Silvana Paola Afanador Montañez

My StoryMy creative journey began many years ago in my home country, Colombia, where I loved visiting local artisan fairs and discovering the beautiful things people could create with their own hands.One day, while looking at a leather handbag at a craft fair, an idea came to me: what if I could combine traditional textile techniques such as crochet or macramé with wood to create something different?That idea stayed with me for quite some time. Then, during the COVID period, I learned macramé and finally had the opportunity to bring it to life. My first creation was a round handbag with wooden sides and a hand-knotted macramé centre. I originally made it simply for myself and my daughter, but when friends saw it, their enthusiasm encouraged me to keep experimenting.Soon, one design became many. I started creating round, square, pentagonal and triangular bags, playing with different colours, knots and combinations of wood and fibre. What began as curiosity gradually became something I genuinely loved doing.Along the way, I discovered one of the things I love most about handmade work: no two pieces are ever exactly the same.Even when two people start with the same materials and learn the same knots, each person makes their own little decisions along the way. The colours, the tension of the knots, the details and especially the final touches make every piece unique. I believe that's part of the magic of handmade work: the artisan always leaves a little piece of themselves in what they create.There is also something very special about the process itself. When our hands are busy knotting and creating, our minds seem to slow down. We think, remember, imagine and sometimes simply enjoy being present.I like to say that “our thoughts sweeten the piece as we weave.” The time, patience, emotions and intention we put into our work somehow become part of its story, making the finished piece even more meaningful.That's one of the reasons I decided to start sharing what I had learned with others.I love seeing someone begin with the thought, “I'm not sure I can do this, ” and then watching their confidence grow as the piece starts taking shape in their hands. There is a wonderful moment when they look at what they've created and realise, “I can actually do this!”That's exactly what happens in my workshops.My classes are welcoming, relaxed and enjoyable, a space where you can learn at your own pace, make mistakes, try again, enjoy the creative process and feel proud of what you're creating. You don't need any previous experience to get started.I love that this craft can also bring different generations together. Teenagers, mums and grandparents can learn the same techniques, sit around the same table and still create completely different pieces because everyone brings their own personality and style to their work.For me, macramé brings together creativity, art, fashion and personal expression. And once you learn the techniques, they can become much more than a hobby. You can create something special for yourself, make personalised gifts for people you love, develop your own designs or even turn your handmade creations into a small source of income if that's something you'd like to explore.My goal is simple: you’ll leave my workshop with more than a beautiful handmade piece. You’ll leave with new skills, creative confidence and that wonderful feeling of looking at something completely unique and being able to say:“I made this.”