“I take, I pose, I take, I pose…” Watching Coraline do this is something hypnotizing. As soon as she has a little free moment, this strasseuse, as they say in the industry, does not hesitate to draw out her thousands of little pearls of all colors, which she sticks at high speed on a printed canvas . “It relaxes me, we don’t think about anything but lining up the rhinestones,” smiles the 33-year-old young woman. And unlike knitting, you can already see the beginning of results in an hour or two… It’s super satisfying. »
While creative hobbies are making a comeback in recent years, and even among the youngest, a new kid wants to shine among the essential canvas, watercolor or sewing. Known as diamond embroidery, or “diamond painting”, this activity, which is practiced using a small stylus provided in the kit, is popular all over the world. “It’s accessible to everyone because unlike crochet, for example, there is no need to count,” explains Christophe Montier, the founder of Luminlife, a Vendée company which presents itself as a pioneer in Europe. Simply locate the symbols, numbers or letters on the heat-sealed canvas and place the resin beads of the corresponding color there. »
Around thirty hours for a large painting
So this Christmas holiday season, there’s a good chance you’ll find your sister or aunt (fans would be predominantly female, but of all ages) indulging in this new hobby. “It appeared about ten years ago but there was a real jump with Covid,” reports Morgane Laurençon of Creative Imports, French reseller of the leading Australian brand Diamond Dotz (25,000 kits sold in France in 2023) . It’s very addictive because when you start, you want to create the entire painting. Then once we finish a small one, we move on to a bigger one…”
It must be said that there is plenty of choice in size, quality (be careful with dropshipping) and therefore in price, but also in pattern. Like some of the rhinestones, Coraline admits to liking “a little kitsch” models like cats or horses, many of which already decorate the walls of her daughter’s bedroom. “But we also have master paintings with Van Gogh or Klimt, assures Morgane Laurençon. Framed, the result is really very nice. »
Around thirty hours are sometimes necessary to finish these tens of thousands of beads to align. But, and here is yet another reason that would explain this hype for diamond painting, it is possible to join forces to see the pattern shine brightly even more quickly. ” A bit like a puzzle, everyone sits at one end and we move forward together, while discussing, observes Christophe Montier of Luminlife, whose sales have jumped by another 15% this year. For a mother and her daughter for example, it is sometimes simpler than just talking eye to eye. »