Below you’ll find my Handmade Embroidery projects.
My handmade embroidery projects explore and experiment with combining embroidery and contemporary media. Whether it's adding embroidered details to a comic book, creating a one-of-a-kind embroidered graphic, or using embroidery in a fine arts context, I'll use color, mixed media and handmade flourishes, to showcase your brand, company or personal story.
Felted Wool
Graphic Design
Digital Design
Illustration
Typography
Mixed Media
Clover – Embroidered Manga Splash Page
Handmade Embroidery using 100% Silk and Cotton Thread, Watercolor, Graphite and Colored Pencil on Canvas
This panel is from Clover by amazing manga team Clamp. I absolutely loved this book! The story, the characters, the sci-fi / steampunk world, and the panels! This was the first manga where I have seen an experimental use of panels and page design. As a graphic designer I was blown away, and I find myself going back to this book again and again, as a constant source of inspiration.
After the Rain – Embroidered Manga Splash Page
Handmade Embroidery using 100% Silk and Cotton Thread, Watercolor and Colored Pencil on Canvas
This is the first of many where I am exploring embroidered manga panels using only traditional media (no software). I chose colored pencil because I wanted to capture the texture and screen tones that are prominently used in manga.
This panel is from After the Rain by Jun Mayuzuki, I am currently reading this series (on volume 3 of 5), and I'm enjoying the increasing depth, substance and overall emotional arc of the story.
Red Soul Into the Dark – Book Cover
Handmade Embroidery
100% Silk and Cotton Thread
Purchase and Preview Link:
bit.ly/redsoulillustratedpoems
With this image, I wanted to explore the possibilities of using only handmade embroidery to create a striking graphic.
Red Soul Into the Dark is David’s first illustrated book. He uses poetry to explore and journey into the unknown with his heart ablaze, facing the fears, doubts & thoughts waiting in the dark. Freedom’s light and the comforts of joy and love, are a constant motivator to navigate through life’s obstacles no matter how scared you are.
Handmade Embroidery, Colored Pencil,
Graphite & Adobe Photoshop
I used hand embroidery, colored pencil & graphite as a nod to the analog culture where my story takes place, everything is handmade. Additionally, I wanted to try something different, and make the cover stand out with a hand embroidered title. I'm a big believer in combining traditional & digital mediums.
Self-initiated Manga Coloring – Mermaid Saga
Handmade Embroidery, Clip Studio Paint EX,
Illustration by Rumiko Takahashi
I am always looking for ways that I can explore and combine mediums, so I wanted to try a hybrid manga panel coloring with hand embroidered details. I used the colored pencil brushes in Clip Studio Paint EX to give a textured & saturated look to the colors.
Nightwing
Handmade Embroidery and Felted Wool
100% Wool and Cotton Thread
I created this image for a contest, unfortunately it wasn't chosen, but I loved working on this project because it allowed me to see the potential of combining felted wool with embroidery.
Self-initiated Handmade Embroidery – Avatar Aang
Felt and 100% Cotton Thread
This was my first complete handmade embroidery project. I translated the image from an illustration, taken from an art book based on the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. I added in some felt appliqué to add contrast and additional pops of color. This piece was a major challenge for me, and I'm proud to have finished it while exceeding my expectations.
Self-initiated Handmade Embroidery – Dark Spirit
100% Cotton Thread, Neo Color II Watersoluble Crayon,
and Colored Pencil
This was my second completed handmade embroidery project. I also translated the image from an illustration, taken from an art book based on the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. With this piece, I focused on using embroidery for adding eye catching detail to an illustration. I will definitely create more pieces from the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe in my spare time.
Self-initiated Manga Coloring – Mermaid Saga
Hand Embroidery, Clip Studio Paint EX,
Illustration by Rumiko Takahashi
After reading this manga, I was immediately inspired to color some panels from it. This panel is another exploration of handmade embroidery and digital coloring using colored pencil brushes in Clip Studio Paint EX. With this panel, I challenged myself to add in even more hand embroidered details by including the sound effects and word balloons.
Mother's Day Surprise
100% Silk Ribbon and Cotton Thread
I made this as a Mother's Day gift for my mom several years ago. I wanted to challenge myself and try a new kind of embroidery using silk ribbon. I'm always looking for new techniques to try that can add dimension and originality to a project. In this piece, I wanted to achieve a sense of surrealism and abstraction by adding in shapes and textures that suggested floral forms.
Father's Day Gift
100% Silk Ribbon, Cotton Thread, Hand-cut Collage
I made this as a Father's Day gift for my father-in-law several years ago, featuring his favorite bird. I wanted to challenge myself and create a mixed media embroidery piece. I used silk ribbon embroidery for the branches and the leaves. I like the dimension and depth that they add to the composition.
Diving for Hearts
Neo Color II Watersoluble Crayons, 100% Felted Wool
and Cotton Thread
This piece is part of an on-going fine art series exploring the symbolism of the heart. I absolutely love how well felted wool and embroidery look together. This project is my exploration into using embroidery in a fine arts context.
Whispers of the Heart
Acrylic Paint Monotype and 100% Cotton Thread
This piece is an another exploration of embroidery within a fine arts perspective. This image combines monotype with embroidery. This piece is also part of an on-going series.
