Thursday, September 22, 2011

THEY WALK AMONG US: MEET ROSALAIS

Rosalais in her Gaudi

Gaudi on Gaudi: the fabulous shawl rests against it's inspiration in Barcelona 

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Spain, the country of lace and beauty and the creative mastery of Gaudi, brings us Rosalias, a knitter/crocheter of great innovation. Feast your eyes.In Rosalias words:

I fell in love with needles and wool when I was a child. I endessly knitted tiny dresses and accessories for my dolls .
I learned from many people. My parents had a store and I usually asked women queuing there: “How I can do this?”

They patiently showed me the basic stitches and tricks.  Later, when I became teenager, I learned to make clothes for adults and crochet techniques.
The colors, textures, experiments … have always been part of my hobbies.
My job as a teacher often demands original ideas to help disabled children . Any object, moment, place is a great inspiration.
I like symmetry and no symmetry, the clear and multi colors. I admire what others do, and learn from everybody but I need to add my personal touch.
Two years ago I knew Ravelry, what changed my soul. Inspiration is anywhere, friends… !!!
Last year, I discovered the wisdom and originality of the Jane Thornley’  designs: a great source of inspiration and encouragement to create new things.

JANE: Rosalias, I’ve asked guest knitting stars to join me from Australia and soon Germany but you are my first Spanish star. Is there a lot of innovative knitting

happening in Spain right now?

ROSALIAS:Perhaps. I don’t know any spanish knitter or crocheter that working in this style.

JANE: I remember the impact Gaudi had on me following my first trip to Barcelona. Your Parc Gaudi wrap just resonated with me. How did it come to be?

ROSALIAS: It was an adventure for me. Andrea invite to me to participate. Gaudí is a king of colour and texture. The crazy and perfectly geometric shapes always

 inspire. I chose cotton and viscose to make the shinny impact the sun impregnats on the seats, the trees, the columns… From left to right is represented the

mediterranean wood , the park, the columns, the seats, finishing in the sea, near the Barcelona harbour. I put marine buttons representing the boats .

The last rows were wavy curly as marine waves.

JANE: It seems that where many countries have interesting yarns from which to choose, many odf the shops in Spain had a limited selection. 

Does this restrict you at all?

ROSALIAS: It depens.The creative you can reach, the more material you can find.
I always visit the Barcelona shops , I usually buy by internet too. All materials are interesting: Trims, fabric, bizarre threads , pearls,  wood, stones…

JANE: Dou you wear your creations and, if so, what response do you receive?

ROSALIAS: Of course. I always do practical clothes adapted to my size.
People usually looks to me with pleasure. They sometimes express with words your admiration.

JANE: What is the most inspiring source to create ?

ROSALIAS: Amazing places, art, everything with suggestive color and textures…