IAFaM in the Netherlands

IAFaM is the acronym for Io Amo Fatto a Mano, which means I Love Handmade. Over the last few years, you may have also seen me under my nickname, VO.double on some social networks, like Instagram or Facebook.

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 would draw with every colour available. And what about all the tulle and fabric discarded by the shop where my mum worked, so colourful and textured, that I transformed into unique doll clothes. I also have lovely memories of the colourfully striped crocheted blankets that my grandma made for all of us.

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

However, when I turned 40, I had a rebirth experience, as happens 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 realisation.

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 has grown into my Happy Mood Projects and the Mood & Colours Table that you can receive as a thank-you gift for choosing for subscribing to my IAFaM Newsletter, to be always informed about any news on Io Amo Fatto a Mano and learn step by step how colours interact with us daily!

I'm touched when creating new designs, I will stubbornly make, unmake and remake them until I see something that I feel really good about. Only at that moment will I say to myself: "Yes! That's the way I love to make it!". However, whilst the image of a new design arises in my mind, but the process to make it with my hands is not a linear one, it takes time and multiple 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 didn't exist before, you have to experience them for yourself.

And this is what you will find in my Knit Meetings: special occasions to experience the creative process itself. You, with your own hands, will 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 show you that you have created your own masterpiece! And when I see someone learning 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 people meet together to create something, in my opinion, this creates a pure energy that is transformed through 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 need to know that not knowing a technique or a stitch does not means that they are bad makers. Please don't believe that!

If only you knew how many stitches or techniques I still have to learn after 40 years of creativity, you could be surprised 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're welcome to join us!

Join the courses being organised 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.

Join the Happy Mood Projects philosophy by following me on Instagram or on LinkedID.

Take part in one of my Knit Meetings in the Netherlands or in Italy, via Facebook or LinkedIn, to get 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 following any of the patterns, you can contact me via Email.

Have a look at my SlowMotion Knit and Crochet videotutorials on Youtube. I will add something anytime I work with a new technique.

Subscribe to my IAFaM Newsletter, to learn step by step the interactions between Colours and Emotions in our daily life and to always be informed about any news on Io Amo Fatto a Mano!

I hope to meet you soon! In the meantime, have a nice day, and enjoy being creative!