I started this mandala a few weeks ago, and it’s been taking a long time to finish, only completed yesterday. Not entirely sure if I like it or not - definitely falls into the “weird” category. Tons of little tangles, some knots, and shading using brown inks again.
Here is a short step-out:
And here are some other views for you to inspect:
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Remember that all images are Copyright Eni Oken.
This burgundy purse is piece #20 in a long line of embroidered purses. First I create the patch over a sandwich of fabric collage and after completed, attach it to fabric purses.
Since November of 2025 I’ve been making patches and attaching them to fabric purses. Here are a few of the many that I have already made.
This is a large embroidered floral patch, measuring about 9x9 inches. I haven’t found a home for it yet, but hope that soon it will embellish a purse or jacket.
Here you can see an intuitive embroidery that I made for a friend, I attached it to the back of a denim jacket.
Here you can see an embroidery that I made for the front panel of a purse, measuring more or less 9x10 inches. I love the big flowers, inspired by passion fruit flowers.
I embroidered freeform over a piece of fabric taken from a dress that no longer fit me but still had a lot of meaning.
I’m so pleased with this beautiful mandala I made using a stencil by Kathryn Costa (Four Gates Mandala). I mixed two techniques: 1) painting with Pitt artist brush pens and Inktense pencils and 2) embroidering on paper. Very very fun to make!
I’m still enjoying making these mini needlepoints, I might use them as patches to embellish purses or totes. I’m finding the similarities with Zentangle fascinating: repetitive patterns, intuitive and meditative method (in this type of counted design), small size canvas, portability and unexpected results. Fun!
Continuing with some canvaswork needlepoint. This little one measures less than 3x3 inches over aida canvas, but I’ll use interlock from now on. The stitches are getting a bit more regular and even, it’s just a matter of practice. I love using gold thread over the colors, it create a nice metallic glint that is difficult to capture in the photo.
For the last 8 months or so I’ve been embroidering over fabrics. This is a dress that I upcycled with two hand embroidered panels.