Spotlight: Megan Zaniewski, Stumpwork Embroidery Artist

Megan Zaniewski was exposed to embroidery and other fiber arts at a young age. She finds time most days for some stitching. Inspired by the outdoors, she creates three dimensional stumpwork embroidery art.

How did you get started with thread work and embroidery? Always an artist, or was there a “moment”?

My mom and grandmother both enjoyed needlework, sewing, quilting, and all-things textiles. I was exposed at an early age to embroidery through a few kits and small projects.

I didn’t pick it up as a regular hobby until my oldest daughter was born (about 10 years ago), but the nostalgia was immediate and I fell in love with it. I’ve found time to embroider – even if just for a few minutes – almost every day since then.  

Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?

I find a lot of inspiration in my own backyard and exploring the natural areas around me. I currently live on the Gulf Coast and it’s an amazing source of inspiration with its diverse flora and fauna. We hike a lot, visit the beach and nearby parks, and just spend a lot of time outdoors as a family, so there are plenty of opportunities to observe the natural world.

What is the most important takeaway you want readers to gain from your new book, Stumpwork Embroidery & Thread Painting?

The most important takeaway I want readers to gain is feeling comfortable and confident to try new techniques and explore how they can make them work for their own projects beyond the book.

I think often, even for experienced embroiderers, the “wow!” effect of stumpwork embroidery makes it appear too difficult or even intimidating to learn. And I think a lot of people who are interested in 3D embroidery feel unsure of where to start.

I want stumpwork to feel approachable, so I wrote Stumpwork Embroidery and Thread Painting to help guide readers of all skill levels through a few of the most effective and commonly used stumpwork techniques in an easy-to-follow way.

The 15 animal and botanical patterns in the book have step-by-step directions with photos to help explain and show the techniques clearly. Readers will learn how to apply these techniques to creating decor pieces and accessories like jewelry, tote bags, and clothing.

The book also teaches a few tried-and-true methods for designing harmonious compositions and color palettes, so readers can apply the stumpwork and threadpainting techniques they’ve learned to creating their own 3-dimensional patterns.

When it comes to creating, are you more of a planner or an improviser?

I am definitely an improviser. Other than an outline of the design, I often don’t have a concrete plan for how I’m going to make a project when I begin working on it.

I like to explore solutions and different materials as I am working through the design to see what works best. I go through a lot of trial and error before the piece is complete.

Do you use a sketchbook or journal? How does that help your work develop?

I keep a sketchbook of simple doodles and sketches that I add to almost daily. A lot of these designs never become finished embroideries, but occasionally when I’m lacking inspiration I find it helpful to go back and revisit some of these ideas and see if there is something there that will spark my interest.

What plays in the background while you work? Silence? Music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies? If so, what kind?

I’m a big audiobook fan. I mostly listen to fiction because it’s fun to escape into other worlds and stories while I’m creating. 

How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?

I always have a project going and they can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks to complete. I love to be absorbed in the process of creating and tend to focus on tiny details, so I’m definitely a one-project-at-a-time type of person.

I always start by drawing a digital pattern (usually on Procreate so I can easily print and transfer to fabric, adjusting the scale as needed), and then I decide on the type of framing and fabric background I want to use. Color guides and color wheels are a great help at this stage. 

Which part of the design process is your favorite? Which part is a challenge for you?

While I love all the preparation that precedes a project (designing, fabric and thread selection, framing selection, etc), the simple act of stitching is hands-down my favorite part of the process. It’s so meditative and rewarding to work on a project for hours and see it slowly emerge and come to life, stitch by stitch.

My least favorite part of the process that I find most challenging is framing the piece once it’s finished. It’s sometimes hard to find the motivation to get through the tedious and technical finishing process, but the hard work is always worth it in the end when you have a piece that you can display proudly.  

Is there an overarching theme that connects all of your work?

I think nature is the common thread between most of my pieces. It’s my biggest source of inspiration and the majority of my pieces feature some natural element, whether its plant, animal, or even mineral.

How is your work different than it was in the beginning? How is it the same?

At the beginning, I had young children and less time or space to devote to embroidery, so my pieces were small and simple designs that could be completed in a few days. Now, I have more experience, a dedicated studio space, and the time to work on large detailed pieces so my work has grown considerably in scale and detail. 

Do you think that creativity is part of human nature or is it something that must be nurtured and learned?

I think creativity is innate, but it manifests in different ways. We often associate creativity with visual and tangible art forms, conflating creativity with artistic ability, so people are often quick to dismiss their creativity.

But creativity can be expressed in the simplest ways. Trying new things is the foundation of creativity and I think we all do that in some capacity in our daily lives. 

How have other people supported or inspired you?

I love the work of embroidery artists like Chloe Giordano, Danielle Clough, Michelle Kingdom, Cecile Davidovici, Emillie Ferris, and Michelle Staub. Their incredibly beautiful and detailed threadpaintings have broadened my view of what can be achieved with the simple and humble needle and thread. 

Where can people see your work?

I share all my work to Facebook and Instagram @megembroiders , and I sell my work through Etsy.

www.instagram.com/megembroiders
www.etsy.com/shop/megembroiders
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080318015480

Interview posted January 2024