad scientist laying out stones on my table and sliding them like puzzle pieces until I see things taking shape. I often do most of my envisioning and prep for the week that day, and begin the soldering process the following morning. 
Because with this style of metalwork the soldering is done directly on the stones, I find it easier to work with families of pieces rather than one piece at a time. The stones can heat up immensely if you apply too much heat at once. 

8. Do you have any crystals that are a “favorite” to work with?
I try not to pick favorites, but I can’t escape my love for moonstone and labradorite. There are several stones I work with almost every week - mainly because they are so incredibly versatile in terms of the way they relate to other stones. They seem to pair so well with different minerals, always enhancing and supporting the beauty of the other. 
I also have a personal weakness for blue stones - turquoise, aqua aura and larimar are a few of my true loves.

9. It’s no secret you’re a nature lover- especially your love for your garden.  Do you have any practices in your daily life that bring your love for nature and your love for crystals together?
My love for stones has certainly spilled out into the garden. I have a bird bath of tumbled moonstone and raw boulders of quartz and pink tourmaline nestled into the beds. Visiting children always leave with pockets full of lemurians they found in the daisy patch.
My garden is a very special place for me, and it’s a big key in creating balance in my life. It’s one of the things that gets me outside and active when it’s tempting for me to spend all day in the studio. It never ceases to amaze me how grounded and recharged I feel after time with my hands in the dirt.

10. You have some of the most amazing descriptions for each piece of jewelry you create including very informative passages about each of their energies.  Can you speak a little to the metaphysical properties of crystals and how that plays a role in your craft?
I’ve always been fascinated with the metaphysical properties of stones. I like to use them as a point of reference, or guide line, but I believe intuition is the most natural way to choose a stone.
Before I started my business I worked in a crystal store, Elfinstones for over ten years, and witnessing the way people interact with different minerals was so eye opening.

Lara with her rescue dog Winter