Ayka Ramazanova

My hobby is my career

People often ask me why I do what I do. The short answer: my hobby is my career. If you ask me about my hobbies, we'll be talking for hours.

As a little girl I was surrounded by art, sewing and crafting, and the list goes on. All of it shaped me as a designer and gave my imagination room to grow.

Sneaking into my brother's art studio while he worked was the beginning of my creative life. I watched the tip of his brush bring color to a white canvas, and the love for art caught fire in me. The moment he stepped out, I grabbed a brush, some paint and a canvas. I got in trouble every single time for ruining a canvas or wasting expensive paint, and I left the studio smiling every time. I never regretted it. It made an artist out of me.

Sewing and crafting came from my mother. From pillows to draperies to bedding, her hands made beautiful rooms around us. I was in charge of picking fabric for the draperies, creating patterns for pillowcases and designing trim for drapes, pillows and blankets. That time with my mom is what turned my hobbies into a career, and I love what I do today.

I'm also a passionate painter. My abstract paintings have grown alongside my design work, and you can see them at my art gallery. Each piece reflects the energy and personality I sense in the spaces and people I work with, and one of them might be the finishing touch for your home or office.