This piece is inspired by the Romanian proverb ‘A-ți lua inima în dinți’, meaning brave forward despite fear. I started this piece when I was angry and scared at what I was seeing around me. I felt like I had so little control, and I decided to make myself a talisman, something to protect me but also give me strength to keep going.
Here I use embroidery as a means of everyday resistance—using what is to hand to make a statement. I chose cross-stitch as it is an accessible form of embroidery, one that does not take as much skill or dexterity as some other stitches may, and is used by many traditions around the world. By choosing a craft practice that is relatively accessible, I hope to inspire viewers to perhaps pick up a needle and thread themselves. Cross-stitch can be very meditative, healing the spirit and mind while you work.
I chose traditional Romanian motifs to support the central text, adapting those that may not have been created using cross-stitch. Framing the text, Wolf’s fang teeth are protection against dark spirits. In the top right, Bird Feathers refer to the flight of the spirit and the bird goddess, but when rotated it also evoked anti-fascist symbolism. Bottom right, the Comb is for the weeding out of evil. And in the bottom left, the Star shines on the bright path ahead.
Below is a photo of the draft pattern I sketched.
If you want to stitch your own, you can find a PDF of the pattern at this link: Single Page HYHIYT pattern.pdf
