story by Lily Hart

What items do you make for your Etsy store?

I make embroideries. So I make signs or images on hoops that are on fabric, and sometimes I embroider bags, and I’ve done bandanas and things like that, too.

What is your Etsy store called and why did you choose this name?

It’s called Midtown Modern KC because I had a blog that was that name and my blog was a house blog where I would show my husband and I’s renovations for our house and I just ended up going with that name.

What made you want to start this store?

I got people who reached out to me asking if they could buy my stuff and so I figured, well, why not start a store? I did not [study art], I just have always done it. It’s been my creative outlet. I’m coming up on a year [of having the store.]

How did you get into embroidery?

I just saw it and decided I wanted to do it. I was looking for a new art form that was easily travelable because last Christmas I was going down to Arizona to visit my in-laws and I love doing art. I knew I couldn’t bring paint with me on the plane– How would I do that? So, I figured out that I could do something like this and that would be fun.

Do you get a lot of orders?

Yeah, I get a steady stream. It’s about two to three orders a month which is pretty good, especially considering it can take me like a week to do. I’m trying not to have too many orders, especially with AP US History– it takes up so much of my time. I had quite a few in the spring of last year but I had a little bit more time and now I don’t.

Do you get orders from all over the country or mostly people that are your friends?

Oh, all over the country. I sold one to Puerto Rico, which was cool. It was crazy, I was like ‘Why Puerto Rico? How did you find me?’ But yeah, all over. I just sent one to Chicago last week. I’ve made a custom piece for Ms. O’Flaherty. She has one that says ‘Empowered women empower women.’ I love feminist pieces.

photos by Olivia Wirtz

Gallery • 4 Photos

History teacher Anne Papineau sits on her couch while working on an embroidery project Nov. 28. Papineau sells embroideries and other handmade art on her Etsy store, “Midtown Modern KC.” photo by Olivia Wirtz

What usually inspires your pieces?

When I get angry about politics I go into embroidering and getting out my frustration that way. Right now I’m doing a series of landscapes which are kind of fun. I do calligraphy as well, and I have a sign up on my wall for the past like two or three years that said “Be kinder than you feel” so I just felt like I’m going to do something a little more permanent with that. It’s just good reminders or mantras or personalized things like that.

Your Etsy store is currently on a break because you’ve hit your maximum, is that the two or three orders a month that you do?

Yeah and it’s when I’ve hit the point that I’m overloaded, it’s too much stuff, especially knowing that I’m going to have to grade 74 essays from [AP US History], knowing where my stress level hits its maximum and knowing that I can’t get that done in time.

All the comments and reviews are just amazing, how does that make you feel?

People are so nice and they’ve been so kind about it. I had not expected such support nor did I expect to be so decent at it because I haven’t gotten any formal training, so it was just me figuring out stitches on my own and the Instagram community for embroidery is awesome. There’s so many great embroidery artists that I follow and I see their tips and all that kind of stuff so that really helps. But people have been amazing and it makes me feel really good.

What are some long-term goals you have for your business or is it more of a hobby?

It’s just a hobby that I do because I just love creating. I love tactile art. I used to do weavings but those took so long so instead I turned to embroidery but it’s just a creative outlet for me and it may as well go to someone and I may as well get paid for it if I’m doing something with my time.