Embroidery artist Pola Laamanen crafts birds that at first glance, look real. Using a combination of thread painting, stumpwork, and mixed materials, her tiny birds take on a life of their own. She shows some as they emerge from eggshells while others seem to fly. Each begs a closer look, as you’ll see how she takes a painterly approach to her small works; stitches give way to fringe which gives way to ribbon, and it’s all looks effortlessly crafted.
Pola sells her work through Etsy—including patterns available to download. Follow her on Instagram to see what she’s working on next.