All about crafts, handmade products and traditional techniques
Patricia Lázaro, founder and designer of Chichinabo Inc, shows us how to choose the ideal surface to decorate with ceramic decals Creating objects full of style and personality, whatever the craft discipline, is obviously fashionable. Ceramic decoration lets you leave your mark on everyday objects that makes them stand out.
L’Abu Studio produces a unique range of custom handmade wooden pieces featuring detailed embroidery Estela Botello grew up in Madrid, surrounded by a talented family of craftspeople. Looking back on her childhood, she recalls picking up her first needle around the age of six and learning to embroider and crochet with her grandmother (an expert at making intricate tablecloths). Since picking up her first needle, Estela has rarely put it down. Estela is the founder of L’Abu Studio (@labustudio), producing a unique range of custom-made decorative objects combining carpentry and other crafts such as embroidery and macrame–from unique wall hangings to embroidered furniture.
Discover the different types of embroidery stitches you can use to create incredible textures and detail In the hands of Adriana Torres (@soymigadepan) a simple needle and piece of thread turn into powerful tools, which she uses to create illustrations in embroidery. This technique allows her, in addition to expressing her creativity, to achieve incredible textures and volumes that greatly enrich her work, creating a piece that is both visual and tactile. Perfecting her embroidery style has taken Adriana a lot of time as she's explored different materials and tools. Above all, it's taken practice to perfect the different types of stitches she uses. This embroidery stitch guide that she shares with Domestika is the result of years of discovery and experience.
Julieta Álvarez talks us through one of her latest projects: creating ceramic jewelry for Lladró While Julieta Álvarez’s passion for creating things out of clay dates back to childhood, this love truly blossomed when she discovered she could use it to make unique pieces of jewelry. Now, Julieta (@julieta_alvarez) has almost a decade of experience creating delicate handmade ceramic jewels under her belt. This career path has brought about opportunities to collaborate with international businesses and create collections for brands such as Lladró from Spain, a project which we had the opportunity to learn all about in the following interview.
Find inspiration in the work of these textile artists, who will soon start new courses at Domestika As a creative discipline, contemporary embroidery offers limitless possibilities. Throughout the world, embroiderers have created designs with unique expressive styles and singular pieces. Here are five wonderful embroiderers who will soon be sharing their knowledge with you in new Domestika courses. Get to know them all! Elena Obando (@e___l___o) Based in San José, Costa Rica, Elena is a designer, jewelry maker, and embroiderer. After working in design and advertising, she discovered her love for handicrafts while studying contemporary jewelry. By combining various techniques, she self-taught her way into the world of embroidery, leaning on what she had learned as a child. Currently, embroidery is her main media. Her unmistakable style of textile illustrations is inspired by birds and portraits she stitches on tulle.
Learn about cyanotype, a low-cost, creative, and beautiful printing process that lets you print any type of image from scratch and the surprisingly simple materials and method to apply it Cyanotype. Sounds cool. But what is it? Cyan, as in the shade of blue, and type, as in printing: cyanotype is a printing process which has been used by artists, botanists, and architects for almost two centuries. A photosensitive solution that dyes objects blue when it comes into contact with light is used to develop images onto a whole range of surfaces, from paper to fabric, wood, and ceramics. For this article, Xavier and Gabriela from the design workshop Fábrica de Texturas (@fabricadetexturas), who teach the course Cyanotype: Printing with Light, have shared the materials and tools you need to embark on your own blueprint journey.
Ceramic artist Pepa Espinoza shares some of her references when modeling new pieces with clay Although Pepa Espinoza (@espinoza_mariajose) will be the first to tell you that her main inspiration is her grandmother, her work is influenced by an immense range of potters that work with ceramics in very different ways, imbuing their pieces with their personality. The list is long, but we have selected some of her favorites so that you can also enjoy their pure creativity: Sara Theron (@dodo_toucan) The distinctive feature of Sara Theron's work is, without doubt, color. This French ceramic artist creates everyday objects with simple shapes that give the enameling process and color palette the spotlight.
Embroiderer Laura Ameba tells the origins and characteristics of punch needle Laura Ameba (@lauraameba) is an embroiderer who started out in traditional embroidery and haute couture in Barcelona, Paris, and Kyoto. Her love for punch needle and embroidery has taken her and her art to exhibitions around the world. Here, she shares what punch needle is: a technique that allows you to create beautiful three-dimensional effects and rich textures.
Before the advent of machines, embroidery served as a language that helped us understand the world When was embroidery first used? And where? Although these questions may seem simple, they are very difficult to answer. Examples from different cultures have been found all around the world. It’s an intrinsically human art form, the techniques of which have remained the same throughout centuries. Having endured the test of time, in recent years we have seen embroidery make a comeback and its popularity soar. Traditionally, embroidery was labeled a “feminine” activity. This mindset meant that society viewed it as a simple pastime. However, at the same time, it became a very intimate activity: a way of recounting history in secret. Do you want to learn more? Watch the video below!
Discover this traditional Japanese technique for dyeing textiles Costume and textile designer Carolina Raggio (@carolina_45) reinterprets ancestral techniques to achieve modern results. Carolina is the creative director of her own eponymous brand, for which she develops timeless garments and accessories. In this blog, Carolina explains more about the history of this technique and how you can experiment with it to create unique designs and patterns.
Discover the secrets to this traditional technique that combines painting and design Fabric marbling is a process that involves floating paints on top of a thick solution. The paints are manipulated into patterns that are later transferred to an object. You can use this craft to dye fabrics and paper, while some people also use it to dye leather and ceramic pieces.
Find out what materials are necessary to start building your own models with Julieta La Valle Whether it’s for an audiovisual project or an architectural one, models are one of the best ways to visualize a space. By reproducing an idea in three dimensions, even on a small scale, we can give form to our imagination and better understand the textures, proportions, and other elements of our concept. Sculptor, director, and art director Julieta La Valle (@julietalavalle) specializes in making miniature models for video and art projects. Below, she lists the materials you will need to make your own models.
An introduction to this automated manufacturing process CNC stands for computer numerical control. It refers to the automated control of machinery and tools–such as drills, boring tools, lasers, and lathes–to generate physical parts from CAD (computer aided design) files. This manufacturing process is much faster, incredibly precise, requiring very little to no human assistance or interaction. CNC machines have at least two axes, operating along an XYZ plane–X axis (vertical), Y axis (horizontal), and Z axis (depth)–following instructions from a computer. The number of axes usually determines the type of movement a CNC machine can perform. The instructions the machine receives are written in a programming language known as G-code. We can use CAM (computer aided manufacturing) software to automatically convert CAD files into G-code.
Silvia Hijano Coullaut teaches you how to create and configure the main pop-up elements of a pop-up book Pop-up books refer to those that, when opened, have elements that jump in front of our eyes creating incredible effects. Silvia Hijano Coullaut (@silvia_libracos), the founder of the Libracos studio, is a true expert in paper engineering. In this video, she shares with Domestika, in the form of a small creative tidbit, part of her process for creating a pop-up book. Silvia Hijano shows you the combined technique of a basic "V" mechanism with tabs, combining a folded paper—a kind of simple origami—that will fill the whole scene horizontally once the page of the book is opened. Learn how to create pop-up elements of a pop-up book:
The Domestika community lists their favorite papercraft artists Paper isn’t just a material on which we can draw or write, we can work with it in lots of different ways to create unique illustrations, collages, and sculptures. This versatile and affordable material can take many different forms of artistic expression. We asked the Domestika community to list the papercraft artists who they find most inspiring. These were the results: Diana Beltrán (@dianabeltranherrera) Colombian industrial designer Diana Beltrán explores experimental techniques with card and paper. She’s inspired by animals and nature, both in her independent projects as well as her collaborations with big brands. She teaches the Domestika course, Advanced Papercraft Techniques: Designing with Paper.
Learn these basic tips from Ancestral to keep in mind before starting to weave on a circular loom Weaving with a round base opens up a world of possibilities of unique tapestries and textile pieces, but to begin with it is important to create a solid base: the warp, a set of longitudinal threads placed in tension on a loom, will be the foundation of your work. In this tutorial, Erika Pineda, textile artist and founder of Ancestral (@ancestral_co), a brand dedicated to the production of hand-woven decorative pieces, shows us how to assemble a warp in two different ways: with and without a central binding. You can watch the video here.
Plants have amazing health benefits and can transform spaces Plants can bring a lot of benefits to any area. They purify the air and give us that wonderful feeling of being in a fresh environment. Studies have shown that our concentration increases when we are around them. They also improve our workplace, dampening background noise, and helping us be more efficient. In short, they improve our daily life. But plants are also a design element that can be considered when designing the interior of a space. They can completely transform a room, giving it a more natural and earthy look. If you want to use plants for your interior decoration, Xènia Bas (@xenia_bas) is a ceramicist and artist who knows everything there is to know about the subject. Here are her tips and tricks: Evaluate the space
Learn to make homemade substrates for your succulents using a few simple ingredients In the last few years, succulent plants have become decorations for countless public spaces and private homes, outside and in thanks to their hardy nature, the beauty they bring to their surroundings, and the ease of caring for them. But it's important to bear their idiosyncrasies in mind: for example, strong and healthy plants need to be cultivated in a special kind of substrate. In the following video, Meena and Ceci, two botanical designers who make up the Compañía Botánica (@ciabotanica) show us the essential ingredients for a good succulent substrate. Find out how to make on in the video below.
Pablo Salvaje lists the tools you need to start engraving Artist Pablo Salvaje (@pablosalvaje) mixed his passion for ink, paper, and illustration with his family's old printing press business, focusing on engraving, design, illustration, and screen printing techniques. With nature as his muse, he aims to leave a mark, literally and figuratively, with each of his pieces. To encourage you to try some of his methods, Pablo Salvaje shares a list of 22 basic tools that you need to start engraving. They are all easy to find and work with, so you can get down to business with the ideas you already have in your head.
A movement that celebrates artisanal production values and a slower process of embroidery If traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations have shown us anything, it’s that it’s not always necessary to produce a lot and quickly, nor the perfect piece, to produce well. There is a movement within the world of embroidery that consists precisely of enjoying the journey, delighting in each stitch, and experimenting with the possibilities that arise when we dedicate time to planning each step–or we just let it flow. It’s known as slow stitch, and the Mexican textile artist Gabriela Martínez (@ofeliayantelmo) is one of its biggest ambassadors. We spoke with her to find out slow stitch is, what the movement consists of, and how to join it.
Kiosko Creativo takes us through the materials you’ll need to bring a concept for a store window to life Window dressing is a fusion of lots of different disciplines: art direction, crafts, architecture, sculpture, installation, and, of course, design. It involves experimenting with colors, materials, perspectives, and depth to create optical effects that attract the attention of passers-by.
Discover how to achieve realism using a needle and thread Needle painting or thread painting is an embroidery technique that uses traditional painting and drawing techniques to shade and add volume and structure to an image. The needle becomes your paintbrush and the thread, your paint. In recent years, needle painting has become a very popular technique thanks to the extraordinary effects you can create with every stitch.
Check out some websites, apps, and free tutorials to start creating your own garments
Adriana Torres shares with you a raised embroidery template Adriana Torres (@soymigadepan) is a designer and embroiderer with extensive experience in disciplines such as architecture, graphic design and illustration. In her brand, Miga de Pan, she uses various embroidery techniques, especially embossed and raised stitches.
Learn this simple step by step technique to create Amigurumi volume shapes with Ameskeria In the 80s the Japanese pop world - abundant in inventions that amuse and enchant - gave us the Amigurumi, a technique for creating small crocheted dolls. As this is a method for weaving objects with volume, it often requires a type of structure called a magic circle, which allows for "round" crochet. In this tutorial, Ameskeria (@ameskeria), a designer and photographer from Barcelona specializing in crochet, teaches us step by step how to make this basic shape for your Amigurumi creations:
Lola Giardino teaches basic ceramics techniques so that you can start making your own creations Lola Giardino's (@lolagiardino) relationship with pottery started in 2011 as a way to escape from digital life. She tried different crafts but soon fell in love with ceramics and developed the skill to shape incredible objects just using hand building, a technique where the beauty and uniqueness of the pieces come from little imperfections. Lola shares the three basic modeling techniques so that you can also become an expert in hand building:
This Costa Rican architect and visual artist creates layered sculptures of portraits and human bodies. Ale Rambar (@alerambar) is a Costa Rican artist whose work is based on the topographic analysis of the human body. If you have ever seen a topographical 3D map, the kind architects use when creating the model of a building, you'll find his three-dimensional compositions made with layers of paper incredibly familiar, yet mesmerizing. Each piece is cut and assembled layer by layer, creating incredibly detailed scenes and portraits full of meaning. Topographies (2016) Topographies was Rambar’s first collection of layered sculptures made of paper. This innovative technique was inspired by his architecture studies. “After analyzing kilometers of topography, I began to remember how as a child, I imagined how the mountains of the Braulio Carrillo National Park had the shape of human figures. I then began to generate topographical studies using human beings instead of terrains,“ Rambar explains.
Learn how to design clothes and accessories with resources at hand If you have the fashion design bug, but the idea that you need very specialized knowledge is preventing you from giving it a try, this post is for you. These experts in fashion design and artisanal techniques will help you discover that manufacturing clothes and accessories using different contemporary styles is easier than it looks. Textile Silkscreen Printing with Stencil, a course by Festela Store In this course, you will learn to create unique garments by stamping your own designs with artisanal techniques explained by Festela Store, a clothing brand that has adopted the slow fashion movement. The method is applicable to all kinds of garments. You will start by creating a mood board to inspire you, experiment with various materials, and create your own fabric stamps.
Learn the basics of this type of weaving, its various techniques, and versatile uses
