Let’s get to know another great crafter…
Meet Lorena Paola of Lolo’s:
Name: Lorena Paola
Business Name: Lolo’s
Where are you located?
Gainesville, Fl
What is it that you design and create?
I try to design and create beautiful and weird things all the time. I design bags and purses, costumes and masks for theatre and Halloween,( I write and choreograph my own plays ), jewelry ( specially beadwork ), home décor (I graduated as an Interior Designer in my native Chile) like pillows, table runners, place mats, bean bags, stained glass etc , etc. So you can see why people call me multi-faceted (is that a disease? lol!)
And then there is Sculpture, which is also a passion of mine although my sculpture in fact is a convergence of all my interests since it incorporates story-telling, theatrical assemblages and sort of set and character design.
What is your favorite part of the design process?
The beginning, the middle and the end part. I like to enjoy every moment during the process including the hard part when you find there is a problem and you have figure out how to fix it.
How did you come up with your business name?
I just thought in my nickname that I got since I was a baby (Lolo without the s. I hated to put the ‘s’ because somebody else already used it, I could not believe it! ).
Where/How did this all begin?
As far as I can remember I’ve been dancing, choreographing and creating things and involved in school performances. Then in Germany about 12 years ago I met my husband and we started doing theater, films, puppetry and all came back to me like an avalanche. We moved to the States and started teaching (and studying) theater and I concentrated more on costumes, masks and sculpture and began writing my own plays. Along all of this I fell in love with beading, which I’ve been doing for 5 years now and now we have a small studio that we really want to take off!
Who or what inspires you?
Nature, nightmares, my lovely husband and daughter who are incredibly patient with my craziness, good and bad moments (which I chose to turn into art instead of depression☺), music, magazines, books, stories I hear, etc, etc. Everything that it is and I have around me.
What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
To have a lot of passion. To give, all the time, the best that we have to improve this world right now for the next generation. In other words, be a conscious artist, aware of the importance and impact of what and how you design. Question yourself if the materials and the sources you utilize do in fact, create a net-worth value from an ethical/environmental point of view. Needless to say, this is a tall proposition in this materialistic world, but we can take little steps and together we can definitely make a difference and change things, wheeew!
What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Well, my favorite is going to my country’s little towns, getting to know the artisans and buy things that give me a warm feeling, where you can really see the touch of their hands, almost like a direct connection to a completely different world. Since I also go to craft fairs to exhibit I like to buy from my fellow starving artists ahaha! I have yet to buy indie online, I am getting familiar with some great artists though.
What’s on your iPod/music player right now?
I have a great variety of music. Some of them in Spanish, English, Italian, German etc. From classic oldies (Platters, Los Panchos, Olga Guillot, Elvis etc) to modern rock, techno and specially latin rock.
What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on? I don’t watch a lot of television because I am busy all the time, but when I have some free time I try to watch funny series that make me laugh and also I really like to watch the British series on PBS.
What was the last movie you watched?
Elizabeth, The Golden Age. The fabric and the costumes that they made for the film were beautiful.
What’s your favorite food?
Something from my country (Porotos Granados). It is a delicious food that you won’t forget it if you try it.
What’s your favorite candy?
Gomitas (that would be something like gummys)
Coffee or Tea?
Earl Grey Tea
What store could you walk around in for hours and be happy?
Fabrics stores, Flea Markets, Antiques stores, Bead Stores, Craft Stores.
Any pets?
Two wonderful cats, Coqui (a giant cat) and Duquesa, a wild one)
Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
Europe, specially Italy. It is a marvelous place to visit or to live.
If you could be a superhero, what would your name be and what would be your superpowers?
The Super Lolo girl and the powers are to give the people more imagination to create a better world.
Any celebrity crushes?
A lot, not only from the present time, also from the past. But I had to decide on one, and that was my husband, who is also a celebrity! ☺
Favorite Holiday?
Christmas Time.
If you were a shoe, what shoe would you be?
An Italian shoe, they are really soft, elegant, comfortable and the leather is just fantastic!.
What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
To improve my techniques to make more beautiful and weird things. To win an Oscar for acting! OK, I would settle for Cannes.
Favorite piece of clothing?
Shoes
Do you speak any other languages?
If not, would you like to learn one? I speak four languages: Spanish, English, German, Italian.
It’s 2008 already! Oh yes, so soon. What are your plans for the year?
To learn more about how to work with different kinds of materials. To have enough time to keep doing what I really love and trust. And also enjoying living in this complicated world with the people that I really love.
Thank you so much, Lorena. You have provided Mixed Plate’s readers with yet another wonderfully informative look at a truly creative mind!
Autumn Falling Leaves Necklace: $80.00; Green, Gold and Brown Brocade Floppy Bag: $25.00:
Burgundy Corduroy Baggy Bag: $20.00; Red and Mahjong Bone Bracelet: $25.00:
Mother of Pearl Beads Necklace: $39.00; Beige with Light Blue Flowers Hobo Bag: $38.00:
