 |
|
|
Story by
IlluminatedPerfume,
lolos,
twoknit
Published on April 17, 2009 in This Handmade Life |
Photo by |
“To be, or not to be,” Shakespeare's Hamlet asked. How about “Two Knit or Knot to Knit?” This is the question for granddaughter Eve Neuhart and her grandmother Martha Villa, who started a shop called TwoKnit. They were introduced to Etsy by Roxana Villa (IlluminatedPerfume and RoxanaVilla), Martha’s daughter and Eve’s mother.
TwoKnit is a new member of the Etsy in Spanish Team and invited lolos and family member Estudio Mullen to translate this post into Spanish.
El nombre TwoKnit representa a las dos tejedoras dueñas de la tienda. El nombre está inspirado en la cita de Shakespeare “Ser o No Ser”, que fue transformada en “Tejer o No Tejer”. Martha Villa y su nieta Eve Neuhart conocieron Etsy gracias a Roxana Villa (IlluminatedPerfume.etsy.com & RoxanaVilla.etsy.com). Roxana es la hija de Martha y la madre de Eve.
Martha began knitting at an early age in Argentina, as seen in the above photo with her cousins on the beach. In 1962 she began knitting professionally in an attempt to bring income to the household. This soon resulted in a TV appearance and a fashion show with her designs in 1964. At the time she had a shop with twelve knitters creating her designs and two sales reps. After moving to the states, Martha took a position at a small boutique in Beverly Hills called "Andrea’s" on little Santa Monica and Camden. This is where she created the crochet hats for Ali MacGraw (Love Story) and taught Natalie Wood to crochet when she was expecting her first baby. Martha’s other celebrity clients have included Lois Clark (James Garner's wife), Shirley Fonda and Charo.
Martha comenzó a tejer con sus primos en las playas de Argentina cuando era una niña. En 1962, tratando de aumentar los ingresos para su hogar, empezó a tejer profesionalmente, y en 1964 presentó sus diseños en un espectáculo de moda en televisión. En esa época, era dueña de una tienda que tenía dos vendedoras y doce tejedoras creando sus diseños. Después de mudarse a los Estados Unidos, Martha trabajó en una pequeña boutique de Beverly Hills llamada Andrea, ubicada en Little Santa Monica y Camden. Allí creó los sombreros de ganchillo para Ali MacGraw (Love Story) y le enseñó a tejer con ganchillo a Natalie Wood cuando ésta esperaba su primer bebé. Otros clientes célebres incluyeron a Lois Clark (la esposa de James Garner), Shirley Fonda y Charo.
Eve, sixteen years of age, has been blessed by a bounty of creativity in her family. Some of Eve’s favorite activities include acting, filmmaking, writing, drawing, painting, photography, quantum physics, Shakespeare Summer camp, and of course knitting. The first knitted item that Eve created was a pocket gnome. From there she moved onto to animals (lamb, lion and a bear) and socks. While Eve was in eighth and ninth grade, she and her best friend had a booth at their school's winter fair where they sold their knitted hats and scarves. Shortly after Roxana opened her Illuminated Perfume shop here on Etsy, Martha and Eve decided to open TwoKnit, featuring both their wares. Martha specializes in both knitting and crochet. Eve currently focuses on knitted hats and scarves and models many of the items for their shop.
Little Roxana!
Martha’s passion for crochet and knitting was rekindled when Roxana asked her to make some pouches for her natural/botanical perfumes. In the realm of niche perfumery, many of the artists utilize similar bottles. As a way to differentiate her products from other niche perfumers Roxana decided to recruit her mother’s extraordinary talent for the task. The heirloom pouches are in keeping with the spirit of the exquisite handmade artifact. Roxana and Martha spent much time together researching yarns and other embellishments for the pouches.
La pasión de Martha por el ganchillo y el tejido se reavivó cuando Roxana le pidió hacer algunas bolsitas para colocar sus perfumes botánicos/naturales. En el campo de la perfumería exclusiva muchos de los artistas utilizan este tipo de presentaciones. Para diferenciar sus productos de los otros perfumes, Roxana decidió utilizar el extraordinario talento de su madre. Estas bolsitas exclusivas mantienen el espíritu de los exquisitos objetos hechos a mano. Roxana y Martha pasan mucho tiempo juntas investigando estambres y otros adornos para los envases. 
Since Roxana had color coded each perfume, this system was applied to the pouches and soon all the packaging pieces came together. Lyra, the very feminine floral perfume, has a dusty rose colored pouch for both manifestations as a liquid and solid perfume. Martha also painstakingly embellishes the boxes which house the perfumes by creating silk pillows and lining the interiors with ribbon. Working on this project together strengthened the bond between Roxana and Martha. Thus, when Roxana opened her Etsy shop, Martha and Eve soon followed suit. Greg Spalenka (spalenka and spalenkaart), Roxana’s husband, contributes the illustrations that illuminate each of her perfumes.
Roxana codificó cada perfume en base a colores y éste sistema fue el que aplicaron a las bolsitas, consolidando así todo el sistema de empaque. Lyra, perfume floral muy femenino, tiene una bolsita en tono rosado opaco para el perfume líquido así como para el sólido. Martha también embellece minuciosamente las cajas que contienen los perfumes, creando almohadillas de seda y forrando el interior con cintos. Trabajando juntas en este proyecto, Roxana y Martha fortalecieron la relación entre ambas. Así, cuando Roxana abrió su tienda en Etsy, Martha y Eve decidieron hacer lo mismo. El esposo de Roxana, Greg Spalenka (spalenka.etsy.com y spalenkaart.etsy.com) colabora con las ilustraciones que iluminan cada uno de sus perfumes.
Martha tends to knit and crochet outside in a chair next to her swimming pool in the California sunshine. Roxana and Eve work on their projects in their Santa Monica Mountain home, which serves as a large studio space. Eve also knits in the car to and from school, at school and while watching her favorite films.
Martha teje y hace ganchillo sentada en una silla junto a su piscina, bajo el sol de California. Roxana y Eve trabajan en sus proyectos en su casa en la montaña en Santa Mónica, que les sirve como un amplio estudio. Eve también teje en el auto yendo y viniendo de la escuela, en la escuela y mientras mira sus películas favoritas.
SALE-Blessings Grande Art Pendant Necklace-was 135
Roxana was introduced to Etsy by an article that appeared in the LA Times. Shortly thereafter, Lori Patton opened her shop featuring art jewelry including imagery by Roxana and Greg.
Roxana conoció Etsy gracias a un artículo que apareció en el LA Times. Después de eso, Lori Patton de HeartworksbyLori.etsy.com abrió su tienda exhibiendo joyería de arte que incluía imágenes realizadas por Roxana y Greg. By heartworksbylori, $75.
When Martha first saw the work of Dennice of fringe, she remarked “Finally, someone who is pricing handmade knitwear appropriately!” Eve and Roxana are extremely found of all Dennice’s creations. This one has a beautiful, vintage quality. Besides LOST, Eve and Roxana’s other favorite TV show is called Fringe.
Cuando Martha vió el trabajo realizado por Dennice de Fringe, dijo: “¡Por fin alguien está cobrando de manera adecuada las prendas de punto!” Eve y Roxana son admiradoras de las creaciones de Dennice. Ésta tiene una bella calidad vintage. Aparte de LOST, el otro program favorito de Eve y Roxana es Fringe. By fringe, $112.
Deer Portrait Letterpress Flat Card
In the eighties when Roxana lived in Brooklyn and worked as a freelance illustrator, she had a studio space on Perry Street in Greenwich Village for her Vandercook flatbed letterpress. We chose this letterpress image because Eve adores foxes.
En los ochentas, cuando Roxana vivía en Brooklyn y trabajaba como ilustradora independiente, tenía espacio en un estudio en Perry Street en Greenwich Village para su impresora de mesa Vandercook. Elegimos esta impresión de letterpress porque Eve adora los zorros. By letterpress, $3.25.
Eve and Roxana live up in the Santa Monica Mountains where they are often visited by a variety of creatures, including coyotes, raccoons, tree and ground squirrels, lizards, skunks, families of quail, songbirds, bees, hawks, owls and unfortunately gophers. These squirrel Chubbikins are so sweet, aren’t they?! Our local tree squirrels live up in our native oaks, where they act like Oak Tree fairies planting acorns.
Eve y Roxana viven en las montañas de Santa Mónica donde suelen recibir visitas de muchas criaturas como por ejemplo coyotes, mapaches, ardillas, lagartijas, zorrinos, familias de codornices, pájaros, abejas, halcones, búhos y, desgraciadamente, topos. Estas ardillas Chubbikins son preciosas, ¡¿no?! Nuestras ardillas arbóreas locales viven en nuestros robles nativos, donde actúan como duendes plantando bellotas. By erinaellis, $18.
The first pouch Martha created for Roxana was for the natural/botanical perfume called Q, for Quercus agrifolia, California's native Oak Trees. Roxana gives a percentage of the proceeds from each bottle of Q sold to the California Oak Foundation.
La primera bolsa que Martha creo para Roxana fue para un perfume botánico natural llamado Q, por Quercus agrifolia, nuestro roble nativo. Roxana dona a la Fundación California Oak un porcentaje de los ingresos provenientes de cada botella de Q. By IlluminatedPerfume, $150.
Paris Rooftop 2- Original Signed Fine Art Photograph
While Martha worked at Andrea’s in Beverly Hills she would occasionally travel to Paris to look at the latest fashion designs. Sometimes Roxana would tag along with Martha on these trips. This photograph of Paris is reminiscent of those fun mother-daughter excursions and also looks a bit like Buenos Aires.
Mientras Martha trabajaba en Andrea, en Beverly Hills, ella solía viajar a París para mirar los últimos diseños de la moda. Esta foto de París rememora esas divertidas excursiones de madre e hija y además tiene un parecido con la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. By AliciaBock, $35.
VINTAGE BRASS LARGE ART DECO ANGEL PENDANT
These pendants by myshangrila make Eve and Roxana swoon. We are looking forward having some custom necklaces created by an Etsy artisan utilizing these gorgeous, brass pendants. They look a bit like some of the muses in Greg’s paintings.
Estos pendientes de MyShangriLa hacen delirar a Eve y Roxana. Esperamos poder contar con que algunos artesanos de Etsy nos hagan unos collares a pedido, utilizando estos maravillosos pendientes de bronce. Se parecen un poco a las musas que aparecen en las pinturas de Greg. By myshangrila, $10.
TwoKnit is a new member of the Etsy in Spanish and Illuminated Perfume is a very proud member of the Green & Clean Guild - EGCG!
Links of Interest:
Highland Hall Waldorf School
Sniffapalooza Magazine Interview with Roxana
Let us know in the comments about other mother-daughter (or son) shops!
More Mother-Daughter (and Granddaughter!) Stories | Mother's Day Showcase
|
IlluminatedPerfume
|
|
lolos
|
|
twoknit
|
108 comments Login to add your own!
galit
Such great article! amazing shops!!!
My mom also have a shop on ETSY http://mymoms.etsy.com
SeaFindDesigns
Great article! Gracias ladies!!
I am of three sisters on Etsy.... we love it!
chocolateandsteel
I loved this interview. How awesome to have such a close family that can do creative things together. I might have to stop into Andrea's and look for Martha:)
maiziedesigns
What a wonderful article. Such a sweet, fun read! It reminds me so much of my own family! Thanks for sharing and good luck to you!
IcingOnTheCupcake
Great story! Crafting is such a fun way for family members, and friends, to bond!
CityChicCountryMouse
Such a sweet article! My mom and I also share a shop and it's so much fun!
Tuscaloosa
What a lovely article. I love twoknit's crocheted hats, and that Martha used to make them for Ali McGraw.
Ryanplz
such a neat article. :D
i agree with icingonthecupcake.
i love crafting with friends!
SilverSynergy
circlesareforever
gloilocksandbody
Wonderful article.
Ohh, the squirrel chubbikins are too adorable :D
LaveMeSoapCo
linkeldesigns
What a nice article ~ love those old photos!
My mom and I share shop as well!
ovgilliesdesigns
Such a great story! It's wonderful to see families working together on Etsy.
Mattamorphis
twolefthands
What a fabulous article! Congratulations to your wonderful family!
4TheSparrowsNest
This is precious! What a lovely story with beautiful photos too.
LittleCritters00
fringe
I cannot tell you how honored I am to be included in your inspiring article, Martha, Roxana and Eve. Thank you so very much!
What a beautiful family of talented women. Thank you for sharing a part of your life as well as the wonderful photos. Martha, I am just thrilled to know about your crochet/knitting history. It's amazing!
I wish you all every happiness and continued success on Etsy and in your life.
xoxo
breadandroses
Fabulous article! Congratulations to this very talented family! Excellent point made re: realistic, appropriate pricing of handmade, labor intensive creatiions. Thank you.
yumiyumi
mythunderstood
These family stories are wonderful and precious, thank you!
EpicBones
jadewicks
Sooo neat! I loved reading about three generations of ladies who are crafting together. I didn't realize that the crochet bags came with the perfumes and that Roxana's mother crafts those. This is so great to read/learn about. Love getting that extra insight into the workings of the shops on Etsy. Just wonderful! :)
uncharted
WoollyWonka
worksandfinds
Congratulation, I love this article. It was my mom who got me interested in crafts.
Waterrose
What a wonderful story and such talent! So many of my favorite shops!
ModernMetalJewelry
This is such a wonderful generational story! I just love the work, too!
lovelygifts
humblebea
What a great article! My Mom and my Grandma and my son all have shops on Etsy! We have so much fun together! (-:
OffTheHooks
invitedink
Great story! We are also a mother daughter shop :o) We joke that paper is in our genes since my Grandma and GreatGrandma both worked for Zellerbach Paper Co. :o)
baconsquarefarm
This is a wonderful story and so many of my favorite shops have been included above. Enjoyed the old photo too, well written and congrats to them as a family creating - designing together. A great bond. Makes me miss my mom who was my encourager.
themagicalbean
heartworksbylori
Love you Roxana! I'm sooooo excited to have introduced you to Etsy and that you have found your home here along with Eve and your mom...yay! I loved the article and all the pictures (what a cootie-patootie you were as a little girl). It's such a blessing to be counted as a family friend and an honor to collaborate with you and Greg on our art jewelry collection. Truth & Beauty! xo, ~Lori
Plumevine
Oh how awesome! Roxana's perfume is not only sublime, but the packaging is glorious. Lovely 'domino effect' story hehe <3
nevousinstallezpas
Oh! what a great article!And how wonderful that you have all these 'historical' pictures.
I myself also have a creative mother (and daughter). My mother makes bobbin lace (Belgium is famous for that). It seems that we both are addicted to working with fine materials. It's quite fun that I can make my choice in her stack of yarns to make my crochet jewellery.
I feel very happy in the company of the other crocheteers you've selected.
Thank you so much!
warmandsoft
FrucciDesign
janebonbon
timesandchimes
What an awesome and inspiring story - and the pictures add such a personal touch! I always wanted to crochet, but just never could get the hang of it!
My daughter and I share our shop, also! We live right next door to each other, so it is fun to get together during our spare moments to scour the flea markets and then to build our one-of-a-kind birdhouses! I was just telling another Etsian this week how nice it is to have a partner to encourage and inspire you!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share the mother/daughter love!
Deb (and Angie)
ArtWhims
So neat! Muy Bueno! I love seeing families working together... especially when it is handmade! My family is my biggest support network and my source of creativity... we are so lucky, those of us who work with our families to create all things handmade!
fineartstoneware
Great article! My mother and I don't share a shop, but she used to help me lots, at one time.
JonesyAndCrane
I love reading about these ladies! I'm so pleased to be working with my MOM to make creations for Jonesy & Crane. I'm a creative little acorn and she's the amazing tree I came from! We are sad to live on opposite coasts but Etsy gives us a place to come together and be inspired!
aysetugrul
This is great article. And I am so happy to be in related items. Thank you so much
ScottieinaCanoe
I LOVE this article. Love those romantic crocheted cuffs as well :)
dragonhouseofyuen
what a very interesting article!! I really enjoyed reading this - and in seeing their favourite etsy picks too - thank you!
poppyswickedgarden
Oh what a lovely article! My mom and I both have Etsy shops and it is so nice to compare notes;)
ImagineStudio
A truly inspiring and absolutely wonderful story about a fantastic talented family. I love all that they do…and now I know why. Not only is creativity being handed down through generations but also love, sharing, complicity and support appears to bind these three fantastic artists together and the artwork of Roxana husband as witness to it all.
Fantastic article…thank you so much for sharing your most special and unique story with us.
Lyse
jodieflowers
MelroseFields
kategabrielle
A family that "etsies" together stays together!
Me, my mom, my brother & my dad all have etsy stores, plus me and my dad share one together!
sandali
WOW -- Awesome article !! Love the fact that it's translated to Spanish too ;) It's soooooooo amazing that the creative flame is still burning after all this time !! This is the way it should be -- amazing features too -- Happy Days ;)
Ebruk
akane
Great article. I love crocheted items! I learned everything about art and crafting from my mother and hope to pass this passion to my future children and grandchildren
BayMoonDesign
My mother taught me to knit and crochet. I find people love to wear crocheted jewelry. I love making it too because I can include my favorite objects from nature that I find along the beach and use my favorite colors. I absolutely love the photo of everyone knitting on the beach. Thanks for sharing it.
HibouCards
Thanks for this article! My grandma is also an amazing knitter and she still makes almost all of my mom's and mine sweaters! I learned to knit but I haven't knitted in a long time. I do use some of my grandma's treasures (back in France) though in the making of my cards... old buttons and lace from the 1900's and stamps she used in her classroom when she was a teacher...
check it out on my shop if you want!
kalioseano
Thanks for this article. My mom has been such an inspiration to me in my shop. She has worked in the apparel industry for 25 years and learned so much from her. Now as a new fashion designer I feel I have such an advantage to have my mom around to help me. It's nice to hear of close "knit" families such as mine. My sis and I run our Etsy store together along with my mom and we couldn't be having more fun.
El trabajo que asen esta muy bonito. Voy a visitar su tienda muy pronto. Lindo trabajo! Son una inpiracion para mi tienda que conparto con mi mama y hermana tambien.
Lolavintage
Lovely Lovely article. To be a part of something so creative that involves both your mother and grandmother is truly sweet.
theduskyjewel
It is refreshing to hear about mother-daughter endeavors as my daughter and I work so well as a team. Very nice article!
AngelPainterGrl
What an enchanting story! My own grandmother was a folk artist and taught me to crochet and I, in turn, taught my own sweet daughters, so this story warms a special place in my heart. The wisdom of the feminine is so beautiful!
PoorRobot
DalkullanJewelry
Beautiful article. I learned to knit, crochet and do needlework from my Aunt, I still have the first thing I made, a little blue bird embroidered on a piece of card with sewing thread.
VintageTwenty
I enjoyed this article so much, especially the family history woven in through the years. I have treasured family items that were crocheted by my great grandmother, grandmother and mother.
lovemaestore
What a lovely article to read in the cool westerly winds with a cup of tea in my hand. What a fantastic family!!! I wish you every success with all your talents.
MeadowbelleMarket
Super story! In my family history, we are almost all entreprenuers, even the women (of course that goes without mention these days, but in the not-so-distant past it was quite a feat). Family businesses are the best, with so much heart and soul going into every aspect. Sure, there may be more passionate fights when issues occur, but it's really worth it in the end. My sister and I are continuing the family tradion with our stores :)
BululuStudio
Excellent translation Lolos, great article.
:::: F E L I C I D A D E S ::::
lolos
Thank you twoknit for adding my work in this great selection! It was a great story to translate. :-)) Good Luck!
Gracias BululuStudio!
Lolo :-)
mojospastyle
My sister and mom give me designs for my handbags and it is has been great for bonding and this story made me feel so good about my family helping me.
Yoola
BabbidgePatch
CutieDynamite
myshangrila
VivaceCrafts
PDXfabricdeli
OOOOOOOH, I love every single item in this lovely collection. Those crochet covered rocks rock, literally. What a super cool idea.
Scampsville
A beautiful article and example in intergenerational skill-sharing! Go the matrilineal crafters!!
FlanneryO
What a wonderful article! I love that we are passing on crafting to our daughters (and sons)!
FruteJuce
Me, my Mum and my daughter made my daughters wedding dress and wings (fairy wedding) together, it was fantastic. We really worked well together as we all wanted it to be fantastic.
A lovely article.
michon
como se dice "to crochet"? tejer con ganchillo? gracias por este articulo en espanol, necesito practicar. :)
thosegreathousewomen
Our shop is 4 generations! My grandmother, mother, myself, and my daughter!
RightAsRainCreations
Spectacular article! It was so much fun to read - I also get my love of knitting from my grandmother. All my babies have lovingly handmade heirloom sweaters and all three have worn ones knit by their great-great-grandmother (my great-grandmother knit them for me!)
I am so honored to be a team-mate of Roxanna's, she is such a sweet and knowledgeable lady!
friedasophie
I love this family generation story and their artwork is so pretty.
sharonscozycreation
Great Article! I have a vague memory of knitting and crocheting with my grandmother. Thirty-five years later I picked up a pair of knitting kneedles and have not put them down. I have also taught my daughter's to knit in fact it was my oldest daughter who incouraged me to sell my thing on Etsy. Thank for printing the article.
SpalenkaArt
The family that makes art together, is a model for families everywhere! Talk about living in the art spirit! Love that family pic. Looks like you are all having fun.
mudpuppy
So awesome, if you ever do brother sister shops let me know my sister also sells on etsy
http://MollycoddleSoap.etsy.com
xoxo ~M
LaBestia
Nice article! How wonderful is to preserve any kind of tradition in the family and pass it on to the new generations! Great Job Lolos and hurray for the Etsy in Spanish team:
http://etsyinspanish.blogspot.com/
Pizpireta
sisply
krize
MissBird
sphinxy
GingiBeads
Congratulations Martha, Roxana and Eve, Very Nice Article!
Thanks Lolo!
Femmedetails
lesthings
I've loved this interesting and beautiful article of our etsy in spanish companions!!!
Also it's so nice to have it translated to spanish too...
Felicidades!:)
pverbenero
brownbunnybyiris
LaCometaLab
Love to read about this type of stories and family ties, specially when they are so etsy connected!
Btw, great idea to have the article in two languages, English and Spanish... thanks lolos!
branda
MelsBellsClocheHats
What an inspiring article! My family is also from Argentina and I was taught how to knit and crochet by my grandmother. To me creating is more than just something I love doing. I also feel the pride of partaking in a rich tradition that I will continue and hopefully pass onto the next generation. Buena suerte! :)
SarahMadsen
TianaCHE
Laboiteabijoux
I read you article with a lot of interest, I like these stories about people and Etsy :)
Muchas gracias!
UrielsWingsjewelry
What a nice article! I love to see how families work together to bring something so beautiful. Not to mention the fact that I can relate to this article. As a child growing up in Spain, my mom used to knit under the beach umbrella while watching us kids having fun on the beach. She still knits and crochets for a baby store in Gran Canaria, Spain and she is 76 years old!!!!
Greeneagle
I too had a wonderful pair of grandmothers who created so many family heirlooms with sewing, knitting, and crochet. This was so very important to them and now to me as the recipient. I am in awe of this wonderful family. Unfortunately I cannot sew or knit but the gardening traditions have been passed with success and love.
tortillagirl
I cannot believe that I've seen this article until now! I think it is fantastic that the *same* shop is run by women of different generations (and in my city of birth, no less). There is just something so lovable and charming about it; there is an exchange of creativity between family members and we get to see the results all together in one shop. Felicitaciones a estas tres mujeres talentosas!
tortillagirl
I wanted to add that staroftheeast.etsy.com is run by a mother and daughter team!
loranscruggs
Previous Page
I am sooooo new to all this...I can't wait to ...
by heavenlypouches
on Seller How-To: Plug...
Beautiful - thankyou
by HoudiniCards
on Etsy Finds: Gifts fo...
I can't wait for this to all start!
by WillowLily
on Seller How-To: Get I...
yeah I think I'm going to just change some of ...
by HannahsHands
on Seller How-To: Get I...
Well, it was alot of work to change all of ...
by JLBstudio
on Seller How-To: Get I...
It all feels so haunted and cozy at once. I ...
by emilybidwell
on News From the Craft ...
Working on the tagging now, thank you!
by AriaArt
on Seller How-To: Get I...