Getting to know you - Maria from Crafty Maria Designs

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, it is another crafty interview. Yay! Maria is very talented with a crochet hook and uses lots of colour - what more can you want? She also lives in my hometown in Denmark, so I am just a little bit jealous of her! ;-)

Let's see what she's got to say:


Your name
Maria of Crafty Maria Design :: blog :: shop :: Twitter

Where in the world are you?
Århus, Denmark

Briefly describe yourself and what you make

I’m 25 years old Polish girl who enjoys experiencing new cultures and travelling more than anything else. This is why I left Poland at 21 and have since lived in several European countries. I also volunteer for www.bewelcome.org – international travellers’ community. I am passionate about conscious living and the impact we have on our environment, both natural and social. Because I have recently finished my studies and got engaged almost at the same time I am only just arranging my “adult life” but I would like to start working for international development charities soon.

My crafting comes from my persistent need to MAKE. I love creating something with my hands and the technique really doesn’t matter. So far I tried painting, sawing, sculpting, jewellery making, beading, knitting and crocheting. If I had to choose my favourite technique it would have to be crochet because I know it best and it is very flexible.

Who or what inspires you?

I love browsing Etsy for other people’s creation! Seeing a beautiful piece motivates me to work and often uncovers new possibilities of a given technique I hadn’t thought about. I am also crazy about colours and an interesting combination can inspire me.


When / how did you learn?

My mom showed me some basics of crocheting and embroidery when I was a child but I was too impatient at the time to really learn something useful. What I know now, I learned from books and the internet.


Why do you 'bother' to make things by hand?

It is an urge coming from my heart. I have only started crafting on a more regular basis around a year ago. But all the time before that, there was this urge in me to create and I didn’t know what to do about it.

Besides in the world where everything is uniformed, mechanic and replicated in thousands, there is some special kind of beauty to “one of” items.

What is your craft ”philosophy”?

Philosophy? Wow! How about: Through craft to world peace? How does that sound? Can we achieve world peace by learning about other cultures’ crafts and empowering women in their handwork? I guess this is just a far out dream. But wouldn’t it be great?!


Have you always made 'stuff'?

I always enjoyed MAKING stuff. It started when I was a child and I loved to build castles in my sandbox or create fantastic clay animals. I remember spending days over this great Robinson Crusoe’s island I made out of plasticine. It had this colourful hut and coconut palm tree and colourful birds. And of course Robinson himself. Unfortunately the island got thrown away at some point in time and I lost track of my crafty needs. I would create something every now and then but it was only last year that I took up crocheting more seriously. And now not a day goes by without me doodling over some project.

Can you reveal a little about your creative process?

I think my best kept secret is that I watch American TV series when I work! Don’t tell anyone but I know Friends and West Wing almost by heart!


Why is crafting good for you?

It is a little bit like meditation for me. Not only does it satisfy some part of my soul but it also allows me to concentrate on “here and now”, but also it calms me down and helps to collect my thoughts. And at the same time I get bored when I am not learning new things, when my brain isn’t constantly challenged. So crafting and constantly learning new ways to create is something of an exercise for my head.

Is your art/ craft a business as well? Any advice on running an arty/ crafty business?

I started selling my items on etsy in June this year. I do it for two reasons. First of all, I became really interested in online marketing and communications so selling my craft is sort of a practice field for the knowledge I get from books. And second of all, it is such a great feeling when someone appreciate what you are making to the point where they are willing to pay money for it. I mean wow!


What impact (if any) has the internet had on your craft?

The internet is my great craft library. I use it a lot to learn new stitches or get ideas of what to make. I also love the feeling of craft community that twitter, ravelry and blog followers can give you. It is great to belong to a group that is so supportive.