Millicent Nobis is the designer behind sculptural jewellery label Mies Nobis and the founder and owner of our collectively run concept store AA-Collected. She grew up in Blue Mountains, Australia and has been based in Berlin since 2010.
What City are you in and what is the situation there?
I am in Berlin, I think Germany is doing really well in terms of setting restrictions, all unnecessary shops and businesses are closed but many of my production companies are still operating so i guess with safe practises you can go on.
"I'm in Berlin and we are encouraged to stay home but they have given specific guidelines for leaving the house."
We are encouraged to stay home but they have given specific guidelines for leaving the house which include for Groceries (recommended to wear a mask) for exercise or walking (with one friend and 1.5m apart) or even for sitting in the park (on a blanket, safe distance between people).
I think they have thought hard about making restrictions that are manageable which in the end will be best for continuing to keep the spread at a slow pace.
How do your days look like during Quarantine?
For us things are not too different as we can still go outside walking with a friend and still use our studio - we have chosen to go in singularly rather that at the same time so there is a bit more working from home than before.
Life has simplified without the usual social interaction, being often home now i am eating and sleeping more on impulse rather than schedule. I tend to wake up early, make a smoothie and a coffee, check emails and prepare tasks for my assistant, do some sport; running or online yoga, shower and either sit down at my computer or i go into the studio for a while to work on production, i am developing some new pieces and have really enjoyed making my own photographs in the absence of being able to work with someone else.
Life has simplified without the usual social interaction, being often home now i am eating and sleeping more on impulse rather than schedule. I tend to wake up early, make a smoothie and a coffee, check emails and prepare tasks for my assistant, do some sport; running or online yoga, shower and either sit down at my computer or i go into the studio for a while to work on production, i am developing some new pieces and have really enjoyed making my own photographs in the absence of being able to work with someone else.
"Life has simplified without the usual social interaction, being often home now i am eating and sleeping more on impulse rather than schedule."
Meeting a friend in the afternoon if its sunny to get outside and walk a little, and eventually settle myself on the couch with some stand-up comedy, maybe draw a little or have a video call with friends.
What is the biggest difference between your life now and pre quarantine?
The last year i was living almost the opposite life, i had already tried to slow down quite a lot because my health started to suffer but i was working, traveling & socialising all the time, with bases in Vienna and Berlin and then a lot of work trips as well, I had points where i could not recall the last time i spent at home alone and if so then often with friends round for wine and dinner.
"Last year I had points where i could not recall the last time i spent at home alone and if so then often with friends round for wine and dinner."
What do you miss most from pre-quarantine?
The freedom of touch, its so sad how everyone is so cautious to touch each other now, standing far apart, disinfecting hands, i miss the casual sharing of drinks, tasting each others meals, draping arms and limbs across friends, kissing people you barely know. I don't know if that easiness will ever return.
I like to have a lot of people around to my place and cook food for everyone, i traveled a bit too much last year so am happy to have a break but i think eventually i will miss that too.
"I traveled a bit too much last year so am happy to have a break."
Also outfits, getting dressed up, me and some friends are doing friday night cocktail calls where we get dressed up pretty and have a video cocktail together.
Lessons you have learnt in Quarantine?
I notice my moods and emotions seems much bigger than usual without the distraction of other people around, feeling a bit tired or emotional overshadows my day a lot as i am only with myself not feeding off circumstance or other peoples energy but i am trying to just observe and accept this and just go with it, if i am sleepy sleep if i am sad cry, if i am energetic dance, its interesting, i feel like i get to know myself a lot better than before.
"I feel like i get to know myself a lot better than before."
Plans for now, plans for the future ?
As i said, i continue developing some new designs i was working on before, the direction is more art/fine jewellery and i would like to work towards presenting a series in more of an exhibition sense than the fashion way i have done before.
"I continue developing some new designs i was working on before."
I start to plan the next exhibition of Jewellery curated by an Artist for AA-Collected, even if we end up launching it digitally, in general i take the approach that life goes on, clearly there will be effects of this and changes to things but i cannot say what they will be so will continue as i am being open to new directions as they come up.
What would you tell your pre-quarantined self ?
You would be surprised at the person you can be.
Favourite new hobby, pastime you have discovered.
Oh there are many, probably mostly around food, i have been living on smoothies and soups its an affordable, healthy way to eat that doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy even when you are spending more time on the couch.
I also have been pickling vegetables, making my own oat milk and brewing Kombucha, i like that you have more time for simple life things. For 2020 anyway i wanted to slow things down and live more in the moment, then the world went ahead and enforced it.
I also have been pickling vegetables, making my own oat milk and brewing Kombucha, i like that you have more time for simple life things. For 2020 anyway i wanted to slow things down and live more in the moment, then the world went ahead and enforced it.
Having said that i want to paint my bathroom tiles since before this started and still have not got around to it.
"For 2020 anyway i wanted to slow things down and live more in the moment, then the world went ahead and enforced it. "
HOME MOMENTS GIVEAWAY
Post your #homemoments on INSTA featuring your #miesnobis piece,
tag @aacollected + @miesnobis
Hashtag #homemoments
SEE HER COLLECTION HERE.