L o t t e M a a s
My name is Lotte Maass, an embroider, a psychologist, and a mother. I started @locaporloshilos four years ago. It is a space that offers different embroidery wokshops, based on the classic Crewel technique, but with a contemporary vision.
Each work of art is created by making sure each student explores his/ her own creativity and finds in this activity a moment to relax, and to connect with him/herself.
For me, the most important thing is that the work of embroidery conveys emotions, through the threads I use, the colors, the stitches and designs. That is what motivates me to teach and to to transmit the way in which I see and live this art. I also connect my psychological side to it all.
My works of art always tell a story. I can not embroider just for the fun of it. I believe that that is precisely what makes my art even more special. I just love when each piece of work tells a story, when they have a purpose and meaning of their own, which make them emotionally unique.
Sometimes the pieces of work are very simple, maybe technically they are not so complicated; however, that is exactly what I like the most about them. They reach further, they have more meaning and they continue telling my own story.
A b o u t h e r w o r k
My first mandala. I made it in 2018 and it was very special for me. It took me many months to finish it because it is full of details and I worked very slowly in it, carefully making each needle point special, enjoying every step of the way, giving life to the design and colors as I happily worked on it.
I love embroidering mandalas, as well as drawing them and coloring them, because it is very therapeutical. They are made of circles that represent the composition of the Universe and Nature. So, when you make one, you are creating a unique and special world, with your own colors, designs and images that reflect your emotions and thoughts. Drawing mandalas is very personal and each one is unique and original, just as we are. Besides all the reasons stated above, mandalas are full of magic and they make us feel relaxed. They help us to slow down because when we embroider them, we are repeating the same pattern in circles, we focus all our energy, thoughts and feelings in the making. All these is active meditation. Therefore, I invite you to make mandalas, you will be surprised by how gratifying it can be, besides all the learning involved, because repeating the same pattern over and over, you are actually practising quite a lot.
Geometrical Heart. This work was born with the idea of sharing my art and my knowledge at the beginning of the pandemic, in 2019.
This design gave life to my YouTube channel Marie Maass. The first program of “Let’s Sew Together” came naturally just because I wanted to share a project of art from beginning to end. The idea was to be able to share with others and to keep each other company, from afar, as we all worked on our individual pieces of art. The idea was to be close even though we were far. Anybody could join in, whoever wanted to share his/her own experiences during the quarantine, while we made art and kept each other´s company.
At first it was just going to be a simple video, but then the project turned into my very own YouTube channel. I really never thought I would have one! It was never part of my plans, but it just happened and it turned out to be a wonderful experience that will last the whole year, as there are more and more episodes coming up. Many people participated in this project. I received pictures from all over the world and I felf my objective was accomplished. Somehow I was helping many people and keeping company to many others who were going through rough times in their lives.
I chose the heart as a symbol because it is the trademark of “Loca por los Hilos”. I love embroidering hearts. I feel I multiply love when I make them, so I feel this is the best design to share. Besides, all that, academically speaking,it allowed me to teach through just one type of needle point, show the use of different types of thread, explain how to combine them, how to achieve texture, color, form and much more through just one embroidery, without the need to learn a great amount of needle points.
To Blossom from Within. I started this work of art with the idea of having finished it by march 8th, 2019. It is a tiny type of needle point, wirh many, very small and unique details. It does not have a previous design, I made it and invented it as I went along. I could not finish it for the desired date, it was done some months later. However, it kept me company for a long time and the reason why I started this project in the first place, grew even stronger. It interprets me just as I am as a woman, “To Blossom form Within”. I even wrote a text related to it, with much love.
“Woman, I admire you. I love you. I hug you and I respect you. You are strong and sensitive, you reach different corners of the heart in the search of your own answers. And you never stop, until you find them. You do not let anyone tell you what to do, because you know exactly what needs to be done. Maybe, sometimes you might need a little push, which today, with all honesty, you can give to yourself. When you tremble, there is always someone else to give you that little push and reminds you that you are not alone. We are in this together, and that thought helps you to keep going and give you the strength to achieve your goals. Have faith in yourself. Love yourself! Embrace yourself!
I honestly believe that we are all very powerful women and that we posses extraordinary magic. We shine and we never gloom. We can be whatever we propose ouselves to be, and that today, ever so more than ever. WE LIVE for, and because of, ourselves. I am happy and proud to be a woman and to be raising one.