Marina Berts
My name is Marina Berts. I started with Simsalabim - Centre des arts du fil in 2004 and am running it on my own, burning to teach others more about needlework, weaving and lace. Go on reading, below you will find out lots of things about me.
My life so far
My life so far is what we call here in Switzerland 'unusual'. I was born in a small coastal town called Jakobstad in western Finland. My father being a Swedish-speaking Finn and my mother a French-speaking Swiss, I learnt what it meant to belong to a minority. I spent my childhood between two countries, living my ordinary life in Finland and spending most summers at my grand-parents' place in Switzerland.
According to what I have been told, both of my great-grandmothers were skilled needleworkers. Unfortunately, neither my grand-mother nor my mother were fans of embroidery, and they very rarely even knitted. As a child, I already showed great interest in needlework and knitting. When I was 5, I proudly knitted my first teddy bear and thus started to explore what could be done with threads in general. I tried everything I could : crochet, embroidery, canvaswork, cross-stitches, and Crewel. Besides my interest in textiles, I also became active in other activities : theatrical expression (mainly improvisation), playing the piano, taking singing lessons and doing modern jazzdance.
After having passed my A levels, I went to England for eight months as an au-pair girl, in order to improve my English. Then, I started studying English, French and the Nordic languages at the Helsinki University, and finished my Master of Arts degree six years later, after a 2-year brake that I spent at the Lausanne University where I earned a degree in French. My stay in Lausanne was a happy one : I learnt to know my mother's country and I met my future husband, my Spanish Jose. After eight long year of study, I leave for Spain with Jose where I worked for two years in Valencia, teaching languages.
In 1993, we are back in Lausanne. Unfortunately, the economical situation in Europe and Switzerland is unfavorable for 'unstable' people like me, and it is quite impossible for me to find a job in the language business. That is why I have to accept odd jobs, and at the same time i try to continue my studies with a PhD and law studies at the Lausanne University. The idea about a Needlework Centre gently takes form, and I decide to continue with further studies in textiles. After some more odd jobs at the Béjart Ballet, the Philippe Saire Company, and the Cultural Department of Lausanne, I find a part-time job as a teacher trainer at the Federal Technical University. I take up weaving again, learn tatting and lace making, become a lace teacher and take a Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework. For about ten years, I share my life between my jobs, my further studies and my husband. In January 2004, I finally open my own Studio, Simsalabim - Centre des arts du fil.
My diplomas and my job experiences
Being constantly in serach of new challenges and feeling a constant urge to learn new skills, I have accumulated the diplomas and certificates over the years, apart from my two university degrees.
| 1989 | French teaching Diploma, Lausanne University |
| 1991 | Master of Arts (English, French and the Nordic languages), Helsinki University |
| 1993-1995 | Law studies, Lausanne University |
| 1994 | IATA-FUAAV Travel Agent Diploma, Ecole-Club Migros, Lausanne |
| 1996 | Secretarial Diploma, Ecole Lémania, Lausanne |
| 2000-2003 | Professional Weaving Programme, Galerie Filambule, Lausanne |
| 2002 | Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court (UK) |
| 2004 | Lace Teacher Diploma, Fédération des Dentellières Suisses |
| 2009-2011 | Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court (UK) |
My job experiences are multiple : as a student in Helsinki, I taught modern jazzdance and aerobics as well as French and Swedish in private schools. Later on, teaching becomes my main professional activity, for example in Spain. The odd jobs that I had to put up with for many years ranged from secretarial tasks and typing to writing reports for the City Council of Lausanne.
In January 2004, I finally opened my own Studio - Simsalabim - Centre des arts du fil. Since then, I am mainly self-employed but have different collaborations with several schools and institutions.
My professional skills
Over these past years, I have learnt many new skills and have improved others, such as
- to initiate, to plan and to manage projects
- to do reserach on different topics
- to elaborate study programmes and course programmes
- to lead and teach educational programmes
- to manage groups and enhance group dynamics
- to create and develop teaching material and documents
- to organize events and happenings
- to perform in front of an audience
- to draw up and plan a publication
- to write articles on different topics
- to give true assistance and advice in creative and artistical processes
- to plan, create and produce different types of creations
- to tackle paperwork and deal with deadlines
Since I grew up in a multicultural society and have lived in four European countries, I have had the opportunity to acquire at least basic skills or more advanced skills in several languages :
- Bilingual French-Swedish
- English - excellent
- Spanish - proficient
- Finnish - satisfactory
- German - satisfactory
- Norwegian - oral comprehension
- Danish and Italian - written comprehension
My hobbies and my personality
While I was a teenager, I had many creative hobbies apart from needlework, such as writing to penpals, playing the piano, singing, dancing and theatrical practice. Now, it is a little bit harder to find the time for such hobbies but I seem to succeed to a certain extent. I dance in a dance group called Les Tabourot, in which we do medieval and renaissance dances. Now that I do not have a TV anymore, I have more time to read. Going to the cinema and hiking are two activities that both my husband and I appreciate.
So, what about my personality? According to what people say about me, and the way that I see myself, I seem to be a person with very positive energy, I am openminded and walk through life with a smile on my lips. Being accustomed to constant changes and challenges, I prefer independence to interdependence. When I meet people for the fist time, I might seem withdrawn and discreet, but once I reveal myself, I am happy, frank, loyal but also rigorous. Striving to perfection, I am demanding with myself and with others. However, my patience knows no limits when I teach. In my job, I prefer working alone or together in a very dynamic team. In front of an audience, I feel confident and at ease.
In case my description has made you curious and you would like to know some more, contact me!
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