The Magic of Embroidery: How Lady Quintero Turned a Paris Moment into an Award-Winning Piece

Discover how Colombian artist Lady Quintero transformed the inspiration of a bumblebee spotted in Paris’s Parc de Bercy into a unique piece, blending traditional, magical, and stumpwork embroidery techniques—while reflecting on the healing power of creating with your hands.

I’m @ladyautonauta, a Colombian embroiderer passionate about traditional and magical embroidery.
In this project, you’ll see how I finally brought to life a little bee that had been on my to-do list for a while. It’s inspired by a bumblebee I saw one day in a park in Paris—so beautiful and fuzzy that it stayed with me. I took this opportunity to embroider it using magical embroidery techniques combined with stumpwork for the wings.
I invite you to take a look at my creative process behind this little embroidered bee.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your winning embroidery piece?

I once saw this bumblebee in the Parc de Bercy in Paris, and I was struck by its quiet beauty and its dense, almost unreal fur. I watched it for a long time, resting on a flower, completely absorbed in gathering nectar—moving as if it were dancing with time. You can actually spot it in the photo—an unexpected
and precious encounter that stayed with me.

What was your creative process, from the first idea to the final stitch?

Most of the embroidery projects I’ve created begin with a selection of colors that inspire me, followed by a decision on the techniques I want to explore. That’s how this project started too. The process involves several stages, from digital sketching to preparing the materials.
What I find fascinating about embroidery is how it allows me to create across different areas. For example, I draw from color theory, illustration, vector design, and pre-press knowledge. Then comes the hands-on experience with embroidery techniques and materials, as well as the practical work of stitching. Finally, I also prepare the visual documentation of the piece, including photographing the finished project.

What techniques and materials did you use in your project, and why did you choose them? Were there any new stitches, threads, or surfaces you experimented with?

I had recently learned the basics of 3D embroidery, or stumpwork, and wanted to combine it with both magical and traditional embroidery techniques to create the bee. I chose very simple or “basic” embroidery materials. One special and inspiring element was the frame I used for the piece, as well as the organza fabric for the wings, which added a sense of transparency.

Sometimes I save objects or materials and wait for the right project to use them. The frame came from a vintage Royal Paris embroidery kit, and I had been saving it for the moment I’d finally embroider a bee. I've always been a very resourceful person and rarely feel the need to have specific or fancy materials to create what I envision. I try to stay true to myself by doing what I can with what I have — and most of the time, what I have is enough.

Embroidery can be both meditative and technical. How do you balance creativity with precision in your work?

One of the most valuable aspects of learning to embroider for me has been how embroidery time quiets my mind and focuses me on a repetitive process. I find the balance when I let go of any expectations about what I'm creating and simply commit to finishing it. I try not to demand perfection from each stitch, understanding that precision often comes with practice and repetition. Embroidery has helped me set higher standards for myself in terms of how cleanly I want to present a project, especially in terms of its finishing and overall presentation.

What was your biggest challenge while creating your piece, and how did you overcome it? (Whether artistic, technical, or motivational!)

Technically, one of the small challenges was avoiding knots as much as possible while embroidering the wings with chain stitch—I didn’t want any to show through the transparency of the fabric.
On a motivational level, this project taught me the value of trying, even when I’m not feeling emotionally strong. I haven’t been going through the best days lately, and my mood tends to fluctuate. Still, I realized I could choose to move forward and commit to creating this piece, which involved not only embroidery but also documenting the entire process from beginning to end.

I feel this is a special project because embroidery sometimes teaches me to flow—even on the days I feel it the least. That’s why I believe it’s important to recognize embroidery as a form of therapy that genuinely supports my mental well-being.

Your design stood out—what made it unique? Was it the concept, the craftsmanship, the message, or something else?

In my opinion, what made my embroidered bee stand out was the how-to aspect. I tried to be as detailed as possible in explaining the process and supported it with step-by-step photographs. I also feel that using stumpwork gives the piece a more
advanced and striking appearance, even though it's a technique that remains accessible to beginners—like myself.

What do you want people to feel or take away when they look at your work? Is there a particular emotion or idea you aimed to communicate?

Absolutely—and it brings me a wave of nostalgia to recall a phrase I used to hear on Art Attack years ago: You don’t have to be an expert to be a great artist! That’s one of the most valuable lessons embroidery has taught me.
Thread by thread, embroidery has helped me stay in my right mind and create things that move or uplift me. Over the past four years, it has also become a way for me to connect with others by sharing my experiences. I always try to show people just how much they’re capable of creating with their hands, even with just a few basic skills. We all have the potential to make something—and if embroidery becomes a tool to grow, to refine our practice, or simply to take care of ourselves, then it’s already a beautiful success.

How has your approach to embroidery evolved, and where do you see it going next? Are there any techniques or themes you’re excited to explore in the future?

I do see progress in my practice, but I still feel very young in the world of embroidery—far from claiming that I know it all or that I’m an expert in any specific technique. What I do know for sure is that I’m constantly learning, and that’s a core part of who I am. I’ve always considered myself a lifelong student, especially when it comes to what inspires me or sparks my curiosity.

I have a clear intention to one day attend a formal school to strengthen and validate my knowledge further. I want to keep studying other techniques that interest me, because ever since I discovered I had a talent for creating with my hands, I knew I wanted to keep using them to bring things to life.

What advice would you give someone just getting started with embroidery? Especially for those who want to turn it into an expressive or artistic practice.

It’s something I’d like to remind myself of too, because I often forget: everything takes time. In this era where immediacy is present in nearly everything we do, we should try to seek what’s essential—taking our time.
Patience comes with that. Embroidery is about time and presence—being here and now. It’s a form of mindfulness, and it’s something we build gradually. At first, we often want fast, perfect results, but with practice, we begin to understand that those come slowly, shaped by the amount of time and care we invest.

So, I’d tell myself—and you—take your time. It’s not a race.

Finally, what does winning this contest mean to you as an artist? How has it impacted your confidence, motivation, or creative journey?

It’s a beautiful surprise—a gift from life and a recognition of my work. This path hasn’t been easy for me. Embroidery came into my life during a major transition, not just as a craft, but as a way to reaffirm myself as a person, especially during the change of country I was going through. For many years, I’ve questioned who I am based on what I do for a living, rather than who I am at my core. I’ve been hard on myself, weighed down by frustration and the doubts others have projected onto me. So receiving this recognition feels like a message: I must have done something right.

And for that, I’m deeply grateful to the version of myself from 2021—the woman who was feeling lost and sad in a new country, unsure of what to do, but who still decided to pick up a needle and start embroidering.

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Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, your story and your stitches matter. Share your work, connect with a community of makers, and let your creativity take flight. Stay tuned for upcoming challenges and don’t miss your chance to be featured!