Interview with Alexandra Havlíková

I would like to show people that hand-embroidery is still an amazing art, more than just a “women’s craft”. I’d love them to appreciate the amount of work that goes into it and fall in love with hand-embroidery all over again.

Alexandra, owner of Needle Tosay

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Alexandra, but some people know me as @needle_tosay, which is my Instagram and embroidery brand. It’s a pun based on a saying needless to say and the fact that I am using a needle to say things.

I am (almost) 25 years old, and I am from Slovakia. A few years ago I moved to the Czech Republic to study IT. I quit my studies, but I work as a Technical Writer in the IT flight industry.

I am married and live in a small village near Brno city with my husband and black cat.

How and why did you start your business?

I started in 2020. It all started as a joke when we were in lockdown for the first time. I was bored, there was nowhere to go, so I jokingly said “Well, I might as well learn embroidery now!”. My MIL heard it and brought me all her embroidery supplies, so there was no way back.

But I liked it! So I started an embroidery Instagram to share my embroidery with friends. I never intended to sell my work, and it’s still not my main income, so I don’t think about it as a business yet.

What is your vision, and why is this important to you?

Hand embroidery was once very popular in my country. I would like to show people that it’s still an amazing art and it’s more than just a “women’s craft”.

I would also love to show people the value of handmade items through my creations. I would like them to appreciate the amount of work that goes into it and fall in love with embroidery all over again.

What inspires you and your work?

I love stitching animals, so it’s mostly nature. I love to open encyclopedias and find animals that I want to stitch. Also my country and its nature.

But the other part of me likes making people too, so various TV shows or books are an inspiration too!

My list of inspirations is currently too long for the time I usually have, and I have to put a lot of things on hold because I have to prioritize orders.

Can you share some challenges in running your business and how you’re coping?

Well, for me the biggest challenge is, that I have to work my “normal” job before I stitch. I usually get to stitching only in the afternoon or late in the evening. I admit I had to take a few days off and sick days to finish orders!

I am also battling depression and anxiety, so it can get very stressful. Like when I am not sure if I will manage to do things on time.

But I have to say, that so far all my customers were amazingly kind and it really helped me to calm down and get work done.

Any advice for aspiring artists?

Experiment! I started with embroideries that were completely different from what I do now. And even now, I am doing multiple things – I make pet portraits, I experiment with human portraits, make pendants, and so on.

I think I am still trying to find “my style”. And that’s completely okay – some people find it immediately, some don’t. Some people need to try multiple media. Everything goes! 

Also, don’t be afraid to make mistakes! 

Any funny or memorable customer stories you would like to share with us?

I remember making a pendant for a girl, that she wanted for her mom’s birthday! I had a busy schedule but I managed to squeeze her in. She later sent me the most heartwarming message about how her mom cried and loved it. That made me cry! 

Instagram: @needle_tosay

Shop: needletosay.etsy.com

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I’d love to hear your story! Drop me a message at hello@makenstitch.com and I’ll get back to you with a few questions to get to know you or your business a bit better.

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