When you stroll by 30 Rue de Beaunier in the 14th, it’s impossible to guess that a burst of colors is happening in the basement. In this little workshop, the vibrant balls of yarn align perfectly with the tufted creations hanging on the wall, piled up on the table, or placed on the floor. There are teddy bears reminiscent of famous candies, coasters shaped like sunny-side-up eggs or flowers… Here we are, in M Studio, alongside Andréa Monaco, in a surprising world of artistic and delightful creations that you have to resist touching because they look so soft.
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©Jagoda Bartus/ Le Bonbon
Some people try to get rid of the digital world, while others find their calling in it. When Andrea stumbled upon a tufting video by sheer luck six years ago, it was love at first sight. The kind that clouds your mind and gives you butterflies in your stomach. “It felt like I was falling in love. I thought about it at night before bed and first thing in the morning,” the 30-year-old woman shares. There was no doubt: in the face of a complicated job market, this art, named after the English term, which involves weaving wool with a specific gun, turned out to be the long-awaited revelation.
A calling quietly rooted
It is said that .We sow in childhood the seeds of who we become as adults. There is then a subtle guiding thread, a passion or an area of interest already well established, which makes the twists and turns of life sometimes less random than they seem. Perhaps it was already certain that little Andréa, already passionate about culture and museums and eager to handle textured works, would dive into a craft profession once she hit her twenties.
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An ambitious decision that is so obvious! Without taking classes or following any tutorials, Andréa tries, makes mistakes, and then starts over. Because with tufting, as long as you don’t make a huge hole in the creation, all mistakes can be fixed . As she weaves her first pieces, this self-taught artist, naturally shy and introverted, is weaving a unique confidence in herself. There’s a right to make mistakes in this art that you rarely find elsewhere. And when there’s a right to make mistakes, there’s a right to dare, a right to jump in. With the podcast LSD from France Culture in her ears, she “tufs”: “I’m creating something and I’m listening to other life experiences, it’s very introspective.”
A passion for creation and sharing
Around her, the decision to dive into craftsmanship and entrepreneurship with all the challenges they bring wasn't unanimously accepted. But that didn’t matter: « For the first time in my life, I was confident; I believed in myself. » A bit stubborn behind that sweet appearance? Probably. But this quiet determination and loyalty is essential to carve out a place in this field.
©Jagoda Bartus/ Le Bonbon
For a year now, this artisan has somewhat stepped back from creating to become a teacher. Through À travers des ateliers, she teaches the art of using a tufting gun to students who are increasingly eager to reconnect to something more tangible. She shares her passion and an infinite array of possibilities, encourages people to push their limits, and in return, she sees smiling faces and proud hearts. How many skeins would it take her to weave all the ideas swirling in her head? We don't even try to count them! She dreams of launching collections, collaborating with brands, and indulging in large-scale custom creations. Andréa is adamant: her «Passion is all about creating ». So if one day you come across a completely tufted piece, don’t be surprised: it’s just the result of the creativity of an artist who turns her dreams into reality.
M Studio
30, rue de Beaunier — 14th
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