I had a quick chat with Grace from Floral and Fred about her embroidery journey and those fabulous pet portraits! Here's what she said:
1.So, first of all, where are you based?
North County Dublin
2.What first got you into embroidery?
I'm always trying out new art forms and about 4 years ago I came across embroidery. It looked relatively cheap to get the bits and bobs needed to give it a go so I bought a hoop, thread and fabric online. The rest is history!
3.How did you learn to stitch?
I'm completely self taught. With embroidery, the more I do it, the more I learn - especially when it comes to my pet portraits. I follow a lot of other embroidery artists online and each had their own way of stitching. It's amazing to see how a simple needle and thread can be used to create such striking pieces.
4.What is your favourite technique?
Thread painting is my all time favourite. I just love picking out the subtle gradient shades and watching them blend together.
5.What is your favourite subject matter?
This is an obvious one! Dogs of course! I absolutely adore all types of animals and really enjoy when a customer asks me to stitch an animal I haven't done before. The funniest piece so far was a dog wearing a wig and a bow tie!
6.Why do you stitch?
I stitch because it allows me to focus all my attention on one thing. Embroidery is a very meditative process, it's easy to get carried away and stitch for hours and hours. I always find myself to be calm and relaxed when I am creating a pet portrait. Since focusing solely on pet portraits for the past 18 months, my love for embroidery has strengthened as I get to hear wonderful stories about the pets I am stitching!
7.And lastly, where can we find you?
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram under the handle @floralandfred or contact me by email at floralandfred@gmail.com