Artworks
by Esther van Aardenne
A story of recovery through cross stitching….
One day, I decided to take a piece of plain fabric and start stitching whatever came to mind. I didn’t have a plan or a design in mind, I just let my creativity guide me. I started with a few basic stitches, and soon found myself incorporating different colors and textures.
Most recent: Chaotic crowd
After 6 months of stitching, I finally have a new freestyle piece to share again. Busy, colourful and very… chaotic.
My work often grows organically. I combine my own embroidery elements, fragments of pattern, and free stitching, building layers until the image finds its balance. There’s usually a lot to look at. And almost always something small hiding in plain sight.
December 2025
H.C. Andersen eventyr fortalt med broderier
For the book H.C. Andersen – Fairy Tales Told with Embroidery, I designed eight original embroidery artworks.
Each piece is my own visual interpretation of an Andersen fairy tale. Not as an illustration in the classic sense, but as a stitched response. Sometimes playful, sometimes slightly chaotic, sometimes quiet. I like letting the thread do part of the thinking.
These eight works are part of a larger international project in which all of H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales are represented through embroidery. Together they form a book where text and textile meet, and where each fairy tale is seen through many different hands and minds.
Designing my own contributions for this project felt both grounding and slightly unreal. Andersen’s stories have been around forever. Translating them into thread, in my own way, felt like joining a very long conversation.
At first glance the book looks Danish, which makes sense given H.C. Andersen’s roots. But by scanning the QR code, the fairy tales can also be read in English and Dutch.
Read more on www.vildmedbroderi.dk, where you can also order the book and patterns.
The dead man
Porterens søn
Man siger
Det er dig fablen
Kærestefolk
To Brødre
The bell
Rosenalfen
My Freestyle Cross Stitch Projects:
The very first
When I made this piece, I was in the midst of a serious battle with depression. It was like holding me together with just a needle and some thread that I bought second hand. It does still holds a special place in my heart. It allowed me to channel my emotions and to express myself in a unique and creative way.
Frogging Fiesta
I tried cross-stitching on linen only once! Everything was uneven and wobbly and far to easy to stitch one only thread off, leading to a lot of frogging! Needless to say, I’ve been sticking to smoother fabrics with future projects.
Rammeri
The repetitive stitching provides a soothing and calming effect on my mind. I choose designs that speaks to me on a personal level, or I simply let my creativity run wild, stitching whatever comes to mind.
Rainbow Riot
I started experiencing a sense of joy and satisfaction. The bright colors and intricate details of brought a smile to your face and lifted your spirits, if only for a moment.
Sommerferie
The simple act of creating something with your my hands brought you a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Pearl
By the time I made this work, I was feeling more confident in what I was able to create and began posting my pieces on facebook and insta.
Just Peeping
Since then I could not stop stitching, so more works will come……
Robin
Colorful Chaos
Pixel Party
Joyful Jumble
Rainbow Harmony
Klokken
Madame B
Mess-terpiece
I couldn't resist making something completely different:
Fluffy Pink
Fluffy Pink
Fluffy Green
Esther van Aardenne
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