Interviewed by Faz Gaffa | Photography by The Love Studios | Wardrobe by AforArcade | Hair & Make Up by @imarinn @arly.co

Teresa – or her social media moniker, teeteeheehee is not an unfamiliar name in creative circles. The embroidery artist has a rich tapestry of clients under her quirky belt — including the likes of LVMH, Vogue Singapore and more. She embarks on a brand new journey of being a parent, and The Love Studios is proud of document the beginning. We sit with her and talk work, pregnancy, and true to our name, of course, love.

1. You’ve done SO MUCH interesting work as a creative! Has being pregnant changed, or evolved your creative process or the way you work?

Pregnancy has definitely changed the way I work. I’m a workaholic and I always push myself too hard, but pregnancy made me learn to take care of myself by prioritising my health and wellbeing before work. Its no longer just me using this body but also the baby relies on it too. Being creative during certain months were extremely difficult as well, its a whole mix of emotions, but I’ve learnt to also be kind to myself - my body is creating another body, that’s pretty amazing in itself right???

2. There’s a lot of florals and botanicals in your work. Where do you seek inspiration from?

Everywhere, really. I always go back to nature, like snapping random photos of roadside flowers whenever they catch my attention, they always bring new ideas and thoughts like “oh heyy, that is a nice colour combination!”

3. How does your love for your art form translate into what you do?

I love putting things together - different colors, shapes, textures, materials. Even with digital/ hand drawn illustrations, the coming together of different lines to form something entirely new.

4. Tell us about your pregnancy - how have you been feeling?

Every emotion you can possibly think of! 🤣 Some days I can swing from having anxiety to being so excited for what’s to come. I have days where I cry a lot because I’m unsure of all the changes that’ll take place, the shift of identity in myself and towards my husband as well. I have days where I’m ecstatic and grateful for having the opportunity to house my baby in my belly and the joy she brings whenever she kicks and moves. But there are also some days where I feel resentful towards my husband because he’s a man and he can’t give birth. 🤣🤣 A lot has to do also with hormones, but the whole pregnancy journey is also the process of a Mother being born so… reminder to be kind to myself.

5. Being an avid reader myself, I had mountains of books for my kid before he was even born. What are some of the first books you’ve bought for yours?

I bought this book called “ Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls”. I saw it a few years back before I was even married. But I knew when I become a mom one day, I want to read this book to my daughter so its one of the first few books I bought.

We also bought some books that are both in English and Italian, so we get to expose her to both languages at a young age.