Behind the name filozofijatoja is Zosia – born and raised in Gdańsk, an oceanographer by training. She makes cheerful jewellery from polymer clay, natural stones and glass beads, and lately also from things she finds: driftwood, sea glass and nutshells. Her work, with handmade animal pendants, is at Locus Artis in Gdańsk.
“I’m Zosia, a naturalist by profession and a craftswoman at heart.” That is how the maker behind filozofijatoja – Filo Zofija To Ja – introduces herself. It is this blend of training and passion that brings nature and the sea back into her work at every turn.
It began with knitting needles: she was already knitting at nine, came back to it at 18, and then took up crochet. Later came clay – air-dry and polymer. In February 2025 she sculpted her first smiling little mushroom, a pendant for a necklace. Looking at it gave her so much joy that it soon became her brand’s logo.
Her studio is a desk in her bedroom in Przymorze, Gdańsk. Her ideas come from walks by the sea and in the park: she watches animals, plants, mushrooms and the colours that dominate each season – and all of it then finds its way into her work.
She most likes sculpting whales and small, cheerful mushrooms, because she loves anything magical and fantastical. On her earrings and pendants, animals from the Baltic, such as the grey seal and gulls, meet creatures from far away – the platypus and the sea cow. She treats every pendant, especially the animal ones, as if it had a personality of its own: no two come out the same, and each is meant to make someone smile. She strings necklaces and bracelets from natural stones and glass beads. From the beach she brings back shells, sea glass and driftwood, which she prepares with beeswax; she also uses nutshells and Baltic amber.
She sets out her work at the Pchli Targ flea market in Oliwa – now for the second year – and at the Babeczkowy Targ market in Gdańsk.
What she brought to Locus Artis.
To Locus Artis Zosia brought mostly necklaces with animal pendants, plus some earrings, stone bracelets and polymer clay rings. For herself she would pick the black-headed gulls – the first she has ever sculpted, and she is very happy with them.
Zosia runs workshops on making jewellery from clay, and she also makes yarn plush toys to order – even a whole family of gulls. She takes orders via direct message on Instagram.