Etsy Monday - Handy Hands Corner

Circle in the Dark / Embroidered Bag

This week's Etsy Monday featured seller is the very talented Magda of Handy Hands Corner. She makes gorgeous hand-embroidered bags and the most beautiful batik fabrics. I was introduced to her shop while on the Etsy forums the other day, and instantly fell in love with her work. Her embroidery and batiks are stunning, and I love the minimalistic style of her bags.

 

Magda has taken a moment to answer some questions about her work and share a bit of her inspiration with us. Without further ado, here's what she had to say.

1. When did you realize that you wanted to be an artist/artisan?

I have been doing different kinds of craft since my childhood. I understood it as a sort of playing and it has always been more a side activity then a real work. I sew, knit and embroider because I can concentrate on something in front of me and think at other things at the same time. It is a relaxing activity.

2. How long have you been working with your medium and what first sparked your interest in it?

Talking about embroidery, not very long. I made my first embroidered bag few months ago and I sold it right away. It was in fact very juvenile vork but it is this kind of look that I give to it on purpose, it is actually supposed to look juvenile. Batik is of a much older day, I don’t even remember when I started it, my mum used to do batik so I did too.

Silk Fabric / Round Squares / Wax Batik

3. What do you find most enjoyable/rewarding about your art/craft?

I like how a piece is created in front of my eyes. When I know that I am on the right way. And, of course, the biggest reward is when people like it, are kind of surprised when they see it because they didn’t expect I had been doing something like that at all.

4. Where do you find inspiration for your art/craft?

Japanese Sashiko, the style of embroidery, I even admit it straight away in my work. Japanese textile printing, Oriental carpets, Scandinavian folk art, architecture, both old and new, naïve art, minimalism, childrens art, mosaics, strange and bizarre old paintings and prints.

5. What message or values do you wish to convey with your art? What does your art say to the world?

Talking about craft, I wish I showed that any hand work could be done nicely and without stressing on being worked out, done properly and showing a long practice in it, that few stitches could be beautiful as if it was a complicated embroidery.

Blue Circles / Embroidered Bag  / Linen / Cotton Bag with a Bird

6. Are there any other creative outlets that you use to express yourself? What are they and what do you enjoy about them?

Not really. Or everything could be called creative. Playing with blocks with my son? Doodling? Cooking?

7. Do you have any advice for other artists/artisans?

Believe in what you are doing. If you don’t like it, start over. If other people don’t like it and you do, don’t pay attention to what they say.

 Bag with Sashiko Embroidery / Shoulder Bag / Tote/ Green Circle

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In closing...

Where else can we find you and your work, either on the internet or in person? (ie blog url, flickr, facebook, etc)

http://bohemiagirl.blogspot.com/

Are there any other websites or resources you’d like to recommend (not just to other artists)?

Gallery that shows traditional Japanese textile: http://threads.srithreads.com/