hello there friends, how are you doing this monday? looking forward for a brand new and exciting week? well, we’re having a national holiday on wednesday and then again another one next tuesday, so these two weeks are quite good for us! and it would be really great if the weather was at least something that allowed us for some outdoor activities! but moving on to our main topic, this week i decided to have another of these handmade pledge features and i brought you someone that you probably already know or seen her around the web, because she’s actually pretty popular! nevertheless, i always wanted to write about her and today was the day! yokoo gibraan is the girl behind this story and she’s absolutely amazing!
1) pembroke cowl in wood brown 2) the warmer in barley
after reading this post, i strongly advise you to watch this video that etsy made of her, so that you can feel a little bit of her world! as it’s written on etsy “holed up with the quiet company of old movies, she crochets about 15 hours a day. running a one-woman knitwear enterprise from home, yokoo is an artist, a perfectionist and a ”total control” worker. she enjoys being a part of the entire process: thinking, designing, sketching, picking up the material, creating, photographing, promoting, trading and sending. she still gets butterflies every time she packages up a new order.” these words put a smile on my face, because this alone sort of empowers me to do the same on my business! and not that i’m feeling somewhat less motivated, but on top of my motivation to do what i do, i can still feel some energy coming from this sentence.
3) the yokoo bronx chain scarf 4) multicolored soopa chain
yokoo runs her company alone and asides from this fact, which is an act of courage already, looking at her handmade products and her photo style is indeed a bold attitude, and bold because she doesn’t go along with the photos “she’s supposed to do”, she doesn’t go along with what most people may consider an appropriate accessories size and yet, she’s successful because asides from the quality of her products, she definitely stands out from the crowd. she used to work at a copy center in atlanta, before she decided to quit her day job and dedicate herself full time to her etsy shop! and now you can also find her second etsy shop, mother, which is also a strong commitment to what’s different from the fashion industry, the strong value of handmade work and sharing something that easily transports us to the older times, when women cooked and baked, stayed at home and did everything by their hands. and though this might seem a nightmare for some women out there, there is something precious in going back to these “handmade days”.
5) the snow leopard in navy 6) three ring chain in cranberry
you can explore both shops by yokoo gibran here and here, and also read a little bit more about making the switch from a day job to your passion hobby on this article on new york times, where they talk about yokoo and paloma’s nest.
images: yokoo gibran (click on captions for more detailed information on the products)
Alma says
Thank you featuring my numero uno muse! I loooove her. She inspires me so much. I am a fellow lover of handmade, knitter, crocheter and daydreamer who in her mind believes she is her biggest fan. This was perfectly written post. Thank you for this and have now a new follower.
twiggs says
hello alma!!! oh i gtook a little bit to answer your comment, but let me tell you that you made me so happy with your words! thank you so much for such kindness!!! and for being a follower!!! have a great day!!
MissLilly says
wow I didn’t know her work, but it’s impressive. 15h a day!!! wow! It involves a lot of passion and commitment and you can feel that in her works, amazing. thanks for sharing dear Twiggs
twiggs says
oh yes, 15h a day and this means one thing, this is passion! and it’s amazing when one finds such passion and can actually make a living out of this passion! a dream to follow for many, a dream being lived by others! and thank you for the kind words my friend! you always rock!!!
Anna says
I loved that etsy video with her! It was so beautiful and inspiring – just like her handcrafted scarfs!
twiggs says
yes, the video shares how special she is indeed!! thank you for the visit!!
sara (sushi lover) says
well, in “old times” if they stayed at home women didn’t profit from their work and that’s a huge difference!
yokoo is not doing homey handmade stuff, she is creating and living from her art, and her work. Like you said she is bold and her works are statements. I believe it’s a very different thing from doing your husband’s shirts and cooking dinner.
don’t be upset, i loved the post and i adore yokoo . beijinhos!
twiggs says
well yes, you are so right! but i also know that you got my point! certain things are good to come back to, not those things you mentioned, but the part in which women can stay at home, but still be productive… women can live out of their passions, making something so ancient like knitting… it’s a whole new generation coming back to some values that were getting forgotten! beijinhos minha querida ;)
macu (Joana) says
Ah, Yokoo! Já conhecia os trabalhos dela! Adoro o estilo e as fotografias, é única! Não conhecia a nova loja, mas já estou a ver que mantém o espirito ímpar que a caracteriza…
twiggs says
é isso mesmo, um estilo ímpar! a yokoo destaca-se por tudo… e mesmo se alguém não se identificar com o seu estilo é impossível não lhe reconhecer mérito, inovação, coragem e um estilo muito próprio cheio de confiança! e isto faz toda a diferença!