Background · Concept · Research · Ideation · Execution · Reflection

The Small Series holds a much deeper meaning than it might initially seem. I created this collection of contemporary architectural embroidery pieces with the hope of promoting mindfulness in everyday life.

Final Small Series Collection ✦ MyKat Photography

Background

I launched Bridging Canvas in June 2022 with the idea of creating digital embroidery patterns, embroidery kits, and commissions. However, after spending many hours working on digital patterns, I found them to be time-consuming and limiting my creativity.

As an artist, I wanted to create something more fulfilling. So I decided to sell original pieces as a part of a series instead. I feel excited to move forward with this new concept and pick a direction for my next series.

Concept

Mindfulness is a core value of my brand. I wanted to create something that would encourage people to be more mindful in their everyday lives. Living in a city like Chicago, it's easy to overlook the beauty of the architecture. Every building has unique details that showcase the incredible craftsmanship.

Sometimes these details are so small that you have to stop and really look at the buildings to appreciate them. This is where the Small Series comes in. When you zoom in on a photo or even in real life, you might be surprised by what you find. I wanted to showcase these small details on iconic buildings that often go unnoticed.

Research

My research goal was to learn more about the building itself and identify its highlighted features. As a history enthusiast, I love to find ways to connect with my subject, so I focused on iconic buildings. For each building, I created mood boards that captured their many details.

Some buildings, like the Target on State St, had so many angles and small details that it was hard to choose from. I kept my mood boards open so that I could narrow down the subject during the ideation phase.

Small Series Moodboard — Moodboard in Figma

Ideation

The goal of this phase was to answer this question:

Is this idea “embroider-able?”

Most of the time, the answer was no 😂 However, I wanted to challenge myself by making pieces outside of my comfort zone. To answer our original question:

I sketched individual components relative to the embroidery size.
I tested out techniques and stitches on scrap fabric.

This process helped me translate what I saw in my reference picture to embroidery, little by little. Once I figured out what was possible from an embroidery aspect, I wanted each piece to showcase a different style. In hindsight, I wish I had chosen a cohesive style so that the collection would stand strong as a whole.