Our Story

Hey-hey! It’s me! Yelena!

The story begins in Rome, with a gift from a dear friend: a shimmering silver beaded collar that looked as though it had stepped straight out of a fairy tale.

I fell in love instantly.

What began as a desire to learn how to make something magical for myself soon turned into a love of creating pieces for others.

I’ve been an artist and designer for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always been drawn to unusual jewelry — pieces with character, a little drama, and a story to tell.

I love how a single piece of jewelry can change not only what you’re wearing, but how you feel when you wear it.

Everything I make carries a little bit of my own world with it — the colors I love, places that stay with me, shapes that catch my eye, and those tiny, beautiful details I can never resist.

Morana + Raven grew from all of that: the rich beadwork traditions of Eastern Europe, a love of travel and adventure, my own sense of beauty and style, and, of course, a sprinkle of fairy-tale magic.

Every piece is handmade by me, one at a time, with love — a tiny story woven in beads, waiting to become part of yours. 

So, where did the name Morana + Raven come from?

It begins with a winter storm. 

My mother has told me this story for as long as I can remember: I was born deep in the night, during a great January blizzard, on Christmas.

Maybe that’s why snow has always made me feel as though the ordinary world has disappeared for a moment and something magical has taken its place.

Morana — the ancient Slavic goddess associated with winter, transformation, and the turning of the seasons — felt like the perfect muse.

By her side: a watchful, mysterious, beautiful, a little wild raven — her companion on the journey. 

And that’s how Morana + Raven came to be.

I’m Yelena — artist, designer, jewelry maker, traveler, and collector of beautiful stories.

Morana + Raven is my way of turning those stories into something you can wear — a little beauty, a little adventure, and always a touch of magic.