I have a special guest on the blog today: Adémígua from Prema Witch!
Take a moment to get to know Adémígua, and I’m sure you will fall in love with her magic.
Whether you’re a budding artist or simply curious about her journey, or interested to know more about her products, check out the interview to learn more about Adémígua!
In the interview below, Adémígua shares with us how this came to be, her love for create, her products, as well as some great advice.
1. Could you introduce yourself to all my readers?
Hi, my name is Adémígua. I’m a fiber artist, movement artist, and a Lucumi Priestess. My husband and I live on the road. We travel to a new city/state/country every month, and I create and teach art along the way.
2. How and where did Prema Witch begin?
Prema Witch was created when I was born. Prema is the Sanskrit word for Love, and I come from a long line of witches. I came into this world through love and witchcraft, and I was raised with those two things as my gospel. In fact, my very first mantra given to me to chant as a child was “Ahem Prema,” which means “I am Divine Love” Prema Witch as a business started much later. I’ve been creating with fiber since my mother taught me to crochet at age 6. I started making bags and selling them when I was in high school. I took a break, had a baby, joined the circus for a while, and performed worldwide. After things settled, I got back to fiber and made Prema Witch Handmade official in 2018.
3. How did you get to be interested in weaving, and what spurred you to do it full-time?
I’ve always found weaving interesting. The fabrics I was introduced to in India were always inspiring to me. However, for several reasons, I always felt it wasn’t accessible to me. I needed a factory, or at least a huge floor loom even to attempt such art. It wasn’t until two years ago, my husband took me to his friends’ farm in North Carolina, Jehovah Rah Farms, and I was introduced to the triangle loom, and the rigid heddle looms. The farm owner, Julie, taught me to weave and spin, and it just lit a fire in me. The first time she taught me to weave I made an entire shawl in one day. I was obsessed!
4. What keeps you going?
Passion, definitely passion. If you don’t have a passion for art and creating, it will get old fast. This craft is not always easy, and it definitely isn’t cheap. You really need to love it to keep going. I stay up late trying to finish just a few more rows, and I wake up eager to get back at it. I love being able to look at a finished piece and say, “I made that.” Being my own brand, making my own clothing, and the feeling of connecting to my ancestors through this craft is definitely part of it as well.
5. Do you manage Prema Witch alone?
I do! I am a one-woman operation. My husband helps me from time to time with choosing colors; he’s an artist and has a great eye. He’s also great when it comes to last-minute post office drops. Other than that, everything is done with these two hands here.
6. How do you come up with all these fantastic colors?
Honestly, I get a lot of visuals through meditation and from nature. Both of these produce the most amazing color combos. Also, as I mentioned before, my husband is an artist, so I always ask his opinion for colors.
7. How long does it take for you to produce a new collection?
From thought to an actual product, maybe about a month. I like to sit with an idea and play with it in other mediums before putting anything into action. I allow the colors to tell me if and how they want to be used, which takes time. If they don’t speak, then I scrap the idea and start over.
8. Do you have a favorite product?
Definitely my Rule Breaker Shawls. It’s a shawl. A large scarf could even be used as a table runner or hung on the wall as art. It’s just a long wide rectangle, but there’s so much texture. I love the texture! I make them using my hand spun yarn, and that alone gives great texture. More than that, there are loops, and coils, sharp angles in color changes, fringe, and dangling bits through the entire piece. I get excited just talking about them.
9. What’s in store for the next season?
Fall and Winter are, of course, my favorite seasons because that’s when my fiber can shine the best. I will definitely be bringing back the Rule Breaker Shawls. I’m also working on a few woven pillows and garments such as tops, tea jackets, and belts.
10. Last but not least, any advice for those looking to journey down a similar path?
Find your passion! What can’t you live without? What do you find yourself going back to time and time again? Whatever it is, dive in! Practice every day, even if it’s just 15min. Daily practice is the key to growth, and practice makes progress. Find your tribe. Search out people that are great at what you want to learn and ask for help. Most importantly, do it for yourself first. Not for money, not for followers, not for anyone but you. Everything else will come after.
