1. What made you want to pick up embroidery?
Desperation honestly. Possible Personal Journal, but I was feeling really low and hadn't created anything in a long time-- I couldn't write! Apparently it's hard for me to be a prolific poet when I'm Sad. So I needed something to pour all my sadness/bad energy/nasty anxiety into and embroidery is something that was always peripherally on my radar. I draw a little bit and used to paint in the past and just wanted something new to teach myself. I was hoping the learning process would help me shut off my brain a little bit and it totally did.
2. What are your daily sources of inspiration?
Don't mean to sound like a rustic wall plaque you see at Pier 1 Imports but ~inspiration is everywhere.~ I went to the gynecologist today and picked up a little pamphlet which has some sweet, simple illustrations re: how to give yourself a breast exam and I think I want to stitch it into a series.
3. Which embroidery project did you most enjoy working on?
I think the slut pomegranate was my favorite because I used some needle painting and shading and I love how it turned out! I taught myself a bunch of new and different stitches for that one.
4. The store sold out in just a couple days! What's in store for One Sick Stitch in the future? Current projects?
Jeez first of all I was not at all prepared for my Etsy store to sell out so quickly and the fact that it did is still overwhelming me with gratitude and other capital f Feelings. I have some custom orders lined up which I am excited about! I also just made some art for my friends' band and I am working on a HUGE hoop piece (like. almost hula hoop sized) for an upcoming art showing (baby's first art showing evar). Beyond that, I really wanna collab with a bunch of my artist friends and stitch some of their work - I am almost done with a piece right now that's a take on Sara Lyon's "You're Disgusting" calling card :)
5. For those interested in picking up embroidery, where do you think they should start?
I think the best sites out there on the world wide web are:
- Needle 'N Thread - which has video tutorials for just about EVERYTHANG
- Sarah's Hand Embroidery Tutorials - which has a really comprehensive dictionary of stitches and tutorials for them. I have only tried about 1/10 of them
- Sublime Stitching - the cutest stitch blog ever and has a lot of free embroidery patterns for cheap if you want to order some to make samplers.
Also there are so many great embroidery patterns available for purchase on Etsy!
More of Maitri's projects:
"Ennui"
"Reversing the Gaze"
"One Sick Bitch"
Final Notes: I've been struggling with depression for the past few years (like everyone else our age, I know, I know) but it's been especially difficult to deal with as a POC. In the Indian community there's a v. ingrained stigma regarding Western medicine to treat depression, and in some extreme cases Indian people question the existence of depression in general. OBVI NOT ME but there are still certain remnants of my "deal with it" upbringing that make me feel like it's a sign of weakness to ask for help and that has been hard on the mental health game- I've always been scared as shit of therapy (still am tbqh). But throwing myself into stitching has helped me a lot and I think everybody should do whatever they can to do what they love cause it feels good to feel good! /sappy crap.
