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The story of Bittercuffs
Bittercuffs began as a personal project, shaped by my own experiences with mental health struggles.
The first spark came while I was sculpting a small pendant. I started with a delicate flower, something soft, balanced, and beautiful, but it felt wrong. It was too polished, too distant from what I was actually feeling.
I kept reshaping it, letting my hands move without purpose, and eventually, something raw and distorted began to emerge. It reflected the chaos I had been trying to hide.
That moment changed how I approached my work. I realised that creating was not about beauty for me. It was about honesty. Each mark and imperfection became a reflection of what I was carrying inside.
Later, I came across the Japanese concept of Ganbaru: to persist, to give your best, to continue even when it hurts. The idea resonated deeply with me. It captured what I had been trying to express all along—that perseverance does not always look graceful. Sometimes it is messy, heavy, and rough around the edges.
From that understanding, the Bittercuffs collection began to take shape. I designed seven beads, each representing a different struggle. They sit at the centre of a bracelet, surrounded by gemstones that symbolise the beauty and light that exist despite the weight we carry.
Each bracelet is a quiet reminder that giving emotions a form helps to take away some of their power. When you can see them clearly, you can recognise that they do not define you.
That is why I chose bracelets. They are something you can wear close to you, to look at and touch when you need grounding.
In truth, you do not need the bracelet itself. What matters is the reminder that you can survive. Bittercuffs is not about healing or perfection. It is about endurance and acceptance, a small weight on the wrist that says you are still here, and that is enough.
For me, it began as a way to cope. For you, it may mean something different. But if these pieces speak to you, then perhaps our struggles are not so different after all.
Hi! I'm Nadia.
I live in Montréal, Canada and I've been a jewelry designer and maker for many years, shaping ideas into metal and bringing other people's visions into life.
Saffron Fire is the playground where I showcase my personal projects and I hope you find them as fascinating as I do.
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