Meet Rachel from Crystal Embroidery Co

What has been your creative journey with Crystal Embroidery Co?

I started Crystal Embroidery Co while I was doing my PhD research because I needed a creative outlet. I had an idea to combine hand embroidery with gemstone beads, so I collected some materials and jumped right in to see if I could make it a reality. Immediately when I picked up my first needle, it felt so natural and I felt so drawn to hand embroidery as a medium. I’ve always loved crystals and they acted as my main inspiration for my hand embroidery artworks. I shared my artworks on social media and found an amazing community of creatives and art lovers, many of whom were asking if my artworks were for sale. My small house was quickly filling up with art so I decided to create a small business which has evolved over the years and now includes workshops and DIY kits where I teach others how to make hand embroidery artworks. I love sharing hand embroidery with others as I find it so relaxing and meditative when I’m stitching, especially with my ‘burst’ design which is what I’m most known for.  

Have you explored other mediums?

I love experimenting with different mediums and learning new techniques. In the past I’ve incorporated hand embroidery with watercolour and acrylic paint as well as using a laser engraver to etch designs onto the crystals themselves. Watercolour is a particular favourite as it pairs so nicely with hand embroidery when it flows into the fabric and threads. I have so many more ideas to work with different mediums in my artworks that are just waiting to come into reality in the future. Creating art with resin, dried flowers and crystals is currently at the top of my list.

Tell us about the crystal component of your work?

I find crystals so fascinating. Did you know that the oldest known gemstone was discovered in Western Australia and is about 4.4 billion years old - how cool is that?! Crystals come in so many beautiful colours and each has such a unique energy that comes from the vibration of the crystals atoms. To feel the energy of a crystal, you can hold it in your non-dominant hand (the one you don’t write with) and feel that crystal energy interacting with the energy of your body. I love the science behind crystals and reading up on their chemical compositions as well as the spiritual side of crystals and how they can help us with our own energy and healing. I use crystals as the main inspiration for my artworks and use their colours and forms as the basis for my designs. 

What’s your favourite crystal?

My favourite crystal changes so frequently, but one that I always come back to is Lepidolite. It’s a purple crystal that gets its colour from lithium and the mica that it forms with so it often sparkles when it catches the light. It’s a calming crystal that has a really soft energy so if I’m feeling stressed or nervous I’ll wear my Lepidolite necklace or pop a little tumble stone in my pocket. Another favourite is Labradorite because it looks like a boring old grey rock but when you move it around you can see the flashes of colour hidden inside. The hidden colours can be so vibrant so it’s really magical to see. 

What 3 words would best describe your work?

Unique, bright and crystalline 

What do you aspire to explore creatively in 2022?

Over the past year I’ve been learning new hand embroidery and fibre art techniques with my friends at Thread in Common so I’m excited to incorporate these new techniques into my own artworks. These techniques include 3D hand embroidery techniques such as stump work, beading and ribbon embroidery as well as fibre art techniques such as wet felting. Hand embroidery is a constant learning experience so it’s such a joy to continue evolving my art practice as I learn new skills and techniques. 

Discover more of Crystal Embroidery Co in our Art Directory here