On a weekend morning New York was waking up to its usual metropolitan beat, yet inside a hall at Chelsea Piers a completely different, almost home-like atmosphere reigned. The delicate aroma of coffee mingled with laughter and the rustle of beads—so began the Jewelry Making Class workshop, which gathered more than three dozen Ukrainian women living in various boroughs and suburbs. For some it was a chance to hold jewelry tools for the first time; for others—a long-awaited opportunity to escape everyday worries and do something just for themselves.
Атмосфера майстер-класу Jewelry Making Class. Фото: Лана Брукс
The event’s organizer, Lana Brooks, greeted every guest in person. “I want each woman to feel as if she has dropped by a friend’s kitchen—no formalities, but with cake and warm conversation,” she explains, laying colorful cords and tiny ceramic pendants on the tables. The idea emerged last year, when Lana and her friends were looking for an unconventional way to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day; since then such gatherings have become regular and gain momentum each time.
The creative process was led by jeweler Oksana Barnyak—a native of Ternopil region who has lived in the United States for more than six years and sells her work in New York concept stores. She brought an entire suitcase of findings: from brass medallions to tiny pearls and ceramic “smileys.” “Let’s start with talisman bracelets. Think about which symbol of strength you’d like to wear on your wrist: a heart, a sunflower, or perhaps a trident?” she says to the audience, immediately engaging newcomers by demonstrating how to crimp and fasten clasps.
During the first hour the room seemed to fall silent: each participant focused on the stone that “spoke” to her. Soon delighted exclamations rang out: someone discovered the perfect pairing of turquoise and rose quartz; another added to her chain the tiny cross her grandmother had given her. Some incorporated yellow-and-blue beads so each morning would bring a reminder of home. In just two hours the tables were covered with a vibrant array: minimalist chains, exotic boho-style chokers, and delicate hoop earrings.
“I worried whether everyone would succeed,” Oksana admits, “but when I saw their eyes light up, I knew we’d made it. The main thing isn’t perfect technique; it’s that moment of unity when you look up and see a like-minded woman beside you.” Her words are echoed by Kyiv native Olha Mishchenko, attending Lana’s workshop for the second time: “Here it’s easy to take the first step toward friendship. We exchange contacts, plan coffee meet-ups, share life stories. This time I left not only with a bracelet, but with the feeling that I’m not alone in this big city.”
Учасниці майстер-класу з ювелірною майстринею Оксаною Барняк та організатором заходу Ланою Брукс. Фото: Лана Брукс
After the official portion the participants didn’t hurry away—they posed for a group photo, swapped tips, and asked when the next gathering would be. Lana is already drafting a wish-list of ideas: a felt-brooch workshop, a charity fair for Independence Day, a series of talks on traditional Ukrainian dress. “Our events are a bridge linking past and present, Ukraine and America. As long as we create together, our cultural code stays alive,” she sums up.
The Jewelry Making Class came to an end, yet each woman carried away more than a new piece of jewelry: a charge of inspiration, warm new friendships, and the conviction that small acts of creativity can unite a community just as powerfully as large festivals. In bustling New York another spot has appeared where Ukrainian colors ring out especially loudly—in the rhythm of clicking tools, genuine laughter, and the soft jingle of fresh bracelets on eager wrists.
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