Silvia Marinas Cera

I am a weaver, designer and artist, born in Barcelona. I have been living in Scotland for 10 years, and it is deep in my heart, I graduated at Heriot-Watt University as a Textile Designer, and from 2018 I am back living in Barcelona.

My grandmother was a weaver, and my grandfather was a loom engineer, the first time I smelt my hands while passing the warp threads through the loom, it was like smelling him, a combination of metal and oil, I connected then with something so deep as an untold experience, weaving became part of myself.

I have a postgraduate in art therapy and experience as an arts & craft coordinator working with young adults with functional diversities, I got an award from the University to carry out a Project working with weaving and a group of students using a Japanese methodology called Saori, my final year dissertation was about the Wellbeing and Health Benefits of using this weaving methodology. I have been inspired by it since then, and offer inclusive workshops, individual, and group sessions in the community, schools, and other institutions.

I design and create complex and free-style timeless woven pieces, using primarily natural fibres, I weave unique handmade fabrics that will last for a long time, with minimal waste and that will keep a low impact on our planet.

My business objectives are:

I am in the early stages of my company, my objectives are to grow, become stable and be profitable to allow me to focus on the business more and make a living off my passion.

Once consolidated, I would love to expand the wellbeing handwoven workshops going where is needed, and organise different collaborations. My long term objective is to offer a space for inclusive community workshops and create projects that can involve designers and new hand weavers.

For my handwoven pieces, I would like to create a more personalised line offering something special and custom-made, promoting natural fibers and circular economy.

My learnings from the Crafting Business Programme:

I found the programme really inspiring and useful, it has helped me to focus on what I really have to offer as an artisan and what are my differential values and how to explain them better.

When I started this program I was a bit everywhere and nowhere, now I have a long list of actions defined, steps to follow, a path to accomplish my objectives with more purpose and confidence, and sure aiming for success.

I am really happy with the relationships born with teachers and other fellow artisans that are of such great value for all of us. Thanks to this business programme my current and future vision is now clear, I identified actions to take and how to move forward, I am really thankful for it.

My 5 top tips that I have learnt on this journey:

1. It is important to recognise my strengths and experience, to feel confident and be able to communicate them to others.
2. Move, contact and share with the right people, networking is key and helpful to create collaborations.
3. Focus on one part at a time, start with what I have to offer that comes from my passion and values, what really matters, get to know my customers to communicate better with them.
4. Organise the actions to do in smaller tasks, big objectives in smaller steps, easier to achieve and measure to gain more sense of accomplishment and keep working towards the goals.
5. Be realistic with my time and energy and plan ahead.