Fusako Koike painting the storefront of her Montmartre jewelry atelier — the beginning of her handcrafted silver and gold-plated creations in Paris.

Chapter 1: My Own Atelier in Montmartre

Before opening my current atelier, I worked in several very different places.

The very first was a small student studio in Paris, at the time when I was studying contemporary jewelry. It was just one tiny room, where my bed stood right next to the workbench — a modest space, but one where I spent countless nights learning techniques and searching for my own creative voice.

After finishing my studies, I kept working in that same Montmartre studio, where I created the first pieces of my brand. It was there, in 2012, that the idea for my collection “Eat Yourself” was born — a concept that still lies at the heart of my work (I’ll talk more about it in a future post).

Later, I set up a small workspace in an apartment in the Paris suburbs, and then joined a shared studio in the 12th arrondissement, working in my own little 10 m² corner alongside other creators.

In 2023, I finally opened my own atelier in Montmartre. For the first time, I had a space entirely devoted to creation — separate from my everyday life — a quiet, intimate place shaped by my own hands and taste.

Jewelry artist painting the exterior of her Montmartre atelier with a roller — a handcrafted Paris storefront in the making, reflecting the spirit of independent creation.

Before the renovation, I had never even used a power drill, nor tried any technique as delicate as glass gilding — yet I learned everything as I went along. Painting, wiring the lights, hand-gilding the logo on the shop window with gold leaf, transforming two vintage display cases… everything was done by my own hands, in a true Do It Yourself spirit. The vintage showcases were restored, repainted, illuminated, and reinvented — a mix of patience, craftsmanship, and passion.

Preparation for reverse glass gilding — handmade stencil for the 'Fusako Koike Paris' logo taped to the atelier window, showing the beginning of the gold leaf lettering process.
Inside view of the Montmartre jewelry atelier during renovation — tools, ladder, and workbench showing the DIY transformation process.
Atelier wall with the preliminary design for the 'Fusako Koike Paris' logo surrounded by ginkgo leaves — a glimpse of the artistic process behind the Paris jewelry studio.
Restoring a vintage wooden jewelry showcase — paintbrushes, varnish, and handcraft tools used in the Paris atelier renovation.
Finished glass gilded window sign 'Fusako Koike Paris' — hand-gilded gold leaf lettering reflecting the Montmartre street view of the jewelry atelier.
Finished vintage display case with handcrafted silver and gold-plated rings and necklaces — elegant presentation inside the Montmartre jewelry atelier.

In this first journal, I’m sharing a few images from those renovation days — long, tiring, but full of excitement and discovery. Today, every detail of this space still carries the memory of those beginnings — a simple place, built step by step, where everything truly began.

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