When it comes to meaningful Christmas decorations, Alresford-based macramé artist Isabella Strambio is encouraging us to have a go at making our own, with the launch of her new book.
‘There’s something so special about opening the box of Christmas decorations in the lead up to the festive season. I love unpacking all the pieces that have been kept year after year, some passed down through generations, others made by children at nursery and covered in glitter, and the memories associated with those special creations,’ says Alresford mother-of-two Isabella Strambio. ‘It’s one of the reasons I wanted to do a Christmas book, for all those people, who are sentimental like me.’
Former interior designer-turned artist, Isabella, is all about helping people tap into their creativity through the mindful art of macramé. The technique involves tying different knots, usually into cotton cord, to produce decorative items. However, the artform has been around for centuries and was originally used for more practical purposes.
‘Macramé comes from an Arabic word that means fringe,’ explains Isabella, of the craft that is thought to have been introduced to England in the 17th century. ‘Apparently, they used to use these fringes with knots to put on horses to keep the flies out of their eyes. But macramé has been used for all sorts of practical things throughout history; to make nets clothes, shoes, even for counting (people would tie knots on pieces of string to keep count of the things they had for example), it’s fascinating.’
Isabella was introduced to macramé by a neighbour when she was looking for creative ways to spend her down time away from work and parental duties.
Born in the Italian province of Imperia, Isabella moved to the UK aged 18 to learn English and Interior Design. After graduating from the Kent Institute of Art & Design (now the University for the Creative Arts) with a degree in Interior Architecture, she travelled the world as an interior designer before settling back in London with her husband, Martin.
However, after returning to work from maternity following the birth of her two daughters, juggling parenthood with a demanding job at an interior design company in the city became a struggle.
‘I didn’t have any time with the kids, and I felt guilty,’ she says, relaying a story many women will be familiar with. ‘On top of that, even though I was working in a creative industry, I didn't feel I was using my creativity to the full – I just wasn't enjoying my career anymore but had no idea what I was going to do.’
In a bid to find an outlet for her creativity at the same time as capturing some ‘me time’ away from the challenges of motherhood, she began a personal project to learn 12 new crafts in 12 months, documenting her journey on a blog called twome.co.uk.
‘It was purely for myself as I creative outlet and to find some peace of mind,’ she explains. ‘I've always been creative and loved doing things with my hands but just never had the time. So, I started the blog and called it TwoMe because it was about having two hours for me.’
Each day, Isabella dedicated a couple of hours when her daughters, Siena, now 11, and Mei, now 8, had gone to bed learning crafts such as natural dying, crochet candle making, paper cutting and screen printing, but macramé was one of the art forms that stuck with her.
‘It was actually the first of the 12 crafts I tried, and I just fell in love with it,’ she says. ‘I found it so meditative. Like yoga for the mind.’
She began teaching workshops and, after moving to Hampshire when her husband got a job in the New Forest, in 2017, she quit her career in interior design to work full-time on her creative business.
She has since amassed over 20,000 followers on her Instagram profile @_twome, a feat she attributes in part to creatives around the world who are dedicated to the art but also lockdown, which saw an increase in people taking on new activities they could do at home.
‘Just prior to lockdown, I had been approached by Search Press to do my first book, we had this huge launch party planned and I was so excited but then the pandemic hit,’ she says. ‘I was devastated because I thought it was going to be the only book I’d ever write but actually, I think lockdown probably had quite a big impact on its success.’
The book, Macramé for the Modern Home, became a bestseller and, last year, Isabella wrote another, Macramé Jewellery. Her third book, released in July, focuses on her favourite time of year.
Macramé Christmas: 24 festive projects using easy knotting techniques, features 24 Instagram-worthy projects ranging from textured tree and table decorations to statement wreaths, charming gift tags and cute garlands to create a stylish and sustainable home for Christmas or fashion into homemade gifts using 100 per cent recycled materials.
The book includes instructions on how to tie 24 key knots all shown clearly using step-by-step photography alongside tips for working with large pieces of macramé, knotting from an irregular-shaped support and keeping an even tension.
‘My favourite project in the Christmas book is probably the star but then I also love the big chunky Christmas tree – probably because these are the most complex ones but there are smaller, simpler projects in there too.’ Isabella says. ‘Whichever projects you choose to make, at the end you’ll have that timeless creation, that perhaps you can pass down to your children to unpack when they decorate the house at Christmas in years to come.’
Macramé Christmas: 24 festive projects using easy knotting techniques, published by Search Press, is out now RRP £12.99. Isabella will be running macramé Christmas workshops at The Tichborne Arms, Tichborne, Alresford SO24 0NA on December 2 and runs macramé workshops throughout the year online, in Hampshire and London. For more information visit isabellastrambio.com or follow @_twome on Instagram.
My Favourite Hampshire
Favourite pub?
The Tichborne Arms, we’re hoping to head there for Christmas Day lunch this year.
Favourite shops?
Long Barn is a lovely hidden gem and I also love shopping at Alresford Linen Company.
Favourite restaurant?
Pulpo Negro, in Alresford, does tapas food and is fabulous for a meal to celebrate a special occasion.
Favourite café?
Party at the Mill in Alresford.
