Why I chose to preserve what is disappearing.
Hello, I’m Ieva.
If someone had told me ten years ago that I would spend most of my time searching for old Lithuanian textiles, talking to folk artists, and looking for ways to bring heritage into contemporary homes, I probably would have just smiled.
Though now I understand that it all started much earlier.
I grew up among people for whom being Lithuanian wasn’t a trend or a passing fad. It was everyday life. Folk art pieces in our home were a given – they stood on shelves, hung on walls, and accompanied daily life. Only much later did I realize that what seemed ordinary to me was actually extraordinarily valuable.
More than twelve years ago, I became a folk artist myself. I created paper-cut art, participated in exhibitions and fairs, but over time I increasingly realized that I was interested in more than just creating. I’m interested in what handmade work leaves behind – the stories, the craftsmanship, and the cultural memory.
Over these years, I’ve met many people whose hands have created exceptional works. But at the same time, I increasingly saw the other side – homes where they went unnoticed, and attics where they waited, not knowing if they would ever be needed by anyone again.
That’s when I realized I wanted not only to create, but also to help preserve what is quietly disappearing.
Today I carefully select authentic Lithuanian heritage objects, create lamps and interior elements from hand-woven Lithuanian textiles, collaborate with folk artists, and invite people to workshops. I believe we come to know heritage best not when we look at it from a distance, but when we can touch it, understand it, and continue its story with our own hands.
My greatest inspiration is people. Their memories, crafts nurtured for decades, and homes where objects with their own stories still live. They remind me every day that heritage isn’t just the past – it’s alive as long as we take an interest in it, use it, and pass it on.
This section was born from a desire to share those stories. Here I’ll tell you about the people I’ve met, the places I’ve visited, the textiles that moved me, and the creative processes that remind us once again that the value of objects is created not only by their beauty, but also by the lives they hold within them.
If even one of these stories inspires you to look at Lithuanian heritage differently, then this section has already done its job.
And perhaps one day, one of them will find a place in your home too.
– Ieva
