Hello everybody! I can’t believe it’s November. It’s almost 2025 and I feel like 2024 just started! Where has the time gone? I started this year with the best of intentions, ready to accomplish a lot of embroidery goals. However, for some reason, I feel like I’m in a rut.
Usually, when I feel stuck, I like to make lists. Yes, I’m one of those people who love to make a list for everything. I make lists of places I would love to travel, I have lists for housecleaning duties, my never-ending grocery run lists, list for what I need to pack when I go on vacation (even though I’ve traveled a million times. I think I have packing down by now), basically a list for everything lol.
Making lists helps me to feel centered and visualize what I need to do. So why not make a list of embroidery goals. I may not finish them all but they are something I can aspire to. Here’s a few:
Build up my blog- at least a couple of posts per month
Increase Instagram following
Which means I have to post more on Instagram
Put myself out there more
Improve reel strategy
Learn new embroidery techniques
I would like to film some how-to You Tube videos
Sell embroidery supplies and hoops
Go live on certain days of the week and stitch
Organize an embroidery club in my area
Teach a beginner embroidery course
Design my own embroidery design and sell a PDF pattern
Expand my reach by posting on other social media platforms
Explore selling my work at craft fairs
This is just a start of what I would love to do. What are some of your dreams for the rest of the year or upcoming year? Let’s make it happen!
Hey friends! Long time, no see. Where did I go? I’ve been virtually non-existent on social media. Well, I’ve been extremely busy this year and the year has passed really quickly so far. I sometimes feel like my life is not my own and I’m just going through the motions. I’ve been embroidering still, but not as much as I would like. I hope this year is going well for everyone.
In February, my husband and I purchased our first home! It was so exciting and it is a big blessing. Unpacking and setting up the new home has been fulfilling and tiring.
My dog ended up being diagnosed with brain cancer the day after we moved in and then we had to put her down the day after that. Our family was super devastated and it detracted from our happiness of buying a house a bit.
We went on vacation in June and that was a relief. We were able to get away and destress a little for two weeks. That was a huge distraction and then when I get back home from vacation it always takes me a moment to hop back into my routines. My mother in law came from Mexico to stay with us a few days after we got back from vacation. She just went back to Mexico last week, so she spent the whole summer with us, which was awesome.
My husband showed me a new puppy and he should know by now not to show me animals because I will want to bring them home. So we brought our new baby home hoping that it will take the sting out of our loss that we had a few months back.
Her name is Luna and she has quickly found a way into our hearts!
We do love her, but I forgot how tiring a puppy can be. Some how when I was younger it was easier to run after a little puppy, but now I find I don’t have the same amount of patience that I had. However, we are finding our way little by little. We are coming to an understanding lol.
Fall is approaching and my daughter is back in school. She’s a sophomore already. I can’t believe it! This is a time to slow down and hopefully, I will have more to time for self-care and that usually helps my creativity! I hope everyone has great day and I can’t wait to see all of your fall creations! Until next time, hasta luego!
It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not. – Denis Waitley
Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Or that no matter what you do, you can’t get it right or that you don’t measure up? I have. I always try to do well but I don’t perceive my own achievements in the same light as others may see it. It affects so many areas of my life, including embroidery. I see so many beautiful embroidery pieces that others make and sometimes I feel as if I’m not on the same level. For a long time, I couldn’t find the words to classify what I was feeling because it wasn’t just self-doubt. Then I heard about imposter syndrome and everything fell into place. I finally have a name for it and it helps me not feel so alone knowing that others experience the same thing.
What is Imposter Syndrome Anyway?
Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills. The most common characteristics are self- doubt, undervaluing contributions, attributing success to external factors, sabotaging self-success, setting unrealistic expectations, continuous fear of not living up to expectations, and burnout. I personally have experienced all of these, especially sabotaging my self-success and continuous fear of not living up to expectations.
Seven Types of Imposter Syndrome
Surprisingly, there are 7 types of Imposter Syndrome. There is the perfectionist (this person has to make sure that everything is perfect but they are never satisfied), the superhero (this person takes on a lot of work and they want it to seem that they can handle everything), the natural genius (this person thrives on being quick and efficient and they have a fear of failure), the soloist (they like doing everything by themselves and don’t ask for help), the expert (before doing something new, they have to have all the knowledge and experience), the noticer (nothing is every perfect and they are never proud of themselves), and the discounter ( this person doesn’t trust others’ opinions of them and are scared of not being good enough). If you want to find out which type you are, there’s a quiz at this link- https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-imposter-syndrome-and-how-to-avoid-it#:~:text=Imposter%20syndrome%20is%20the%20condition,phony%22%20and%20doubting%20their%20abilities.
I’m definitely more than one type. I’m the Soloist, the Noticer, and the Discounter. It’s really hard for me to ask for help. It’s not because of pride. I just don’t want anyone to see any mistakes that I’m making. I guess I’m afraid of being judged. It’s also very hard to accept compliments and if someone does give me one I just think that they’re trying to be nice.
Ways That I Can Help Myself
It’s very hard to get over this problem. This may be something that you never can get rid of, but rather find ways to help calm the feelings that you’re having. I find that talking about it helps and realizing that I’m not alone. I also have been saying positive affirmations in the morning and that really helps to set my day off in the right direction. It puts you in a more positive mindset. Another thing I need to learn is that there’s nothing wrong with asking for help sometimes. No one will think less of me.
Another big problem that I have is comparing myself to others. Everyone is unique and everybody has talent, including me. Overall, I think being kind to myself will go a long way in healing and reaching my maximum potential. I hope that you all are kind to yourselves also. Hopefully, you can take something from this article and maybe learn something from it or relate in some way to how I’m feeling. Happy Sunday everyone!
I went to Mexico City in November and I had an awesome time! My daughter and I spent 5 fun-filled days there, which definitely wasn’t enough to see everything. However, I couldn’t leave without going to a textile museum. It’s so inspiring to see how other cultures make art and to see beauty through their eyes. Let me take you on a little tour!
Here are various outfits that people wear in different regions in Mexico!
Trees of life in Mexico are a very popular symbol. It usually represents the banishment of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden but through the lens of the belief system of the indigenous people.
A popular piece of art that you may see throughout Central and Southern Mexico are sculptures of brightly colored animal. These sculptures are called alebrijes. They are made up creatures that have features of well known animals- like a monster with octopus legs, or a dragon’s body with a dog’s head. They were traditionally made out of paper mache, but today you will see a lot of them carved out of wood.
Skulls and skeletons are a big part of Mexican folk art! In my society, death is seen as something morbid. However, Mexicans believe in duality and that death is a normal and integral part of life. They believe in 3 deaths- the first one is when you stop breathing, the second one is when you are buried, and the third one is when no one speaks your name or remembers you. That is the purpose of the Day of the Dead celebration. They make altars to honor and remember their loved ones.
One famous skeletal depiction is La Catrina, drawn by Guadalupe Posada. Posada wanted to let people know that death comes for everyone, rich or poor, white or not, and in the end everyone will be a skeleton. Overall, what I have taken from this is to enjoy my life every day because you never know when it will end.
La Catrina! well hello therethere were all of these elaborate piñatas out in the hallway.
You wouldn’t believe all of the materials used to make these pieces of art- straw, bamboo, beads, wood, handmade dyes, hand-spun wool, clay, and much more.
paper mache hand spun wool and embroiderysmall beadsfun fact- in the south people sleep in hammocks instead of bedsclayclay
When you’re starting out in embroidery, transferring your pattern onto fabric can be intimidating. I won’t be writing about all of the methods, but I’m here to show you some of my favorite ones. I promise after this article you’ll know how to do it in a snap.
Before You Start
Before you start, let’s talk about supplies that are absolutely necessary. You will need an embroidery hoop, a piece of fabric cut to fit the chosen hoop, and lastly a Pilot Frixion pen to trace the pattern. You may also need some tape. This pen erases with heat. I use a small iron or a blowdryer to erase the marks after I’m done. The little iron comes in handy if I’ve made a mistake while tracing.
I want to touch on another topic before we get into the main discussion. It’s a mistake I see newbies make all the time- Not having the fabric secured tightly in the hoop. You want your fabric to be drum tight.
THIS IS A NO NO!This is perfect!
Using Your Window As A Light Source
Using the light from the window is the first method I used when I first started embroidery. First, you take the pattern that you printed out and tape it onto the window. Then you take your hoop with your secured piece of fabric and place it over the pattern. You should be able to see the pattern through the fabric. This method is one of the simplest ways to transfer and it’s also accessible to everyone because most people have a window in their home.
Pattern by The Barmy Fox. You can find her on Instagram!
Tracing With A Light Pad
Tracing with a light pad is probably my most used method. You can buy a light pad off of Amazon. Here’s mine: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F147VF6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I put the printed pattern onto the light pad and then place my hoop with secured fabric over it. The light pad usually has a button to increase or decrease the brightness. I have it on the highest setting because I’m blind lol.
If you have an iPad, you can also use that as a light box. This YouTube video gives a really good explanation on how to do that: https://youtu.be/RoCER-4Bgg4. However, my iPad has a smaller screen than my light pad. So the method you decide to use will depend on the size of the pattern and hoop you choose. Here’s a video showing you how I do this: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JnEtGZr3NVbG9w8M6
If you embroider, what are your favorite ways to transfer your pattern? If you’ve never embroidered before, give it a try and let me know how it goes! Stay tuned for some more embroidery tips. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week!
Hello everyone! I hope life is being good to you all. I haven’t been very active on here lately, but I want to show you all what I’ve been working on. These past couple of months I’ve been very busy and I have too many WIP’s (works in progress). My problem is I see way too many cute patterns or I get an idea for something and BAM…I have to start it right then.
One of the projects that is near and dear to my heart is this piece designed by @vikasspace on Instagram.
year long project hosted by Vika
It has been a year long project that feels like I just started yesterday. I swear this year has went by way too fast. Every week I fill in a space and there are only two weeks left! I decided to use a 12 inch hoop for this project but there are others who decided on huge hoops. I’m also using Perle thread as that is what Vika prefers. I can’t wait to frame this and hang it up in my craft room.
My Alicia keys project. mixed media-water color and dmc floss🙂
I remember when the album Songs in A minor by Alicia Keys came out. I wore that CD out! I loved that she played the piano and she seemed so easygoing and cool. I remember going to one of her concerts and crying the whole time LOL!
So I hope you all like otters because if not…….we can’t be friends. I mean, look at their cute little faces!
So this is my unfinished work. It still needs a lot of love!
I love needle painting but it’s a slow process!
My final WIP is a simple free pattern that I got off of DMC website. I wanted something simple that I could do on the sofa while I’m watching TV.
I decided to use lace as my base fabric. I did trace my design on some water soluble interfacing because it was kind of difficult to trace on the lace.
I hope everyone enjoys their holidays. I have a lot of plans for the new year. I really want to open up my store and sell some cool merchandise. So keep your eyes peeled for that! I hope you all have an awesome week :)!
From time to time, I would like to highlight embroidery from different parts of the world. It’s nice to look at things from a different perspective and see what others do outside of our bubble that we live in. This time I want to take a look at Mexican embroidery. I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and it’s like my second home. Mexico has many different types of embroidery but I would like to focus on Otomí embroidery, also know as Tenango. Throughout the years, tenangos have gained popularity and are known worldwide.
Tenangos come from a community in Hidalgo, Mexico called Tenango de Doria.
Hidalgo, MexicoTenango de DoriaMountain View in Tenango de Doria
Tenangos are characterized by a burst of colorful threads in the shape of flowers and animals. The designs are drawn onto a cloth by artists and then embroidered. They not only draw the wildlife around them, but sometimes they also draw other situations in their life such as immigration, the planting of the years corn crop, or celebrations like the Day of the Dead. They can be embroidered on various items, but they usually apply these designs to tablecloths, table runners, bed spreads, blouses, and dresses. Cotton thread in bright colors is usually employed for these embroideries and each stitch is small and tightly woven together. It’s a laborious process and a bed spread can take years to complete!
The first Tenango was made by Josefina Jose Tavera. In the 1960’s, there was a severe drought in the area and the community was devastated because they depended on agriculture for their livelihood. Josefina was a single mother with children to support. The story goes that one day she went to the market and saw a piece of cloth. She took it home and drew animals and plants on it and then embroidered it with brightly colored thread. A man came to visit the town and a saw the piece and decided to buy it. On his next trip to the village, he told her he needed more of her pieces because people in Mexico City liked it so much. The demand became so great that she taught other women in the community how to embroider.
Josefina Jose Tavera
Josefina died in 2020 at the age of 87. Her legacy lives on through her embroideries. Tenango embroidery is now considered a national heritage in Mexico and you can find it in many museums. I think her work was wonderful not only because it’s beautiful, but also because she gave a voice to the women in her community.
Throughout the years, because of the rise in popularity, many companies have started using tenango embroidery in their products without proper credit to the Otomí artists. For the Otomí people, it’s very hard to compete against big, wealthy companies. They are still fighting to have their work protected.
If you want to learn how to do this stitch, here is a video I found on YouTube:
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Different things inspire people . It’s not always the same for everyone and it’s fascinating to me to see sources of inspiration for others. Here’s a list of my sources of inspiration!
My family
My husband Arturo and my daughter Natalya. Ignore the creepy dude in the background
My family is my main source of inspiration. Whenever I don’t like a piece I’ve done, my husband or daughter encourage me to keep going and finish it. Most of the time I end up glad that I took their advice.
2) The Ocean
This is a picture I took when I was in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. We love to go to Mexico every year!
I absolutely adore the ocean. The colors and the sound of the waves as they hit the shore are so soothing to me. I know some people are afraid of the ocean because they can’t see everything it contains. However, that is what’s so intriguing to me. The ocean has treasures and creatures waiting to be discovered. So when I’m not sure what I want to create next, I can use the mystery of the ocean as my muse!
3) Trees and Flowers
tree by my house. I love the bright orange and reds!Lake of the Clouds here in Michigan
Taking walks through the forest also is incredible to me because I love looking at all the plant life. Right now in Michigan it is fall and it’s the most beautiful time of the year because all of the foliage is changing color. It’s truly a marvel to behold! Even driving isn’t so bad. I hate driving but at least I can watch all the trees as I whizz by. (I’m watching the road too! No accidents here!)
4) My doggies
My boy Sam My Bella andTacoTacoAn embroidery I did of Sam
I love all animals with a passion, but my doggies are my life. I have four of them and it’s a ball watching their antics every day. They are also my company while I embroider. My only complaint is that when I ask their opinion about my work, they never answer….Hmph!
5) Music
Man, I love music! I listen to all different genres, but my favorites are Alternative Rock, 80’s rock, country, pop, and reggaeton. I think that music creates bonds between people. Our love of music is something that we all have in common. There are a ton of album covers that I want to embroider. One of these days I will get around to it.
6) Anthropology
Coba in MexicoView from the top of pyramid
If anyone really knows me, they know I have a love for Anthropology. I love learning about other cultures and societies. I took a ton of Anthropology courses in college. The two main cultures that are fascinating to me are the Mayans and the Egyptians. I’ve been to the Mayan pyramids in Mexico and my dream is to make it to Egypt one day. I have several pieces planned to show my love of these cultures.
7) Travel
Thinking about all the places I want to visit gets me thinking creatively also. Some of the places on my bucket list are Scotland, Ireland, Oaxaca Mexico, England, Italy, Greece, Thailand, Egypt, and India. I would love to do some landscape embroidery pieces to represent each of these places. My idea is to do one after I visit each place.
My embroidery supplies are just as precious as Smeagol’s ring! lol
I thought I would write a bit today about what one needs to start their embroidery journey. Embroidery doesn’t require a ton of supplies because it’s a pretty simple hobby to start. If someone saw my craft room they may think otherwise, but I promise you that you don’t need that much to get started. I don’t know what happened. There was an explosion and now I have tons of stuff ok. Let’s get on with this!
The Basics
The first thing on my list is fabric. You can use any type of fabric as long as it doesn’t stretch. Any stretching will distort your image. You also want to be careful of any material that will shrink when washed. If you plan on embroidering on clothing, then it’s best to wash the item first before doing any type of stitching. I myself use Kona cotton or calico. Kona cotton comes in a variety of colors and I use calico if I plan on using watercolors. Calico helps the watercolors not bleed as much.
An embroidery hoop is a must have because it helps give tension to your fabric. Your fabric should be drum tight. They come in all different sizes and shapes. You pick the size and shape according to the embroidery pattern that you want to do. I personally prefer to use a plastic hoop to stitch in and a wooden one for displaying my finished works. You can stitch in a wooden one, but plastic ones have a lip on them that grab the fabric to keep it from slipping. Side-note: not all plastic hoops have a lip, but the one I suggested above does. As for using the wooden hoop for displaying your artwork- you can leave it plain, paint it, or even stain it to give it a more polished look. I’ve even seen people glue pom poms around the perimeter. I usually leave it plain, but I plan on experimenting with different stains in the future.
Where do I begin with needles?! There are so many that I use. You’re probably saying to yourself…well don’t you only need an embroidery needle? Duh Aisha?! No, no, no- I use many different needles. Starting out, you can just get an embroidery needle, but if you want to do many sorts of stitches then you may find yourself taking on more kinds.
My favorite needle that I use the most is a DMC #5 embroidery needle. I also use a tapestry needle if I want to do any weaving. You also need a beading needle if you want to apply any beads. Milliners needles aren’t absolutely necessary, but they do come in handy when doing a French knot or bullion stitch. One tip with needles is to make sure you pick the right size needle to go with the fabric and thread you’re using. If using one strand of thread, for example, I would use a smaller needle. If you use the wrong size needle, you risk damaging your fabric or your finished artwork may not look as smooth.
Now we’ve arrived at my favorite part-THREAD! If anyone has stepped into my craft room, then they definitely can see my love of thread.
My thread collection that I love. My husband built me this so I could hang all my thread up!
For embroidery, the main type of embroidery floss is called mouline. It comes on a skein and it’s a thread that divides into six individual strands.
The most popular brands are DMC or Anchor. Both of these brands are good but I prefer DMC. Here in the States, it’s very easy to find and you can order it online. When I was living in Mexico, it was very hard to find in stores and I always had to have it shipped to me. When I first started out, I bought floss off of Amazon. Big mistake! I found out the hard way that those ones tangle so much and they’re not as shiny as DMC or Anchor.
Many people don’t even use mouline when doing embroidery. You can use Perle which is a non-divisible thread. DMC has a perle line that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. One can also use sewing thread. A popular brand is Gutermann. I’ve used it and I find it comes in handy when I’m doing needle painting. The type of thread you use depends on the look you want to give your piece, but as I said before, mouline is most prominently used.
Perle thread
Embroidery scissors are a must and they are really simple to acquire. Many embroiders have a huge collection of them because there are a lot of cute ones!
My measly little scissor collection
I personally need to work on my scissor collection! 🙂 The main thing you need to look for is something small and compact with a sharp point. You will also need fabric scissors. Only use these scissors for fabric and only use your embroidery scissors for thread. I also love my pinking shears. They have a zig zag edge and I use them to cut my fabric. There’s nothing I hate more than the edges of my fabric fraying and these scissors help to prevent that.
Pinking shears
Tip: If the blade of your scissors get dull, try cutting pieces of aluminum foil with them and they will be good as new!
Lighting, lighting, lighting! If you don’t have good lighting, then your work won’t come out looking very good. Whether it’s natural light or a lamp, you must have good lighting. I use a table lamp with a white light instead of yellow because it tends to look more natural. Also, if you’re picking out colors for a project, don’t do it at night. The colors don’t look the same as in the daytime in natural light.
Some things that are nice to have, but aren’t a must are an embroidery stand and a needle minder. Embroidery stands grab your hoop for you so that you don’t have to hold it. For me, it’s a must have but when I started out I didn’t have one and it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have one. It’s nice to have both hands free though and it helps relieve any neck or back tension.
Needle minders are also nice to have. They are a magnetized pin that holds your needle for you. That way you don’t have to stick your needle in the arm of the couch and prevent any unfortunate events from happening! LOL! I admit I like them because they come in all sorts of cute designs.
My embroidery stand with a couple of my needle minders on top!Side view of my hoop stand
That sums it up for today! I hope you learned a bit. Hit me up if you have any questions. Until next week! I hope you all have an awesome and fulfilling week!
“Bordar es encontrar el balance entre lo que soy, lo que veo, y lo que quiero decir.” (Translation: Embroidery is finding the balance between what I am, what I see, and what I want to say.)
Many people feel that embroidery is only a woman’s art and mostly older women are envisioned as partaking in it. During the pandemic, many people picked up embroidery as a hobby. Everyone was looking for something to keep them busy. Today, women, and even men, embroider and age is not a factor. However, to me, embroidery is so much more than a new hobby or favorite pastime. It is a form of expression, a connection to the past, and it greatly improves my mental health.
Embroidery can be a way to express yourself. I’ve never thought of myself as a creative person. Growing up, I always wished I was able to draw or paint well. I’ve always been attracted to the arts, but I just never thought I had a place in that world. As time has gone by, I have slowly grown more confident in my abilities. I see embroidery as an art form and myself as an artist. The fabric is my canvas and the threads are my paint. The finished product is my voice and what I want to portray to the world.
My interpretation of The Starry Night by Van Gogh!
Embroidery is my connection to the past. My grandmother taught my mother the basics of embroidery. When I was a child, my mom taught me how to embroider also. I used to embroider pillow cases. It wasn’t anything close to what I do today, just simple line work. My journey didn’t last long because the attention spans of children are usually very short. However, I’m grateful to my grandma for teaching my mom, and for my mom teaching me because it’s something that I love to do today! I taught my daughter some basic embroidery stitches when she was younger. It was fun working on samplers together, but as expected, she lost interest. I hope it’s something she will pick back up later on to continue the chain.
My daughter’s first sampler
My mental health has also greatly improved since I started doing embroidery. I find the repetitive motion calming and I tend to get into a zone once I’ve started. It’s a great way to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way to be fully present and aware of your body and thoughts. I love doing it first thing in the morning because it sets the tone for the rest of the day. In 2020, University College London confirmed that artistic activities can lower cortisol, which is a stress hormone, and it decreases your risk of dementia. Any problems that I’ve experienced throughout the day suddenly don’t seem that important or I’m able to come up with solutions much easier because I have a calm mind. Here is a link to an article about ways embroidery can help mental health https://handembroidery.com/12-ways-embroidery-can-boost-mental-physical-wellbeing/. If you suffer from anxiety or are stressed out, I definitely recommend embroidery as an option to help.
I’m curious. Do you embroider? If so, what are some reasons that you do it? If you don’t, do you think it would be something you’re interested in learning?
