Maker Monday: Alexis Stitching

After learning how to embroider and creating a beautiful handmade gift for a friend, Alexis decided to share her creations with our community at a Makers North market. Inspired by people, places things (and of course Instagram), Alexis creates some really beautiful embroidered pieces that would make the perfect holiday gift.

You can read all of our other Maker Monday posts here.

How did you get into embroidery and what influenced you to start Alexis Stitching?

I haven’t actually been embroidering that long, but my mom is a serious Craft Queen and taught me how to cross-stitch as a kid- so I already had some basic skills from that. I don’t even remember where the idea came from but one-day last fall I decided I wanted to learn how to embroider. A few months later my friend had a baby and I wanted to give her a gift, so naturally I decided to make her something… I was really proud of the finished product and figured other people might like it too, and the timing coincided with applications for the Maker’s North spring market. I also have ADHD and struggle with initiation, even for activities I enjoy, and I knew that having some external deadlines would help get me going. So I applied, and here we are! 

What is your creative process like? How do you come up with new ideas?

I tend to just go where the wind takes me….but really, a lot of my work has been inspired by the things and people around me. That and Instagram! There are so many amazing embroiderers (embroiderists?) on there and I love seeing their different approaches and styles and incorporating different techniques into my work. 

Do you take custom orders? Have you had any favourites?

I do take custom orders! I love them because I get asked for things that I wouldn’t necessarily think to do myself, which sometimes stretches me a little outside my comfort zone- great for inspiration! No favourites, they’re all fun. 

Do you have any tips for other makers who may be looking to start selling their own creations?

Don’t put pressure on yourself to make things that other people will like. Make things that YOU like, and the rest will follow. And if you want to do it, just do it! Make a social media account, post your stuff, and see what happens. 

Any upcoming markets we can catch you at?

Nope! I work full-time and so I’m only able to prepare enough stock for one market a season. I was just at the Maker’s North holiday market which pretty much cleaned me out!

Where can we follow for updates and see your work?

Instagram! I try to post pretty much everything I make on there- @alexisstitching