We are blog and craft friends and she also participated the Band Loch Markt on October (we are working to organize the next one).
I decided to interview Pollaz for several reasons:
1. She makes things I adore, her oven glove are beautiful!
2. She is nice and willing.
3. I'd like to promote a bit more the italian craft.
4. She was at the Band Loch Markt.
Now here you are our chat.
Io. Who you are? Can you tell us a bit about you?
Pollaz. Hi! My name is Paola Colombo, but everyone calls me Pollaz, I live in Verona since about ten years.
Io. Can you also tell us about your background?
Pollaz. I have a degree in Scenography at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Verona, but when I was studying I understood I had other interests too. My mum taught me to use the sewing machine, while my friend Federica urged me on something more challenging. So I started with her to create handmade objects and sell them at punk/hc shows. Hereafter I pushed my passion for needle-and-thread.
Io. Are you a full time puppets maker or you do something else too?
Pollaz. I wish I was! I have a part-time job that binds me 6 days on 7, within the two "jobs" I don't have a lot of spare time.
Io. Where do you take mostly your inspirations?
Pollaz. Everything that surrounds me, I look a lot around, I am an observer and I love details. I wish I am not looking like a maniac when I watch the details of people :)
Io. Which is the first step when you start a new project?
Pollaz. Scribble, scribble and scribble. I collect tens/hundreds/a lot of designs that I make during the moments of my day.
Io. Beyond your personal project do you have also side projects?
Pollaz. Yes, there is a project, but I don't want to talk about that right now because to avoid bad luck :)
Io. Is there someone you'd like to work with (someone form past or present)?
Pollaz. I overshoot and I say Sandy Skoglund, she is one of my first love, my thesis degree has born from a photo of her, even if I don't know exactly what we'd make together I am always enchanted by her works.
Io. Which artists or designers are you following right now?
Pollaz. I could make an infinite list...there are many many crackerjacks all around. I'd say two names: I am fascinated by Olly Moss's works, his simplicity is brilliant, and then TADA’s revolution, her attention to details is unbelievable!
Io. Which project of yours, you think, is the most succesful?
Pollaz. I guess the portrait pillow faces. I like to know that a lot of people have a fabric alter-ego sewed by me.
Io. Could you describe your typical day from wakening till night?
Pollaz. I'd like to say that it is an exciting day, but often it is not...
My typical day, when I have a lot to do is:
Wakening at 8,30/9,00, I go out with my dog, after I have a big cup of coffee in front of the computer and then I prepare myself to the world.
My typical day, when I have a lot to do is:
Wakening at 8,30/9,00, I go out with my dog, after I have a big cup of coffee in front of the computer and then I prepare myself to the world.
I stay in the studio till 13,00 then I take possession of the sofa and have something to eat.
Around 14,30 I go (yawning) to work (in the office, the kind of job that pays the rent) till 20,00.
Then dinner with my boyfriend (hoping he cooked) then again in the studio till 2,30/3,00.
Then I am asleep till my feet and I go bed.
Around 14,30 I go (yawning) to work (in the office, the kind of job that pays the rent) till 20,00.
Then dinner with my boyfriend (hoping he cooked) then again in the studio till 2,30/3,00.
Then I am asleep till my feet and I go bed.
Io. When you are not working what you like to do?
Pollaz. I loose a lot of time on the internet, I like watching movies and TV shows, cooking biscuits and lounging...lounging is fabulous. I love my dog, its name is Mela (in english Apple) she makes many spites to me (and I make to her). When my boyfriend and me have time (few) we love to do small journeys.
Io. Top-5 places to visit in Verona (every kind of)
Pollaz. With Verona I have a hate-love relationship, anyway here you are:
Parco dell’Adige. A natural park on the bank of the Adige with a long bicycle path.
Agriturismo Dongili. A vegetarian farm where the food is really good.
L’ex Arsenale. A beautiful place not used as it deserves.
Gelateria Zeno. Because the pistachios ice cream is screamingly good.
My home. Because the sofa is comfortable and it is so cute.
Io. A hidden dream?
Pollaz. To live doing what I like, and being able to say "I live sewing oven gloves with hairy hands".
Io. Your favorite magazines or blogs?
Pollaz. Cut, is an interesting German magazine that I discovered in Berlin, while in my favorite blogs there is finelittleday.
Io. As crafter, which are your best Etsy shops?
Pollaz. Here I'd have a long list too... Cottonholic because she sells amazing fabrics, Ninon because I'd buy everything she makes, then Studiofludd, Depeapa, Yokoo...
Io. Is there something I didn't asked about, but you'd say?
Pollaz. If you want to make me happy, please give me as present an apricot pie :D
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