Black Makers

Black Makers Exist In All Crafts | Let’s talk Embroidery

Yesterday Blk Makers Matter featured me on their Instagram Maker Monday feature. I was so proud and then instantly annoyed. Why annoyed GG, is that your question? Last I checked anyone with hands can make whatever they decided to learn to make. I don’t understand why as a Black person, we have to claim a spot in every maker space. Just about every making industry is absent of Black creators, on the surface at least. That is also a gap that needs to be filled. Representation matters EVERY WHERE. Our little people need to see themselves in these spaces. At this point they should not have to be pioneers.

I remember when Becca from Tres Chic Stitchery asked me if I wanted to do embroidery. I had never tried and didn’t know if I wanted to, but I did. As we discussed this I said to her that I did a search and I didn’t find any Black people doing embroidery. I mean I searched. I found a few here or there AND when I found them, the embroidery didn’t have images that I could relate to. Here we go again..UGH it’s so frustrating.

As a result The GG Embroidery Collection was created with my logo being the first kit. I remember giving it a try and was quite pleased with myself. The one thing that kept slapping me in the face, was not seeing folks that look like me. I know we had to do embroidery, but once again we were not the face you were most likely to see. So many folks felt the need to tell me I was doing the one stitch wrong. LOL! I got the look I wanted, which was curls, my unruly natural curls.

Embroidery

You guys are the best, because you all supported this collaboration. I discovered so many black embroiders and it made my heart happy. So Becca and I decided we would seek to attract more makers with this collection. As of today we have a total of seven kits with the latest being added today. I would like to introduce Urbanista. Is she not fierce!! The kit comes with all you need to do your own.


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

So this post I am asking for a favor. If you know anyone that does embroidery please tell them about the GG Embroidery Collection. If you do embroidery and like any of the collection, please click the button above. Thanks guys!

This is the last week of the challenge guys. We did it! I will put up a poll to decide how often you all want posts after this challenge. So stay tuned.

Have a fabulous day on purpose
GG

10 thoughts on “Black Makers Exist In All Crafts | Let’s talk Embroidery”

  1. Yea!! You did it! I knew you could! the subjects your brought up were thought provoking and I answered several. I would enjoy more of these but I also know how much work they must be and you have been doing your weekly Vlog (most weeks, understandably) , so I don’t know how much you can do and be effective and productive in your own life. I love your newest creature! Due to eyesight, I am not doing embroidery any longer. However, she deserves her moment in time! She is beautiful!

  2. Beautiful embroidery! You are so right that in 2020 you should not need to be a pioneer as a BIPOC woman, you should not need to claim space, and I can only imagine the exhaustion of having to just keep doing that AND AND AND your presence, heart and persistence are SO important. I love how the crafting/fiber world can become a lens through which to look at the most crucial issues of our time. Thank you.

  3. I just popped over to take a look and your embroideries are gorgeous! Pity they’re not available as a PDF since shipping to NZ is always horrendous, I don’t even consider buying from the US anymore due to that, plus our dollar is really low against yours. I’ve done transfers before, though admittedly the last time I embroidered was years ago and before knitting got it’s claws into me. But for those, especially the one knitting on the sofa I’d come back to it.

  4. What a wonderful addition to your embroidery collection. To me embroidering is even more calming than knitting. Hopefully the collection will be available internationally one day.
    ❤️

  5. It was nice to hear you speak earlier. Happy Birthday!!!! I don’t embroider, but I do cross stitch, which I love. I have completed a few projects that have Afrocentric themes. I was introduced to cross stitching by my sister, she had a kit of a African women holding a small boys hand. I was so intrigued, I had her take me to the store and I purchased the same kit. Cross stitching relaxes and calms me. Although I don’t have a lot of time, I try to find an hour here or there where I can stitch a row or two.

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