IAFaM in the Netherlands

IAFaM is the acronym for Io Amo Fatto a Mano, that means I Love Handmade. You can find me using also VO.double, my nickname on some social networks since a few years.

May I introduce myself? My name is Valeria Olivati and one of the things that I love most to do in my life is to create!

Since I was a little kid I have played with thousands of colours: I have always been a creative soul. I still remember a gigantic wooden panel in my bedroom, where I and my little brother were drawing with every colour available. And what about all the tulle and fabric discarded by the shop where my mum was working, so colourful and textured, that I transformed into doll clothes. Lovely memories also of the colourfully striped crocheted blankets that my grandma made for all of us.

I was a shy kid, and growing up I was still shy for a long time. My emotions were secretly kept inside my heart and my mind and I often felt disoriented by the emotional fight that was happening inside me because of what was happening outside of me.

Then I had a rebirth experience when I turned 40, as happened to many women. During that time I learned how to stop fighting some of the emotions that I disliked, and I started to welcome them as they were, without judgement and with no more intention of changing them. I've discovered in this way that all emotions are our very precious allies, they are indispensable guidance for helping us to mark a trail towards our most real and unique personal realization.

My choice to move to the Netherlands to live and work was a crucial milestone of my personal evolution, and since the beginning, I have proof that my rebirth is bringing me towards such a wonderful and amazing self-realization that I could never have imagined before.

Being creative and loving both knitting and crocheting, I was inspired to link this emotional experience of mine with the colours of the yarns that I love to work with my hands and my heart. The result is growing into my Happy Mood Projects and the Mood&Colours Table that you can receive as a thank-you gift for choosing to subscribe to my IAFaM Newsletter, to be always informed about any news on Io Amo Fatto a Mano!

I'm touched when creating new designs, I'm obstinate to make and unmake them until I see something that I feel really good. Only at that moment I say to myself: "Yes! That's the way I love to make it!". The image of a new design arise in my mind, but the process to make it with my hands is not a linear one, it takes time and attempts, failures and new beginnings. In the end it is a metaphor for the life itself, and it's not easy to describe the emotions that you feel when you're making something that doesn't exist before, you have to experiment them by yourself.

And this is what you could find in my Knit Meetings: special occasions to experiment the creation itself. You, with your own hands, transform a simple material into a fashion accessory for yourself, you make something unique because you've made it with your own hands. I love to tell that you create your own masterpiece! And when I see someone that learns a new stitch or a new technique, then I feel different emotions, thinking: "Yes! You're great! You're improving yourself! I was sure you could!"

And when more persons meet together to create something, in my opinion this is pure energy that is transforming in sharing! It is a meeting of talents that multiply and give rise to infinite possibilities! Everybody has a talent to share, be aware of that!

Also the beginners have to know that the simple fact to ignore a tecnique or a stitch does not means to be a bad maker, please don't believe that!

If only you know how many stitches or techniques I've still to learn after 40 years of creativity, you could be scared of that!! The quantity of concepts or informations doesn't make the difference, but the passion you put into making the things you know in the best way you can!

Here I am! I'm able to make this: creating and passing the creativity on.

And I'm proud of that!

If you would like to be a part of Io Amo Fatto a Mano world, you are welcome!

Join the courses we are organising at Cherry Blossom and Tweed in Nijmegen (NL), for beginners and experienced knitters and crocheters. We will learn together and enjoy every step of exploring new techniques.

Take part in one of my Knit Meetings in the Netherlands or in Italy, via Facebook or LinkedIn, to know each other and share our passions and our "tips and tricks".

Learn how to make my designs on Raverly.com, and if you have doubts about making you can contact me via Email, on Instagram or on LinkedID.

Have a look at my videotutorials on Youtube. I will add something new as soon as I experience a new technique.

Subscribe to my IAFaM Newsletter, to be always informed about any news on Io Amo Fatto a Mano!

I wish to meet you soon! Have a nice day in the meantime, and enjoy creativity!