From event and publication designer to maker of handcrafted notebooks and jewelry, Vera Georgieva has found freedom and meaning in the quiet joy of working with her hands and heart.
Right where she belongs
Vera Georgieva speaks with the confidence of someone who is exactly where she is meant to be. We meet her at her spacious studio at 41 Dunav Street in Sofia. The air smells of paper and leather. The room glows with color—like the handmade paper flowers she and her workshop guests create together. Vera smiles as she arranges her notebooks, each one stitched with care: “This is my place.”
One thread, many directions
Vera’s career has taken many creative turns. She has worked as a graphic designer for media outlets, including the beloved Sofia culture guide Programata; she has sold high-end furniture; managed clients in an ad agency; and co-run a studio for out-of-the-box events. But this is not a story about job titles. It is about the one thread running through them all: a love of beauty, a hunger for originality, and a quiet longing for a simpler life.
Ideas no one has tried before
“If you want to spark a designer’s imagination, just say: ‘There is no such thing,’” Vera laughs. Years ago, she and a friend began organizing custom-made events—bold, playful, unforgettable. A wedding in a wildflower meadow, where nature set the tone. A birthday party themed after Marie Antoinette, the beleaguered 18th-century French queen, with a dessert table so full of cakes and pastries guests avoided sweets for weeks. A wedding held at Sofia’s historic railway institute, complete with musicians, a stage, and a guided walk through the story of Bulgarian rail transport. (They never did plan a divorce party, Vera adds with a laugh, though the idea once came up.) What all these events had in common: they offered experiences that could not be found anywhere else.
And that same spirit lives on in Semplice—her line of handmade notebooks and accessories. It started with a few journals: thick artist-grade paper, hand stitching, covers made from beautiful materials like natural leather or heavy art stock. Nothing was wasted—leftover scraps became necklaces inspired by geometric shapes and elements from nature, with clean lines and natural textures. “That is how the jewelry began. I just tried it,” she says.
From hobby to courage
For a long time, Vera did not think of what she was doing as a business. “It felt more like a self-sustaining hobby,” she smiles. That changed in 2022, when she joined BASE—a business training program for early-stage entrepreneurs. There, she gained more than knowledge. “BASE gave me the courage!” Vera says.
A return to herself
Before she had a space of her own, Vera worked at her kitchen table—a setup that eventually became a constraint. Now, she has a light-filled studio where she not only creates notebooks and jewelry but also hosts workshops for people of all ages and backgrounds. “People sit down and remember they have hands. We have forgotten we have hands,” she says. For her, working with your hands is not just a skill; it is a way back to yourself.
There are no productivity hacks at 41 Danube Street—only care and intention. Everything is slow, quiet, and personal. A sheet of paper. A needle. An idea. “It fills me up—to make something with my own hands and see that it depends on me,” Vera says. Sometimes, guests arrive unsure whether they can create anything beautiful. Then they leave with a notebook or piece of jewelry they made themselves—and a smile. “There is something magical about that moment,” she says.
You go further with support
Vera did not do it alone—and she does not pretend she did. “I never could have made it as an entrepreneur without my loved ones—not just their financial help, but their moral support,” she says. When doubt creeps in, she also leans on the BASE community. “There is always someone whose story lifts me up.”
BASE is for people who often start with more enthusiasm than experience—some with no plan, others with an idea sparked by necessity or a dream. With support, persistence, and a lot of work, they build something of their own. Like the woman who crafts journals and minimalist accessories in her studio on Dunav 41, inspiring others with the joy of creating something with their own hands.
Choosing simplicity
Vera’s creations are not flashy or mass-produced. Semplice—as the name suggests—is for those who appreciate simplicity not as a compromise, but as a choice. To brighten a holiday table with a handmade flower, crafted with patience and joy. To wear a necklace with a story. To jot down thoughts in a notebook that cannot be found in any store.
“Beauty lives in the small things made with care,” she says, glancing at a messy table scattered with paper scraps, yarn, a hint of gold leaf, and a cup of tea. This is what matters. Not noise. Not perfection. Just thoughtful, lasting beauty.
Find out more about upcoming events and workshops at Studio Dunav 41 at https://dunav41.com/.
To learn more about BASE editions near you or to get involved as a mentor or lecturer, visit: https://baseprogram.bg/
