Maker: Vanina of 12 Mood Studio
Vanina has a love of working with her hands that shows in the art that she creates. Along with the help of her craft godmother’s help, she is able to reinvent, and recreate with things that she finds here and there. Her creativity flows into her art, as well as dance. Meet Vanina and check out her website!
{Angie}
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Vanina Doce Mood and I am originally from Argentina. I live in Oakland, CA in a funky and happy red house with my husband Michael, my daughter Paloma, my dog Juancho, Bob the Super Cat and my chickens, Colo, Bottle Rock and Cinderella.
What do you make or do?
I like to make stuff with my hands that make me and other people happy, reusing and salvaging things as much as I can to make good for the planet. I mostly make aprons, jewelry and accessories, but I also like to make quilts and accessories for the home. I just do what I am feeling in the moment, trying and learning new things and experimenting.
Where can we find your creations?
Right now I am working on a new website, an alternative to Etsy. This year I decided to do less crafts shows and concentrate in retail. You can find my aprons and jewelry at Rare Bird in Piedmont, Dandelion Flower and Gifts in Alameda and Luz de Luna in San Francisco. I have a blog called Mother Crafter DIY (mothercrafterdiy.com) that I created after my daughter was born and where I share my creations, along with crafts and sewing tutorials and inspiration. I haven’t blog in quite some time now but it is still there, waiting for me to be ready and revive it again.
Is there an interesting story behind the name of your business? How did the name come about?
The name of my business came up as I joined my last name, Doce (which means twelve in Spanish) with my husband’s last name, Mood. I chose the word Studio because I think there is a sense of exploration and creativity connected to it. I am all about exploring different media and formats when I create.
When you’re not making things, what do you do?
I dance! I am a Zumba Instructor and studying to become a Creative Dance Educator. I teach several classes throughout the week for adults and kids. Dance is another important creative part of my life.
Is creativity a luxury or a necessity for you?
Along with dance, it is my therapy. Is what it makes me happy. And the world needs more people doing what they love and makes them happy. You can be creative in a million different ways: in parenthood, in your marriage, in your everyday life! You do not need to necessary make something tangible to be creative. I believe that you can boost your happiness through creativity.
Did someone in your family, a friend or teacher introduce you to your creative side or have they helped you along the way?
I have an aunt that lives in Chicago and who I call my craft godmother. She loves to go to thrift stores and estate sales and she sends me boxes and boxes of stuff for me to reinvent and repurpose. She definitely keeps me going!
Where do you find inspiration?
Paloma, my almost 5 year old! I love to see the world through her eyes. And Frida Kahlo has been an inspiration all the time, in many aspects, not just art.
What inspiring advice would you give to other creatives be they established or just starting out?
Do it with and from the heart.
