Rosario Leiva

"I was born in Argentina in 1990, but came to to Guatemala nine years later to live with my mother. My friends call me 'Rous.' <br><br> "I love creating jewelry with materials that most people would discard. I'm helping the environment and am contributing a little bit to help reduce pollution. <br><br> "I recycle materials like CDs. I had many in my house, most of them scratched, but I didn't want to throw them out because they take years to decompose. I looked for a way to transform them into something pretty. <br><br> "The CDs can be melted and molded. By by experimenting, I learned to control the temperature, then I add droplets of the acrylic used in stained glass. Although I've established a methodology, the results are always a surprise. Each piece becomes a unique work of eco-art. <br><br> "This craft has given me a way to free up my thoughts and feelings so I can express myself spontaneously. Because my jewelry is eco-friendly, I feel good about that I do.<br><br> "Let's all take the time to think about the endless opportunities we have to give 'waste' materials another chance."