Michelle Galletta in on a mission: to teach you how to embroider your own delightful toys. A printmaking graduate from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Galletta launched her brand, Kiriki Press, after she wanted to make her niece a cute embroidered doll but couldn’t find a pattern anywhere.
“I couldn’t afford to buy her anything, but I hoped to make up for it with my time,” she explains on her website. And so, she decided to take on embroidery. But learning how to embroider was one thing. Finding contemporary embroidery patterns that weren’t overly simplistic, let alone embroidered doll patterns, was a whole other ball game.
As she was making her own version of embroidered owls for her niece, Galletta soon discovered its calming, meditative effect. She became fascinated with embroidery: the vibrant colors, the countless variety of stitches, and the joy of crafting.
Now, after several years of improving her skills, she hopes to pass on her knowledge to others. Her brand produces DIY. embroidery kits, screenprints, and other goodies. “It was developed in the hopes of giving others the chance to make something precious with their own hands,” writes Galletta. A good enough reason, if any.
But which of her designs would you choose to make for yourself?
