The Bag Messenger BlogBag Design and Urban Living

My grandfather used to say that time is the great equalizer. Through the clock we are all equal in potential, and it is how we spend our time that creates the substance of  life. Whether behind the lens, or on the needle end of a ball of yarn Lavanya Patricella is working away busily. A woman with a creative gift, refined eye, and a well grounded sensibility; Lavanya lives the life of the medium, reflecting the beauty she sees and creating substance. 

-THE BAG MESSENGER

 

 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Who are you and what do you do?

LAVANYA: My name is Lavanya Patricella and I'm a full time knittress and photographer.

THE BAG MESSENGER: How did you first get involved with your work?

LAVANYA: I come from a family of artist / musician / magicians and was raised with full support to be creative minded. I started taking pictures when i was 13 with no intention what so ever to become a photographer, and in many ways still don't consider myself to be one. i started knitting about 5 years ago, fell madly in love with the craft and decided to start up a line of my hand knit designs. I also teach knitting at my local yarn shop.

 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: How has your work changed throughout the years?

LAVANYA: I'd like to say it changed from a child to a woman, when I look back at my work I see a lot of raw energy and what was in there ready to get out. I started a non profit site (phoot.org) when I was 14 and broadcast my thoughts, visuals and creations in a journalistic form daily/weekly/monthly for over 12 years, recently I have taken a break from that to focus more on my fiber crafting (abhaya fibers) as it's what i love to do more then anything. i'm more or less mixing my skill-sets into something new right now and having a lot of fun while i'm at it. 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Who were your influences? 

LAVANYA: I've been surrounded by amazing minds most of my life. I've always been influenced by originality and those that do it for the love it, no thoughts past that. 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Do you have a favorite camera?

LAVANYA: I'm still a sucker for my canon 10D, it's been with me a long long time now. I'm eco-conscious and think film should be left to those who use it as their true art form. I'm just here to reflect what I see, what I feel and what I make, the medium is the message, the camera just mirrors it for me.

 

 
 

 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Any interesting stories or tips?

LAVANYA: Knitting in public will get you glances, stares, giggles, thumbs up and smiles.  

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: How often do you get out and about? 

LAVANYA: I live and work off the land with my crew, making art, music, clothing, and growing food...which makes me a bit of a homebody, I also have a teaching schedule weekly so aside from intergalactic teleportation I don't travel too much right now.

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: Where are some of your favorite places to knit?

LAVANYA: Have yarn? Will travel! I am a fiber connoisseur and can easily spend days soaking in the colors and textures in a yarn shop, plus the atmosphere is pretty inspiring. My experience so far with the knitting community has been very warm and welcoming. I especially love shops that are project friendly, where you can bring your work with you and sit with ladies, swapping stories and exchanging techniques. I also love to be in any natural surrounding, where you can hear the wind because there are trees and see the stars after sunsets.  

 

 

 

THE BAG MESSENGER: What are the tools of the trade? (whats in the bag?)

LAVANYA: I travel light, I bring my bag of tricks and knits, my camera, some water, a jacket perhaps and some good energy.
 I rarely go anywhere without my knitting needles and yarn for whatever my current project is. I also carry a crochet hook (because no matter how long you've been knitting you never know when you will drop a stitch), little scissors, tape measure, my camera and a moleskine journal for notes.