Today we take a deep dive into the life of Belgian-born Titane de Vos, whose life took an artistic turn after bagging degrees in political science and international law and working for a charity and subsequently in customs. An avid skier, cyclist, former rugby player, horsewoman, girl scout and the doyenne of homemade Pain au Chocolat at Area 4/5 coffees, Titane is always putting her talented limbs to good use.
Titane enjoys crafting from very young
You have such breadth of artistic flair. How did you discover your creative side?
I´ve been doing craft activities since I was a small girl. The youngest, (shy) child of three I really needed to entertain myself at home. At school the pottery workshop became my happy, safe place. My teacher was great at encouraging us to develop our own style. Later on, I explored new techniques such as bookbinding, cartonnage (making boxes out of cardboard and fabric), porcelain painting and lampshade making. Often out of trial and error!
A selection of Titane´s handiwork at her beautiful house
What is bookbinding and what can you make with it?
Bookbinding is a technique used to create a book or an album by assembling loose sheets of paper, cardboard, glue and fabric. You can make all sorts of books such as: Recipes, journals, gardening, guest book, travelling as well as photo albums. I create my own designs that can often be personalised from one of more than 100 papers I have in my collection. I also make bespoke artist books and can include initials, names and so on.
Even artistically-challenged people like me can manage to paint a plate
We always enjoy visiting your house and admiring your garden, what do you most enjoy about gardening?
I really enjoy that peace you feel when you see life in action as your plants grow. It´s pure magic! It also has the benefit of providing my lunch table with delicious lettuces and tomatoes as well as my home-made jam at breakfast!
Titane´s expert eye makes artists out of all of us
You are largely self-taught, which craft has been the most challenging to master?
I´d say the ceramics and porcelain painting, as it also includes mastering the firings in the kiln and sometimes the colour does bring some surprises! Even after all these years! It seems incredible that this month I´ll be holding my 24th Christmas exhibition in my house.
What type of classes do you currently run and which are most popular?
I run a selection of daytime and evening classes for complete beginners or for people who come regularly. No prior knowledge is necessary, people arrive empty-handed and go home with a work of art! It could be a porcelain painted plate, a lampshade or a Japanese bound notebook, a T shirt or a totebag. People really surprise themselves and we all enjoy the chat and a cup of tea or glass of wine. My next classes will include a making a Christmas centrepiece.
Once Titane has something she will never let go
In addition to supporting your 3 sons’ rugby activities, tell us about your own experiences as a rugby player
A group of us set up the Pink Panthers mother´s rugby team after being inspired by the fun atmosphere around my sons’ matches. To my biggest surprise, my sons were really proud to see me playing. It was a great experience later on in life to participate in such a noble team sport. I wish I´d got into rugby earlier. However, I broke my ankle in a match so perhaps I´d better stick to gardening!
Intrepid family campers in Africa
You´re also a keen traveller, where are your favourite destinations and why?
We love to travel off the beaten path and make up our itinerary as we go along. I´d say our family camping trip in the Ngorongoro crater was a hit. We hired a Defender with a couple of tents on the roof and enjoyed the wilderness, the animals and the people who are so generous with whatever they have. Other hits have been Iceland, Norway, India….to name a few….and closer to home we enjoy the Basque Country always!
You have been a member of INC for many years and was also on the board representing vendor relations, what has the club meant to you?
Funnily enough I wasn´t looking to join an international club as I was quite well integrated in Spanish communities here but when I did join was immediately bowled over by the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the welcoming nature of the club. I also particularly enjoyed my time on the board looking after vendor relations for our events.
Titane is a regular at local craft markets
What is next for Titane?
I´m always looking to expand my creative repertoire and In the spring I´m running a new course in recycled paper where we´ll learn how to embed flowers.
I´m also on the look out for a small house in Belgium so I can be closer to my 91-year old mother and two of my sons. I do also have a wilder dream…perhaps for the more distant future; I´d love to work for a charity in Africa. Watch this space!
Contact details
titane@titane-faitmain.com
Cell: 696938404
IG: @titanefaitmain
#losviernescreativos
FB: @titanefaitmain
Web page www.titane-faitmain.com (online sale)
Christmas Exhibition 29thNovember – 1st December 2024
