Minds bubbling with creativity

Through the deep connection she has to her beloved home region, 30-year old illustrator and graphic designer Cindy Creation finds her inspiration.

Her unique visual world celebrates the beauty of Annecy and surrounding landscapes, a vibrant natural setting imbued with an awakened sense of wonder.

For the past three years, Cindy has developed her own colorful and poetic style that appeals to those who love local artists as well as brands looking for a touch of authenticity. Here graphic world, bursting with color, draws heavily from artists that she follows on Instagram, like Laura Lhuillier for patterns, or Simply Katy, whose style embraces a gentle, whimsical aesthetic. To these influences she adds her own distinct alpine touch, inspired by the region’s landscapes. Cindy now finds herself as part of a long line of Haute-Savoyard poster artists, but with a hint of wonder and compositions that lean more towards symbolism than realism.

Her creations come to life through posters, postcards, tote bags, puzzles, and collaborations with other creators, most recently the case with Anne from “Jolie Myrtille,” based in the Southern French Alps, who designs accessories like pouches, bags, and pencil cases. For their partnership, Cindy created a whole host of bucolic, botanical motifs. She also works with national brands to design prints that you can see on bed linens, wallpaper, and fabrics. Her colorful graphic world is taking flight.

Serving as her muses by nature, the city of Annecy, the lake, and mountains stretching to the Aravis are reimagined with the expressive freedom unique to budding artists. The Menthon and Duingt castles, Pont des Amours Bridge, the Paquier, Palais de l’Ile prison all figure among her main characters. Yet it is especially to the atmosphere along the shores of the lake and the surrounding peaks that she uses colors to create an idealized version reality. A reality reshaped in favor of an imaginary world filled with imagery and a whimsical aesthetic, “I am not looking to portray each place with strict realism. What I create is my own interpretation, a blend of what I have seen, felt, and loved,” Cindy explains.

Before starting a project, Cindy walks and hikes all over, taking photos that she places in an inspiration file. She creates a sketch, often straight on her tablet computer, and then begins coloring. “I spend as much time drawing as I do working on the coloring. Choosing the palette and color scheme is an important step of my creative process.” Once the choice is made – warm tones, pinkish hues, or pastels – she then adds texture, shading, and lighting effects to create the atmosphere she is after.

From the depths of her workshop in Cuvat, Marine, the founder of Rose Boho, weaves a poetic story creating objects for babies and their mothers.

This bohemian world with jungle hues provides everyday life with a touch of affection.

Behind such tender imagination is an inspired mom who one day, tired of working in the tourism and events industry, decided to pursue a budding passion for sewing. At the time on maternity leave following the birth of her first daughter, Rose, Marine began making several lovely, fully formed designs.

“I tried two or three small, marginal projects, and the satisfaction I felt creating something with my hands quickly won me over,” she explains. Encouraged by those around her, she decided to turn her passion into a profession. She took sewing classes for more over a year, registered her brand, and participated in her first creators’ trade fair. In 2017, Rose Boho was born. The product line quickly grew to include soft padded sleep sacks and blankets, plush pillows, Sherpa vests, hooded towels, and facecloths.

From walking to sleeping, Rose Boho, in its harmony of colors and materials, is there for every important moment in a baby’s life.

A powerful symbol, the lion is the brand’s emblem. It all started with a lion pillow, which shops sold out of almost immediately. Marine then decided to place this spirit animal on everything, from stuffed toys and dolls, to musical cushions and even decorative tambourines – often adorned with a mix of dried flowers through a long-standing partnership with Blomeko. However, her favorite creation remains the stuffed goose, a tender tribute to her fond childhood memories of a large swan she mistook for a goose, a gift from her parents that she has never forgotten.

The name Rose Boho embodies the brand’s very essence. “Rose,” like her daughter’s first name, and “Boho,” the French diminutive for bohemian, an homage to Marine’s love of flowers, pompoms, natural hues, and soft sustainable materials that wrap babies in a comforting cocoon.

Every piece is thoughtfully imagined, designed, and then hand-sewn in her workshop. She pays careful attention to every detail and quality. “I want every gift given at birth to have its own story and soul,” Marine explains. Her timeless universe is her signature, and her dedication extends far beyond aesthetics. Aware of today’s environmental challenges, she prefers to use OEKO-TEX or organic fabrics made by French or European suppliers. “Very few fabrics are still produced in France, especially fabrics like double gauze and Sherpa fleece,” she explains. To reduce waste, she reuses scrap whenever possible. For Marine, a sustainable approach is essential – not just for the planet but to pass down meaningful values to future generations. It all starts in the cradle!

Through the end of 2024, Marine managed production all by herself. Recently, a small factory in Limoges started helping her with manufacturing, following her design patterns and models. This collaboration allows her to expand distribution, especially in partnering boutiques: Au Pays des Miniz and Blomeko in Annecy, in her boutique in Cruseilles, as well as those in Seignosse and Reims, and even her online platform and Etsy. This reorganization gives her more time to do what she truly loves: creating. “I always have so many ideas running around in my head. For the upcoming fall-winter collection, I would like to offer pajamas, renew my backpacks, and add more new items,” she says.

Firmly rooted in Annecy, Marine grew up and studied here. The area is a constant source of inspiration: nature, flowers, and the lake’s many hues feed her imagination. She has also built strong relationships with local partners like the Cuvat mayor’s office, where she lives. The town offers one of her creations as a gift to every newborn. What a wonderful way to welcome them into the world. “There is a genuine synergy here and I’m proud to embody a form of local, authentic, and extremely down-to-earth artisanship.”

As you can see, Rose Boho is not just a brand for babies. It is a warm, comforting world woven with childhood memories, a love for craftsmanship, and a fierce desire to preserve the beauty in this world. Whether for sleeping, a walk, bath time, or mealtime, Marine’s creations offer a soft soothing journey, let her gifted hands – and her wish to share a slice of childhood’s magic – guide you.

Rose Boho