Here at Etsy, we believe that the story behind an object is often just as fascinating as the object itself. Short Stories is our series dedicated to telling the tales behind extraordinary pieces found or created by Etsy sellers.
Today, Kasia shares the tale behind her red-headed bather.
Needlepoint designs are usually very refined, elegant, and quite serious. Why is it so? I think that when you devote a lot of your time to a thing (and needlepoint is a very time-consuming technique), it is quite natural to be very serious about what you do, and to take up rather serious, pathetic motifs and themes, such as running horses, William Morris’s flower garden, or Mona Lisa’s smile, carefully worked out with a needle and a thread.
But I am definitely more fascinated by the possibility of disenchanting this extremely labour-intensive technique. That is why I cover my canvases (with a great passion and joy, I have to admit) with everyday objects, such as pliers or screwdrivers, or a Lady in the Bath with her rich red curls and naked knees showing flirtatiously over the surface of the water.
Why not?
Just try to imagine a noble lady in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, in the time when needlepoint in Europe was at the peak of its popularity, leaning over her canvas and carefully embroidering an image of a naked woman in the bath!
Well, this is exactly the most amusing and inspiring thing to me. Combining needlepoint – this exquisite, refined embroidery technique dating back to Medieval times — with a little bit of irony and indulgence. I had smile on my face throughout the whole process, from creating the design with a specialist graphic program, to the slow and patient stitching of the canvas.
I believe that smile and laugh are perfect remedy to cure everyday sorrows, and secretly, I hope that my Lady in the Bath will also bring smile to your face.
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93 comments
Hillary De Moineaux from VoleedeMoineaux said 8 years ago
How clever!
Cindy Steiler from MarysGranddaughter said 8 years ago
Fabulous Kasia! I am happy to see you here! xoxo
Imogen Skye Freeman from InkPaintings said 8 years ago
Ooooo! I looooooove it! I do embroidery as well as my paintings, and also have unexpected imagery in them. I once listened to a beautiful opera, and then read the translation to English and was shocked! Here, this refined-sounding, gorgeous duet being sung by two beautiful ladies, and they were singing about doing laundry and picking out ripe fruit at the market!!! Since that time, I've realised that a lot of what artists have always done was to represent the mundane, and it seems exotic or sophisticated to me, simply because it is from a different time when these things that intrigue me were mundane-- or extraordinary *then* and mundane *now! I love your work! When I have more embroideries completed (may be a looong while... soooo busy with 5 kidlets at home, and painting), I hope to offer them for others to enjoy too. Eventually. Thank you for the inspiration. <3
Stephanie from StringBeardCraftery said 8 years ago
I love needlepoint that is out of the ordinary, and that strong man is awesome! Great work, and thank you for sharing.
Marianne Clancy from maclancy said 8 years ago
art with creative everyday themes is wonderful! love love your work.. cannot wait to see more and more! thanks for sharing your story. love this series so much!
Susan Pauley from SPAULEY said 8 years ago
Love the images. Keep thinking, looking, creating.
Wei from HoneyThistle said 8 years ago
Haha, I love your subjects - especially the kitchen sink! I've never done needlepoint but it looks very labour intensive!
Linda from lovelygifts said 8 years ago
So cute!
Amanda Gynther from CafePrimrose said 8 years ago
So funny!
Joanne Scantlebury Muckart from MadAboutColour said 8 years ago
Delightful!:) Thank you for sharing!:)
Penny Birch-Williams from PennyBirchWilliams said 8 years ago
I love this! I love when an artist can take something traditional (and often stuffy) and make it fresh and modern and humorous even. Like when the impressionists shocked the art world establishment of the time by their new style and by painting mundane subjects. I have a very old chair that has a seat cover in needlepoint by my grandmother, very traditional of course, but it's a treasure to me. I'm sure your wonderful art will be treasured for many years too!
Susan Sanford from ProfessorTiny said 8 years ago
the embroidery makes me think of Joyce Carey's "The Horse's Mouth" in which a painting of a bathing woman featured prominently.
Edie Ann from OhHoneyHush said 8 years ago
Brought a smile to my face! Very cute :)
Windy City Novelties said 8 years ago
I love all the fun pillows!
Emily and Norma Colman from fibergig said 8 years ago
An irreverant and ironic approach is part of what keeps crafts alive. Bravo!
Quality Handmade Items from WhisperingOak said 8 years ago
Love the story. Makes me smile.
DecadesOfVintage from DecadesOfVintage said 8 years ago
I love your creativity and sense of humor
Terry from Parachute425 said 8 years ago
Thanks for the smiles! Great work.
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 8 years ago
Cool! Looks a lot more fun than flowers.
Cougar T-Shirt Company from CougarTShirtCompany said 8 years ago
I bet you would be fun to be friends with. Fabulous perspective!
Matejka Max from NattyMatty said 8 years ago
Fun!
Cari-anne from SimpleCleanDesigns said 8 years ago
Hah. I love the idea of breaking from the norm!
Renata and Jonathan from RenataandJonathan said 8 years ago
Great story ! Congratulations, Kasia ! We love your work :)
Buster and boo from busterandboo said 8 years ago
Adore the Lady in the Bath. My mom did needlepoint, I have quite a few pieces she had done or designed. I like to think she would have loved this one too. Great story - thank you!
Sara Pulver from 3crows said 8 years ago
nice work, fresh, different, love it!
Mike Hering from NecklacesforFreedom said 8 years ago
Hey friends is anybody having any issues with there shops stats not updating??? would greatly apreciate some 411 on whether it is my comp. or Etsy!!! Thanks so kindly, MIke~
Christine from bellablackbird said 8 years ago
What great work, love the lady in the bath!
Janet from PottyMouthGems said 8 years ago
Such a delight! You're so clever, I love her little toes. :)
Jane Priser from JanePriserArts said 8 years ago
So unique and creative, and it brings a smile to my face
Rebecka Hinton from CalicoGryphon said 8 years ago
Very neat and unique! Reminds me of my favorite end of the week retreat. A nice peaceful bath with bubbles, candles, and a favorite book!
iammieCLAYshop from iammieCLAYshop said 8 years ago
Interesting design and story!
Elena Fom from Attractive1 said 8 years ago
Done charming!
Peshka from Peshka said 8 years ago
Cute!
virginie lykins from anordicrose said 8 years ago
Fun ideas !
Mimi from aTreasureInStore said 8 years ago
She certainly brought a smile to my face. At first glance...and with aging eyes...I had to really look to see what she was doing. Charming!
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 8 years ago
Love it!!!
thepapermoonstudio from thepapermoonstudio said 8 years ago
Love your work!!
PaperAltar from PaperAltar said 8 years ago
Why not - indeed !
Zoui from XZOUIX said 8 years ago
nice article, i had this immediate feeling like there must be eastern-european roots and tradition behind your work :) (well yeah, it's not exactly eastern, we're in the middle but anyhow i can feel it in your work :)
Sam's Natural from SamsNatural said 8 years ago
Cute!
mes kokeshi from meskokeshi said 8 years ago
very interesting story! I'm impressed with your work! brawo Kasia!!!
kim rhodes-thomas from pinksnakejewelry said 8 years ago
Quirky, Funny and Clever!!!!
Paola from atelierpompadour said 8 years ago
I like that shop since time!! thanks for sharing the story!!
Bozena Wojtaszek from BozenaWojtaszek said 8 years ago
Kasia, bravo! Great story, great art, great you :) Congrats!
blah3 from blah3 said 8 years ago
so lovely :)
Susan Spurr from InSpurations said 8 years ago
Love it. I think it is important to update needle arts before the skills are lost.
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage said 8 years ago
Awesome story and your work!
Kiova Staley from joyridevintage said 8 years ago
Your designs are so fun, love the novelty of mixing serious craft with quirky, comical themes--might as well keep it fun and light!
Golden Hearts MILLAN from AgapeArts said 8 years ago
Great short story, i enjoyed the read!
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 8 years ago
Great work! Very clever!
Golden Hearts MILLAN from AgapeArts said 8 years ago
Enjoyed the read!
VaLon Frandsen from thevicagirl said 8 years ago
Very interesting idea.
Gossamer Tearoom from TheGossamerTearoom said 8 years ago
I love your designs and the lady in the bath is especially cute and special! I just adore her little toes peeking out from the water!!!
ACupOfSparkle from ACupOfSparkle said 8 years ago
These are so cool!
Rose Waterrose from Waterrose said 8 years ago
Love it!
Even Howard from nadene said 8 years ago
Great story! I found the mention of William Morris amusing as his designs were considered a freeing departure from the stuffy confines of the prominent aesthetic of his day. One of the principles he championed was that home comfort was a personal choice and did not require vast sums of money or adherence to classist rituals. As creative makers ourselves, we still benefit from his successful efforts in overthrowing the black and white separation between the cultured/wealthy and the laborer/poor.
ArcadeArt from ArcadeArt said 8 years ago
great work :)
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 8 years ago
too cute ~ very individualized
Erika from ErikaPrice said 8 years ago
Love this story - and the needlepoint!
LuAnn Poli from PaisleyBeading said 8 years ago
I loved reading this story, Kasia! I could just picture your grin as you stitched away! There's nothing like having fun while working, is there?
newtribetextiles from newtribetextiles said 8 years ago
Oh how I love these things! Beauty in the simple and silly is so important! Thank you for making such treasures!
Brittany Zerkle from BeeZeeArt said 8 years ago
I'm... not seeing the appeal. Guess I'm the only one.
Sylvie Liv from SylvieLiv said 8 years ago
And here I thought I didn't like needlepoint projects! Your work is awesome! Keep it up! :)
Kathryn Warren from HailTiger said 8 years ago
Awesome!
Connie Haskell from redemptionart said 8 years ago
Thank you for this post! I have had friends, also etsians, recommend that I just do one liner descriptions...but I have always been about ambiance...telling the story. I guess being Hawaiian and dancing the hula most of my life, that's what it is always about..telling a story to educate, entertain and create a legacy. I appreciate this. Aloha!
Sharon Parker from ArtyDidact said 8 years ago
I find Even Howard's comment about William Morris very apropos. Indeed, he and the pre-Raphaelites and Arts and Crafts movement folks were the iconoclasts at one time, and now their work has become something of a cliche and too-much imitated. Surely if they all survived to this day they would have moved on to new motifs and even different media and would be a little embarrassed at the mainstream status of their works today. Your clever and original interpretations of this traditional art form are delightful.
WhimsicalRoad from WhimsicalRoad said 8 years ago
Aw, that's amazing!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 8 years ago
Kasia you are so clever and creative! I love your pictogram pilow!
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery said 8 years ago
Very fun, a beautiful piece! I like how your description captures so much of the making process...
Maria Corey from sowsearjewels said 8 years ago
I love your designs! I'd do more needlepoint if I could find designs like yours to stitch!
Billy Bubbles from FireIslandSoap said 8 years ago
GNARLY NEEDLEWORK!
Aleksandra P. from alexmalexdesigns said 8 years ago
I love it, I've been always wondering why people who are really good in needlepoint technique, don't turn their eyes on something more original than the running horses, flowers etc. themes. Kasia's work it truly interesting and updated, I love when people use old techniques for contemporary look.
Kasia from Eclectivist said 8 years ago
I long admire Kasia's work and one of a kind quirky designs. Her bottle bag is on my wish list and soon hopefully on my arm!
Carey from VeryCarey said 8 years ago
You have a wonderful sense of humor and needlework talent combined. Thanks for your enjoyable story.
Laura Prill from lauraprilltoo said 8 years ago
Delightful!!
sundancepotteryshop from sundancepotteryshop said 8 years ago
Rock On!!!
Ayelet Cohen-guzik from darioushka said 8 years ago
Thank you for the story, I love it! great work!
Ayelet Cohen-guzik from darioushka said 8 years ago
Thank you for wonderful post, Love it!!
Gracie from TheBeautyofBoredom said 8 years ago
Interesting.
Ulli Wenzel from Leocardia said 8 years ago
Your objects are very amusing! I love to produce time consuming artwork as well...
Lola Ocian from GoldenSpiralDesigns said 8 years ago
Fun designs!
Emma jin from Emmajins said 8 years ago
It is very intereting!I Good idea! I lover needlepoint too,the girls at my hometown are required to able to embroid before marrage more than ten years ago, they design the picture themselves,needlpoint had been quiety for some years and in China ,and now cross-stitch is so poluar again,but we only following the designed pictures.
Yael Berger from TheJoyofColor said 8 years ago
I love it Kasia you are so right a good smile always help i'm long time amdirer of you work
Francesca from OliCreations said 8 years ago
This is amazing! Love the shop! I love the idea of taking something extremely time consuming and giving it a fun twist!
Carol Hauff from cowgirltradingco said 8 years ago
beautiful work, keep it up
kristin from blackmoonsky said 8 years ago
truly amazing! i also love the strong man needlepoint in your store :)
CujiCoo from CujiCoo said 8 years ago
I really do love the design! Great work!
Robin Romain from RawBoneStudio said 8 years ago
I'm smiling and happy now! Lovely fun work you do!
Emily from SoapForYourSoul said 8 years ago
Beautiful stuff you have!
emmy williams from EMMYSGREENTHINGS said 8 years ago
love it very much! thanks for sharing! GREENGOSSIPGRL*TWITTER
Jenny from TheScrawnySparrow said 8 years ago
I agree completely! I have a fun idea for a cross stitch that I'm going to find the time to do soon...keep it up!
liddy sopretty from liddysopretty said 8 years ago
I really like this pillow! lol.
Vickie Moore from WingedWorld said 8 years ago
Well, it certainly has brought a smile to my face! I love seeing the revival of needlepoint, embroidery, crocheting and knitting. A touch of irony and humor makes in items like yours is frosting on the cake.