Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Castagnaro.
Tamara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been a stay at home mom for many years. My children went to public school for a little while and then one summer we decided to teach them at home. During that time I was trying my best to help them find new experiences, try new arts, follow musical passions, volunteer, and adventure and explore.
My daughter found lampwork glass art soon after leaving public school and she just fell in love. After trying to find the best place to make her art she moved into a little old chicken coop in our backyard and set up her art space there.
I have been fostering and rescuing animals for as long as I can remember. Both of my children were born into a life with animals all around and they quickly learned to be animal lovers themselves. We were able to volunteer and donate our time to many organizations and sanctuaries because we had the time during the day.
I had hoped that helping animals would just become second nature to my children. Since I didn’t work while the kids were at home with me learning, I didn’t have money to donate to those helping animals in need and it secretly bothered me.
But I was always busy volunteering my time. It’s been important to me to help animals and I liked finding new ways to do so. I learned to sew and made dog collars and leashes to donate some money to dogs overseas rescued from the illegal dog and cat meat trade.
We usually have at least one animal living with us that needs help finding a new home so we foster animals often. I have always had it in the back of my mind that when my children grew I would find something to do that would allow me to help even more.
My daughter became busy with her own life and business, my son got older and didn’t need me as much anymore so I wanted to try some new things myself! I took an afternoon class at a local art center and tried my hand at soldering a set of stacking rings. I loved it!
I immediately went home and bought myself a torch and taught myself how to make jewelry. I moved into the coop with my daughter and we made art next to each other. I loved being next to her. She eventually moved out and my husband built me a new “coop” in the backyard so that I could have a place to create art that I didn’t have to share with the wild mice 🙂
I have been making jewelry for about 2 years now and so enjoy it. I love being able to create wearable art that helps start conversations about how we treat animals. And I do my best to find folks helping animals to donate some of my sales too. I love my job and that I am still able to be home with my growing son, our rescued animals, and have time to be home to foster animals as well.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I really wouldn’t say that it has been a smooth road, no. It is tough to juggle time with your children, time for your husband, house chores, and just living life.
To start a new home-based business, and have it become successful, takes a lot of time! It has been a learning experience for me to learn how to give everyone my time. My family is the most important thing to me but I sometimes feel that pull to create.
Since I started this on the very first day I knew how important to me it would be to do things in a way that was earth friendly and animal-friendly. Sadly, a lot of the supplies and tools used in metalsmithing are neither.
Any time I need to purchase something or incorporate a new type of art into my jewelry, it requires digging into how things are made and where they come from. Some gemstones are mined by children and slaves, some metals and minerals are taken from and destroying the earth and it’s clean water, and finding animal free replacements for items I need to make my jewelry has been difficult.
Sometimes I have been happy to find an alternative to something that wasn’t animal free and it has worked well for me. Other times there isn’t a cruelty-free option so I go without. Trying to be successful, grow, pay more for supplies, and do the right thing has been a challenge for sure!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I make jewelry from copper and recycled sterling silver that usually depicts animals, plants, and nature. Sometimes I create themed jewelry and do so to be able to donate money to a specific organization, rescue, or person that is helping that type of animal in need. I specialize in creating miniature versions of animals and plants that I love.
I am most proud that I am finally able to do something that I love to do and donate money to try and help ease the burden of animal rescuers. They have the time and the home environment to help the animals so the least I can do is try to help them with funds.
I think what sets me apart from other jewelry makers is that I will not buy or use products that harm animals. I put a lot of time and thought into my supplies, from the metals that I use, the gemstones that I choose and cut, to the polishing compounds that are vegan-friendly, and all of my packaging materials being recycled and biodegradable.
And I do all of this behind the scenes. I don’t believe it will get me any more sales or more interest in what I am creating, I just do it because it is important to me.
What were you like growing up?
Some of the only fond memories I have growing up was riding my bicycle around my town and peeking into the trees in the spring looking for newly built bird’s nests. I enjoyed walking to a little pond not far from my home and catching frogs and toads.
I remember being grounded by my father one time because I bought a toad home from one of these adventures and kept him in my room. My parents thought it was disgusting. I just loved him 🙂 There was a chicken barn up the road where a local farmer kept it packed full of birds meant to be eaten every year.
I would go almost every day on my bike and go peek into those dusty window holes and just cry. I wanted to take them all home. After one year’s round-up of all the birds, many were left behind. Most were dead but there were some that were still barely alive.
I took one of these hens home and hid it in a garage of an empty house in my neighborhood. I brought her food and water every day, pick her grass to peck at, and would sit with her after school.
My father eventually found out and made me put her back where I found her because he said she didn’t belong to me. I did what I was told but I still remember how badly it hurt my heart to leave her there to die.
I am not sure what else to write here. My childhood was not a happy one and I sometimes wonder if that is why I love animals so much today. They were some of my only friends growing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: Etsy/shop/StripedCatMetalworks
- Email: stripedcatmetal@gmail.com
- Instagram: The_Striped_Cat_Metalworks
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