Maker Spotlight—Natalya Sheveleva

Natalya came to TechShop on the eve of losing her studio space to a new condo development. “I was displaced and in need of a space to continue my production momentum,” she said. “Then I heard about TechShop from a friend.”

That was three months ago — she’s been in the shop almost every day since.

“The magic is in meeting the community of visionaries that create here.”

Natalya’s work blends mechanical production with artisanal finishes, taking perfect advantage of TechShop’s huge range of machines. She laser-cuts intricate patterns into leather samples and uses these in her hand-sewn garments. Her wooden jewelry is laser-cut and then stained using a secret, homemade mixture. (Seriously secret — she made us promise not to reveal her formula!)

Lately, Natalya has been branching out into other areas of the shop. Metal working and 3D printing are the latest technologies she hopes to integrate into her garment design. Check out some of her pieces by going to her website: http://tashkadesign.com/collection.html

Her advice for aspiring makers? “Just start. Being able to experiment with your materials is one of the most crucial parts of design.”