Monday, September 14, 2009

Behind the Design - Celina Mancurti

Good morning everyone! We are starting the week off with another edition of Behind the Design. This week with, Celina Mancurti, textile designer and creator of beautiful, eco-friendly home accessories.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I’m a world traveler and my inspiration comes from the places I visit, the stories that I read or hear, and my memories from those trips… When the inspiration comes, I right away translate the feeling or thought into a design on a piece of paper, to preserve the freshness of that moment.


Do you have a spot you like to go that helps you feel creative?
There are two spots that truly inspire me. One is the WINTERTHUR, the other is TERRAIN. These places provide fresh air to my mind. They transport me far away from my daily routine; they help me create that moment when new ideas appear.  Spending time at my studio helps me feel creative too. Sometimes I start playing with the designs, colors, fabrics and scissors. That unconscious play usually results in something nice and different, something that was not expected…and I feel creative!


Where do you do most of your work?
I have a small, not pretty, but lovely studio at home. That is where I do most of my work. The table I use to cut and print the fabrics occupies the center of the room. Under the table I keep the flat screen. There is a shelf at a wall with the inks and printing supplies. I also have an IKEA desk with my laptop, threads, papers and sewing machine. The fabric rolls are held in one corner, next to them is a bookcase packed with books among others things.


Your favorite thing to make?
Definitively, I enjoy making tablecloths. I love the process from the printing to the sewing and packaging!


You couldn't run your business without (fill in blank) ___________?
My team!


What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
Be patient! Do not get paralyzed if things do not work as you expected. Learn what you need to learn and move forward quickly!

Coffee or tea?
May I say “mate”? Mate is a traditional Argentinean infused drink. It is prepared from steeping dried leaves of yerba mate in hot water. I drink mate every morning and coffee in the afternoon. I only drink tea when feeling sick!

Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
I like Daily Candy and Domino Magazine

If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
Patricia Guild

Do you have any hobbies or creative outlets other than your work?
I love to discover new places like stores, galleries, show crafts, coffee shops, towns… and jump into them! When someone tells me about a place where I have not been before, I immediately take a note to visit it. Traveling and getting to know different places and cultures is a hobby for me.

Thank you Celina for participating in Behind the Design!

Photos: Courtesy of Celina Mancurti
Celina's website
Celina's Esty shop

1 comment:

Alejandro Ristori said...

Hi!

Yerba Mate is awesome! Especially in the morning.
Have you tried organic? It´s much better than regular mate.
You can find a very good selection at www.mymateworld.com
Cheers!