I was talking with few people and as the year ends most people start thinking about their bucket list for 2019. I started wondering if makers and artist have something different on it form the typical: Visit Bali, buying a house, write a book etc.
I’ve asked a few of my favorite makers if they would share their bucket list with us. Each week, you will discover what’s on their list as well as few more insights.
On our last week, we have Ania Grzeszek . She is a natural dyer & weaver, an architect in her previews career, that lives in Berlin. Ania and I met via Instagram and because we have such a similar background we clicked right away. She also runs a shop that she share with other makers, a dream of mine! Her work is beautiful and her products are simple, yet they have character and they are always kind to the environment.
(photo credit by Ania Grzeszek)
Hello Ania,
thank you for taking the time to sharing with us your bucket list.
1. We are coming to the end of the year and I’m curious to know if you have a bucket list you check or fill regularly.
I don’t have a personal bucket list, as my life spins around my business so closely. When I started my business I made a bucket list for it, and I wanted to complete within the next 5 years. I updated it every year since then. It’s so funny to see that things I dreamt of in 2015 are no longer relevant in 2018! So I take my bucket list super easy and let it evolve with time. I mostly check-in with myself at the end of the year and I’m often surprised to see what’s in there. This year I will tick off opening my brick and mortar that I planned for in-5-years and I was so lucky to complete much earlier!
2. Can you share with us the top 3 things on your list?
One thing I’m dreaming of is exhibiting my weavings. I am very passionate about weaving as art and making unique pieces with meaning. But weaving is a craft that takes so much time to complete so I’m not even sure I will ever have enough hours in a day to dedicate to this project ever. I’d love to have a collection of a few handwoven pieces, though, all around one theme, that I would then show in a nice small gallery in Berlin. Another thing I want to dive into is developing morning and evening routines to help me become more mindful and more organized, too. So ideally I would get up earlier and go to bed earlier every day and also learn to schedule time off! Last year I made a mistake of not scheduling any holidays for myself and here I am in November, with no major time off this year. The third goal would be to actually make my small business a *real* business and not just a never-ending hustle. So I am planning to work on new sales strategies like wholesaling, courses and art commissions. It’s not easy for an introvert like me, who just wants to make art and not think about finances, but I am pushing myself to become a better business owner.
(photo credit by Ania Grzeszek)
3. You mentioned that you haven’t had a major time off this year. How has this affected you and why do you think it’s essential to have time off from your business?
I believe taking time off is important for a few reasons. First of all, we all need time to recharge and rest our bodies and minds and turn off thinking about making all the time. I didn’t suffer from a burnout, luckily, but I know I am probably not too far from it and I have to be careful and take it easy. I also think it’s important to take a step back once in a while and look at what we’re doing from a fresh perspective. That isn’t possible when we’re busy all the time. I believe it’s absolutely crucial, though, as it’s so easy to get caught up in things that don’t take us any further. So I scheduled some time off for 2019 and I am really looking forward to it!
4. If you could learn a craft in 2019, which one would you try?
No doubt sewing! It’s been a few years now that I stopped buying fast fashion and mostly work with what I already have in my closet. Sewing would let me get control over what I wear, how it’s made and where the fabrics are coming from. Plus I LOVE the feeling of wearing something you made yourself. I am a really bad sewist with a really bad sewing machine, though, but my fingers are already itching to change that!
5. If you could ask me a question, what would it be?
You’re a lady of many talents, but if there would be only one thing you’d have to focus on, what would it be, that you enjoy doing the most?
My answer:
This is a hard question as I get bored easily and I love to work on different things. However, if I had to pick one it would be macrame as it’s very versatile and never boring.
(photo credit by Ania Grzeszek)
If you like to find out more about Ania’s work check her website at
I hope you’ve enjoyed this interview and all the others form the series.
with love,
Isabella x
