Here's a little bit more about Il Gatto Selvatico...
Describe your studio.
My studio has a sewing machine lots of yarn, floss, fabric, felt and leather in it. All different sizes of hoops and a collection of vintage postcards of mountains framed above my desk.
What is your favorite thing about the Holidays?
I love the change of seasons, the cripsness of the early winter air, and the anticipation of the first snow. It's a magical and romantic time. I enjoy walking around and seeing all the lights and decorations. In Rome I enjoyed walking around Piaza Navona where there is an open air market where you can buy supplies to build your own nativity set. In Italy everyone makes their own nativity sets out of paper, lights, straw, and plastic figurines. Elaborate creches that look like dioramas are built in the churches and the Vatican has a life sized nativity scene set up in the Piazza. I enjoy being with family and celebrating the traditions of both my American and Italian family.
What's your newest crafty creation?
I have been working on a serious of embroidered portraits of grandmothers. They are my grandmothers and my husbands grandmother. I plan to add more embroidered portraits of old ladies who I found particularly fascinating in Rome to the series.
Is there a story behind your shop name?
My shop name, Il Gatto Selvatico {il} {gat-to} {sell-va-tee-ko} means 'wild cat' in Italian. It is a specific breed of small striped wild cats with bushy tails called Felis Silvestris Silvestris (they look a little like the domestic cat). They live in parts of Europe, including Rome which is where I was living when I came up with the name. There was a family of feral cats living in the courtyard of the apartment building where I was living, who I grew attached to, so I named my shop in honor of them in a way.
What's your soundtrack while you're working?
Owen, Slowdive, Built to Spill, Lower Dens, Beirut
What are your influences?
I'm influenced by the boxes and collages of Joseph Cornell, the sculptures of Kiki Smith, the embroidered works by Jenny Hart, and the paintings of Julie Heffernan. I'm also influence by vintage fashion and antiques.
2 comments:
Immersed in a completely relaxing holiday and the separation of travel! Literally, it means hearing a hundred times, is not it time to see something. These days, we say, seeing is believing! As technology advances, the mode of transport all types of travel, means and class has increased significantly.
homes for sale in richmond va
Post a Comment