The 'origin' of Studio Kvinna starts with a completely different story. Namely that of Alice in Wonderland. Together with a friend I started selling handmade and upcycled stuff in 2012. Think of crocheted pencil cases, sewn bags from vintage tablecloths, beautiful coffee cups filled with candle wax and a wick, scarves made from scarves and pillows from ties. We sold this at markets under the name Le Lapin Blanc; because by following the white rabbit you came to a wonderland where teapots became flower vases and where retro memory cards and record covers became notebooks.
We had really created our own little world. During one of the markets where we were freezing (it's amazing how often it rains when you're outside with your stall) we saw that the stall next to us sold quite a few cards. And since I've always enjoyed drawing, I decided to put pencil to paper again. That's how the first collection of cards came into being, starting with a simple figure with a bow around a pregnant belly and the same figure with a hand full of balloons (unfortunately no pictures of that anymore). Followed by Joepie it's today and this one:
This collection grew and grew, not only with drawings but also with photo cards. The card rack became a card mill and making and crocheting things by hand faded more and more into the background. Not least because all those bags, pillowcases, cuddly toys, teacups, footstools and cabinets took up more and more (and too much) space. Going to a market was a whole migration that caused congestion for days in our upstairs apartment (with two flights of stairs).
At that time, it is now 2014, my girlfriend had decided that she would rather give away her homemade creations than sell them. And early October of that year, the owner of a shop in Amsterdam asked me if she could also buy the 'wooden photo rings'. With a big grin I emailed back "Yes of course!" Proud as a peacock that I could apparently sell my photo work without an art academy diploma.
That email also meant that between packing moving boxes and packing for a city trip to Barcelona, I suddenly needed a Chamber of Commerce number and therefore a company. And then I had to think about a suitable name. I didn't want to see my own name everywhere all the time, the name had to fit what I did and it had to have a Scandinavian touch. After two days of thinking, weighing and considering, it became Studio Kvinna; Femke (my first name) is a derivative of the Frisian Famke, which means 'little woman'. Kvinna is the Swedish word for 'woman' and that's how all my wishes came together.
Now, ten years later, I am still very happy with my company name, even though it may be a bit difficult to pronounce sometimes ;).
More about the past ten years soon.