creative highlight
MEMBER from our community
TAYLOR SPRINGS
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I’m Taylor Springs, the hand embroidery artist behind Works of Grace Co. I have always been creative at heart, but it wasn’t until I placed my faith in Jesus that I viewed my creativity as an act of worship. Hand embroidery has been my main creative outlet since 2018, and I opened my Etsy shop in September of 2019. When I’m not stitching away in my little studio, you can find me in the garden or heading out on a walk with my family. I’ve been happily married to my husband, Seth, for 8 years now. Together we serve as church planters with the North American Mission Board in the Metro-Detroit area. I absolutely love serving the Lord alongside my husband and seeing lives transformed by the Gospel! We have 3 children, two precious little girls and a beautiful boy who joined our family through foster care earlier this year. Whether I am stitching, serving our community, or washing dirty little faces, my goal is to do it all to the Glory of God.
Instagram: @worksofgraceco
Facebook: @worksofgraceco
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/worksofgraceco
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @worksofgraceco
Facebook: @worksofgraceco
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/worksofgraceco
Email: [email protected]
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
I can remember my grandmother teaching me to sew around age 5. We sewed quilt squares together by hand. I had my very first sewing machine by the time I was 9 because both of my grandmothers fostered a love for the fiber arts in my heart. I have always loved to watch them create the most beautiful afghans, quilts, and scarves and they are so generous in their knowledge. Those early years of sewing inspired me to never be afraid to learn a new craft!
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
As a young girl, I wanted to be a fashion designer, so I thought that someday I might sell my creations. What is most humbling to me is that others are willing to spend their money on my hand embroidered goods, and that others see my art and are drawn to it.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don't find themselves in a creative background or field? Like family/friends/strangers?
Traditionally, hand embroidery is seen as “women’s work” so I find it disappointing when others don’t value my work or see it as “real” art because it’s made with a needle and thread. My favorite way to explain hand embroidery is that it’s just like painting, only my brush is the needle and my paint is the thread.
I can remember my grandmother teaching me to sew around age 5. We sewed quilt squares together by hand. I had my very first sewing machine by the time I was 9 because both of my grandmothers fostered a love for the fiber arts in my heart. I have always loved to watch them create the most beautiful afghans, quilts, and scarves and they are so generous in their knowledge. Those early years of sewing inspired me to never be afraid to learn a new craft!
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
As a young girl, I wanted to be a fashion designer, so I thought that someday I might sell my creations. What is most humbling to me is that others are willing to spend their money on my hand embroidered goods, and that others see my art and are drawn to it.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don't find themselves in a creative background or field? Like family/friends/strangers?
Traditionally, hand embroidery is seen as “women’s work” so I find it disappointing when others don’t value my work or see it as “real” art because it’s made with a needle and thread. My favorite way to explain hand embroidery is that it’s just like painting, only my brush is the needle and my paint is the thread.
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
My creative time usually flows out of my time with the Lord. I am a very visual person, so when I am reading the Word of God it comes to life in my mind. It’s almost as if the Lord illustrates His Word in my mind and as I’m in the Bible. I might also be sketching out new embroidery inspired by the scripture I just read. Then while I am creating, my art ushers me into the presence of God as I reflect on the inspiration behind what I am stitching. Creative time and encountering the Lord go hand in hand in my walk with Him.
Is there more than one creative outlet for you? Do they all come together or totally separate?
I most enjoy hand embroidery and watercolor, so you will see a mix of both in my work. Last year I began experimenting with watercolor painting on fabric and then embroidering the details. I found it produces such a delicate piece of art while fulfilling my love for both of these art forms.
Are others in your family creative too?
My grandmother is an avid crocheter, and she recently made me a granny square afghan where the squares are sunflowers. It’s absolutely amazing. She is so talented and dedicated to her craft! Also, my sister is an incredible artist. She draws and paints the most incredible pieces. She just turned 16, and I can’t wait to see how her art grows with her!
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I’m in a busy season of motherhood; our children are all 5 and younger so they fill most of my day. I have felt God calling me to scale back a little on my art, taking more time on each piece I create and being really intentional on worshipping Him through my creativity. As a creative who sells her art, it can be tempting to want to crank out as many pieces as possible to get a greater profit, but that’s not what this is about for me. I want the many hours I spend stitching to also be hours I spend at the feet of Jesus, and I believe that is what Jesus wants too. I also hope that my finished pieces illuminate something about the Lord to those seeing it, causing others to worship Him.
How did you become productive and abundant in your artwork/and where do you see it going from here?
Lists are a huge part of my productivity. Every week I have a list of things I want to accomplish for my embroidery work, starting with most important to least important. I think it's the self-accountability and satisfaction of checking items off a list that motivates me. I would love to see the Works of Grace Co. shop steadily growing, offering more embroidery kits and I would love to teach in person workshops soon! One of my most selfish desires for my work is to have the opportunity to create a larger scale installation in an art gallery or maybe even a store front. Who knows, I’m just taking it one day at a time and following God’s lead!
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
I’d encourage you to do your research. I sell on Etsy, so I am always reading the material Etsy puts out to help sellers and researching market trends, taking courses to learn SEO, and I google everything. We live in the age of information overload, so Google is your best friend. Also, if you are on social media, find a community of like-minded creatives, create a group chat and use that to bounce ideas and questions off one another. I’m a part of a few of these chats on Instagram and it is so encouraging to have others doing similar things to chat with.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Comparison truly is the thief of joy. When I focus on being creative for the sake of glorifying the Lord, I tend to worry less about how “successful” similar artists are in comparison to me. God has made us all beautifully different and gifted us uniquely; there is no sense in comparing apples to oranges.
My creative time usually flows out of my time with the Lord. I am a very visual person, so when I am reading the Word of God it comes to life in my mind. It’s almost as if the Lord illustrates His Word in my mind and as I’m in the Bible. I might also be sketching out new embroidery inspired by the scripture I just read. Then while I am creating, my art ushers me into the presence of God as I reflect on the inspiration behind what I am stitching. Creative time and encountering the Lord go hand in hand in my walk with Him.
Is there more than one creative outlet for you? Do they all come together or totally separate?
I most enjoy hand embroidery and watercolor, so you will see a mix of both in my work. Last year I began experimenting with watercolor painting on fabric and then embroidering the details. I found it produces such a delicate piece of art while fulfilling my love for both of these art forms.
Are others in your family creative too?
My grandmother is an avid crocheter, and she recently made me a granny square afghan where the squares are sunflowers. It’s absolutely amazing. She is so talented and dedicated to her craft! Also, my sister is an incredible artist. She draws and paints the most incredible pieces. She just turned 16, and I can’t wait to see how her art grows with her!
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I’m in a busy season of motherhood; our children are all 5 and younger so they fill most of my day. I have felt God calling me to scale back a little on my art, taking more time on each piece I create and being really intentional on worshipping Him through my creativity. As a creative who sells her art, it can be tempting to want to crank out as many pieces as possible to get a greater profit, but that’s not what this is about for me. I want the many hours I spend stitching to also be hours I spend at the feet of Jesus, and I believe that is what Jesus wants too. I also hope that my finished pieces illuminate something about the Lord to those seeing it, causing others to worship Him.
How did you become productive and abundant in your artwork/and where do you see it going from here?
Lists are a huge part of my productivity. Every week I have a list of things I want to accomplish for my embroidery work, starting with most important to least important. I think it's the self-accountability and satisfaction of checking items off a list that motivates me. I would love to see the Works of Grace Co. shop steadily growing, offering more embroidery kits and I would love to teach in person workshops soon! One of my most selfish desires for my work is to have the opportunity to create a larger scale installation in an art gallery or maybe even a store front. Who knows, I’m just taking it one day at a time and following God’s lead!
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
I’d encourage you to do your research. I sell on Etsy, so I am always reading the material Etsy puts out to help sellers and researching market trends, taking courses to learn SEO, and I google everything. We live in the age of information overload, so Google is your best friend. Also, if you are on social media, find a community of like-minded creatives, create a group chat and use that to bounce ideas and questions off one another. I’m a part of a few of these chats on Instagram and it is so encouraging to have others doing similar things to chat with.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Comparison truly is the thief of joy. When I focus on being creative for the sake of glorifying the Lord, I tend to worry less about how “successful” similar artists are in comparison to me. God has made us all beautifully different and gifted us uniquely; there is no sense in comparing apples to oranges.