Ekaterina is an embroidery designer living in the south of Russia among poppy fields and rivers with her husband and two-year-old daughter.
How did you get into embroidery?
My grandmother always sewed for the whole family – dresses, shirts, coats, and also made wonderful embroideries. – In her house she had hand embroidered tablecloths and curtains. Since childhood, she taught me and my sister different types of stitches and macramé. Then for many years I did not make anything. After the birth of my daughter, I had the desire to do something with my hands. At first it was linen decorative pillowcases, then felt hoop ornaments and then embroidery. Now I understand that this is what I really like to do!
Do you have a background in design?
No, I never studied design, I was interested in economics and languages. The love of creativity appeared suddenly, and now I’m really think about taking some design courses!
What are some of your favourite stitches?
Stitches with volume – woven wheel stitch and French knot.
Are there any stitches you’re keen on learning?
Of course! You must always move forward. I like the stitches I use in my work, but there are still lots unknown to me.
Where do you get your materials and threads from?
In local shop but unfortunately, in Russia embroidery hoop art is not very popular, most of my clients are from USA, Australia and Europe. Therefore the required number of threads and hoops is not always available and then I have to order stuff online.
How do you start a new piece of work, what’s your design process?
Inspiration always comes from different sources – these can be from various pictures, postcards, films, cartoons – the gaze falls on interesting combination of colours, beautiful bewitching flowers, and then embroidery ideas appear in my head. I draw it on paper, and then transfer it to the fabric. Often I like to repeat the same embroidery in different colour combinations – I really like interesting colours!
Are you overwhelmed with designs and ideas or does it take time to find new embroideries to stitch?
Usually there are a lot of ideas. I want to create new embroideries and do the ones already available in new colours, but I don’t have enough time. My daughter is only two and a half years old, so I work mainly when she’s asleep.
Do you embroider for fun or is it a full-time job?
At the moment, I embroider for fun, because I’m on maternity leave, and I can work as I said earlier only in the evenings. My main work is related to space; I work in an organisation that creates simulators for training astronauts.
How do you find using Instagram?
Instagram is certainly a great place to show handmade items. Until recently, I frankly did not attach much importance to it, but then I realised that here I can find a huge number of new clients and people who are just interested in my work, who are inspired by my embroideries. It is incredibly nice to read wonderful reviews and hear praise. It is also a great place to understand which product is most popular by the number of likes and reviews.
Do you ever feel nervous or anxious your followers won’t like your work?
No, never. First of all, my work is my self-expression. I love all of them. And it seems to me that people feel that each of them is created with soul! Of course, some embroideries are more popular than others. But in the work, I’m sure the most important thing is the love of the process. Doing something and thinking in advance that people don’t like it is rather strange. There will always be buyers who will be delighted with what you do, it simply cannot be otherwise!
What do you love about embroidery?
Embroidery relaxes me. All thoughts go out of my head and I just enjoy the process. What I do gives me great pleasure and I want to believe that it will last a long time. It is a great happiness to know that the embroideries I create with my own hands spread all over the world and decorate the rooms of completely unfamiliar people, but people who love my work.
Follow Ekaterina here.