Albuquerque-based Meridith McClure specializes in crafting biology-inspired hand embroidery she calls biobroidery. The 24-year-old artist works as a seasonal field biologist and began embroidering in 2016 in order to keep herself busy while working in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Biobroidery was created out of McClure’s passions for biology and embroidery. “As a biologist, my favorite things to embroider are my favorite things to also identify and study in the field, such as plants, wildlife, and insects,” says McClure. “I like to focus on native species, as I both know more about them from my work, and am passionate about the promotion and conservation of native species.”
McClure says that an average piece can take her as little as a few days to as long as a few months, depending on how much time she has to devote to it. She is currently finishing up several projects such as hoops and patches of native cacti and desert grasses. “My next project will likely be Melampodium leucanthum, the Blackfoot daisy,” says McClure. Some of the pieces feature intricate floral and leaf patterns that make up the larger animal.
As she is just starting out, biobroidery is not available in retailers yet, but you can get a few items at her etsy shop. McClure, who plans to start graduate school in the fall, hopes to get her work in craft fairs and retailers soon.
American goldfinch.
Blue whale.
Claret cup cactus.
Great Blue heron.
Meridith McClure at her workstation.
Rio Grande cutthroat trout
Sandhill crane.
Mourning cloak butterfly.
All images courtesy Meridith McClure.
