Where are you from?
Pontypridd in south Wales. The glamour!
Do you have any pets?
A cat called Ferris Mewler. She's the body snatching Burke to my Hare.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Oh lordy! No! I don't hide anything! I'm an open book! I will literally tell bus stop strangers about my periods. I think the closest I can get to a hidden talent (because only my family sees it) is my ability to be gloriously unfazed when talking to my daughter about periods, sex, harassment, drugs...
What is one unique thing or detail about you?
The sural nerve from my right leg has been transplanted into my face and I'm missing my left pectoralis minor because it was inserted into my left cheek (I have Bells Palsy and it was a failed attempt at reanimation of the left side of my face).
Do you have other hobbies? (crafting or otherwise)
Daily yoga (with @adrienelouise), occasional gardening, shouting about women's rights on the internet--which is a way of life more than a hobby.
What are your goals, or big dreams?
I'd love Kraken Kreations to focus entirely on anatomical embroidery one day. I just have to find a way to make it pay as well as making bags and face-masks.
Do you have a "day" job?
Kraken Kreations is my full time job.
When did you begin embroidery?
In hospital after a disastrous facial surgery. I was dying to embroider but didn't want it to be all about flowers and suddenly realized that I could embroider anatomy, which is a huge love of mine. I asked my husband to bring in some of my sewing kit (it was a long hospital stay) and off I went. My first piece was of the facial muscles and it was bought by my consultant facial surgeon a few months later.
Are you self taught?
Yes. I hate having lessons in anything (because they knock my confidence more than builds it up) and would rather bumble about on my own before getting it right.
How long have you been doing your anatomical pieces?
Approx 5 years. It was an instant addiction.
What is your favorite thing to stitch?
I LOVE embroidering muscles because straight stitches perfectly replicate muscle fibers. I also love embroidering fat and some glands because French knots depict them beautifully. I work really hard to replicate textures in my pieces and these stitches do all of the work for me.
Where do you pull your inspiration from?
My medical books and actual real-life dissection. I have many books on human anatomy including clinical photographic dissectors (study books of actual human dissection). I love flicking through them to see something that'll inspire me to start a new piece. Ferris Mewler, my cat, also occasionally brings in dead prey which I love to dissect. I'm also able to buy some animal organs online from businesses that supply medical students. Otherwise, images with realistically presented false color and a textural challenge always get me excited.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to begin embroidery?
Yes! Make something ugly. I run an online embroidery course for my customers and routinely see them too scared to start a piece in case they mess it up. I teach them to just load a hoop with fabric and stitch abstract stuff as badly as they like. It takes the fear out of failure and they learn things like tension, stitch length and floss handling without even knowing it.
Do you listen to anything while you work? (podcasts, music, tv, movies, etc)
I have the radio on all day long in my sewing shed. I enjoy the chatter as I work and I love shouting at it even more. My big love is dance and trance music but I can't work with this in the background because I keep getting up from my work to dance.
What has been the biggest impact, or made the biggest impact on you creatively?
My breakdown. I started Kraken Kreations while I was recovering from a complete mental breakdown. I had PND and PTSD after giving birth and it became a suicidal hurricane that almost ended my life. I started to sew as I began to recover just to give myself something to do (I could no longer work as a journalist) and it took hold of me. People loved what I made so I started to sell items and Kraken Kreations was born.
Where can people find you if they want to make a purchase?
My website is www.krakenkreations.co.uk or they can hit me up on facebook (@krakenkreations) or Insta (@krakenkreationscath)
What are some of your favorite small businesses? (crafting or otherwise, bonus points if they have an instagram handle)
I LOVE @jessdewahls and @julie.sarloutte. Their work is stunning and always stops me mid scroll. I especially love how Jess keeps going through some of the most harrrowing abuse of a woman that I have ever seen on social media. She uses it to fuel her art. I also love @sophieparkerdesign for uncompromisingly talking about women's' bodies and experiences and @biocreative_arts for making me think more deeply about my creative process.
Is there anything else you want to share?
Just that what I do is complex and takes patience and research BUT my anatomical pieces only ever consist of straight stitch, French knots and couching. It means you don't have to be a wildly experienced embroiderer to do them. If you can do these three stitches, you can stitch anatomy. I often feel intimidated by the work of others but that's not what I want anyone to feel when they see mine. In short, have a go.
댓글