Romy | Destination Granville Land and Sea

Discovering Romy and her

boutique workshop in Granville

After studying literature and art history, as well as a master’s degree in gender studies, Romane felt the need to turn towards a manual artistic practice, to get away from theory. Taking up tufting – after discovering the technique on social networks, personal research and numerous trials – was a personal challenge for Romane, right up to the opening of her studio-boutique on rue Couraye in Granville just over a year ago.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I was strong in body and mind, by doing something with my hands and succeeding. “

Through tufting, Romane has learnt to tinker, to use a tufting gun (the tool used to make rugs) and a lawnmower. Romane’s main influences and inspirations come from twentieth-century women artists such as Nikki de Saint-Phalle and Yayoi Kusama, as well as the natural world around her.

What is

tufting?

Tufting, a traditional textile design process, involves inserting woollen threads into a canvas stretched over a wooden frame, using a tufting gun. Romane begins by drawing the shape and details of the future piece with a felt-tip pen. Then, once the piece has been tufted, she shears it to add relief. Romane uses only natural French wool from the Creuse region. Romane needs around 30 balls of wool for a carpet. As well as rugs, Romane has launched a collection called ‘Granville’. This collection is made up of small woollen pieces inspired by the area where Romane lives, such as scallops and the Granville whelk, which can be hung on the wall, like a tapestry.There are also lobsters and spiders, framed in wood by Antoine Pugeault, a creative woodworker.

©Romy By Elodie Resbeut 02|Élodie Resbeut

Creations

made to measure

Among the commissions he received were two original works. One was commissioned by his father, who asked him to reinterpret the mantle of the 1st Norman king of Sicily, Roger II. The second was commissioned by a man from Caen, who wanted the façade of theAbbaye aux Dames in Caen. Romane is capable of reproducing all kinds of pieces in tufting, including chair seats. Anything is possible and conceivable with this art.

Towards works

more textured

In the near future, she plans to mix weaving with tufting, to give texture to future works. To achieve this, she has taken a training course in the Creuse region of France.

“I’d like people to remember that my work is committed, whether it’s the choice of natural materials I use or the fact that I work by hand in France. “

Transmission and

exchanges

Transmission and exchange are also very important to Romane, who offers tufting workshops in two formats: – two half-days or one half-day, see details on her website.

Connection to the

nature

When Romane isn’t in her studio, she likes to connect with nature, and smell the sea on long walks on the beach. It’s where she feels at home, in tune with herself.

“I always thought that I wouldn’t settle in Granville, but in the end I feel at home here. “

See Romy’s creations on her website or on her Instagram account.

Portrait co-written by Élodie Resbeut – Destination Granville Terre et Mer Ambassador – and Estelle Cohier, Communications Officer at the Tourist Office.

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