We were lucky to catch up with Victoria Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

My goal in my art has always been to spread love and make magic and that is the legacy I hope to leave. I’ve pursued this by helping people feel truly seen, telling their stories through my work, and infusing every piece with love and intention.

At their core, people long to be seen and understood for who they truly are. This includes their loves, their losses, and all the experiences that have shaped them into who they are. My calling is to capture that essence, to translate the unique soul, story, and spirit of each person or couple I work with into something tangible. I want every piece I create to feel like an outward expression of someone’s inner self.

There is a certain magic in taking something intangible, like a feeling, memory, or story, and giving it a physical form that did not exist before. Through my embroidery I find myself weaving stories of love, loss, hope, and joy into physical art that will live far beyond me and my clients. In many ways, I am a modern day scribe, etching stories into fabric so they can be passed down, connecting lives across time and space. I believe that every person’s unique story is worth telling, and I’m deeply grateful to my clients for trusting me to bring their stories to life in thread.

There is also something especially meaningful about embroidered handiwork and the time it demands. You can almost feel the hours of labor and the energy of the artist’s hands through the fabric. Our hands are connected to our hearts and when I create it feels as though my heart opens and pours love through my hands and into every stitch. As I work I find myself thinking of the person I am creating for, setting intentions of hope, joy, and love for them and their future. My work is, in that way, deeply divine and ethereal, infused with love in its purest form.

I hope the love that I pour into my work continues to be felt long after I am gone. If, through my work, I can leave behind something beautiful, in both form and feeling, then that would be the highest honor, and the legacy I most wish to create.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Victoria Jackson, and I’m the designer, chainstitch embroidery artist, and owner of Ethereal Thread Co. I design and create bespoke chainstitch art with an ethereal twist, blending storytelling, artistry, and heirloom craft into one-of-a-kind pieces that are as meaningful as they are beautiful. My work is done on a nearly century-old hand-guided chainstitch machine, where each stitch is carefully and intentionally placed. This free-motion nature means no piece can ever be exactly replicated, making every creation a true original.

I discovered chainstitch embroidery after stumbling across videos of these vintage machines online. I was mesmerized by how it was like drawing with thread, and even began having dreams where I could feel myself guiding the handle with ease. Whether it was prophetic or not, it solidified my decision to take a leap of faith. With the help of my grandmother, who has always encouraged my interest in sewing, I purchased my first machine. Despite the steep learning curve of the machine itself, the hand-guided aspect felt second nature, perhaps because I had been practicing in my sleep.

Chainstitch embroidery is a uniquely hands-on, free motion craft. It is entirely manual with no computers or automated patterns, just my hand translating the vision to thread. This allows for more freedom in design as every line and curve flows directly from my hand into the fabric, much like a hand drawn sketch brought to life. The texture of the stitches also allows choice and control in fill as different effects can be made with different fill patterns. This flexibility of expression and freeform nature means each piece is truly one of a kind.

Today, the bulk of my work is commission-based projects such as wedding banners, wearable art like jackets and veils, pet portraits, and other custom designs. I also take my machine on the road to live events, working with brands like Anthropologie, Terrain, and Madewell, as well as smaller gatherings such as baby showers and parties. While I adore elaborate commissions, I also love connecting with people in real time and watching them light up when they see the behind the scenes process. It’s hard to fully grasp what I do until you see it in person.

What sets me apart is not just the craftsmanship, though chainstitch embroidery is a rare and specialized art, but the intention behind every piece. Every stitch is placed with thought, love, and care. I take time to truly understand my clients, their stories, and the meaning behind the piece we’re creating together. This connection allows me to design pieces that feel like an outward reflection of someone’s inner self, resonating on a deeply personal level.

Over the years, I’ve discovered an innate talent in translating a client’s loose ideas into designs that feel spot-on. More often than not, my initial mockups require little to no changes, something that never fails to surprise me. I’ll admit, every time I hit “send,” there’s a flicker of nerves, wondering if I’ve missed the mark. Yet time and again, I’m met with excitement and connection, a reminder that trusting my creative intuition will always lead me exactly where I need to go. I thrive when clients trust me to run wild with their vision, creating something so uniquely theirs. While I’m always happy to adapt past designs, the real magic happens when we co-create something entirely new, born from their story, and shaped by my hands.

What I’m most proud of is the way my work has touched people’s lives. I’ve created pieces that have become wedding day centerpieces, treasured family heirlooms, or keepsakes passed down to future generations. I’ve even pieced together letters from a loved one’s handwriting to stitch a message for a bride’s wedding day. I’ve seen tears, smiles, and even moments of healing when someone sees their story captured in thread for the first time. That’s the magic I hope to keep creating and the gift I hope to continue to giving.

I’m also proud of myself for taking the leap of faith and pursuing a creative career. I have always been creative and artistic, but for a long time I believed I needed a “real job” and that I wasn’t truly good enough to be an artist. Even calling myself an artist took a long time. It took years of unlearning and following my heart to end up where I am today. Putting myself out there on social media wasn’t easy either. I had to work through fear and feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. Now seeing people connect with and value my work is such an honor. It’s been a wild ride, and every day I still have moments of, Wow, I’m really doing this. I know that my younger self would think I’m the coolest person ever so that’s how I know I’m on the right track.

I want potential clients to know that my work is deeply intentional and personal. It’s not just about creating something beautiful, but about telling their unique story in a way that feels authentic to them. Every piece is crafted with care, love, and attention to detail, designed to be a meaningful reflection of who they are. These pieces take so much time, they aren’t meant to be worn once and forgotten; they’re meant to be loved, cherished, and passed down.

Working with me means investing in a tangible heirloom that carries emotion, intention, and connection. My process is collaborative and thoughtful, blending traditional craftsmanship with a modern artistic flair. Above all, I strive to ensure my clients feel truly seen and valued, knowing that what we create together can be treasured for years to come.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think creatives are often sold the idea that monetizing your art will take the joy out of it. While that may be true for some, I have not found it to be the case for me. That was a fear-based lie I told myself, which held me back from pursuing a creative career. I spent years earning degrees and working jobs that served a purpose at the time but ultimately left me unfulfilled and drained. I would come home exhausted with little energy left for creative pursuits.

Fear made me believe that I couldn’t make a living from my art, likely stemming from my own insecurities about not being good enough. Meanwhile, I watched others on social media living what was truly my dream deep down.

It wasn’t until the pandemic hit and I suddenly had more time to create that I opened my first Etsy shop. To my surprise, people actually valued the things I made. It felt amazing to do something I loved and have others support it. As the saying goes, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This sentiment rings much more true for me today as I live out my dream.

Now even when my plate is overflowing and I feel overwhelmed, it still doesn’t feel like work. I truly enjoy every part of what I do. I’m still learning and making mistakes, but some of the most gratifying moments in my journey have been problem solving and working through challenges.

I still struggle with feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome at times, but I’ve worked really hard to not compare myself to others or think about where I “should” be and instead embrace my story as it unfolds.

As an artist I’ve also learned that about halfway through every project, I hit the inevitable “this sucks”, “I suck” moment. Without fail I question the entire piece and debate scrapping it to start over. I have moments of “why did someone pay me to do this?” And, “I don’t know what the heck I’m doing!” But I’ve learned to push through those feelings of inadequacy, remind myself that it’s fear talking, and it always comes together in the end. The challenges I overcome always make each finished piece my new favorite.

If the girl I was just a few years ago, clouded by fear and doubt, could see this now, knowing she would be met with such acceptance, she wouldn’t have been so scared to take the leap. It has been so rewarding to see just how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown as an artist.

My advice to anyone out there is that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. When you’re following your heart, the universe will always catch you. Don’t let fear hold you back from achieving your deepest desires. Also, the world is wide enough for everyone, so there is no use in comparing yourself to others or competing when we can uplift each other instead. The world needs everyone’s unique art. What might resonate with one person may not resonate with someone else. The people that need your art will find you. No one can ever do exactly what you do because no one else has your unique magic.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I actually just recently took the plunge into making this my full time career. Up until just a few weeks ago I was still working part-time. The path I took to get here was anything but linear, but every detour shaped me and my perspective as an artist.

As a child, I was always very creative and drawn to making things. While my family didn’t necessarily share my artistic inclinations, they supported and encouraged my creativity. I took sewing lessons as a child which they supported because they themselves couldn’t sew. Despite their unwavering support, I never saw my innate abilities as particularly special. I carried a deep-rooted belief that if I monetized my art, I wouldn’t enjoy it, and I subscribed to the “starving artist” narrative. Because of that, I initially chose a more traditional career path.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Rutgers University. I taught a state funded sex education program, where I discovered a love for teaching. In my free time, I trained as a Reiki Master (which I believe flows into my art today). I later earned my Masters Degree in Education and Montessori Certification. I attended a Montessori school as a child, and I do believe that my love of learning and innate curiosity can be attributed to my time there. It was my time in Montessori training and teaching that reinvigorated my love of sewing. I hadn’t sewn in years but suddenly bought a new domestic machine and made all of my classroom materials. I had the most beautiful classroom and it was such a joy seeing my students using the things I made. While I loved teaching, I gave every last bit of myself to my work which ultimately led to burnout. I didn’t even realize just how burnt out I was until we were sent home when the pandemic hit and I finally had a moment to come up for air.

During my burnout recovery period, I underwent a profound spiritual journey that was very transformational. This journey led me to unpack deeply rooted beliefs I held about myself. I spent a lot of time working on those patterns and finally released their hold on me, unlocking a part of me that I suppressed for years. This transformative period was a significant turning point in my life that gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams.

While I gained this new found confidence to pursue more creative endeavors, it was not yet time to fully dive in. I got my chainstitch machine in 2021 and while practicing and getting to know the machine, I taught children’s sewing and crochet lessons on the side.

My art initially gained traction within a niche band fandom that I found myself in. Rock band, Greta Van Fleet, played an essential role in my initial growth. The first jacket I ever designed and stitched on my chainstitch machine was inspired by one of their songs “Light my Love.” It was seen by the band’s lead singer, Josh Kiszka, and opened the door to several commissions for other fans. It also opened opportunities for projects with other musicians and artists.

The real turning point came when I made a postcard banner for my friend’s wedding. Inspired by her love of sending mail, I designed it as an envelope. It gained some traction in late 2024, but in April of this year, it truly went viral. My inbox was flooded, and I had to close inquiries just to keep up.

I took this as my sign. I left my part time teaching job to fully commit to my business. For years, I was terrified to take the leap, but when the moment finally came, it felt undeniably right. I was amazed at how many new doors opened once I closed that one. The message from the universe could not have been clearer. I’m still at the beginning of this journey, but the momentum is here and it finally feels unstoppable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://etherealthreadco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etherealthreadco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etherealthreadco/
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@etherealthreadco
  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/etherealthreadco/

Image Credits

Lauren Marchese
Ashleigh Olson Photography
Kathleen Whittemore Photo
For the wild by Sammy
Victoria Jackson