Kristen Gula, professional embroidery artist and Instagram star, is making her way to the Vail Valley, and she’s bringing her talents with her.
On Friday and Saturday, Gula will be teaching workshops on embroidery art at Maker + Stitch in Edwards. The workshop, titled “Learn Modern Floral Hand Embroidery with Kristen Gula,” will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The trip to Colorado is one of many traveling workshops that Gula teaches, previously hosting one in Toronto. Gula has run her own company, Gulush Threads, since 2013.
The workshop will cover the process and techniques of embroidery, teaching stitches for roughly two hours. Participants will be allowed to pick their own design, fabric and stitches.
“I’ll give (participants) skills, and instill them with the capability to embroider,” Gula said.
More specifically, the workshop will cover pattern transfer, sever or eight stitches, beginner skills (such as starting a needle and tieing up the ends). The class will also include more advanced lessons, like using a punch needle and needle felting.
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“I’ll be talking about modern embroidery, look at something and seeing how you can make art out of it,” said Gula.
Gula’s career took off after taking up embroidery as a hobby. While searching for a job, preparing for her wedding, acting as a stay-at-home mom and fighting major anxiety and depression, Gulush chose to take a unique approach to the art.
“Embroidery is considered very kitsch and vintage-looking,” Gula said. “Instead of using 200 different stitches, I focus on eight or nine. I paint with thread—it’s like filling in a coloring book, but with thread.”
After making a few pieces for friends, she chose to start selling her work and posting it online. She was among the first to pick up this new technique, and her Instagram profile blew up, earning her 92,000 followers, and her recently-launched YouTube channel already has 600 subscribers, with sponsorships in the works.
“I didn’t expect it to happen like that,” Gula said of her career. “I feel very grateful.”
Tickets for the workshop cost $100 and can be purchased at http://www.makerandstitch.com.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Nate Day can be reached at nday@vaildaily.com or 970-748-2932.
IF YOU GO …
What: Learn Modern Floral Hand Embroidery with Kristen Gulush.
When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Maker + Stitch in Edwards.
Cost: $100.
Tickets: http://www.makerandstitch.com.
