beyond the maker,
the echo

Every creative journey is shaped not only by what we make, but by those who meet us along the way. Their words reflect moments of making, trust and shared presence — small windows into the becoming and meaning behind my work.

Here, I gather a few of these voices — people who have witnessed my process up close, as friends, collaborators or companions in creativity.
Each carries its own texture: one wrapped in fabric and photographs, another rather distilled into quiet words about seeing, attention and the invisible bonds between art and life.

The first belongs to Milena, whose request for a handmade baby quilt became more than a single act of making. It turned into a conversation about care, time and what it means to create something that holds presence.

The second voice is that of Patrycja — the photographer whose eye has followed my work from the outside in. Her reflection unfolds between light and stillness, revealing how creation looks when seen through another artist’s lens. She captures not only process, but essence — the gestures, the calm and the quiet dialogue between matter and meaning.

MILENA — on a baby quilt

When after only a few conversations you find yourself wondering What would this person do if she were in my situation?, that’s when you know you’ve met someone remarkable. That’s how it was with Renata.

One coffee, then another — and I already knew I would never look at some things the same way again.

While taking a slow photoshoot outside, I noticed something:
“Your daughter’s in the frame — shall I move her?”
“No need. She’s a part of my life.”

That single line stayed with me. So did another, during one of our many conversations about creativity and time:
“Just because I step into the shower doesn’t mean I’ve stopped working. You can’t really measure how long a project takes — the final result is never just the sum of hours at the sewing machine. It’s the sum of everything that has shaped me — the moments of my day, even of my life.”

That thought changed how I look at my own work —
how I respect my process and what it costs to bring something into being.

When my close friends became parents, I called Renata and asked:
“Would you make a baby quilt — something for a little boy, a gift for them from me?”
“Of course!,” she said.

After a short pause to catch her breath between life’s daily demands, it took just one five-minute call and a few messages for me to feel completely at ease. I knew something beautiful would emerge — and that I could trust her completely.

If I had more time, I’d drop by Renata’s studio more often. Not only for the conversation, but also to bring her my latest bakes and wait for her honest feedback — she never spares it!

Even from a distance, I continue to follow her creative path. Her persistence amazes me: teaching, raising children, returning to university, learning design software — all while creating work that carries such presence.

Renata is ambitious, grounded and beautifully self-critical in the best sense — always striving to grow. She has a craftswoman’s skill and a true artist’s heart. Her head is full of ideas, her hands steady in bringing them to life.

I’d recommend working with her to anyone who values originality, thoughtful conversation and genuine quality.

— Milena

Patrycja — on Photo shoots

It was autumn. We were standing in my garden.
Renata said, “Oh, look — grapes.”
To be honest, I hadn’t noticed they were ripe.

This is a story about how some people help you see.

We first met when I was teaching photo retouching. Renata was one of my students — curious, perceptive and always asking questions that made me pause and think. They were never banal. They led me to deeper insight into my own photography. I still remember how one of her questions helped me understand the way I see the world — and how I express myself through images.

Several years have passed and our conversations haven’t changed. We begin with a simple “How are you?” — and hours later, we’re still exploring art, process and meaning — going deeper and deeper down. Our messages have become small collections of thoughts, ideas and reflections — a dialogue that stretches between making and being.

When Renata invited me to take photographs for her website, I felt honoured. These weren’t ordinary photo sessions. We wanted to recreate her creative process — to show the stages, gestures and in-between nuances.

It may sound technical, but the experience was anything but. In the studio, Renata created patterns using various techniques while we were talking about process, texture, tectile sensations and colour selection. Her words flowed as naturally as her hands moved.

I was fascinated by how versitile her process of searching for inspiration is — how seamlessly she weaves artistic and personal threads.

We took a lot of photos. I tried to capture everything as best I could, without missing a thing.

As I edited the photos, I realised that her hands were the true subject of every frame. They express curiosity, passion and restlessness — yet also calm, focus and grace.

Renata holds many contrasts within her: an untamed creative drive alongside serenity in making. Her inner world is full of hidden corners and sudden openings, yet from that complexity emerge coherent, resonant visions.

Her curiosity takes her in a hundred directions at once — and still, her persistence in long-term, demanding projects is astonishing.

That, I think, is what makes her work so unique: it grows from a lifetime of experience, reflection and feeling.

Working with Renata is deeply rewarding. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who values sensitivity, depth and the art of genuine creation.

— Patrycja