We were lucky to catch up with Tininha Silva recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tininha, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

My love affair with weaving and fibers started back in 2018 after moving to a small town in the peninsula from Seattle where I used to design swimwear.. I decided to take up on a non-traditional form of weaving involving only a fairly basic homemade loom, hands and fibers. I have been weaving daily since then,

I guess I could have taken more online courses to hone my weaving skills in the very begging but instead, I took my time in experimenting with my own ideas and inspirations. In the end it led me to where i am now so there are no regrets.

If I were to name two most important skills I would say patience and perseverance. Luckily everything happened very serendipitously and I can’t think of any obstacles that stood in my way.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Brazilian-born, self-taught fiber artist.

I moved to USA in 1999 from Brazil’s sunny Northeast coast, with a law degree in hand but never pursued a career in the law field. Instead, I followed my instincts and opened an import shop specializing in high end swimwear in the heart of Fremont neighborhood ’Tininha’s Boutique’. Not long after, I started designing and developing my own swimwear line “Teu”.

In 2014 my career as swimwear designer had a surprising twist after 13 years of invigorating Seattle’s famously trigger-shy bikini wearers. Pregnant of our second child, I decided to slow down a bit. In order to supplement our income, we remodeled our basement and created Project Ninho, an art studio for kids in the heart of Madrona neighborhood. It was an enlightening and creative experience teaching kids and collaborating with other local artists.

But it wasn’t until 2018 when I moved to the beautiful Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend with my husband and two children, when I discovered a hands-on response to my love for textiles through weaving. I had finally found my ikigai . Since then, I have gained recognition through social media for my work as an innovator in the makers movement and have created woven tapestries, installations and sculptures for clients across USA and around the world.

Since 2018 I have had several shows at galleries and pop up shows at informal commercial spaces.

I currently work out of my home studio

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

With weaving, I’ve learned that working directly with my hands has been the best remedy for for anxiety and I wish someone had come to me earlier in my life and tell me “find something you enjoy doing while working with your hands. I really believe that the motion of my fingers and the pleasant feelings of creating something with my hands is therapeutic and meditative. I feel like I’m on a mission to spread the word!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most gratifying benefits from the the practice of weaving it that besides been therapeutic, I see it as a free art form where I allow myself to constantly experiment with new ideas whenever I feel the urge to originate new work. It gives me thrills to push the boundaries in my field and take risks. My ever-evolving creative process is one that brings me closer to nature and connect me to my senses.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tininhasilva.com
• Instagram: tininhasilvastudio

Image Credits
pictures with model: Travis Gillett Whitney Dale