Spinning Dreams in Vivid Color
I first learned how to crochet from my mom when I was in 3rd grade. I had always loved art in its various forms for as far back as I could remember, and the act of turning skeins of colored yarn into whatever you want was absolutely enthralling. The learning process was long and slow, as there was much frustration from my mother being right handed and myself left handed, as well as the confusion that came from being a visual and kinesthetic learner. The terms and patterns eluded me (and continue to till this day) but the love of crochet and crafting would never leave me.
As the years went by and I troubleshooted my way into making simple beanies and over the shoulder pouches for myself, I learned that there was more history to crochet in my family than originally thought. My mother had learned to crochet from my grandma during her own childhood in the Philippines, where my grandma had used it and other skills to earn a small living for herself and to provide for her family. Having had to stop her formal education early after WWII, she went into the trade of being a seamstress, and had a small business sewing clothes and crocheting curtains for the neighborhood. At the time of writing this, my grandma is 91 and is long past the days where she could do those things. But the pride in knowing that family history spurs me to carry on with my own journey.
It wasn't until college that I started to consider crafting my own path, however. Growing up, I had honed my limited knowledge of two or three different stitches and a love of crafts in general into a means of creating whatever I wished. My repertoire had expanded to include various kinds of 2D and 3D mediums, and school was teaching me how to pick up any other kind of skill if I wanted to incorporate it into my work. Bags, coats, creatures from TV or video games - if I could see what it looked like, I would figure out my own way of replicating it. It didn't matter to me if I could not find what I wanted in a store. If I could dream it, I could make it.
I always managed to squeeze in a bit of crochet or other craft into my schedule, how ever busy it was. And word began to spread of it. It wasn't long until friends and family began to ask if I could make things for them. A hat here, an amigurumi plush doll there. And I fulfilled each commission with the promise of it being a personal and unique item meant just for them. Gaining traction was a long and slow process over the semesters, but just like all those years ago, I was hooked.
Today, my story seems to have come full circle. I strive to make creative, personalized items that would brighten someone's day. Whether it be a custom order or a ready made product, each item is handmade with their future owner in mind. No two items are exactly the same. Regardless of it being an amigurumi or an accessory, a sticker or a scarf, each one has its own unique charm crafted just for you.
