About me - Brut Nature Bijoux

They call me Moni and…

I live in the south of France, nestled in the mountains of Haut-Languedoc. Art and nature are the two backbones that sustain my life.

My history with fire and tools dates back to 1989, with a blacksmithing course at the School of Arts and Crafts in Granada. Over time, my obsession with detail led me from the anvil and hammer to the precision of jewelry making, which I complement with lapidary work. I find some of the stones for my pieces myself in the mountains, in abandoned quarries or mines, and I source others from sustainable suppliers. In the workshop, I transform, shape, and polish them, then set them in silver to create unique pieces that evoke the soul of this place.

Create to exist, exist to create

Keeping my hands and mind active is pure life therapy. My trade is metal, but that same root drives me to explore, secondary disciplines of the earth and botany that feed my imagination and complement my essence.

I run ecoprint workshops and have my own pottery corner with a self-built propane kiln where, after training with Nómada Cerámica, I model whistling vessels. Along those same peripheral lines, I am part of Majaras, a participatory and sensory theater company, alongside Paola Rispo, Lorena Gudiña, and Gina Teixidor (coordinator of the Can Serrat art residency). Together, we research the heretical movements of the Middle Ages and the birth of the Inquisition, and we edit handmade zines us

Sharing is living

My workspace is not a closed-off environment. I organize individual residencies and retreats for those looking to learn my craft —jewelry making and lapidary work— or who simply need a quiet spot in nature to create. Those who come share my daily routine: not just the workshops, but also hikes in search of stones and local food. Conversation and exchange are vital parts of who I am; I cannot understand life without community.

A Heart on the Road

My soul is nomadic and I have always loved to move. I participate in fairs and exhibitions, and during the summer season, I move my jewelry workshop to the medieval camp of the Cité de Carcassonne. The tourism office grants me a space there where I give demonstrations using ancient tools, creating my jewelry live in front of the public.

My dream? To live in a wooden caravan, keeping the wheels turning and creating at a snail’s pace.