The name Estona loosely translates to "a moment in time." It inspires me to make the best of what we have, and to turn quiet moments at the bench into something lasting.
My name is Bregje. I am 44 and I live in the Netherlands. I trained as an occupational therapist and spent my early career working with elderly people living with dementia, work I loved deeply.
Only a month after my partner and I started dating, I threw out my back. What followed was a long, hard chapter: roughly 150 medical appointments over two years, and eventually a disability classification. My first career had come to an end.
Rather than surrender to it, we started a family and I began exploring creative hobbies: baking, painting, stained glass. My work started to catch attention on social media, which nudged me to focus. I was drawn to milling and engraving, and I chose metal over wood. I wrote a business plan and launched Estona by engraving pre-made pieces.
Then, during a metalsmithing class taken simply to repair a mistake, everything clicked. I discovered that working metal from scratch, forging, casting, setting stones, is where I feel most myself. That is the moment Estona truly became what it is today.
After 16 years of chronic pain, I had surgery not long ago and finally found real relief. With that came renewed energy, for making one of a kind pieces and for creating the tutorials I always wished existed: honest, detailed and encouraging.
Whether you are here for a piece of jewelry that no one else in the world owns, or to learn the craft yourself, I am so happy you made it. Welcome to Estona.