“Something I Made” was created in 2009 and has captured the hearts of over 2.9 million people worldwide! Among its many admirers are Karla and Fabricio, a Brazilian couple who decided to leave their regular full-time jobs to start the Rebordação project in Lisbon, Portugal. They create modern and unapologetic embroideries, and one of their pieces made it onto this list! You can also find Rebordação's work featured on Bored Panda - check them out by clicking here and here.

We got in touch with the artists to learn all about embroidery and the inspiration behind their beautiful work. Keep scrolling to read the full interview!

“Embroidery is common in our homeland, and we both learned the basics as kids,” Karla and Fabricio shared. “We have always been passionate about this art form. When we started this project (Rebordação), our goal was to avoid traditional ‘grandma’ motifs like flowers and nature scenes. Right from the beginning, we aimed to embroider fun, subversive, and thought-provoking pieces, using irony and sarcasm to express our perspectives.”

If you take a look at Rebordação’s embroideries, you'll see that they’re unlike the usual grandma-style ornaments. Their creations are truly unique and stand out with a special touch of creativity. The artists shared that their inspiration mainly comes from the 'daily dramas,' which they find to be relatable to many people. “We also draw a lot of inspiration from pop culture, memes, and political cartoons,” Karla and Fabricio added.

While Rebordação’s embroideries are unconventional, the artists are trying to strike a balance between preserving traditional embroidery techniques and incorporating innovative ideas into their work. They do so by embracing experimentation without disregarding the timeless lessons of classic embroidery. “While we may incorporate techniques like watercolors into our pieces, our goal is for our art to be recognized as embroidery with a modern twist, not simply as 'something' with embroidery elements.”

Embroidery is an ancient craft that still matters a lot today. According to Rebordação, it holds a unique significance in today's world. “Embroidery stands out due to its unique medium. The time and attention to detail give more significance to the message or art we want to convey. For instance, we feel that an embroidered phrase carries more 'weight' than a printed one.” As for the future, the artists are confident that this art form will endure. “We see more people taking up embroidery, and other artists incorporating it into mixed media pieces. In a world where everyone seeks speed and immediacy, embroidery offers a breath of fresh air, a moment to slow down and say, ‘Wait, let me take my time.’”

For those who want to start embroidering, Karla and Fabricio have some advice for you! “Get familiar with the materials and first learn the backstitch. This stitch is simple and highly versatile, allowing you to create various things, which is extremely motivating for beginners. And remember, you're not a robot or a machine; imperfections are what make each handmade work unique.”

Take a look at Rebordação's beautiful handmade embroideries on Instagram! If you love their captivating creations and want to have one (or more) for yourself, good news! You can buy them on Etsy!