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It’s the first day of November. Large cumulus clouds from the previous night’s rain are still lingering against the blue sky. I arrive at a house nestled in the hills of Silver Lake and follow the entrance instructions from the email.
I walk down a narrow corridor that leads to the house entrance and the glass-and-wood greenhouse, which is open. I’m the first to arrive. The interior is a cozy dream: a paper lamp, a long wooden table surrounded by chairs, vines cascading down the ceiling beams, and a round window overlooking the hills north of Silver Lake.
Trays are filled with colorful glass and metal beads, pearls, pendants, and gemstones. Personal touches — Polaroid pictures, paintings, plants, and the brand’s logo — add further warmth to the space.
Raquel “Rockii” Navarro began hosting jewelry-making workshops under her brand, Rockii Studios, in 2023. The workshops at her dreamy greenhouse have only continued to grow with social media, private, corporate events, and brand activations. These include a small dinner Raquel hosted for Puma. But Raquel also travels with the beads, like she did for a Rare Beauty event in September. The event featured a photo booth where guests could attach their photos to keychains with customizable beads from Rockii Studios.
Throughout the two-hour workshop, guests are encouraged to allow their inner child to take the reins. We have the option to create one necklace, one waist bead, one bracelet, one anklet, two bracelets or two anklets.
All of us choose to create a necklace. At first, I’m a little intimidated by the sheer number of beads and gemstones. “You got this,” says Raquel. Then I remember that since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by mermaids: The Little Mermaid, the Australian TV show H2O: Just Add Water, you name it. The movie Aquamarine comes to mind, and with it, flashes of turquoise, green, and baby blue. I pour the beads into the flower-shaped tray, sorting them by color, and gravitate toward a blue oval pendant as the finishing touch.
Once we lay out the beads and gemstones to see how our necklaces will look, Raquel gives us a curved wire to string them onto. All of us opt for drop-pendant designs; some choose to fill the entire wire with beads, while others go for a half-wire, half-chain design.
Soft music plays through the speakers, including Sade (my favorite), and the act of threading beads through their minuscule holes onto the wire is so meditative that I become completely absorbed in the process, forgetting about everything else. That feeling stays with me long after I leave the house.
There were two friend groups that day, and we didn’t mingle much. But according to Raquel, the workshops can get incredibly personal, with people sharing their stories or things they’re going through. I talked to the larger group at the end. Except for one girl who lived in Long Beach, the rest lived in Orange County and had come to LA for the weekend to see a concert. Another girl said it was her second time coming to Rockii Studios.
Unfortunately, it didn’t rain that day—though Raquel tells me the space becomes incredibly romantic when it does. In the photos I saw, a dense canopy of vines draped over the round windows, making the greenhouse feel like a lush jungle. According to Raquel, they died during the heatwave. “It was so nice, but they should come back in the spring,” she said.
Once we finish beading onto the wire, we hand our creations to Raquel, who goes outside to chain them and tweak them with pliers. When she comes back with the finished necklaces, everyone swoons in unison, like kids opening presents on Christmas morning. We get excited, we put them on in front of the mirror, we take pictures, and we just can’t wait to flaunt them!
Rockii Studios is more than just making jewelry in a cute greenhouse. It’s a meditative experience where you surrender, as Raquel puts it. In fact, some people have been so transformed by the experience and inspired by Raquel’s story that they have quit their 9-to-5 jobs to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Daughter of Mexican immigrants from Guadalajara, Raquel was born in LA but grew up all around Southern California, including Orange County and Riverside. After everyone leaves, we sit down and talk about Rockii Studios, the Silver Lake house she’s been living in for the past 5 years with her roommate, movement director Cami Árboles, and Los Angeles.
How did Rockii Studios come to life?
Raquel: In 2018, I was in college at Cal State Fullerton (Orange County) studying journalism. It was my junior year or senior year and it was summer. I was super sad as a 20-year-old figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I sat with myself and thought, “I need to listen to that inner child, little Rockii, who loved to craft and make things for people.” So I picked it up as a hobby again. I was making stuff for my college girlfriends, and it was truly what made me the happiest. I would bring my beads and make stuff with them. I loved the conversations around it. It’s a beautiful, ancestral thing to bond with people using our hands and being in community to express ourselves, especially with women.
Then during my senior year, I knew I didn’t want to do journalism anymore, but I finished it. I picked up entrepreneurship as a minor for my degree and when I graduated, I moved to my parents’ house to save up money because I had like $200 to my name. Little by little, I was building the brand and finally moved to LA in 2019. I lived in Mid-City and started selling at the Melrose Trading Post and other flea markets in 2020.
House and meeting Cami
Raquel: When Covid hit, people were shopping online a lot and thankfully, I was able to continue doing this. Cami Árboles, who’s an amazing art movement director, found me and bought jewelry from me online. We became friends in person in December of 2020, I’ll never forget the date. It was an instant platonic soulmate connection. I just knew that we were going to change each other’s lives. She found this house and we applied together. We also found the owner’s phone and called her. She said, “You know what? There’s like 20 other applicants but because you somehow found my phone number, you guys can move in.”
Note: After the interview, I found out that the house had been featured in the September 2026 issue of Dwell magazine! The owner gave Cami and Raquel carte blanche to transform the rental as they pleased. Cami turned the atrium into a pole-dancing space, where she even trained singer SZA, while Raquel built the greenhouse from the ground up. It’s a fascinating story of how a simple rental house in the hills can become a place where creativity blooms and life-changing experiences unfold.
The Greenhouse
Raquel: There was nothing in the backyard, and I knew I wanted to build something. I’ve always loved plants and greenhouses. I even had a Pinterest board full of greenhouses. I went to Home Depot and hired two random guys outside (laughs). I would go with them and buy the wood there. My dad is a handy Mexican man who can do anything. He helped me do the windows, electricity, and other details. The greenhouse has evolved so much since I started it, but it’s been a beautiful growth. The vines have grown so much. Before, the roof was very exposed and it would be too hot or too cold but because of the vines now it’s so cozy.
I wasn’t doing the workshops right away. I was still selling at flea markets. This used to be my studio and office space where I would pack orders. At the time, there were three of us in the house and when the other roommate moved out, I took over her room, and now my old room is my office. Now the greenhouse is just the workshop space. The workshops started around 2023. I used to not run the workshops whenever I was out of town, but now I’ve built a team with assistants so whenever I’m traveling, they run it.
(Left) Round window design plan. (Right) An early iteration of the greenhouse. Photos: @rockiiraquell
Where do the beads come from?
Raquel: I have a production that makes my designs, pieces and pendants. The beads, I find them in downtown LA, Mexico, and when I travel. I also source some of the beads and pendants from Etsy. Everything is real, waterproof, real stones, real pearls… I only use the best materials. I don’t use any plastic. Everything comes from the earth (laughs).
How did the workshops start picking up?
Raquel: Honestly, social media and brands that reach out for influencer events or makeup releases. I’ve never even posted on TikTok myself, but I’m grateful that when people come, they make little TikToks. I need to post myself though.
What would you say is the most rewarding part about Rockii Studios?
Raquel: Seeing everyone’s creations and seeing how much the workshops have grown! Truly. It is surprising, but a part of me knew that people needed this. I’m so grateful for all the support. Some people come nervous or overwhelmed. I’m like, “surrender, let the inner child guide you, and I promise it’ll work out.” After the workshops, some are like, “Wow, I really locked in for two hours and it was so meditative.” People really surrender and I love to see their reactions. I get the sweetest messages. Some get really vulnerable and share beautiful things about what they’re going through. Some even quit their 9 to 5s and are now freelancers. It makes me so happy to inspire someone to follow their creative endeavors.
Everyone who comes to the workshops is so sweet and kind. I’ve had a girl come back four times, and she brings more friends every time! She has everything: the necklace, the anklet, the bracelet and the waistlet.
What do you like about living in LA?
Raquel: I love the community and the people here. There are so many kind, genuine, and supportive people. I believe that the quality of your life is reflected in the quality of your relationships and the people you surround yourself with. I’m so grateful.
As for Silver Lake, I love how walkable and green it is. I love the nature and the fact that the Reservoir and Griffith Park are so close.
Favorite places in LA
Raquel: My favorite restaurant in LA has to be Santo on Sunset, and right next door is Seco. They’re from the same owners who are actually from Mexico City, so I have to represent. The sushi at Santo is actually delicious and it’s such a vibe at night. I love that you can sit outside and people-watch. I love the European and Mexican feel to it. I also love Tacos Tu Madre. It’s a chain, but the one in Los Feliz is really good. Best tacos, best burritos. It’s not as authentic, but it’s still really good. They have a mushroom taco, and an al pastor taco where they add jackfruit. It’s so good!
Honestly, everything in this area is delicious. All the restaurants I’ve tried around here have been really good.
I love all the flea markets near here, like Silver Lake and Los Feliz. I love hiking in Griffith and venture into the different trails. It’s only 5 minutes away from here and you get great views of the city. I always run into friends there. It’s so nice.
Rockii Studios: Website and Instagram
