October 14, 2026

A Childhood That Sparked a Career: Alejandra Velazquez

From a Small Town in Mexico to Laguna's Sawdust Festival: The Story of Alejandra Velazquez

Thirty-eight years ago, Alejandra Velazquez came from Mexico to visit her brother in Laguna Beach, CA, never imagining that the trip would change the course of her life. What began as a visit turned into a homecoming she didn't know she needed.

"I came from Mexico to visit my brother and fell in love with Laguna," Alejandra recalls. A few months later, a friend mentioned that the woman she worked for was looking for people who were creative and crafty. "I thought, that's me!" She went to the interview, got the job, and met the woman who would change everything: Barbara Barnett.

"She could see that I had potential, took me under her wing, and the rest is history," Alejandra says of her mentor. That chance encounter opened the door to a craft and a community that has shaped her life ever since.

A Childhood That Sparked a Career

Long before she ever set foot in Laguna, Alejandra's creativity was born out of necessity. Growing up in a small town in Mexico, she didn't have access to big stores or boutiques. If she wanted something to wear, she had to make it herself.

"That very same need forced me to design my own things and find a way of materializing it," she explains. It was a resourcefulness that, decades later, would become the foundation of a career. When she arrived in Laguna and met Barbara, that same instinct found a new outlet. "She showed me an outlet to unleash my creativity making jewelry."

The Art of Non-Pierced Earrings

Today, Alejandra has built a specialty that sets her apart: non-pierced earrings and ear cuffs. She describes them simply, "like orthopedic shoes for your ears." They hook onto the ear without pain or pressure, offering an elegant solution for people with metal allergies, torn lobes, or keloids.

But her designs aren't just for those with sensitivities. "In spite of all these benefits for the few, the average person with pierced ears is my most common customer," she notes, a testament to how stylish and versatile her pieces have become.

And she's far from finished exploring the form. "I am obsessed with ear cuffs," she admits. "I want to expand my line and see what other ways I can explore this look."

Why the Sawdust Festival Means the World

Ask Alejandra what the Sawdust Festival means to her, and her answer comes without hesitation: "The Sawdust means the world to me."

"The Sawdust Festival is absolutely the biggest blessing an artist can have," she says. "We have the most eclectic group of creative minds in just one place. Amazing community!" Each summer, artists like Alejandra build their own shop and studio space, immersed in nature while connecting directly with the visitors and tourists who come to appreciate the work.

"People who appreciate all the work we put into our pieces," she says, and that appreciation goes both ways. For Alejandra, nothing compares to hearing directly from the people who wear her work. "Nothing is more memorable than hearing from your customers. It gives me fuel, and ideas of what will come next."

Creating Connection Through Culture

Part of what drives Alejandra's work is the opportunity to share her heritage. "I guess for me it is learning about the culture," she says of the most meaningful part of her craft, "offering tourists and locals something that they can connect to, love, and wear."

That sense of connection extends to the artist community itself. "I love everything about this community," she says. "Since we are local artists, some of us are neighbors already. It feels familiar. We have a common denominator, and we have mutual love and appreciation for this incredible place that we get to call home every summer and winter." Even amid differences, she says, "there is care, lots of love, and comradery between us."

Embracing the Artist's Journey

Alejandra is candid about the challenges of a creative career. "One of the challenges of being an artist is that we are always taking chances, and hoping to come across," she says. "It is a hit and miss, and do it all over again. But always with an original vision of what I want to convey."

Her advice to anyone hoping to follow a similar path is simple, and hard-won: "Find inspiration everywhere. Travel, read books, look at nature, learn from different cultures." And no matter how far her travels take her, one thing always calls her back. "Every time I go on a trip, I look forward to going back home to my workshop."

Her final words say it all: "Keep on grinding."