I am ready to delve in and get inspired by the work, dedication, passion, and talent of a crochet artists today. After a few weeks off, I am craving some creative energy! And you?
The work of Vera João Espinha is original, distinct, and fun to say the least. With a background in graphic design and painting, she currently works as a graphic designer in a publishing house, and dedicates her spare time to her love for crochet. Her beautiful pieces can be found at several retailers in Portugal.
Vera João Espinha learned to crochet with her grandmother at a very young age as a way to entertain herself after school, and as her skill evolved, she began making clothes for dolls. A painter and an artist as well until her daughter was born, she began to commit to crochet instead, and created accessories. This won her an honorable mention in 2005, in a Portuguese contest for contemporary jewelry, and encouraged her to further this talent.
Vera João Espinha’s stunning colorful, textured work is based on the manual production of contemporary accessories. Her unique jewelry is all handmade, mostly in crochet, but some collections may also include other materials. I am so in love with the little crochet balls, also their composition in the bowls and their photography. It feels like it’s all a part of Vera’s work.
Vera finds inspiration in nature, colors from photography, previous work, or her grandmother’s doilies. The color combinations in her work are divine, and the scarf looks so warm and cozy, and could be worn flexibly – I can see it with jeans and a T-shirt, highlighting the artistry of the scarf itself. What I love most about this talented artist’s work is that she first creates a piece and is true to herself and art, and then thinks about their commercial viability, because after all an artist also has bills to pay.
(images: vera joão espinha)
