Meet Brenda Covarrubias of Chicstera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Covarrubias.

Brenda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was first introduced to the art of quilling when I was in El Salvador as my sister Claudia was leading a mural project in the community of Apulo, where our mother grew up. The elders invited us into their workshop where they make and sell various crafts.

I was drawn to the craft and made two cards but didn’t pursue it or start practicing on my own until about two years after that (2015) when I found the card in a box. I acquired tools and materials and started making my own designs on cardboard with the intention to make earrings mainly to give handmade goods to my loved ones as gifts.

Once my loved ones started wearing them out, they told me that people were stopping them on the street and asking where they got them and if they could buy some. I decided to start selling them and created an Instagram page and doing popups and have just kept going & growing since then creating new designs and one of a kind pieces.

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?
It has in the sense that people have been very supportive of my art. In terms of creating items, it has been a huge learning/relearning/fixing/changing process since I’ve had to teach myself every step (and there are A LOT of steps).

There was a lot of trial and error, and there still is. I’m continuously finding and creating better methods, tools. And techniques to be more efficient and for my items to be the best quality they can be. It can be very frustrating but also satisfying when I see progress.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in jewelry, mainly earrings but also create canvases, jewelry boxes, frames, installations, and backdrops.

Not many people have seen quilling artwork until they see my work, and my work has an instantly recognizable aesthetic. I love pulling from Latinx symbols, imagery, and color schemes which stand out in each piece/ set such as the Calaveras, nopales, & Sagrado Corazones.

All pieces and sets are one of a kind and no two even if duplicated will be exactly alike.

What were you like growing up?
I was kind of all over the place much like I am now. I had various interests growing up such as playing guitar, video games, student leadership, acting & entertaining, dancing, singing, etc. but I didn’t ever consider myself an artist (or a good one anyway) until I started doing this craft. It opened up that creative outlet for me, and I have loved being able to create beautiful items that bring joy to so many people.

Contact Info:

• Website: chicstera.etsy.com
• Email: chicstera@gmail.com
• Instagram: chicstera

Image Credit:
Dakota Cheyenne Photography

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