We were lucky to catch up with Annais Morales recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Annais , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

My first experience with learning about fiber arts/ textiles was when I as in elementary school. I remember seeing a girl on Youtube talking about embroidery and thinking to myself, “I can do that’. Ever since then, I have always carried the mindset of being to do anything…as long as there is a Youtube video for it.

From there, I would practice embroidering little patches for my friends and family. Then I eventually bought myself a home sewing machine in high school and taught myself how to sew, again with Youtube. Creating was always a hobby for me until the pandemic hit in 2020. After moving back home from college and loosing my job, I really began to explore my creative side with learning how to make hook punch rugs. I would spend hours researching the process and many ways of rug making. Luckily, I was able to take commissions and sustain myself through creating art for others during the first years of the pandemic. Since then, I have continued to teach myself how to knit, crochet, and weave (literally anything I can get my hands on in regards to textiles). One skill that remains important to me is patience and curiosity. As a mainly self-taught artist, being open to trail and error is important. You most likely won’t be getting it right the first time, but being patient with yourself allows you to learn what went right and what did not. One obstacle that may have got in the way was probably not having a real academic background in art. With not so much guidance or mentorship, the process feels a little slower. Yet, I think it’s more of the process that counts anyways.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Annais Morales. I am a self-taught fiber and textile artist from La Puente, California. I currently work as a teaching artist at a non-profit and make artwork myself. I first started experimenting with fiber arts at a young age with making friendship bracelets and small embroidery patches. I was particularly drawn by the accessibility and detail of fiber arts. I remember watching my grandma sewing at her industrial machine and wanting to learn to sew one day. I was interested at how items could be altered so simply with essentially just a needle and thread. Therefore, I took it upon myself to learn to embroider and hand sew during my summer vacations as a child. I remember taking a roll of duct tape, cloth and a thick rubber band to form my own “embroidery hoop”. This early memory really shaped how I viewed crafting and accessibility in art. It proved to me that there is no “traditional” way of making art/ or crafting. Whether in regard to tools or schooling, anyone can do it, and it does not have to look the same.

Despite not having an academic background in art, I learned from the best, YOUTUBE. Now in days, knowledge is at the tip of our fingers. All you have to do is be curious and have some critical thinking skills. With YouTube, I learned how to sew, knit, crochet, weave, hook punch/ tuft and even fix my sewing machine.

It was really during the pandemic that I began to take my art practice seriously. I began by learning how to make hook punch rugs, that eventually became commissioned based artwork. Through making rugs, I was introduced to a new world of opportunities. I finally felt like I could call myself an artist. I then started exploring with making sculpture pieces, ballpoint pen drawings, and sewing projects. Throughout time, my work has centered around my cultural background as a Mexican-American artist and my own life experiences. Utilizing craft as a form of expression, I work to explore themes of nostalgia and tradition through featuring familiar images of Mexican iconography, ranging from cartoons to religious motifs.

Moving forward in my career, I have gained a new interest in teaching and sharing my knowledge in fiber arts. Thanks to Jess Ofelia and her community workshops, Learning by Doing, I experienced the beauty of creating community through accessible art-based workshops.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There is no particular goal other than to have fun and be creative. I hope to inspire as many people as possible to just explore and be curious about new things. Making art does not always have to be perfect, which is something I am also learning myself through this journey. My mission is to share as much as my own knowledge and experience with textiles with others to hopefully build a community that encourages creativity and freedom. I have met such wonderful people through sharing my art. I plan to start doing more community workshops that will be free and accessible for others.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One book that has been recommended to me and is something I still need to finish myself is “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. I have heard such positive experiences from others who have followed the weekly activities. It is such a great way to build discipline with your art practice. I plan to finish the book soon. Other than that, I would really just recommend anyone to visit their local library. Libraries have been such a great source of inspiration for me. Whenever I am feeling stuck or just bored with my work, a quick trip to the library has always given me that push to either try something new or to even just try again. I can spend hours looking through the craft books, learning new techniques and ideas. The library will always be number one on my list.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annaismorales.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: @annnnaiiss

Image Credits

Ray Napoles (Product shot of artwork)

Xin Wang (Room photos)