Meet Maria – the spunky, enthusiastic bossy biz lady behind Femme Broidery – aka embroidery for bad ass bitches. A strong feminist and an all around amazing girl Maria likes to channel her inner quirkyness into her beautiful hand stitched work.
Maria – FEMME BROIDERY
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF.
Badass feminist embroideries, animal embroideries, pop culture embroideries. I like to embroider things! I started embroidering when I was 9 and received a book of stitches as a Christmas gift. I picked it up again in grad school and started selling hoop art to pay for tuition. The rest is history.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
Since December 2014 – pop the prosecco, we are one year old!
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
Bright colours! Geometric shapes! Bold and unapologetic feminism. I also strive to give back to the community through my art so I donate 10% of my sales from every market event. Recipients range from the Food Bank, to the women’s shelter to the Association of New Canadians for Syrian refugees. I am inspired to bring a change to the world through art, both by the art itself and the revenue it generates for notable causes.
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
I want to be a badass babe entrepreneur full time doing the artist market circuit with my love who is a *super* talented carpenter.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
Oh, that’s tough! I think I’d have to go with Insta because it let’s you showcase your work with bright, bold, vibrant colours and it’s such a great venue to connect with others artists and makers. The Insta embroidery community is so warm and welcoming. I only started Instagram 3 months ago and am always amazed when I have nearly 5000 followers. It’s so refreshing to create something and know that there are others out there who appreciate it!
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
Put down the needle, have a glass of wine, and pick up where you left again the next day. Sometimes you just need a break and a nap. Looking back on all the positive feedback and comments is always so inspiring. I remember getting a lukewarm review on Etsy once and being so devastated I considered closing up shop. The next day I was back at embroidering and loving it.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
That book of stitches, the one I got as a Christmas gift many moons ago, ended up in a library across the Ocean in Europe! And was mailed back to me last year!
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I would be the Social Justice Crusader and I would sprinkle social justice sprinkle dust on the world to cure it of all its evils.
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES?
Instagram: @femme.broidery
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR STUFF?
Etsy and Instagram!