Why enjoy the bluebonnets only in the springtime? Thanks to jewelry designer Petya Petkova of Petya’s World, fans of the Lone Star State’s signature blooms can enjoy them all year long.
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Story by Pamela Price
Bulgaria is a long way from the Texas Hill Country, and yet that is where Petya Petkova’s story began.
“I was born and grew up in Bulgaria, a little country in Southeastern Europe. I spent my childhood in nature and spent every vacation with my grandma who taught me about the flowers, trees and herbs,” said Petya.
After high school she moved to Germany for two decades. “I finished my Master of Arts at Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen. In Germany, I met my husband Eric, who is an American.”
Love, a Vegas wedding, and a little girl soon followed—as did a move to Texas.
Today Petya and her family live in San Antonio, where the talented artist continued a hobby she picked up as a young woman in Europe.
“I’m a very creative person and all my life I always created something for me and my friends,” Petya said. “I always dreamed to be a jeweler. When I was in Germany, I created lots of jewelry for me and my friends.”
Once stateside, she continued to wear her handmade jewelry.
“One day two ladies asked me where I bought my necklace. I told them I made it myself. Then they asked if I had an online shop. The same week a lot of ladies asked me the same question and the idea to open my Etsy shop, Petya’s World, was born.”
The women were drawn to a particular Petya-designed necklace, one featuring tiny artificial roses that looked remarkably real. When she went to source them from the German company who made them, however, Petya discovered the company had stopped producing the faux blooms. Faced with an unforeseen obstacle in her new business, she opted to get creative.
“I decided to preserve real roses and try to replace the original [flowers] with them. My first jewelry I made in America were made with real roses.”
As her business grew, nature sparked fresh, new ideas. “One day while walking through a meadow I just imagined how nice wildflowers would looks as a piece of jewelry. So, I added wildflowers to my style of jewelry, and I think they turned into unique pieces.”
The inspiration may have come easily but the process of making the jewelry she sells requires patience and time.
“It starts with harvesting the flowers, drying and pressing them. I use different ways to dry and press the flowers depending on the flower itself. For some flowers I use old wood presses, for others, I use the classic book method. For my customer orders I use other modern methods. I cover the flowers with non-toxic epoxy resin.”
Petya said that it can take up to two weeks to finish a piece, especially for items that use roses.
She sources her flowers from various locations, including her own backyard. Yes, not only does she preserve blooms she also plants them. “I was so happy to see this year in my garden the very rare white bluebonnet.”
Some flowers come from her own customers, too.
“For my special, personalized pieces, I get flowers from my customers. Those custom orders are very touching. Most of the flowers are from funerals or weddings. My customers want me to turn them into keepsakes. Inside each keepsake is a personal memory.”
Although the Etsy handmade platform is expansive and competitive, Petya said she’s doing well and finding customers.
“I have three bestsellers in my shop. Two of them are necklaces made with real Texas bluebonnets. The first one is a heart-shaped necklace in a bohemian style. The second one is a terrarium necklace. It is a little bottle full with Texas bluebonnets. It is really cute. Both pieces have unique design created by me. And the third very popular piece is a necklace made from a real rose petal. It looks like a butterfly wings The rose petals sometime after the drying process look like real butterfly wings, and my costumers quite like that look.”
When asked if she has a favorite piece, Petya demures.
“It is very difficult to answer. I love all my pieces. I make them with passion and love and they have my positive vibes. Every time when I experiment with something new it becomes a favorite piece until the next one comes. My latest creations are necklaces in a Victorian style, and I really love them. They look very elegant, but at the same time romantic and glamorous.”
In addition to selling her work via her Etsy store, Petya makes appearances from time to time at local shows, which fans of her work can learn about via her growing social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
Very beautiful jewellery.