Paloma Christiansen

Artezz Macramé

Macramé maker | Sao Paulo, Brazil

A self-taught untangling of knots

Paloma believes macramé is a form of active therapy
She believes in passing on her knowledge to others
Her passion for craftsmanship became a lifestyle rather than only a profession

Paloma Christiansen is a textile artist, macramé teacher, interior design graduate, and an eternal creative soul. When she first came across macramé, she saw an infinite number of possibilities. "I did not think twice before choosing that path," she recalls. Since 2016, Paloma has been transforming her life positively in many ways through the practice of macramé. Her new lifestyle is based on freedom, working with her hands at her own pace with no geographical limits. As a self-taught artisan, she felt strongly that she should not keep this knowledge to herself, and decided to make teaching a significant part of her approach. Today, with more than 3000 students having taken her online macramé courses, she is confident that she made the right decision.

Interview

©Bia Morra

When did you decided to become a macramé artisan?: During my studies in interior design I learned to apply different materials into a space. Only when I moved to Rio de Janeiro did I discover macramé, which was a key point in my life, because only from then on did I really manage to express myself artistically.
What importance do you give to knowledge transfer and how do you integrate this into your work?: If I had had a master to guide me through my journey, it would have saved me a lot of time. Learning the savoir-faire from a master is important. I feel an enormous pleasure teaching, and I share without fear of creating competitors. Everyone has their own style and together we are stronger.
How do you find balance between moments of creation as an artisan and moments of promoting as an entrepreneur?: It took me a while to understand that I had to be an entrepreneur and not just an artisan. But when I understood that, everything became easier. I started to organise production schedules, and have more discipline.
What do you love most about your profession?: When I started teaching, I received feedback from students who were depressed for whom macramé brought a new perspective on life. The power of working with your hands moves me. It is an active therapy: as we produce knots, we remove the knots from within.

Paloma Christiansen is a rising star: she began her career in 2016 and she started teaching in 2019