Creative Conversations #6: Milda Bajelytė

There is a certain kind of quiet bravery in beginning something without a plan. Not because you are chasing a result, but because you feel pulled towards the process itself. For Milda Bajelytė, jewellery began exactly like that. With a simple wish to learn how to make something with her own hands.

Today, she spends her days in a small studio in Vilnius, shaping silver into objects that carry emotion, memory, and presence. Her work reflects a slower way of living, one where time is not an enemy and where the most important part of creating is not the finish, but the feeling.

In this conversation we spoke about beginnings, the beauty of working slowly, and the invisible connection between maker and wearer.

The birth of a craft

How did your jewellery journey begin? 
My creative path started naturally, without too much planning, about five years ago. One day I simply decided I wanted to learn how to make jewellery with my hands. I signed up for jewellery classes, and from there I understood that this is something I want to do every day, not only in my free time.

When did you realise jewellery would become your main work, not just a hobby?
I realised it when I started seeing how beautiful and deep this craft is. When I got closer to jewellery making, when I truly understood how it works, that is when I knew I want this to be my everyday life.

What has changed the most in your creative thinking over these five years?
I think the biggest change is my own understanding of direction. I became clearer about where I want to go, what I want to create, what materials I want to work with, and what kind of style feels true to me.

Defining the studio ritual

What does it mean to have your own small studio in Vilnius?
It means having a safe place. An oasis of creativity and calm. A space where I can create, work, meet people, and connect with those who are curious about what I do. It is a place where I can share the life I live.

How does your perfect studio day look, without rushing?
I arrive in the morning. I open the shutters, turn on warm lights, and put on music. Most mornings it is jazz. I make coffee. I tidy up the studio, there is always something to organise and I really love doing that. Then I look at my notebook, check what is planned, take a sip of coffee, and start working.

You mention routine often. Why is it important for you?
I am a routine person. I have my daily rhythm before arriving at the studio and once I am there. This helps me focus and start the day calmly. My morning ritual is slow and simple: movement, arriving at the studio, coffee, music. When it all happens smoothly, it is almost always a good creative day.

The invisible bond of creation

If you had to describe your work in a few words, what would you say?
Silver, and not only silver, objects. In my work, just like in daily life, people, objects, emotions, forms, feelings, and experiences meet each other. Human connection is very important to me, because so many ideas and creations come from that.

How much of your process is spontaneous and how much is planned?
Ninety percent is spontaneous. Ten percent is planned.

Why is live connection with people so important to you?
Because connection creates meaning. I feel like many ideas are born through people, through listening and meeting and sharing. My work exists with people, not separately from them. Seeing someone wearing jewellery I made is my greatest joy. Even if we do not know each other, there is already a connection. Invisible, but also very real.

Living at my own pace

What does slow living mean to you?
It is important for me to not rush and to live at my own pace. A pace that does not force me to run anywhere. In all areas of life, I choose quality over quantity—in work, relationships, environment, and objects. Living here and now is to consciously experience the moment and be grateful for what exists today.

How does slow living show up in your creative work?
I try to do everything in my day at my own tempo. Rushing never gives the result I want. It means not constantly looking at the clock while creating; it means being able to step away, go for a walk, and search for inspiration when I need it.

Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. Sometimes it is city streets and movement. Sometimes it is silence in the forest. Nature is usually the strongest inspiration. Every time I walk in the forest, I find something that brings a thought or a feeling. Unusual, strange shapes stop me and make me notice.

 

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