Meet Emily Nicolaides | Artist, Author & Weaver

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Nicolaides and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Virginia to a multicultural family. My mom is American and my dad is Greek-Cypriot. Growing up, I felt torn between my two cultures. Like I was two different people that never fit in anywhere. Then I found weaving and that all changed. I finally saw how the two parts of my heritage merge to make me, much like the warp and weft are woven together to make cloth.

Since then I’ve discovered that I have weavers on both sides of my family. Every time I stand at the loom, I feel connected to my ancestors and all the weavers around the world who wove before me. This personal connection has given me an understanding of the context of what I do as an artist and every day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Much like weaving itself, building a career as an artist has been slow. In total, I’ve spent the past 13 years making art and 9 of those focused on weaving. I didn’t always feel a clear direction in my work, but eventually with time and practice, I found my place.

When I began weaving circles and other round shapes in 2016, there was almost no information out there about circular weaving. At that point, I had already developed a solid foundation in traditional pattern weaving. I was able to use what I knew about weaving and adjust it to work for a round woven format.

Since then, I’ve continued researching and exploring the possibilities of circular weaving. In the process, I’ve taught hundreds of students and woven a thousand circles myself. Last year I wrote a book on everything I know about circular weaving called Amazing Circular Weaving(coming September 13th, 2022). It’s been a long journey to get to this point, but I’m so proud and thankful to share this information with anyone interested in learning to weave their own circles!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I currently live in Limassol, Cyprus which is an amazing Mediterranean vacation spot. If you love to swim, Protaras and Latsi have some of the best beaches on the island. On the hottest days, I love Adonis Baths for an ice cold swim under a mountain waterfall. There are so many quaint villages in the Troodos Mountains but Omodos is one of the best to walk around, shop, and have a nice lunch.

Speaking of food, there’s tons of fresh fish, meat, cheeses, and produce in Cyprus. The best way to sample it all is to order a meze at a traditional restraunt. They’ll bring out a little of everything so you can taste it all! Then you’ll know what your favorite dishes are for the rest of your trip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be the artist I am today without my Grandmothers. They both introduced me to fiber art at a young age. Despite speaking different languages, they shared a love for making with their hands. I’ll always be thankful for their inspiration.

Website: emilynicolaides.com

Instagram: @emilynicolaides

Facebook: facebook.com/emilynicolaidesweaver

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCiEHxwCULYjiipu-c5M–1Q

Other: Tiktok: @emilynicolaides