What Is the Simple Words Series?
Peace is the final piece in my Simple Words series, a collection of hand-embroidered artworks inspired by timeless values: Love, Hope, Faith, and Peace. Each piece in the series is crafted with care using traditional embroidery techniques such as pearl setting, tambour embroidery, and goldwork, blended with a modern, experimental approach. This project celebrates the enduring relevance of these values through intricate designs and expert craftsmanship.
My name is Ksenia Semirova, and I’m a couture embroidery artist based in Hove, UK. I specialize in combining traditional techniques with contemporary design, creating artworks that are deeply personal yet universally meaningful. I began the Simple Words series as a way to explore these universal themes, and now, with your support, I can complete this collection and bring its message to life.
Why This Project Matters
I began the Simple Words series in 2023 as a personal and artistic challenge. As a hand embroidery artist, I set out to achieve several goals:
- Exploring Hand Lettering: Designing and experimenting with styles like vyaz—a traditional script known for its elegance and complexity. All compositions are my original designs.
- Pushing Embroidery Boundaries: Combining traditional techniques such as goldwork, 3D embroidery (trapunto), pearl embroidery, and tambour embroidery, I aimed to push these methods to create something both innovative and grounded in craftsmanship.
- Scaling Up: Each artwork is created on an A4 or A3 format with full coverage, requiring precision and dedication.
This project is deeply personal. Through these artworks, I wanted to deliver messages that often feel forgotten in today’s world:
- Love: Broad, profound, and encompassing all relationships.
- Hope: Both fragile and resilient, symbolized with delicate raffia.
- Faith: As a force that keeps us strong in challenging times.
- Peace: The final piece, a message of harmony and unity, which I hope to create with your support.
The Simple Words series is my way of addressing universal themes through the timeless art of hand embroidery.
What Will Peace Look Like?
The final artwork, Peace, will measure approximately 20x30 cm and feature an elegant oval composition, similar to Love. The color palette will center around shades of white and blue, evoking a sense of tranquility and harmony.
The lettering composition will primarily utilize the traditional Pearl Setting technique, an intricate method within the broader scope of pearl embroidery—a technique I dedicated my MA Textile research to mastering. Authentic shell (mother-of-pearl) beads will be used, staying true to this traditional approach.
The background will feature tambour embroidery with silk and metallic threads, adding depth and richness to the piece. Crystals and glass beads will enhance the design, creating a radiant and refined aesthetic.
For Peace, I want to emphasize tradition over experimentation, paying homage to the timeless beauty of classical embroidery techniques.
How Will the Funds Be Used?
Your support will bring Peace to life and help share it with the world through high-quality rewards. Here’s how the funds will be allocated:
- Labor (40%): Over 40 hours of detailed embroidery work using traditional techniques.
- Materials (30%): Premium materials such as silk threads, shell beads, and crystals.
- Reward Production (20%): Creating professionally crafted postcards, art prints, and framed editions.
- Shipping & Fees (10%): Secure packaging, postage, and Crowdfunder fees.
Why Back This Project?
Backing this project means being part of something meaningful. The Simple Words series is a tribute to timeless values brought to life through a craft that takes patience, skill, and dedication.
In return, I’ve prepared a range of thoughtful rewards:
- Postcards: A set featuring Peace or the complete series.
- Art Prints: High-quality, unframed prints of individual pieces or the full collection.
Every pledge, no matter the size, helps complete this vision. Together, we can bring Peace to life, stitch by stitch. Thank you for your support!
The Process and Timeline
January–February 2025:
The journey begins with raising the funds needed to bring Peace to life. Once the campaign concludes, I’ll immediately start preparing for the next steps, ensuring everything is in place to begin the creative process.
February–March 2025:
During these months, I’ll focus on sourcing premium materials like shell beads and silk threads. Crafting Peace will take over 50 hours of intricate embroidery work, combining traditional techniques with precise attention to detail.
April 2025:
With the embroidery complete, the rewards will be produced, packaged, and shipped with care to ensure they reach you in pristine condition. Each step will be handled thoughtfully to reflect the quality of the project.