Meet Tassia Canellis

It’s not every day a seven-year Art Director at an advertising agency decides to devote themselves to jewelry design, but that’s just what Tassia Canellis did.

For Canellis, it was about being more hands-on, more tactic with her art. Canellis, 36, hails from the South of France and now lives in Paris, where she has established her jewelry studio and eponymous brand. When she’s not creating exquisite and delicate pieces of jewelry, Canellis enjoys dancing, taking long walks along the waterfront in Paris and shopping for vintage home décor. OuiPlease had the pleasure of speaking with her, and here’s what the designer had to share:

Q: What made you want to be a jewelry designer?

TC: I wanted to further explore my creativity, and return to something manual, so I started in the design and production of jewelry. I started selling jewelry privately and quickly realized there was a place for me in this market. In 2007, I decided to leave my job and devote myself to jewelry making full time.

Q: What inspires you when you’re designing?

TC: I don’t have a method, per se. Ideas come at different times of the day (or night.) Sometimes I see different materials in a market or an antique shop, or someone’s look on the subway or at a café and that gets me thinking of a piece of jewelry I could create that would revolve around those things.

Q: Do you have a specific type of woman in mind when you’re designing?

TC: I like making jewelry that is so delicate you may not even feel it on you. I like the idea of it being a part of the person as a whole.

Q: What are some of your favorite places to go in Paris?

TC: I love going to Kiliwatch to shop for vintage clothing and other pieces. Astier de Villatte is great for china and other home décor. La Candelaria is a great place to sip on some cocktails.

Q: What is your favorite part of living in Paris?

TC: It’s cultural variety, the Eiffel Tower, and the opportunity it gives me to do my job. I love August, night walks on the waterfront and small corners that are still unknown to me…

For more on Tassia Canellis and her unique designs, visit her website at www.tassiacanellis.com!