"The Sheepdog Was Thrilled."
- 23.05.2026, 9:58
A Belarusian woman in Poland photographs animals and turns their portraits into carpets.
Lina (name changed) takes photos of pets and then turns their portraits into handmade rugs. The idea came about by chance - as a birthday present for a friend. But now in Poland, where the girl lives, both locals and immigrants order her work. The Belarusian told MOST about how pets immediately take such carpets for themselves, why the right angle is important for the work and how much such a carpet can cost.
At first Lina's two occupations - photography and carpet making - did not overlap. At first she just gave carpets to her relatives, and then she started to receive orders for products with cartoon characters, games, inscriptions; there was even a white-red-white flag.
The idea to combine photography and carpets came almost by accident.
- I was photographing my friend's dachshund - I was just practicing for myself. I didn't have any commercial photo shoots back then. Then her birthday was coming up, and I was thinking what kind of gift I could give, so that both the dog and the rug would be together. That's how everything came together.
Lina calls her style a "bright mess" that still looks harmonious.
- I like to have a lot of colors, details, something bright in my work.
I like photographing animals more than people
Before moving to Poland, Lina lived in Minsk and worked part-time as an assistant teacher in a kindergarten. She came to Poland after her 18th birthday to go to university. Now the girl is finishing her studies in a specialty related to interactive graphics and animation. Lately she has been actively preparing for her diploma exams, so carpets have temporarily moved to the background.
It was in Poland that photography began to take more place in Lina's life.
- I used to photograph nature, some life moments, outings with friends. Then I started doing photo shoots and realized that I like to photograph nature and animals more than people.
Not every photo is suitable for a rug
A high-quality photo with clear lines and clear colors is important for a future rug.
- Not every photo is suitable. You need to be able to make a sketch from it and transfer it to the rug. Sometimes I ask to re-take a photo.
One day a client sent Lina a photo of an old sheepdog, where the dog had part of its head and ear cut off.
- It was one of the last photos of the old dog, and it was impossible to photograph it normally. I had to think how to get out of it.
Sometimes, however, clients specifically order a photo shoot of a pet to then transfer a professional shot to a rug.
How the rug is created
First Lina makes a sketch - sometimes by herself, sometimes with the help of graphic programs and artificial intelligence.
Then the image is transferred to fabric stretched over a wooden frame using a projector.
- The largest size that can be ordered now is 150 by 150 centimeters. But most often people take carpets about a meter.
Further the main work begins: with a special taffeta gun the girl "embroiders" the carpet with thread. This technique of creating carpets is called tufting.
- Basically, the gun just inserts the thread into the fabric. Everything else I do myself.
After that, the carpet is glued, dried for about a day, cut the contours and trim the surface. Some works the girl does with 3D-effect.
- For example, flowers can be cut so that they become three-dimensional to the touch.
One time because of inattention Lina had to completely redo the carpet.
- I forgot to mirror the image, and the result was a mirror Hello Kitty. It's funny, but I had to redo everything at my own expense.
Lina uses mostly acrylic threads for her work - they are cheaper, so the carpets are more affordable.
"The dachshund that started it all is always lying on her rug"
The girl likes to make rugs with animal images the most.
- I would be very interested in working with exotic animals. For example, to make a long rug in the form of a snake, which seems to wrap around the room.
Lina says that pets often immediately "appropriate" such rugs.
- The dachshund, with whom it all began, is always lying on her rug. And the sheepdog was also delighted. I don't think it's even about the image of them there. Just carpets are very soft, and animals like to sleep on them.
The girl has no fixed price. The price depends on the size, complexity of the pattern and the number of colors. The more small details and colors, the more hours of work and higher the price.
- Some carpets cost about 650 zlotys (about $175). More complex or larger ones cost about 750-800.
Belarusians explain in detail what they want
Lina's clients include about half Belarussians and half Poles. According to her observations, everyone treats animals with the same warmth, but the difference is felt in communication.
- Belarusians usually write very detailed and polite: they say hello, explain the situation, tell you who the order is for. But someone can write simply: "I want a bouquet with peonies". And then you have to pull out the details yourself.
The first student was her husband
The girl is not sure whether it is possible to live only at the expense of carpets and turn them into a full-fledged business. But she wants to develop the project.
- I have already redesigned Instagram, I think to further develop the brand. Maybe even teach others someday.
The first student, by the way, was her husband. When the orders were too many, Lina showed him the basics of tufting.
- We first practiced just on the fabric so as not to ruin the carpet. And then I even let him finish one project. And he did really well.
Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims
You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com
