Meet the Makers – Alina Elena Murariu

I WOOD BE, about courage and freedom. I vaguely notice two blonde buns behind a stand among the people who have come to the festival. I bravely make my way through the crowd and approach, hunting for more details: beautifully arranged on the table, a few wooden diaries and a fan made of bookmarks, decorated with care. I also cast my eyes over the logo: I WOOD BE . Wait, what? "I have to write an interview with I WOOD BE !", I say to myself.

Bam! That's how I realize what a great chance the universe gave me to meet Alina just in time. Because I didn't know her personally and I was afraid I would screw her up trying to describe her. But even so, I think I would have guessed that she's a warm and smiling person. And that she's ultra passionate about what she does.

As for all the other things that define Alina, I'll let her tell us. Among other things, she's also called "the suitcase girl," and that may have translated into her love of wandering. She graduated in Geography, but she says she didn't find her calling until she stumbled upon a few pieces of wood along the way - no, not obstacles, but exactly what determined her flow in life, namely woodworking.

Let's get to know her in the following great interview, whose initiative comes from 7up through a positive campaign to promote handmade artists in Romania.

Alina, how about we get to know you and your story?

Hello! My name is Elena Alina Murariu. I am the creator of the brand I WOOD BE , maybe you have heard of me before. If you know me, all the best. If you don't know me, we can get to know each other now. But not anyway, not through my eyes, but through my mother's eyes. I asked her to write everything about me and what I do, so you can get to know me better:

Alina was not a child who needed to be supervised at every step. She had the strength and desire to shape her own life, as she wanted. She studied Geography and an element of nature – wood, a symbol of growth and progress, determined her to head in a new direction. She taught herself how to process wood, bought the necessary utensils and gradually discovered that she wanted to build a business that she wanted to consciously master and direct in the desired direction. Thus, clients appeared, which determined her to have a different concern, that of discovering what the client really wants and then making sure that she is able to meet those requirements. She works hard, constantly sets realistic goals and continuously grows, even if no one directly asks her to.

Now I'm going to chime in a little and add another love of mine, travel. Every time I get the chance, I pack my backpack and go. I don't know where, I don't know for how long, I don't know how much money I have, I don't know where I'll sleep or what I want to see in that country or city. I just go and live. And those moments when I'm sitting with a map in my hand over coffee and there's still an hour until checkout at the hostel and you still don't know where you're going, they're just brilliant, because you get up and say: "I have to move on"; something I do in business too, I always move on, even if I still have small falls.

How did I WOOD BE get to where it is today?

I finished college and my master's degree in geography. After completing my studies, in that big panic that I didn't want to go looking for a job and together with the burning desire to do something of my own, I "stumbled" at the right moment with wood... I simply felt a great love and said I had to follow it. Time passed, I still had no ideas, until one day when I was reading a book and something was missing... a bookmark. So I started creating a sign from the cardboard boxes thrown around the house: aracet, sewn on the edges, put thread, ball, the sign is ready. And I told myself that this is my way. I want to be different, to create a story, in which I can find myself. Said and done. At an event in Iași, someone had heard that I was making these signs and told me to go the next day with them, to the sale. I continued like this until I became "the girl with the suitcase", a wooden, army suitcase I received from my mother.

My brand is I WOOD BE. After "Unique Bookmarks" and "Motion Art Design", which didn't sound good anyway, I said I had to continue what I do, what I am. "I am wood" and "I would be" - "I will be". It's a funny name, which makes people smile a lot and everyone tells me it's interesting and fun. I'm a classic, who prefers to write on paper and smell the old pages of books. That's how bookmarks were born, for classics like me. At the same time, through the work I do, I encourage people to read, because it's the best form of education.

The wooden cover diaries that I create are made with recycled paper. I chose this type of paper for two reasons: one is on the ECO side, which I like to contribute to as much as I can, and the second reason is for the depth that recycled sheets have. When I think of recycled, I actually think that those pages were once written by someone like you, like me, who transposed their thoughts, emotions, ideas or nerves. I create for deep people, first of all, sensitive people, who appreciate life and value themselves, cheerful people and people who want something unique.
At the same time, my creations are also dedicated to legal entities, those who want to go out of print and are open to a different kind of business promotion.

How has your life changed since you started doing what you love?

A challenge is like any other, for me. I've gone from internal war zones to newly created products and battle plans to business plans without a second's thought. I wouldn't be honest if I said I wasn't stimulated by the challenge. In a situation like the one I'm in, you have to see the big picture, not just the things that are immediately in front of you, because what you see at first is small and difficult. It's difficult, of course, especially if you have the right ideas but don't have the resources or support. First of all, I needed self-discipline, and that should never end. Slowly, slowly, I realized that there is a certain personal responsibility, that no matter what I choose to do, I have to answer for my actions, giving rise to that feeling that I have to emphasize attention to detail, because only this can make a difference. I can't say that there aren't hard moments, moments when I give in physically or mentally, but I had to figure out what I really wanted. I haven't worked anything else before, but I knew from a young age that I wanted to create something of my own. Where I can, when I can, I try to have my own control, not to become totally controlled. And when you choose to create something for yourself, you automatically have extra freedom and enormous satisfaction, even if it's more tiring.

Why would you advise someone to get into handmade/DIY?

As I mentioned in the previous question, you try to have your own control. It's actually healthy.
You must not let yourself be paralyzed by fear if something goes wrong. You must be fully focused, no matter what happens. You will experience two kinds of fear: the fear of falling and the fear of throwing yourself into the given “abyss”, but it is up to you whether or not you throw yourself into the given “abyss”. The first step in the clarification process, for each of us, is to become fully aware of our own game. When we become aware of our game, what comes next? Stay focused. Remember who you are! If this feeling awakens in you, allow it to happen and you will find out later. Let the perception of beauty and light lead your way. The places and people who have answers for you will appear brighter and more attractive. We are all artists. We can say that in all fields of activity there is art and creativity, but if we were to limit ourselves to handmade/design/diy, I think it would be quite chaotic. We also need activities that do not involve well-being. We need to get back to the important things, to do more qualitative and sensitive work, that is our duty. We need to restore dignity to work. We want to assume that the whole world will not be a world engulfed by technology. A skilled hand will create new sectors of opportunity.

What are your thoughts about the handmade & design community in Romania?

We as Romanians are a "species" with a huge imagination in a unique way. Our capacity to conceive complex ideas and put them into practice is quite high. We have a fantastic natural gift, which, if properly cultivated, can help us accomplish absolutely extraordinary things. I have not met any artist, of any kind, who is indifferent or who lacks curiosity.
We all have creative talent, that's for sure. I tend to believe that we are all fully capable of being artists in one way or another. Absolutely every one of us has the ability to conceptualize, to break away from time and space and instead analyze a series of ideas. Thanks to creativity we have the chance to achieve satisfaction in our digitalized age. Artists are entrepreneurs. We must admit that ideas do not come to us out of the blue, but it does not matter where the ideas come from, but where you direct them. There is no unique idea, but there are unique combinations. Collaboration can result in unexpected and otherwise impossible discoveries.

Recommend 3 more Breslo creators you like to our readers!

To be appreciated, I appreciate a lot of them, because it's not for nothing that we are on the Breslo platform. We try to do our "job" as well as possible and come up with new things every time, because there are many who notice the ideas, take them over, and we have to be always ready, to come up with something new. And that's how I discovered Loredana, from Octopus Accessories , who makes some wonderful illustrations, which she works on for a month or two. I'm simply amazed by what she comes up with. That's how I got the idea to promote Romanian illustrators on the covers of my diaries. And I came up with the proposal to her, that her wonderful illustrations come as a package with I WOOD BE. So stay tuned. By the way, Cristina, the girl with green hair, always amazes with her creations, a warm girl with a big heart. This is certainly the reason why her jewelry comes out so well, managing to tell stories. Andreea Mironiuc from AndreeaIllustration is another illustrator I adore. She only has funny illustrations that put you in a state of joy. I know that I will collaborate with her soon, because where there are two skillful hands, some absolutely gorgeous new products and concepts can come out. Pampamhandmade , who makes customs trousers, both for mothers and children, and which remind me of myself when I used to go to customs and wear colorful trousers. Hairoin , who has some accessories made of wood and natural horn, so beautiful that it takes your breath away. You just have to see them once and you will fall in love with them. Rady Cristiana, who makes some unusual, but gorgeous clothes. La.Bernedette , the girl who brought steampunk hats to Romania, Darisimbijoux , who always makes me fabulous necklaces. Every time I find a stone that represents me, she knows exactly what to do with it. And I wear them with love around my neck. GloryBox , with her wonderful ceramic cups, expertly painted. I met so many people through Breslo. Many of them have become my friends, some I will collaborate with, and others I will gladly wear their products to. I really thank you for managing to create such a community of talented people, for giving them the marketing they need, the opportunity to be seen in the world, because if you are like me, newly arrived in Bucharest, with no connections and no knowledge, when you land, it is very difficult to have anyone to show your products to. Congratulations also for this initiative.

What do you think is the profile of handmade lovers and why do you like them?

First of all, they are cheerful people, people who are open to new things and who respect the work of others. They are the ones who appreciate the courage we have to bring something different to their digitalized world. I love the moments when I am at fairs and meet people who are sitting at the table and doing their daily "reading", because there is so much to read in my products, from diaries or bookmarks, to necklaces with fragments of poetry. I love the moments when they sit and take a little time out of their overcrowded routine and tell their story to a stranger, but who somehow manages to offer trust, because they are also open.

What do you wish for the buyers on Breslo who are keeping an eye on you?

This "addiction" to handmade and creativity is contagious, pass it on! A workshop full of paints, pieces of wood and paper, is a workshop full of thoughts, so I invite you into my thoughts, to the workshop. Anyone who appears in my path I believe has a message for me, otherwise, that person would have been somewhere else, would have left earlier, or would have come later. The fact that I meet these beautiful people happens for a specific reason.

How will I WOOD BE surprise us in the future?
I want to take my energy further, I want you to spread smiles everywhere in this world and a lot of positive energy, but especially a lot of courage. I want to be a source of inspiration and to be noticed that you control your future and you are responsible for your choices. It really doesn't matter the events you've had in your life, the people who disappointed you, try. Be happy with what you're doing. I want to take this project as far as possible and I won't stop until I succeed. I have many ideas, but it takes time and especially patience. I feel at every step that I'm being led exactly to the opportunity I wanted, and my point of view is my signature.

EVERY PRODUCT CREATED BY I WOOD BE HAS A STORY LIVED BY YOU, PERSONALIZED BY ME, ENJOYED IN UNION BY US!