The Story Now
2020
My journey to creating a workshop began in 2020. Back then, in Russia, I first became fascinated by making jewelry from ready-made components — although as a child, I had already crafted pieces from beads and threads.
At first, I used simple accessories from Aliexpress. I carefully bent metal pins and designed earrings, sharing most of them with friends and family, simply enjoying the joy that handmade creations could bring. The soil in my flower pots was soon filled with colorful leftover beads and stones, and new little “decorations” found their way onto the Christmas tree.
Over time, I realized that jewelry made from inexpensive fittings could lose its shine and could not always be restored. That moment became a turning point for me: I decided to focus on higher-quality materials, searching for components that would allow my creations to endure, while still carrying the stories and magic I wanted to share.
2021
I spent a long time searching for high-quality jewelry findings, until I discovered TierraCast. Though it was quite expensive at the time, I ordered it all the way from California to Russia. The findings were bronze and brass, plated with silver and gold — and the moment I held them in my hands, I felt as if I had unlocked a new level of jewelry-making magic.
With these materials, my creations could finally be treasured with confidence. Each piece could be cleaned and cared for just like precious metal jewelry, giving life to the stories I wanted to tell through every ornament. It was a turning point — the beginning of a craft that blends imagination, beauty, and lasting quality.
2021-2022
Around the same time, I began thinking about a “stage” name for myself. I had an intuitive feeling that I would one day leave Russia and explore other countries. I decided to shorten my name, Anastasiia, to Ana. (Imagine my surprise when I arrived in Germany and everyone naturally called me Ana!)
Lesnaya comes from the Russian word for “forest” — it means “belonging to the forest.” My heart belongs to the forest: my Ural forest, ancient, reaching high into the sky, scented with wet earth and moss. And so, AnaLesnaya was born. I ordered custom stamps for my workshop to reflect this identity.
I imagined wooden slices from pine or other trees serving as “stages” for my jewelry. I wanted something lasting, not paper, which easily tears or breaks. I envisioned them as solid, almost elven, carrying memory and time.
At the same time, I registered as a sole proprietor in Russia and secured the trademark AnaLesnaya. I created the trademark image myself, learning Photoshop along the way. Over time, the image — like me — grew and evolved into what you now see at the top of my website.
2022-2025
But something was missing in my jewelry. I needed more freedom. I wanted to create unique pieces, diverse and not limited by ready-made designs on costume jewelry findings. I realized that my priority was not mass production, but creating meaningful, one-of-a-kind jewelry.
So I began searching for techniques and methods that would suit my style and that I could master as a beginner. That’s how I discovered electroforming, forging, and soldering.
I also experimented with making jewelry from metal clay, but I didn’t enjoy the feeling of clay drying on my fingers, so I don’t currently use that technique. (Yes, the sensation of dried clay or paint on my fingers is unpleasant for me, whereas cutting, sawing, and forging metal with my hands feels completely natural)
Thus, my journey with electroforming marked the beginning of the jewelry you now see on my social media pages and in my catalog.
I continue to expand my skills—working with saws, learning different stone-setting techniques, exploring the properties of metals, and more. Of course, in the near future, I plan to study jewelry making at college to become a certified specialist and create pieces from precious metals.
