the journey of a textile artist
In 2019, my life changed in more ways than one. I had just become a mother to my son, Luca, and I was still learning how to navigate all the emotions and responsibilities that come with motherhood when the world suddenly shut down. My partner, Prash, had a key job that kept him working nights and sleeping during the day, which meant most of my hours were spent alone with a newborn, with no family visits, no baby classes, no outings, just the four walls of our home.
It was a hard and lonely time. I had also lost my job, and in the quiet spaces between feedings and naps, I felt a need to keep my hands and mind busy. That’s when I discovered macramé. I’d never tried it before, but once I picked up some cord and followed a few tutorials, I was completely hooked. Almost obsessed. What started as a hobby quickly became my therapy, my companion during nap times, and the lifeline I didn’t know I needed.
At the same time, I was still carrying the weight of grief from losing a close family member to suicide in 2017, a loss that left a huge hole in my heart. Knot by knot, macramé gave me a way to process, to breathe, and to create something out of that heaviness. Slowly, what began as an experiment grew into a passion. Within a year, I was selling my pieces online.
After a couple of years, my curiosity pulled me toward weaving. I made a makeshift loom just to try it out, and my first tapestry was, well… very wonky (to say the least). But the moment I finished it, I knew I wanted more. I bought myself a loom and started all over again, learning a completely new technique from scratch. And just like with macramé, I was hooked again.
Soon I began dreaming of ways to merge both techniques. I experimented endlessly, combining knots and woven textures, layering and exploring until something clicked. My Strata Series is one of the best examples of what came out of that play, a true fusion of macramé and weaving, shaped by curiosity and persistence.
And then came crochet. A year ago, I decided to finally dive into this craft that had surrounded me all throughout childhood. My grandmother and great-aunties were masters at it, and I still treasure the delicate pieces they made with their hands. Picking up a hook felt like reconnecting with them, while also making the technique my own. Crochet is a whole new journey for me, and I know it’s one I’ll never really “finish”. There will always be more to learn, more to play with, more ways to grow.
For most of these years, my studio was simply our living room. Every piece I made had to coexist with toys, laundry, and daily life. But in 2023, after over a decade in London, we moved back to my hometown in Portugal. Last year, I finally stepped into my first real studio, separate from home, with space to create bigger works and lose myself fully in the fibers.
Even better, Prash now has a workshop just steps away from mine. He makes all my frames by hand, and what started as a practical necessity has become a true collaboration. The more we work side by side, the more exciting possibilities unfold. We’re venturing into new territory together, and I can’t wait to see where this season of growth and creation will lead us.
Looking back, I never could have imagined that a lonely season of motherhood, loss, and lockdown would open the door to a whole new life as a textile artist. But that’s the beauty of a creative journey. It’s unpredictable, full of turns and discoveries. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best art often grows out of the hardest times.