Gabriela Noel Medina | Crochet Artist
Gabriela Noel Medina
Crochet Artist | Based in Chicago
Find her work: @gabgab.studio on Instagram and TikTok
Gabriela brought Flores de alcatraz to her session. a flower her mamalola grew in her garden in Michoacán, México. For Gabriela, they represent new beginnings and purity of heart, a quiet tribute to her roots.
She also brought a crochet piece she was working on, along with a journal where she collects everything related to her craft. even the little labels from her yarn. We found a shared love for journaling, and I really appreciated how naturally we connected through it.
Creativity runs in her family. Her grandfather is a woodcarver, her stepdad an artist, and her mom always encouraged crafting. Gabriela has explored painting, creative writing, and scrapbooking since childhood, but it was crochet that carried her through the anxiety of the pandemic. What started as a therapeutic practice has become a dream she now brings with her everywhere.
“One thing I made that was inspired by my roots was a sunflower bag. It was inspired by a specific Talavera tile I’ve seen. I absolutely love those tiles and my mamalola has them in her home in Mexico.”
— Gabriela
Her family has been her biggest supporter as she works toward turning crochet into a full-time career. Though the path isn’t always easy, moments of burnout are softened by the joy and connection her art brings to others.
Gabriela shared that this project speaks to her on a personal level:
“My father came to this country with nothing but the clothes on his back at the age of 17. He crossed over twice because he wanted to bring his brothers over as well. Although they did not finish high school or go to college, they each created their own path to success. I am a first-gen college graduate, but I feel connected through my roots of creativity and crochet. Success comes in different forms, not just degrees of education.”
— Gabriela
Being a first-gen creative means everything to her. It’s about showing future generations that there are no limits to what we can do and that creativity is essential for a healthy mind.
During our shoot, Gabriela decided to add her jewelry to her photographs, pieces she never takes off. Some she’s had since childhood, and others were gifted to her by her boyfriend.
“I want to give a dedication to my boyfriend who has been the most supportive throughout my crochet journey. He will always be the first person to see my newest creations. I love you, Chris. I also want to dedicate this to my best friend and my cousins who always help me choose color combinations for my projects. And to my grandpa, who built me a yarn swift out of scrap wood.”
— Gabriela
