This week's Behind the Design features talented jewelry designer, Lorena of
Marañón
Where does your inspiration come from?
Lately I've been inspired by traditional textile art and weaving from South America and Africa.
Do you have a spot you like to go that helps you feel creative?
Not particularly. I do most of my research and image hunting on the web and certain finds inspire ideas I can work with in the future. Creativity has a funny way of sneaking up on me when I'm least expecting it. I could be anywhere and suddenly get struck by a million ideas all at once for no real reason. I've learned to be patient with creativity, because it shows itself when it wants to, not when I do.
Where do you do most of your work?
I have a giant table against one of the walls in our home studio. Above it are shelves that keep all of my supplies and tools. My table is never tidy, and often things get buried underneath piles of thread. It very honestly reflects the way I work. I've always been extremely unorganized with everything I do, but somehow it all comes together in really good ways.
How did you come up with the name for your business?
Marañón is a favorite fruit of my grandmother and I. She claims that throughout the fruit's developmental stages, it displays ever single color. I can't test the accuracy of that, but it was certainly good enough to make me want to name my brand after it.
Your favorite thing to make?
I can't decide between the three variations of stair-like necklaces, or the two variations of my fan-like necklaces, named after the peacock. Both styles begin very innocently on the embroidery canvas, and always end up wowing me with their ability to completely transform from something flat, to something very dimensional.
What is your all time favorite design from past or current collections?
La Amazonia, one of my newer pieces, is a real treat to wear and to look at. On the other hand, it's one of the most time consuming pieces to produce. But my woes immediately vanish upon its completion because the results are worth everything.
You couldn't run your business without ________?
Thread.
What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started your business?
I wish someone had told me to work on the one thing I was really good at, and focus only on that thing. While making knits and pompoms was a lot of fun at the beginning, in hindsight, it was misused time.
Coffee of tea?
Tea forever. As much as I've tried to enjoy coffee, I just don't like the way it behaves in my belly, and body.
Favorite magazine/blog/daily read?
It's a tie between Style Bubble and Refinery 29.
If you could follow one person around for a day, who would it be?
An early Fidel Castro. I'd want to know if we have anything in common, aside from being Cuban.
Do you have any hobbies or creative outlets other than your work?
I have always enjoyed foraging for fruits and plants.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, money and time being no object, where would you go and why?
I'd try to go everywhere. It's one of those distant dreams of mine.
If you had to spend a year on a deserted island, what 5 things would you bring with you?
Cake, internet, a machete, a stove, and a photograph of my boyfriend and mom.
Thank you Lorena for participating in this week's
Behind the Design.
Photos courtesy of Lorena,
Marañón.
Lorena can be found at:
Etsy shop
Tumblr
Flickr
Twitter