Isabella Strambio is someone to aspire to.

She left the hustle and bustle of her London life as an interior designer to follow a creative dream for a more sustainable and mindful lifestyle that was in tune with her own values.

The half-Italian and half-Japanese former interior designer turned macramé artist has worked in major design companies across the world throughout her career (Melbourne, Milan, Dubai & London). Her passion for macramé and ultimately her business were born in 2016 while writing a blog documenting her Two Me (two hours a day for me) project, in which she tried 12 new crafts over a year and fell in love with macramé.

Since tying her first knot, she has taught hundreds of macramé workshops and masterclasses at large companies such as Facebook and Nandos. As well as private events, she has published her own book 'macramé for the modern home' and has lined up two more publishing deals. Pretty damn impressive. Over the years she has created an amazing diverse social media tribe of macramé makers (16k) and creatives and run her own macrame academy offering workshops and courses from beginners to more advanced macramé students that in 14 weeks want to take the leap and build a successful macramé business just like hers.

We chat to Isabella all about macramé to find out exactly what it is, the importance of time alone and self-love, and everything you need to know about her blog and creative journey.

Can you tell us a bit more about what macramé is?

Macramé is losing yourself in the rhythm of knotting and connect with your creativity. It is the yoga for the mind as since I started teaching, I have seen how this meditative craft is helping my students releasing stress and anxiety by staying focused on the present while creating beautiful macramé pieces.

What does your business and crafts mean to you?

Macramé is my passion and I am fortunate that I have turn it into a business. Macramé is the way I can express freely when and as I want to. 

Why is important to have time to yourself, in your opinion?

To refuel with that energy that serves as engine to my creativity. It’s so important to honor myself first so that I can also be an inspiration to my students. I need that spark required during my workshops to also ignite creativity into the participants; to give my students and all the amazing people that take their time to read me, buy my pieces that presence they deserve. I need to give myself the gift of presence to be able to generously give others.  

How do you think you and your crafts help represent women, specifically women of color?

I have created a collection called 'macramé boobs' with 5 pieces in 5 different colours that represent skin colours.

Can you explain a little bit about your creative journey?

In 2016 my creative spirit was crying for attention in my exhausting London’s job which led me to start writing a blog documenting her amazing journey Two Me (TWO hours for ME a day) toward learning twelve crafts in twelve months. From learning pottery, weaving, natural dying to learn Japanese Temari balls, Ifell in love with macramé. Six months into the blog, I got asked to run a macramé workshop that sold out. 

I continued to work on my full-time job as senior interior designer while running weekends and evening workshops till I moved to Hampshire in summer 2017 with my husband and two daughters. Quitting the security of my London job living behind the hustle and the bustle of the city and moving to the countryside, was definitely not an easy decision to make, but I was determined to follow my dream of living a more suitable lifestyle in tune with my values and focus my creative energies to run my macramé business.

Can you tell me about your blog, Two Me? What was it about, what was it like having a blog, and do you think it helped other people?

TwoMe started as a blog to record my creative journey to learn 12 crafts in 12 months. It evolved as my hobby turned into a business and for the past few years focused mainly on macrame. I have recently changed my blog into a website under my name, and now it focuses on offering macramé services to new and established makers as well as free tutorials and tips for anyone that loves macramé.

What was it like working in major design companies across the world?

I loved it. Interior design gave me the opportunity to work around the world and live in amazing countries for more than 10 years. Learning to adapt, listen and understand new cultures helped me in my personal growth and business. Working across the world made me more curious, taught me to approach things in different ways, and have the courage to try new things. 

Tell me about yor book. What was it like writing it? Give me a brief overview of the book. 

I am fortunate enough to work with a great editor, Becky Robbins at Search Press, who gave me free rein on the book. I wanted to create a book that was easy for people to follow, even for macramé novice, but at the same time include some challenging projects for makers that have been doing this craft for a while.

Macramé for the modern home showcases with simple step-by-step instructions how to create breathtaking works of wall art and statement home decor using 100 percent recycled materials only and natural dye techniques too, another passion of mine.

What is it like teaching macramé classes?

Teaching in presence is what I miss the most as since the pandemic as I was not able to run my workshops and I had to revisit my business and start online classes and courses. My mission is to share my macrame knowledge with others. Since teaching macramé I have seen the benefits this craft has had on so many women.

Macramé has given confidence, creativity, identity, purpose, joy, and has helped with mental health, isolation, health, and chronic illnesses. I also work with women that have a macramé business and are eager to turn their passion into a profitable business. The connection I can make with my students and the joy in seeing them succeed with projects or even their first blog post is unbeatable.