How did you get into embroidery?

I went to university for material art and design at OCADUand I had to take classes in every craft under the sun. I took a class that taught us needlecraft but I left it alone until about two years ago when I found all of my embroidery materials while cleaning out my studio. I decided to do a sampler for fun and was instantly hooked!

What are your favourite stitches and why?

My favourite stitch is the stem stitch. It’s the stitch I use the most. I use it to create all of my outlines for my figure pieces. I love it because it creates such a smooth line and it curves so nicely.

What stitches would you like to learn?

I think I would like to learn some more decorative stitches. I have experimented a bit but I’ve mostly kept to the basics.

What other textiles would you like to explore?

When I was in school I actually focused mostly on weaving. I would love to get back into it but I only have a small lap loom and I find it so tedious after working with large looms for so long. I definitely have aspirations to buy a larger loom if I move to a larger home. It’s hard to make space living in downtown Toronto.

What kinds of images do you like stitching and why?

Lately I’ve loved stitching feet but more specifically shoes. I don’t know why I gravitate towards them but they’ve been featuring heavily in my work lately. It might be the pops of colour I can add.

Where do you buy your materials, thread and equipment from?

I mostly go to big box craft stores for my threads. That’s where they are the cheapest and they always have coupons. For my hoops though I order off of Amazon. You can always buy in bulk and I appreciate that because I do a lot of stitching.

How do feel about sharing your work on Instagram?

I love sharing my work on Instagram. I get a lot of inspiration from my followers when they comment helpful advice and words of encouragement. I’ve heard echoed over and over from other artists and can relate to the feeling of needing to post things that people respond to though. I find myself making things I know will get a good response and sell because people love them and it keeps me from being creative and trying new things sometimes. For the past month I’ve stepped away from Instagram a little bit to work on a lot of custom pieces. I want to jump back in making work that I’m confident in and not worry about how many likes it gets.

What other ways do you promote your work?

I only promote through Instagram. I don’t really have time to take it any further than that. Managing an Instagram account is a lot of work but stitching is so much more. I like to keep the balance stitch heavy and hope that the quality of my work speaks for itself and images are the best way to showcase that.

Do you ever get worried about people copying your designs?

I’ve had people copy my designs a few times but it’s generally just for personal use. I take inspiration from other artists too. I’ll see someone’s piece and I’ll love the way they incorporated a certain stitch or colour combination so I might incorporate that stitch or those colours for something else in the future but I’ll do it in my own style. I get a lot of people asking about stitches I use or how I did something or what colours I use and I’m happy to lend my knowledge. The important thing is that people use those skills in their own way. 

Who are some of your favourite embroidery artists to follow?

This list could be so long. My favourites right this second are @thewhimsylillady, @afera_handmade, @noblekinfolk and @kellryan.

Lastly, what do you love about embroidery?

I love that it can be anything. This technique can be used in so many ways on any fabric and the colours are endless. I’ve had a hard time nailing down my own style because I’m constantly getting inspired by fashion or other artists in other mediums and I’m constantly wanting to try new things. I also love that it forces me to sit still and allows me to just spend the day on the couch without feeling guilty.