I have always been “against” mass production. It was easy in communist times to be “against”. There was nothing in shops so we made our own clothes, we dyed them. I even made shoes for myself. Everything was gray, so once a person was wearing colourful cloth – that one was automatically “against”.
Than the capitalists came. Everybody could buy everything. But it’s so boring! I spent almost 20 years in advertising as a creative writer and consultant, but I was missing something. When my kids were born I started to smell what I was missing. It was the “against” part of me. The roots of myself. So here I am – knitting, crocheting and getting ready to start making my own soap and lip balms! I love those moments when I make my stuff, kids are playing around, we have time to talk, to be together!
Asia Bataev
I am turning 40 this year and just about to make a huge turn in my life, leaving the corporate world forever and ever.
I have a great hubby and two wonderful sons, and working on the third baby as I always wanted to have three kids - no idea why!
I love the ocean and the sun.
Chocolate is my last and lasting addiction.
What got you started crafting?
I used to crochet when I was a kid, my grandmother taught me a lot. I came back to it a year ago when I was staying in bed, with the flu and could not read. And I have not stopped since then! I am inspired by a waldorf idea of education and making toys. All the toys (other than kittens and chickens) are of my design, not the waldorf.
I paint whole my life, but painting is something different from crafting. Crafting just makes my brain work better.
What is your source of inspiration?
My main source of inspiration is definitely NATURE. And there are also my kids and my mind! When I was a kid my mother kept repeating that a person who has a brain simply can't be bored, so I learned to use my brain properly!
What have you made recently?
Well... I am working on few new things... There is a turtle and a seal that are in production. I have made some prototypes, looking like a genetic engeneers' mistakes, but I hope finally I get the shape I see in my mind. I do not use any patterns and I am poor at math, so counting stitches is not my style. I work in the manner of "learning from my own mistakes". At first I produce those strange creatures that land in my kids hands... and after few attempts I get where I want to be.
I have also recently made hemp facial scrubs, but I have to label them, so they are not in the shop yet. I got the idea of delicate scrubbing by combining the tough surface of hemp pad with soft surface of embroidery on the hemp pad. I also like the colour combination: natural hemp and lavender. It's going to not only be useful earth wise, but also beautiful.
Where do you sell your crafts presently?
I sell my stuff amongst friends and friends of the friends of friends. By the end of 2010 I started to treat Etsy seriously and try to make it another channel of distribution. I am also talking to some places here, in Warsaw, like cafes for moms and kids.
Why are handmade crafts important to you?
I have always been "against" mass production. It was easy in communist times to be "against". There was nothing in shops so we made our own clothes, we dyed them. I even made shoes for myself. Everything was gray, so once a person was wearing colourful cloth - that one was automatically "against". Than the capitalists came. Everybody could buy everything. But it's so boring! I spent almost 20 years in advertising as a creative writer and consultant, but I was missing something. When my kids were born I started to smell what I was missing. It was the "against" part of me. The roots of myself. So here I am :-))) Knitting, crocheting and getting ready for making my own soap and lip balms! I love those moments when I make my stuff, kids are playing around, we have time to talk, to be together!
Find Me
LocationWarsaw, Poland, Europe
Email Address
Asia Bataev
Personal Website
http://www.asiabataev.com
Store Website
http://www.etsy.com/shop/asiabataev
ASIALOVE
@asiabataev
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AsiaBataev-Toys/160519880630413