José Luiz Moreira interview

Today I am interviewing José Luiz Moreira, a 48-year-old web designer from Lisbon, Portugal. José recently started embroidering. It just goes to show once again … you can learn embroidery at any age! In his embroidery, José explores the theme of “the divine masculine.” This spiritual term answers the question “who or what is the man?” A very special embroidery theme! I asked José about his sources of inspiration, his must-haves and his favorite embroidery artists.

1. Tell me a little about yourself!

I am José Luiz Moreira from Lisbon, Portugal. I am also known as mr. Embro. I am 48 years old, married with four children. I have a degree in Graphic Design, and I work as a web designer at a media company.

2. How and/or why did you start embroidering?

There was embroidery in my family. My mother worked with cross stitches, and my mother-in-law made traditional Portuguese embroidery. She once gave me an embroidery piece as a gift. It was a framed, traditional Portuguese embroidery piece. Beautiful, but not my taste. So my wife and I went online looking for modern designs that my mother-in-law could embroider for us. I naively thought, “I can do that too!” when I saw the patterns. I bought an embroidery hoop, some threads and needles, all of questionable quality, and got started. I began by embroidering a merman, because after all it was MerMay. After many hours on Youtube I knew a few basic stitches, and I managed to finish my first embroidery piece. It was a little crooked, and full of mistakes.From that moment on, I never stopped.

3. Where do you get your inspiration?

From visiting places, suggestions from friends and family and other artists. Lately I have also been drawing inspiration from the divine masculine. I find inspiration in my own body and soul.

4. Do you embroider as a hobby, as an artist or as a part-time/full-time business (or a combination!)?

I work full-time, and I have 4 children who need a lot of time. On average I can only embroider for 2 hours a night. Maybe one day I will be able to make a living from embroidery, but for now it is a hobby.

5. How would you describe your personal embroidery style?

Eclectic. I do not really have a style yet. I am mainly experimenting and discovering. When I learn a new stitch, I immediately try to incorporate it into the next embroidery piece.

6. Is there a message or ideology behind your work?

If so, what is it and how does it appear in your work?

Not at first, but now I am trying to explore masculinity through my embroidery. I have read about the divine masculine, and I want to express it with a series of self-portraits. The third portrait is finished, four more to go. After that I want to learn raised embroidery.

7. Who are some of your favorite embroidery artists and why?

I cannot choose just one. In no particular order: Charles Henry, Hannah from Mild Moss, Santiago Celia and Stitchguy.

8. Which embroidery tool can you absolutely not do without?

I cannot do without a thimble. I know many people find it awkward, but I have ruined embroidery so many times with bloodstains! That is why I do not work without a thimble.

9. What is your favorite stitch and why?

The split stitch. I also love the woven picot stitch. The three-dimensional effect of this stitch is beautiful!

10. Do you have any advice for people who are just starting embroidery?

Perfection does not exist. Life is made for making mistakes.

“My first embroidery piece was crooked, and full of mistakes. I never stopped.””I find inspiration in my own body and soul.””I love the woven picot stitch.””Life is made for making mistakes.”

Want to start experimenting like José? With the explanation about choosing an embroidery hoop, you have a lovely foundation for your first free embroidery piece.