Florence
MISTY GRAY HANDBAG INSPIRED BY THE SLEEK SHAPES OF ART NOUVEAU ERA
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Delilah
VELVET BAG WITH A SILVER “CRACK” OR JAGGED LINE OF EMBROIDERY
Jacqueline
A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO ANY OUTFIT THAT NEEDS TO REFLECT OPULENCE
Neia
TINY CIRCULAR PURSE OF LIGHT GREEN VELVET WITH PURPLE TASSEL
Adelaide
PINK AND PRETTY HANDBAG WITH A ROCOCO WHIMSY
Agatha
A STATEMENT PIECE OF OLD-WORLD STYLE
Constance
A UNIQUE GOLDEN BAG OFFERING OPULENCE AND GRANDEUR
Poline
BLUE AND WHITE BAG INSPIRED BY GZHEL CERAMICS
Inspiration
OLD TIMES
Since childhood, my favorite films have been historical ones. Those films were full of amazing architecture, exquisite outfits and wonderful jewelry. It always amazed me how people could have had ideas like this. How did they create them and why is everything so plain nowadays?
I dreamed of being the owner of a fabulous historical dress, a luxurious jewel. Ever since my earlier years this desire prompted me to create unusual costumes and accessories that would make me stand out from the crowd and reflect the characters from those very historical films. And here I am. I still love to create things that seem not from this age, things which children may discover many years in the future and be fascinated by them. Perhaps I have achieved more than I could have ever dreamed of; instead of just being the owner of "antiques", I have become their creator.
PAINTINGS
While studying fashion design, I started a course in the history of art. We had an incredible teacher who adored her subject. She managed to awaken in us such a passion for art that the first place I went on vacation was the Hermitage. Since then, researching paintings has not only given me useful knowledge of composition, color combinations and techniques, but has also become a huge source of inspiration for me.
My favorite pieces
01
1767
THE SWING
JEAN-HONORE FRAGONARD
02
1900
OPHELIA
FRIEDRICH HEYSER
03
1880
Moonlit night on the Dnieper
ARKHIP KUINDZHI
04
1876
SADKO
ILYA REPIN
GLASS BEADS
I mainly use Japanese toho beads, renowned for being the best choice for jewelry makers. They don’t lose color or shine and legend says that they can be washed (this is just a legend, do not wash your handbag yourself). I also like to use Czech "preciosa" beads for their variety of color and shapes and, when I'm very lucky, vintage beads may also occur in my embroidery.
01
Materials
The handbag must be created with excellence and precision in order to serve you for a long time. In addition, the bag must be made from high quality materials. These materials are expensive but they will not lose color or fade and the final product looks exactly as I envisioned it.
CRYSTALS
Crystals grant the work a special chic, but in order for them to sparkle beautifully, they must be of high quality and have many facets for the crystal to reflect the light beautifully.
02
GOLDEN THREADS
The appearance of gold and silver threads is hard to describe, it must be seen! I like to use them a lot in my goldwork embroideries. I consider Japanese threads to be of the highest quality, found in different shades as well as different textures.
03
PEARLS
Pearls make any embroidery look delicate and romantic. There is something royal about them, and a lot of aristocrats liked to add them to their accessories.
04
Toho, Miyuki, Preciosa
HIGH QUALITY GLASS BEADS
SEQUINS
Sequins are not the most frequent guest of my embroideries, but sometimes I like to dilute my work with them. In this case, French and Italian sequins are a must-have.
05
FRENCH WIRE
Have you seen the very beautiful golden ornaments on old military uniforms or ceremonial dresses? Such work requires a lot of time and very fragile material is used - the French wire. They come in different sizes and finishes: bullion, soft, rough and pearl. In my embroideries, I use mostly gold and silver colors, since other beautifully-colored wires can fade with time.
06
07 SILK THREAD Au Ver A Soie
08 GOLD THREAD Au Ver A Soie
09 TOHO THREAD One G
Techniques
There are artists who rely on the presence of a muse. I have managed to avoid this by cultivating my craft through study and long practice. From the very beginning, I wanted to lay the beads beautifully. Sometimes it worked well and sometimes it didn't, but any failures became valuable experience. Learning from other artists and developing my experience, I learned how to combine different materials with each other. New knowledge allowed me to use new techniques in my work, and to this day I am extremely fascinated with starting a new project and trying something new.
Here you can read a little more about the techniques that I've learned on my embroidery journey:
LUNEVILLE EMBROIDERY IS ORIGINATING FROM TOWN "Luneville", FRANCE AROUND 1800
LUNEVILLE
Besides satin stitch embroidery, I mastered the technique of Luneville embroidery. This requires a special hook (wooden handle and hook needle at the end) that is a pleasure to work with. This tool is used in French Haute Couture Embroidery. This technique allows you to quickly sew on beads/sequins and beautifully fill the areas with chain stitch.
ICON
AN ICON (FROM ANCIENT GREEK 'IMAGE, RESEMBLANCE') IS A RELIGIOUS WORK OF ART, MOST COMMONLY A PAINTING, IN THE CULTURES OF THE EASTERN ORTHODOX, ORIENTAL ORTHODOX, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC, AND CERTAIN EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCHES. THEY ARE NOT SIMPLY ARTWORKS; "AN ICON IS A SACRED IMAGE USED IN RELIGIOUS DEVOTION".
GOLDWORK
GOLDWORK IS THE ART OF EMBROIDERY USING METAL THREADS. DATING BACK OVER 1000 YEARS, WITH ITS ROOTS IN RELIGIOUS AND ROYAL EMBROIDERY, GOLDWORK HAS A LUXURIOUS AND OPULENT QUALITY
Being a big fan of such styles as baroque, rococo and empire, I really wanted to learn goldwork embroidery. What is the best way to learn embroidering with gold? Start a work that is full of gold. By the time, I was thinking about a gift for my grandmother for Christmas and I wanted to do something with my own hands. And that's how the idea to embroider an Orthodox icon was born. The Orthodox Church does not hesitate to use gold in their churches and icons, and for me it was the perfect project.
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TOHO SEED BEAD 15/0
MIYUKI TWISTED BUGLE 15 MM MATTE BLACK
BLACK AND SILVER "Rondelle"
MIYUKI BUGLE 6 MM BLACK
A beaded button with fringe for a beret
BEADING
The hobby which began during my childhood allows me to create extraordinary handbags. I have a special love for tassels and like to make them a special accent in my works. In order to avoid covering the head of the tassel with factory caps, I prefer to weave them myself. It's these little things that make the piece special and unique. Later, I decided to bead handles and I really loved the result. Now, rather than being a simple chain, the handle is a part of the complete handbag composition.
Hello,
My name is Karina and I am delighted to see you here! I am a couture bag designer in Estonia, a picturesque landscape within Europe overlooking the Baltic Sea. I am here to help you fall in love with the amazing world of embroidered bags, which will highlight your ensemble as they accompany you on your special and formal events.
Are you a bride looking for a unique accessory? A wedding guest? Perhaps you have been dreaming about discovering a special item for your wardrobe?
I am sure that you will be amazed by what a piece of luxurious fabric, delicate glass beads and a touch of talent and love can create.
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