Tending Creativity Podcast Episode 011 | Being an Embroidery Artist and the Importance of Rest ft. Sarah Jane (SalutingSoloMagpies)
Welcome to the Tending Creativity Podcast!
Episode 11: Being an Embroidery Artist and the Importance of Rest ft. Sarah Jane (SalutingSoloMagpies)
For this episode I talk with embroidery artist Sarah Jane about her experiences and work as an embroidery artist. :)
In this episode we talk about:
Sarah introduces herself
How Sarah started embroidery and her first pieces
Picking embroidery back up after a couple years away from it
Sarah's creative interests growing up
What Sarah thought of doing for work as a child
Quitting her retail job to explore creative work
Having family support to do and try what you want
Being unsure of what to do with your life
The different subject matter of Sarah's work and how it has evolved
Getting an ego boost from others' positive reaction to your work
The start of selling embroideries
Unique commissions
The perception of embroidery as an art form and devaluation of embroidery as just "women's work"
"Crafts" vs "fine art"
How Sarah makes work for her Etsy shop
Trying to figure out a work schedule, getting tasks done, etc.
Rest and productivity, learning to allow yourself to rest
The impact of the pandemic on her working habits
Helpful Instagram graphics and accounts
Sarah's process for doing an embroidery
The materials Sarah uses and the low-cost investment of embroidery
Focusing on skill, passion, and your eye over materials and tools
Learning how to stitch
What Sarah does if an embroidery isn't going as planned
Dealing with and managing expectations and disappointment for our art
Physical impacts of doing embroidery
Pros and cons of selling on Etsy- visibility and fees
Sarah's other interests
Our love for cooking themed video games
Sarah's Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SalutingSoloMagpies
Sarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salutingsolomagpies
Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on Apple podcasts!
Host/Marissa's Youtube Channel
Transcript of Interview Portion Below
Marissa So I was hoping that we could just start with you like introducing yourself and what you do.
Sarah I'm Sarah, and I run Saluting Solo Magpies. And I've been doing it now for like, four years, maybe. I learnt when I was 18. My mum taught me and then completely forgot about it and couldn't be bothered to do it anymore. And then picked it back up again when I was 22 and just started doing silly little things. And then it wasn't ‘till I was like 22 that I decided to actually take inspiration from pop culture and do things and then put myself out there and put it on Etsy and things like that. I don't really know how to introduce myself.
Marissa Oh yeah, however you want really. That's fine. That's good. So then is this like, your full time work now?
Sarah It is. I'm very lucky to be able to still live at home. And my mom is very, very supportive. She used to do it and her mom wasn't as supportive. And she just couldn't do it at the time. Obviously, like 30 odd years ago, the internet wasn't a thing. So she couldn't sell things. So she's very supportive of me doing it. So she's like, "You can live at home as long as you want. Just do whatever you want." And everything I do, she's like, "amazing!" So it's really nice to have a support system. So, I'm very lucky to still be able to live at home and do it. But I'm also very lucky to make as many sales as I do, and then be able to sell my art. So yeah, it's my full time thing.
Marissa Yeah, that's really nice that you have that support to be able to do that.
Sarah Yeah, I think it's really important to have a nice little support system of friends and family.
Marissa Yeah. So okay, so you already talked about like, you've been doing it for about four years. And you kind of started talking about like, your mom taught you and then you dropped it, but then you picked back up. So can you talk about I guess maybe like when she taught you... yeah, like what it was like at that point. And then like what happened in between that time and what made you like start it up again?
Sarah Yeah, well, okay, so we're back route, backtrack rather, how I was taught. Everyone in their home I felt like in their family home has like a shit cupboard don't they? They have a cupboard full of miscellaneous. You know, you need to bike hat from like five years ago. No one owns a bike. Yeah, it's in there. We have an old fan. You know, everything's in there. When my nan died, we inherited loads of, like a bin bag, or you call it a trash bag, of photos and just crap basically. And I love looking through old stuff. So I was looking through it and then just came across some cross stitching that my aunt used to do. And there was also some patches in there that my mum did. And I was like, "Mom, what is this? How do you do that?" And then she just taught me like really basic stuff. And we had loads of thread that my aunt had, because she was an avid cross-stitcher. And yeah, and then she taught me basics, just a very simple. like how to thread a needle, how to tie a knot, super simple stuff. And then I feel like I get really into something and then pass it up. And then I'll get back into it kind of thing. So for two days, I made this jacket for my best friend at the time. And I bleached this shirt, I cut it up, bleached it dip-dyed it. And then at the time, we loved Lady Gaga. So we did Born This Way, on the back of it, and I put all kinds of weird stuff on it. And then gifted her it and then after that, I was just like, "Ah can't be bothered anymore." So I didn't do it. And then suddenly, I don't know, I had a dress that I really liked. But it didn't fit me anymore. And I hate wasting fabric. So I was like, "Oh, I'll just do something on it." And then it just started from there. I just did something stupid. I think it was a quote, like, "There'll always be time to grow." And then yeah, and then I just carried on and I just really enjoyed it and then realized it's really relaxing. And I really enjoy just sitting there. You don't have to get out much. You just need a hoop, thread and the needle and then you can just sit wherever and do whatever. So it's nice to be able to like consume media while I do it. And you don't have to focus too hard. So yeah, and then I just started doing it more. And then taking inspiration from all kinds of things and just doing it, I guess. It's kind of weird to look back, because I can't really remember how it began. It just kind of spiraled.
Marissa Yeah, it was like, it wasn't necessarily like a specific moment. It's just kind of like a slow natural progression.
Sarah Yeah exactly. It was like, "Oh! I enjoy this. I'm gonna do it more." And then everyone just thought, "Oh, Sarah enjoys this we’ll give her more embroidery thread. We'll gift her things." And I'm like, "Okay, great! I'll just do it."
Marissa Cool. Yeah, so would you say that this is like, was one of the first kind of creative hobbies that you had? Or did you do other things like as a kid or as a teenager?
Sarah I've always loved creativity in any form. But I was just really bad at it. And I just wasn't good. I just didn't. I love painting. And I- although now I feel like I'm, I've got a skill somewhere. But at the time in school I just wasn't very good at and you know, you're given like charcoal to do and what other mediums we’re given in school? Like collages and watercolor and things. I just didn't really pick it up very well. So I've always enjoyed creativity. I just never found the medium that I was actually good at up until now. So it just kind of naturally...
Marissa Yeah. Do you feel like you thought of it that way? Like when you were younger? Like, "Oh, I'm not good at this. So I'm not gonna really try it." Or are you just saying that like, in hindsight that, "Oh, maybe I wasn't that good?"
Sarah Yeah, definitely, in hindsight, because at the time, I was just like, "I don't care if I'm good or bad. I enjoy it."
Marissa That's good. Because I was wondering like, oh, you know, because sometimes people- that kind of discourages them the fact that they think that they have to be good or bad, but it's good that you're just saying like, oh, maybe you didn't necessarily have certain skills, but you still did things that you enjoyed. That's good.
Sarah I enjoyed it, even though at the time I was like, "This is so good!" And then I'm like, wait, no, check yourself, because in comparison to other people, it was fairly bad. But like you said, it does discourage people to want to try new things or do other things. But it was just like, "Oh, it's fun."
Marissa Yeah, that's cool that you had that. Like you were just free to do what you were wanting to do.
Sarah My dad is very creative, as well. And so is my mom because she did embroidery, and then my grandfather also did painting, so I guess maybe there was part of me that was just like, "You must try something. You've got to find something, the rest of your family can do stuff. So you've got to continue on in the family line," kind of thing.
Marissa That's funny. I wonder if you would, would you say that that was a good or bad thing or just kind of neutral?
Sarah Um, I guess it's kind of nice. Because I appreciate it. So I guess there was a part of me that was like, "Well, there's got to be some part of me that's good at something in a creative form." Whether it be painting or embroidery or even just being able to flower arrange or something like that. Just there's got to be something in me that has the eye, I guess, though. It's just a nice thing to know that relatives kind of passed down.
Marissa Yeah, that is really cool. So is being... like since you're, basically you're an artist as your work, was that something that you thought of like being as a child or wanted as a child? Did you ever see yourself like, making money through art?
Sarah Oh, no. When I was a child, I think we all have those stupid things that we wanted to do. I used to watch Monkey Business, which was on the Animal Planet channel. And I used to want to do something with monkeys. So, and then there was a phase where I wanted to be a doctor or a nurse or like a teacher at one point. Maybe there's time for that. But there's, there's always those silly little things that you want to do when you're younger. And then I also went through a phase of watching America's Next Top Model. And then wanting to be a photographer. So then I went to college, and did a course in photography. And then for like, a split moment, I was like, "Oh, maybe I could be a photographer. Maybe I could do weddings." And then that kind of quickly dwindled. But I guess photography still pretty prevalent in what I do.
Marissa Yeah, I was gonna say.
Sarah Yeah, so and then there was a brief moment where I was like, "Oh, right, I'll just end up in retail for the rest of my life." Thankfully, I quit that job, and then just went straight into creating. So no, I don't think I would have thought many people would enjoy my stuff when I was younger. Purely because at the time, I didn't know the things that I would create, you know? Strange.
Marissa Yeah, cool. Okay, so you, you were talking about, like, in the beginning... well I don't remember the word you said. But you said you were just, it was kind of just things from...
Sarah Pop culture?
Marissa Sorry, yeah, pop culture. I'm trying to form my question. Yeah. So like, in the beginning, like, it was already yeah, things from pop culture. So how has like, I guess, where you take inspiration from or like, the themes and topics of your embroideries- like from when you began to like now, how has that changed? And evolved?
Sarah Hmm, that's a good question. I don't really know. Honestly.
Marissa Would you say it's, it's like... because in the beginning, did you always do like, body positive embroidery or pet embroidery? Like when did some of these things that are- because would you say that those are like, very core to what you make right now like, body positivity and different body representation? And then like, you have pet portraits, and you have Disney. So like, those different types, were those something that you did from the beginning? Or like when did certain...
Sarah Things pop in?
Marissa Yeah, exactly.
Sarah Um, it definitely just started off as pop culture and mostly Disney things, because I feel like they're things everyone enjoys. And I just took a lot of inspiration from things that I just genuinely enjoyed, in hopes that someone else would like it, too. And then it kind of slowly crept in. And much like you, I followed loads of accounts that I enjoyed their content. And there was a few pet portrait artists that I adored. And, and then one day, I showed my mom and I was just like "look how cool this is," and she was like, "yeah, you could do that." I said, "No, I couldn't do that." And then at the time, her friend's cat had just died. And she sent me a picture. She was like, "please just give it a go." So then I tried it out. And looking back now it's horrendous, very first portrait, but I think that just means that I've grown and I've done something decent. Yeah, so I don't know, I think I just like to just push myself to just try something new, just because. And then body positivity wasn't until I'd say like two years ago. But that was a self reflection of myself and how I felt about myself. I don't think I'd have been able to do that a few years ago if I didn't genuinely accept myself. And that was just something that just kind of spiraled. And then as I posted more about it, I got more commissions to do other people. And then it just kind of pushed me to do more of that so that more people could feel empowered in their own body and just felt comfortable in themselves. And I really like the fact that I've had so many commissions of people that wanted their own body because they felt comfortable in themselves. And my friend had one because she had an eating disorder. And she was like, "I finally feel comfortable with myself and I wanted a piece that showed that I was art." I just really love that. So I think how I make other people feel about something as well has played a big part in how I've progressed and how I'd make things and things I make. Does that make sense? I think I've gone a bit off of the question.
Marissa Yeah, no, no. I think it's totally on track. Yeah, that makes sense. Like, partly just like what you're interested in and what you see you want to explore, and then people respond to that. And then you kind of just go deeper into it.
Sarah Yeah, exactly. The same with the portraits as well. I feel like, well maybe not everyone has had a pet. But we've all kind of had a connection to an animal in some sense. So I know the importance of of a pet in a family. So the fact that I could then bring it back to life, I guess, gives me some kind of an ego boost, to be honest, when they're like, "Yeah, it's really good. It looks exactly like the pet," and I'm like, "Yes! thank you. I'm so good." That's a nice little boost.
Marissa Yeah, that's good to have too. Um, so cool. So can you talk more about like, when did you have like your first commission? Or how did you start getting paid for this? And then when did you like quit your job? And what was that like decision process?
Sarah What was that based on? Oh, so in, I can't remember what year it was. But it was like a year before I quit my job that I actually started selling bunting out of Disney books that I just cut into triangles, and then put on a piece of string and I had a few commissions from that because people wanted specific books. And they wanted like two or three of them. So that was really exciting. I think anytime that I hear that little ka-ching on Etsy, I'm like, "Yes! Somebody wants something." So that was like the first time it started to roll. So my first few sales from was from making bunting, essentially. And then at that time, I was working retail, and I was a supervisor at a store. And then they changed their management and things and then I got de-promoted? That's not the word. Put down? So I wasn't a supervisor anymore. I was just back onto the tills and I was just really unhappy. So I was like, "Oh, you know what? I'm just gonna quit." And it was right before Christmas. And then I had Christmas and New Year, and I went away with friends for a New Year's trip. And then on the ride back home, I was just like, "What am I gonna do with my life? Why, what am I gunna have no plan?" And then I just kind of went back home. I was like, "Mum, can I just have a year just making things and just see where it goes?" She's like, "Yeah, sure." Which was surprisingly easy. It's supposed to be a difficult conversation but my mom makes everything so easy. So I'm like, "Okay, cool!" And then, yeah, I don't really remember much about like, first commissions or anything. But I just know that it's a really nice feeling when someone comes to me with a cool idea. Like, last year, I had someone that wanted Harry Styles as an oompa loopma.
Marissa Oh! Did you post that?
Sarah I did. Yeah.
Marissa I don't remember that. I need to go back and look at that.
Sarah It's just Harry Styles' album cover with an oompa loompa face, and the hair. And I just remember reading the message that she'd sent me on Instagram. And I was like, "This is so weird. I love it. I have to do this." So I think anyone that comes through with something bizarre, or even if it's not bizarre, it's just something that they enjoy. I'm like, it's such a nice feeling.
Marissa It's cool to create something, like, special and like individual for people.
Sarah Yeah. And especially out of everyone. They've been like, "I feel like this person could do this for me." So the fact that they've picked me because they're like, "Yeah, I feel like she'd get it." It's kind of a nice little, little boost. I'm the chosen one.
Marissa Yeah. Do you feel like... what are your thoughts on like embroidery as an art and like how it's perceived? And like do you consider it like really, like, still really niche or like that a lot of people don't know about it?
Sarah Well, here's the thing is when you're on Instagram, you're in your own little- or even just online in general. When you create a little section of the internet for yourself, you kind of follow loads of people and you think that's what the world is essentially. And then when people that I don't know, ask me, "What do you do?" And I'm like, "Oh, embroidery," and they're like, "What is that?" So part of me forgets I'm like, "Oh, wait, no, it's not a common knowledge thing." It still is a niche art form. But then also there is the problem with it not being taken seriously as an art form. It's still considered "women's work" and still considered as just a cute little hobby that women gather to do on a Wednesday afternoon, as opposed to it being hard work. It's not something that takes two seconds to do. You can't even complete something in an hour because it just takes so long. A portrait on its own can take 24 hours. Just of constant stitches. And yeah, I just feel like sometimes it's not taken seriously. And it's a cute little crafty project, it's fine to do it as a craft because some people do. But to be taken seriously as a real art form can sometimes be quite hard. And I find that people just don't take it seriously, apart from the section of the internet that I'm on.
Marissa Who are in it, yeah. That's really interesting too like, the idea of crafts versus art. Because, yeah, it's like a lot of things that we would maybe call crafts - yeah, they're definitely things that are more so done by women. And so it's seen as, I don't know, it's like, weird, because it's like a lot of these "crafty things" ;ike, yeah, they're serious. They're like, intense, they require a lot of creativity, a lot of planning, a lot of work, but it's kind of not really valued. Whereas like something like a, an oil painting, where, you know, that's just as valid too, but something like that's considered a craft could be, is just as much work as an oil painting. But oil paintings, you know, are much more valued. So...
Sarah Yeah, it's the different mediums and how they were viewed over time, I guess. Historically, stitching has always been women's work and has always been. I tried to watch Game of Thrones and at the beginning of Game of Thrones, they're all sat there, and in a circle, stitching away, and they were all women, and like even, I don't know when that's supposed to be set, but I'm assuming it's historically correct. They were just sitting there doing their little women's work. So I think that's part of the problem. And also the fact that the major art world is run by rich white guys.
Marissa Yeah. exactly.
Sarah You know, of course, they're gonna be like, "Yeah! a white man painted this. It's amazing!"
Marissa Yeah, totally. So in your shop, you have like a mix of items, right? Like, you have options for people to get custom portraits. But you also, I wanted to ask too like, some of the hoops like, do you have like, the way that you do it for some of them is it like a design? And then if someone orders that you stitch it for them, but you still sell that embroidered design? Does that question make sense?
Sarah Yes, I get what you mean. Are you asking if everything's made to order? Or if I have, like back stock?
Marissa Yeah.
Sarah Yeah, literally. So a few of the things on there it's like, "Hey, if you want something, you can commission me, and I'll make that one specific thing for you." And then majority of the things are things that I've made up, photographed, put on there, sold, and then if they sell again, then I'll make that when the order comes in. Because also it saves time, and it's saves space. Because I only have a room to sort of store stuff. So I don't really have that much space. And I prefer it that way. And then that that way, each one is made for that one specific person, it adds some kind of personal to it. I don't know. I also stamp them on the back when they're made now with the date.
Marissa Oh really? That's cool.
Sarah I just thought was a cute little idea. Yeah, it's made specifically when you bought it. I thought it'd be nice.
Marissa Yeah. So you have that. And then you also have like, prints and stickers. So like, how has your different... I guess, not inventory? Is that the right word? Or like your selection of things that you sell? How has that kind of evolved to what it is now? Like, when did you decide. "Oh, I want to do prints of this. Or stickers would be good."? Yeah.
Sarah It was around 2019 I think, because my first print was of I think it was Hocus Pocus that I did a print of. I just thought it would be a nice idea for people that can't quite afford the embroidery that maybe they'd appreciate it in a frame like in a different way to have it. As opposed to in a hoop. Some people don't like hoops. So I thought maybe they'd just appreciate it in a frame instead. Honestly, though, prints don't really sell that well. I've tried to, I still have quite a backlog of them to be fair, but it is what it is like I don't mind too much. But I just thought it would be like a nice way for other people to have it with whatever income they have. Yeah. Because I like to be inclusive with income as well, because I understand it is a luxury to have something. And it doesn't mean just because you you don't have a lot of money you can't have something nice, I guess.
Marissa Yeah. Cool. That makes sense. Okay so you mentioned also like, obviously, certain, not certain, all embroideries can take, take a lot of time. And then some can be up to, like, probably 24 hours, or would you say even longer than that right? Or no?
Sarah Oh definitely. Yeah. It depends on the size really.
Marissa Yeah! So what is like a typical week look like for you? And how do you like balance time actually spent stitching, making things and like doing your other tasks?
Sarah Oh, god, I'm so bad. I'm literally the worst. Sometimes, if I'm really in the groove of something, I will literally forget to eat. This isn't a very good thing if other artists are listening, because I'm just like, yeah, I'm not very good at it. Sometimes I just forget to eat, and then I'll just do stuff. And then before I know, I'm like, "crap!" Like, shaking and I'm starving. But typically, it depends on what I've had ordered that week, where I'll just wake up and be like, "Okay, cool. Today is this thing that I'll do." And then I tend to just take it day by day, and what I feel like doing. I try not to be overly harsh on myself if I'm not doing something, if I don't feel well, or if I'm just really sleepy one day. Whereas a few years ago, I used to just feel guilty all the time. For just sleeping. If I'm not doing anything, I'm not working hard enough, when really, you're important too. And you have to look after yourself. So, yeah, each week is different. I suppose it just depends what's ordered. Yeah, this week has been, this month actually has been fairly slow. So I've had time to just mooch about and do whatever. But usually, I set myself like a day where I'm like, "Right, today, I'm doing this and this, hopefully to complete and then tomorrow, I'll do this and this," and you know, try and set it out like that.
Marissa That makes sense. Do you... What would you say has like, because since you you said in the past, like you would have felt guilty even just for resting or sleeping, what do you think has changed? Like that has been able to help you like, have that mindset shift?
Sarah I honestly think maybe the pandemic, which is probably controversial, but because I'm not seeing friends, and I'm not going out. So before I wouldn't go out that much anyway, I'm pretty much a homebody. And I'd have like two or three days a week where I'd go out and see friends and do things. Obviously, with the Panini, I haven't managed to do that. And I'm just like, "Right Well, then today, you have to have a day off. And today, you have to kind of force yourself to do it." So maybe it's that's changed. And I'm just a bit more lenient on myself, I guess.
Marissa Yeah. So you would say, like, last year in January, like you would have even had those feelings of guilt?
Sarah Yeah. Yep definitely. Even just going out for coffee with my friend. I'll be sitting there like, "Oh, my God, I need to go home and I need to do this." And why? You're allowed to live. I was just very harsh on myself.
Marissa Yeah. And then if you don't, like take time off, it's, which I know, sometimes I'm like, "Okay, why am I still thinking about it this way?" Because, like, I was gonna say, "Okay, if you don't take time off, that's still gonna affect your work negatively." But then even then, it's doesn't even have to be about like resting because you're trying to make your work better. Just like just resting, because that's what you should do.
Sarah Because you're human.
Marissa Yeah. Who needs to rest. Yeah.
Sarah You're allowed to just not think about work constantly. Like, I'm allowed to sit here. And just mindlessly watch something without being like, "Oh, God, I need to do this. I need to do that." Like, I'm allowed to do that. And I think yeah, the past year has kind of taught me like, it's okay. I think seeing everyone in the same kind of mindset sometimes as well. Because I feel like globally, we all felt the same. So maybe seeing everyone else feeling similar feelings I was like, "Oh okay, yeah. I'm allowed to just rest. I'm allowed to be a human."
Marissa Yeah, definitely. I feel like that's kind of been something that I, I haven't even really well, I guess I have thought about it like in terms of the pandemic, but I feel like maybe I haven't even fully realized how much of an impact the pandemic had on my mindset within that regard. But, yeah, that's definitely been something that like I've had to been consciously like, working on in terms of my mindset of like, oh, it's okay to just yeah, all that stuff related to like work and productivity and like, where my life is going and all that kind of stuff. So, yeah.
Sarah Exactly. And the whole like "girl boss" mindset. And it's just like, "No, I'm allowed to just do whatever I want to do." And I think seeing lots of like, as silly as it is, sometimes when you see someone's Instagram story where they've re-posted another post that says, "Hey, hydrate today," or like daily reminders, and you're like, "Oh, yeah, I needed that." It's like, sometimes I just forget.
Marissa Yeah, sometimes I like go to those. Because I've been seeing, like, you know, some, at one point there was like, "Oh, there's all these like, infographics and stuff on Instagram." Which is like, okay, yeah, like, sometimes I'm like, on Instagram way too much. But then sometimes I can use it to like, find certain accounts or things that actually have stuff like that. That is like, okay, this is really actually helping me. So that's good.
Sarah Yeah, little mental health things. I've followed a lot of mental health... appreciate? No, appreciation is not the right word.
Marissa "I appreciate my depression."
Sarah "I appreciate it." No, like, awareness, or reminders? Yeah, just, "Hey, take your pills," or, you know, things like that. Like, it's okay to just be a person today. And I think we all need reminding of that sometimes. Because on the flip side of that, we get a lot of like, "daily grind, you must be doing this." And it's just like, no, sometimes I don't know what I want. Sometimes I just want to sit staring at a wall. And that's okay.
Marissa Yeah, cool. So I wanted to get into like your process of, so like, I don't know if it's different for different things. Like if you're making a new, if you've like, discovered a new design that you want to make, or versus like, if you're doing a pet portrait...
Sarah What the process is?
Marissa Yeah.
Sarah So for, okay, I'm gonna do pre iPad, and iPad, because it was completely different when I had no iPad. Which I'm so grateful for the fact that I have one now. But before I would have the picture up on my laptop, and then have a tracing paper, piece, piece of tracing paper on top of my screen, and then size it up and draw it. And then so someone sent me a pet portrait, for example. Sent me the ideal picture of their pet. And then I pick out what, whichever one I think is suitable. So usually, it's one where they look happy and bright. And their eyes are glistening, because I think that looks really cute. And then I trace it up, using my poor laptop screen, just hammer it on there with a pencil, like old school, and then send them the picture of that and confirm that it's okay. And then flip it over do a 2B pencil. Remember this trick from school?
Marissa No. Or like when you would lay something on top and like rub it?
Sarah Yeah, that's it and then flip it back over and then rub it. I think you call it tracing paper. What did you call it?
Marissa I think tracing paper, yeah.
Sarah Tracing paper or craft paper or something? Yeah, either way it's see through. So yeah. So then I did that and then traced it onto the fabric and then made a start. But with my iPad now, I just bring up the picture that I want, do an outline again, and then be able to just put the fabric on top of the screen and then go straight onto that with a pen. And then I guess it's the same for any other inspiration that I have. But I just do it straight on the iPad now. There is a scene or whatever that I like from a movie. Or, for example, currently, I'm doing a Little Shop of Horrors. Do you remember that movie from the 80s?
Marissa Yeah.
Sarah I'm doing the house from that. There's somewhere, somewhere that's green. That one.
Marissa I don't remember that specifically, but I just remember the movie in general and like the plants.
Sarah Yeah, it was the home that Audrey wanted and it was pristine and nice. So I found a picture of that from Google. And then just traced it up, drew it up, sorry, and then put it on the fabric and then went from there and just like color.... not color corrected. Color coded? Just picked out colors basically.
Marissa You do that on your, on the iPad? Oh, sorry, how did? You trace like an an outline? Is that just like with the pencil?
Sarah Yeah it's just a sample drawing. And then do it over and then just reference the image, pick out whatever. Yeah, I have loads of thread, I have like six boxes full of threads. So I just pick it out and just go from there. It's not really a high tech process. I know a lot of artists have like a process of things, but I just kind of do it. Just draw it up and then just that'll do.
Marissa Cool. So and then your, like threads and fabric, is there certain like fabric that you like to, that you prefer to use? Or hoops and like your thread? Do you still have some of that thread that like was passed down to you?
Sarah I do, because there's so much of it. That it's just difficult to get through it all. But yeah, there's so much and then I also go on spending sprees. I have some right here, where I just buy loads, and I'm just winding them up now into little bobbins. Yeah, I don't have a specific, like brand, I don't think you need to brand things with embroidery. Because anything works. I first did something on a dress. So you know, it doesn't really matter. And then I started to do things on pillowcases, and then kept them in the hoop. But now I buy calico, or just anything that I can find on eBay, basically, in meters. It's nothing fancy. It's just whatever is available. And I think that's why I like embroidery for beginners, because they don't need anything high tech. They don't need anything expensive. They just literally need hoop, fabric, and thread and a needle and some scissors. And then like that's it.
Marissa Yeah and the thread can go a long way. Well, I mean, I guess it depends on how many like, what you're doing. Yeah, but you could definitely make like use a even like, well, because I like I said I did some embroidery, but I don't really know anything. And I kind of stopped. I want to do more stuff, but more more of like a hobby. So I haven't gotten to it. But like, I don't remember what I, I think I used like, oh, because I was trying to make like my niece like a doll which I have, like unfinished but I was like doing like little eyeballs on it. And I was just using not even like actual embroidery thread. But it was just like, like regular threads that you would use to sew something.
Sarah Just a roll of cotton?
Marissa It was it was thinner than that. It was like, like if you're gonna put it in a sewing machine. I don't, that kind of thread. Yeah
Sarah See, I use that. For any of the outline black work that I do. I use one of those. And I just fold it over. So you have two lots of threads that makes it thicker. You don't need anything fancy. And the same goes for like, I see a few embroiderers that use just DMC or just Anchor, which are the branded things. But I've bought bulk buys from eBay for like five pounds, and there's loads in there unbranded, because it all does the same thing. You don't get the same texture, I guess. Because some of the branded stuff is like, smoother. But yeah.
Marissa It's not really like a big difference.
Sarah I don't think so. Yeah. Purely because this is why I think of it like this is when I was in college, my... he wasn't a tutor, but he was just like, the help, the tech guy, and he once said to me, like, "It's not about the pencil. It's how you write your name." And for some reason, that's always stuck with me. And it's like yeah, it doesn't really matter. Because you can have all the equipment and you can spend loads of money, but if you don't really have the eye or know what you're doing, or the passion or whatever, it's just kind of moot isn't it? Doesn't really matter.
Marissa Exactly. Cool. So then, so have you done any like any courses or online courses or books, look at like books or magazines, because I know like a lot of stores sell that or do you just like, do whatever you want as far as like techniques or stitches or any stuff like that?
Sarah Well my mum taught me the basics, which I don't know many of what they're called, I'm not gonna lie. I can't, I don't know half of them. Just like the line stitch and the filler stitch. That's, you know, she taught me that and then anything I wanted to learn I just went on YouTube, and just learnt it. I think I learned three or four stitches from there. But yeah.
Marissa Would you say like that's kind of all you need right? Or would you say like, even it's fine to just like, wing it or you think like for certain things, if you're trying to go for something, maybe it's like, more secure if you learn certain stitches?
Sarah I guess just winging it is kind of fun. I don't really, I don't need a book to tell me how to do something as well. I think it depends on what kind of learner you are. Because some people can learn by reading and can do by reading, but then others are very visual, and they have to watch something in order to do something, which is me. I have to watch something. Yeah, so I just kind of just go with it. Usually I can look at a picture and then be able to replicate that. I don't know what, how I do it. I just do.
Marissa Is it the same with portraits?
Sarah It just works, right? It just happens. Yeah. People ask me, "how do you do the portraits?" and I'm like, "I don't know. I just do it." And then boom, done. I just kind of, there must be something up there that just knows what I'm doing so just do it. Pick a color and just go for it kind of thing. Which might not work for everyone. And that's okay. But I think it's just finding what works for you.
Marissa Yeah. Cool. Okay, so I'm asking because this has happened to me, I don't know if it's, um, maybe it's happened to you, because since you've done so many different embroidery pieces, but have you ever had a moment where you start working on something, and it's not coming out how you want? Or what do you do? Like, do you undo all the threads? Or do you just kind of like, try to go through it to the end and see how it turns out? In that case, what do you do?
Sarah It depends, cuz I feel like every artist in whatever form of art you do, you have a drawer that's full of unfinished shit basically. And I have one and I feel like everyone has one. It's just unfinished projects, I just couldn't be bothered and some part of it annoyed me so I was like, "right, you're done." But then other things I'll push through. It's mostly portraits that I push through on, mostly because someone's paid for it. And the fact that I'm kind of obligated to finish it. So usually, I'll just unpick it because also, embroidery is quite forgiving. You can just unpick it and start again. Or I just power through it. I'm like, "Okay, it looks weird right now. But we'll see if the next step improves it. And if the next step improves it, then I'll carry on. If it doesn't, then I'll just unpick it and start again." I'm not really, I try not to discourage myself, if I mess up with something because half the time you can fix it.
Marissa That's cool. That's good. Because I feel like probably for other people. And like for me, sometimes I get like, like, "Ahh!"
Sarah Yeah you're like, "Oh, I don't want to do this anymore."
Marissa Yeah. Or like I wouldn't be able to, I still need to kind of work on like, getting through that those feelings of like, "This is messed up. And I need to just like, start over," or, I don't know, I just kind of get fixated on like, what I perceive to be like what's wrong with it. So that's really good that you have that mindset.
Sarah And then but also, you kind of set yourself up for how you want it to look. And when it doesn't look immediately like that you're like, "No! It's wrong." You just have to power through, and then just be like, okay, well I’ll give it a go. And then maybe if by the end it doesn't look how you planned, I guess that's a learning curve for the next time you try it again.
Marissa Exactly. Yeah.
Sarah I just try to take everything as a learning curve.
Marissa I mean, it's, it's true, though. So then, okay, what about like, the physicality, the physical aspects of embroidery? Do you have like, like, do your like fingers and hands ever get like sore or cramps? Or like your eyes?
Sarah I hunch a lot. My eyes are okay, it's usually my back that I don't realize I'm hunching so much. And then I'll have to do the routine stretch. And then sometimes if I'm working too much, my middle finger gets a hole in the skin, which sounds gross. But yes, my middle finger is just permanently ruined, just with indentations of where the needle has been, or just wherever you push the needle up. So usually, it's my middle finger. But besides that, that's the only. I do sit cross legged a lot. So sometimes I just have to get up and walk around a little bit and then sit back down. That's where I'm usually like, "Oh, go get yourself a snack." And then it forces me up. But other than that, I think that's the only things that physically... I do wear glasses though. So maybe my eyes are ruined. Who knows? But I just feel like I'm alright, really.
Marissa Oh okay, that's cool. I was just like thinking about it. Because like, when I have done it, sometimes I feel like yeah, definitely with, well, I mean, this is with anything like my posture is always something that I need to work on. But yeah, and then my, me, my eyes get like, I wear glasses. I'm supposed to wear glasses. I'm okay, like with things close range. So that's why I don't have them on but, my eyes get strained from like, detailed, small things. So I was just wondering, like, if that was something that you deal with.
Sarah Well, sometimes I do sit with just like a little light on and my mom again just comes in and she's like, "Sarah, would you put the light on please?" Ok thank mum. I'm 27 but thanks, mum.
Marissa You always need them. They always have something to say that could be helpful.
Sarah Yeah. Now it's like ingrained where I just feel like my mums there like, "No, you mustn't do it in low light. You mustn't do anything in low light." I'm like ok thanks mum. So now it's probably just ingrained. So I don't strain my eyes anymore because, and I also bought a daylight lamp as well to work on at night. Especially when doing things in winter where everything turns dark at four o'clock. So I have a little daylight lamp, which emulates the sun. So that works as well.
Marissa Cool. So, um, I, we were talking about Etsy already a little bit. But I wanted to ask, how do you like Etsy as a platform as a seller?
Sarah I feel like it's common for a lot of us where we just, it's a love and hate relationship. Like I love it. Because without it, I wouldn't have had half as many sales across the world as well, which I've really loved the fact that my stuff's gone to Australia, or to the US, and to France, and you know, things like that. And that's great. And it's a great platform for being seen. However, the only downfall I find is just the fees, which I don't understand necessarily. Yeah, that's my only downfall with it is just the unnecessary fees that they take, like four pounds for a transaction. And I'm like, okay, I didn't, you're not being specific on what it's for. And they'll take out multiple things like three P or five P for like the same listing, and it just doesn't make sense.
Marissa Not really like clear.
Sarah No, that's the only problem I have with it. And I'd like to eventually have my own website at one stage, but it's just building the following. And then knowing that I'll be seen, the only plus and pro that I find of Etsy is being able to be seen by so many people. And that's probably why I'd probably stay on there for a while. But everyone has their like pros and cons. And then also with them as well, if you make a certain amount of sales. So if you make, like 10 sales within two days or whatever, they'll then put your listing at the bottom, so they won't promote you as much. Because you're making sales. I don't understand that. Yeah, that is quite bizarre. And then what else was it? There was something else about them? Oh, if you make a certain amount, so I think it's $10,000, they'll automatically sign you up for off site ads, meaning that you have to pay from that if you make a sale from that ad, even though you didn't want the ad in the first place. So that I feel is quite sneaky. But also they do it in dollars as well, because I haven't made close to that in pounds. So I don't think that's fair.
Marissa Oh, so like, even though you don't use dollars, they still like have rules set in dollars to apply to you? Yeah that is really weird.
Sarah Yeah. So they'll convert it like, "Oh, well, you've made," I think it was 8000 or maybe 9000, "so that's equivalent to 10,000. So now we'll give you off site ads." And I was like, "Well I didn't ask for this, and I also technically didn't make that amount." Yeah, they're sneaky.
Marissa Yeah. So I know there's only a few minutes left, I just had a few questions left. I've seen that you have been kind of playing around and making things with clay. How has that been? And like what other, are there any other like, mediums or stuff that you like to do? Or are interested in doing?
Sarah I really like painting. But then same as everyone, maybe not everyone, but I feel like I get really into something, I do it three or four times, and then I'm like, "Oh, I don't want to finish that anymore." There was this one, I was doing a portrait of my grandfather for my mom. And halfway through, I was like, Oh my god, he looks like Ross from friends. I can't do it anymore. So the poor thing is just left on the side and never to be looked at again. And now I probably won't do painting for a little bit because I'm put off by that. But with the clay stuff, it's really fun. And it's also a nice little thing that I do with my sister. And she does clay with me. And we sit there and I find that really cute. So maybe it was more evolved because I got to spend time with my sister. She's usually on the computer, and playing games and stuff. I've also started doing little felt things as well. I want to make a baby mobile for my cousin's daughter. But we'll see where that goes.
Marissa Yeah I have the same thing. Like I said that doll that I was making for my niece, it's like, it's still half of it's like opened up and I have been... it's been like she's already like four months old and I started it before she was born.
Sarah Oh, I love that. The effort's there, maybe you'll finish it for her first birthday. Who knows?
Marissa Actually, that's a good goal. Not too soon, but in the future that I can imagine it happening. Yeah. So what about things that are outside of embroidery, work? Just stuff that you like to do for fun just to relax? And, yeah.
Sarah I like to go out for walks and you know, all the typical, "I like to go for walks, I like to watch movies and like to listen to music." Just very basic stuff. I don't really like to do anything too crazy, because half the time, I'm like, "Oh, I'll just make something," even when I'm not making for work I still enjoy making. And I think that's important to still want to do it. It's not an obligation. I also go through phases where I'm really into cooking games. And that's currently happening.
Marissa Like, cooking games like TV shows or?
Sarah No like SpongeBob SquarePants. You got to make up the krabby patty.
Marissa Oh! Yeah, like online games and stuff?
Sarah Yeah.
Marissa Oh I like those. I do. Dude I have the same... that has been like a theme in my life too. There was like this, um, game my parents bought like randomly from Costco when I was in high school. And it was like, I fell in love with that game.
Sarah Was it Cooking Mama, by any chance?
Marissa No, they did buy that one but I didn't really get into that one. It was called Order Up.
Sarah Oh, okay. Yeah. And you have to just make up all the stuff quick enough?
Marissa Yeah, it was like it had this whole story, you know, like, you start off in a burger joint. And then like, once you master that you go to like different levels of restaurants. It was cool.
Sarah Yes! I had one similar. It's called Cooking Fever. And then also, it was it was on my phone as well, which is a dangerous game, because you're like, "Oh, spend 4.99 to get these coins so you can get more stuff." And that's when I was like, "Right. You've spent 20 pounds on an online game. Stop now." So yeah, that's probably I like to do that in my free time. But I probably shouldn't be playing cookie games in my free time where I spend money.
Marissa That's fun, though. Have you ever heard of... dang, I forgot what it's called. It's like, um, I got it on the Nintendo Switch. And it's like...
Sarah Overcooked is it?
Marissa Yeah, Overcooked. Have you played that one?
Sarah I have. I'm not very good at it. Other people are playing and I'm just like, I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing. Whereas, on my own, I'd nail it easily. Because other people are there, don't have a clue.
Marissa I've had like, some arguments over Overcooked.
Sarah I love that. Yeah, cooking games with friends. Probably shouldn't be a good idea.
Marissa After yeah, cuz after a certain level, I was like, it was too hard for me. And I just got frustrated. Now I want to play it though.
Sarah I'm gonna play SpongeBob SquarePants right after this.
Marissa Cool. Yeah. So that was pretty much all of the questions that I had for you. Was there anything like that you thought would be interesting to mention that I didn't ask you about or?
Sarah No I feel like we covered it all.
Marissa Okay, cool.
Sarah I think you've asked good questions. Very good. Made me think. Yeah.
Marissa Cool. Um, yes. So thank you. Thank you again for talking to me and letting me interview you.
Sarah Thank you.