Decorate like your granny and join the embroidery and ceramic art revolution
A stitch in time…
The art of embroidery has a long history reaching back to some of the very first creations of ancient humans. Bone needles and threads have been used for thousands of years to adorn all manner of fabrics.
Our ancestors used it to express their creativity, give an item religious significance, or bestow blessings on a gift for a loved one.
This love for embroidery transcended time and even in modern times we have kept on using needle and thread to embellish and add significance to items that we hold dear.
Modern interpretations
The industrial revolution has made high quality embroidered material such as lace and decorated clothing available to all of us, but there is still an instinctive draw to meticulously hand embroidered items. Whether its lace for a special occasion, bespoke clothing, or décor.
Earlier generations embraced the art of embroidery as a skill that should be perfected. In recent years many contemporary artists have used embroidery as a form of creative expression.
Let’s call it art!
One such artist is Danielle Clough, a South African artist based in Cape Town. She describes herself as an embroidery artist and shares many of her works on Instagram under the name Fiance Knowles. Whether it’s a vintage tennis racket that becomes the canvas for a bouquet of flowers and botanical designs, or a bespoke t-shirt embroidered with contemporary portraiture, she brings a unique new flair to the art.
Using the hashtags #portraitembroidery, #fibreart and #needlepainting, she has defined a new medium and rewritten the rules of what constitutes embroidery.
Be blown away by Danielle’s embroidery art here.
