We were lucky to catch up with Takiya Saavedra recently and have shared our conversation below.
Takiya, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Last year I was offered the opportunity to make something completely outside of my comfort zone. I also thought it was outside of my creative ability. A client wanted an abstract 12′ wide x 10′ long fiber mural. I purchased hundreds of dollars in material, practiced lots of new knots and worked for weeks to make the largest, most intricate, macramé piece I’ve ever created. My client was thrilled and it looks beautiful hanging in her home. I’m really proud of conquering that project.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Sure! My name is Takiya, and I’m the owner and creator of Knotted by Kiwi. Lots of people wonder if Kiwi is referencing the bird or the fruit; really, it’s a nickname that my sister gave me when we were kids that kind of stuck. I always say that I’m not from Arizona, but the reality is that I’ve been here for all of my adult life. I met my husband and started our family here. I’ve never considered myself an artist, in fact, I grew up believing that I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body! Turns out, I just hadn’t found my medium. Several years ago, I wanted a piece for myself, so I started teaching myself knots. I dabbled in macramé for a while, and then COVID hit. That gave me the time to really start to master my knots and find my style. I started making small plant hangers, first for my car, then as gifts for friends. Soon, I was being asked how much I’d charge for custom pieces and friends started ordering from me.
After about a year of making items for fun and gifts, my sister-in-law went to a market that she thought I’d do well at. She put me in touch with the organizer and I nervously worked my first market. There I met other vendors, got tons of feedback from the community and made money! It was so fun! As the years have passed, my display has evolved and grown, but I am most thankful for my ties to the community, the friendships I’ve made with other vendors, and getting to meet customers face-to-face.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The value of community! Finding artistic peers and building a network of resources, whether it’s market info, printing companies, small business support; the bond with fellow makers has been the most valuable resource and it’s literally free!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Making a living as an artist is hard, I think in part because art is so subjective. When I started, I worked so hard to make things that I thought would be well received or that would sell well. As I’ve spent more time creating, I’ve started returning to making pieces that make me happy and represent my style. That feels authentic and it’s amazing to have those items be so well received.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.knottedbykiwi.com
- Instagram: knotted_by_kiwi
- Facebook: Knotted by Kiwi