Stitchery Stories: Recent Episodes
Susan Weeks
Stitchery Stories... Where textile artists share their life in fabric and thread. Embroidery. Textile Art. Inspiration, Techniques, Disasters and Delights.
Join embroidery enthusiast and textile art dabbler, Susan Weeks, in her friendly chats with UK textile artists. Discover how they got started. Share the lessons learned along the way. Get excited about what they are working on at the moment. Learn how they keep their business growing, their creativity flowing, and get a sneak peek into what is coming next...
In this episode, host Susan Weeks sits down with Owen Kelly, a fifth-generation stitcher with over 50 years of experience. Working from his remote home on the SW coast of Ireland, and inspired by the natural beauty of the wild Atlantic coast, Owen shares his colourful creative journey—from traditional family techniques to his innovative “flow stitching” and narrative-inspired projects. Known for his playful globe-trotting character Seamus O'Comanssy, and his ever-evolving quilt project, Owen reveals how he blends art, storytelling, and textile heritage to create pieces that are as personal as they are visually striking.
Key Talking Points:
Family Heritage: Owen’s lifelong connection to stitching, passed down through generations.
Remote Creativity: How life on SW Ireland's wild Atlantic coast and the surrounding natural world shape his work.
Flow Stitching: His distinctive, freeform stitching style that tells a narrative as it evolves.
Seamus O'Comanssy – The Creative Proxy: The story behind his character Seamus and how it bridges his passion for travel and art, sharing creativity and interesting insights into other people's creative lives.
Quilt Project: Insights into his ongoing quilt project assembled from recycled, stitched squares.
Commissioned Works: How Owen tailors designs—using personal motifs, astrological signs, and indigenous symbols—for bespoke commissions.
Digital Storytelling: His use of social media (Facebook and Instagram) to share his creative process and connect with fellow textile enthusiasts.
Narrative & Folklore: Drawing on Irish oral traditions and global folk tales to imbue his work with hidden meanings.
Ambassadorship: His role as an ambassador for “World Peace One World, One People, One Stitch at a Time.”
Challenges & Inspiration: Balancing multiple projects while embracing the spontaneity of creative expression.
Relevant Links:
View Links, information & Examples of Owen's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/owenkelly
Follow Owen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owen.kelly.75
Follow Owen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Slavetothestitch
Follow Seamus O'Comanssy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555416757284
World Peace, One World, One People, One Stitch at a time (Facebook Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/968783837184739/
==============================================================About Stitchery Courses!
VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn https://www.stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business! DON’T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join
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Support Stitchery Stories:
Please share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show.
Buy Me A Coffee If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going?
https://buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Are We Connected On Socials?
Why not pop over to your fave social media places, connect and say Hello! I always LOVE to see what you are stitching and sharing!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusanWeeksYoutube
In this Stitchery Stories episode, host Susan Weeks chats with Sally McCollin, a textile artist, designer, and educator with a fascinating career spanning publishing, design, and teaching.
From early beginnings knitting mohair jumpers for pocket money to working with major craft companies like Patons & Baldwins (now Coats Crafts), Sally has had an incredible journey in the textile industry. She shares insights into her commercial design work, editorial roles, teaching, and her passion for inspiring others through online embroidery courses, and textile art courses.
Key Talking Points:
From hobby to profession: How Sally's love for textiles grew from childhood sewing to a career in knitting, embroidery, and design.
Working in the commercial craft industry: Her experience designing knitting patterns and working in PR for Coats Crafts.
Teaching and inspiring others: How she transitioned into teaching and developed unique textile art courses.
Embroidery Skills Courses: The thought process behind creating courses that blend design and embroidery techniques.
The importance of play in design: Encouraging creativity through experimentation rather than rigid instruction.
Balancing creativity and deadlines: Funny behind-the-scenes stories of stitching projects for magazine features.
Love for Shibori and fabric dyeing: Why fabric manipulation and color experimentation remain her favorite techniques.
Relevant Links:
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Sally's work at https://stitcherystories.com/sallymccollin
Visit: https://courses.embroiderersguild.com/
Read: https://courses.embroiderersguild.com/p/blog?p=your-online-embroidery-tutor
About Stitchery Courses!
VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn https://www.stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business! DON’T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join
Support Stitchery Stories:
Please share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show.
Buy Me A Coffee
If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going? https://buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Are We Connected On Socials?
Why not pop over to your fave social media places, connect and say Hello!
I always LOVE to see what you are stitching and sharing!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusanWeeksYoutube
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Elizabeth Ashdown is one of only 4 hand Passementerie artists working in the UK today. She combines traditional and endangered craft skills with a contemporary aesthetic to create innovative passementerie.
In this episode of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Susan Weeks chats with Elizabeth Ashdown, for a glimpse into the world of hand woven passementerie. She makes and weaves bespoke trimmings, braids, tassels, fringes, and more. Her work spans interior design, fashion, and fine art, and she is passionate about reviving and sustaining this traditional craft. Elizabeth shares her journey, current projects, and insights into her creative process, making Passementerie both accessible and exciting for modern life!
Elizabeth & Susan chat about:
What is Passementerie? Elizabeth explains this fascinating craft of creating small-scale textiles like tassels, braids, and fringes.
Her unique journey: How she transitioned from traditional weaving into self-taught Passementerie and worked with master craftspeople to hone her skills.
Reviving an endangered craft: Elizabeth highlights the challenges and joys of being one of only four remaining hand Passementerie artists in the UK.
Custom creations: Her collaborations with interior and fashion designers to create bespoke trims, from bold artworks to intricate pieces for coats and furnishings.
Modernising Passementerie: Her use of vibrant colors and contemporary designs to dispel the notion of Passementerie as “old-fashioned.”
Historical inspiration: Insights into the craft’s heritage, from its origins in global simple pratical items, thru its opulent French period and into modern use.
Key milestones:Winning the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust scholarship and training with master craftsperson Brian Turner.
Future plans: Launching a collaboration with Samuel & Sons in January and her ongoing mission to teach and inspire others to explore Passementerie.
Listen to learn more about this fascinating craft and how Elizabeth is determined to keep it alive, relevant and in-demand for 21st Century fashion and interiors.
Some Links & Further Info
Links For Elizabeth Ashdown
Listen to Elizabeth's episode & View her artwork here: https://stitcherystories.com/elizabethashdown
Visit: https://elizabethashdown.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/ashdowntextiles/
About Stitchery Courses!
VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn
https://www.stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business!
DON’T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join
Ailish Henderson is a fine art textile artist, particularly known for her fine art stitched collage works, which focus on capturing a fleeting moment, telling the story with mixed media, paint, stitch and fabric snippets. She is also the author of 'Narrative Textiles', published by Batsford in October 2024.
In this episode, of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, host Susan Weeks chats with Ailish Henderson, a narrative textile artist, author, and teacher.
Ailish's work weaves together memory, storytelling, and fine art textiles, often using unique materials to create pieces that evoke personal and collective histories. She shares her excitement about her upcoming book launch, Narrative Textiles, and accompanying solo exhibition in London, where her artworks will bring her book to life.
Ailish also reflects on her journey from a fine art background to embracing textiles and mixed media.
Ailish & Susan chat about:
Upcoming book and exhibition: Ailish is preparing for the launch of her book Narrative Textiles alongside a solo exhibition in October 2024.
Storytelling through textiles: Her work often captures personal stories, memories, and moments, using materials that hold sentimental value.
Inspired by heritage and family: Growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and spending a lot of time with her grandmother who loved knitting greatly influenced her artistic path.
Using vintage and reclaimed materials: Ailish shares how she embraces the imperfections in old fabrics, turning them into meaningful art.
The tension between teaching and creating: Balancing a teaching career with artistic creation, she finds inspiration in the ideas sparked by her students.
Multifaceted art career: From exhibiting internationally to writing, Ailish reflects on the challenges of sustaining an artistic career while also managing other commitments.
The importance of community: She emphasizes the value of artist communities and how sharing ideas with others can spark new creative directions.
Transition from fine art to textiles: Ailish explains how her fine art training influenced her mixed media approach and experimentation with different materials.
Using poetry and writing: She uses her quickly captured words and poetry, along with doodles on whatever is to hand, often capturing thoughts and moments that later inspire her textile work.
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of Ailish's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/ailishhenderson
Visit: https://www.ailishhenderson.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/alish_h_
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Julia Triston: Celebrating Marks & Memories In Old Clothing & Cloth
https://stitcherystories.com/juliatriston/
Tracy Franklin : Specialist Freelance Embroiderer & Durham Cathedral Head Broderer
https://stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/
Cas Holmes : Textile Artist & Tutor: Found-Stitch-Paint
https://stitcherystories.com/casholmes/
Elnaz Yazdani creates vibrant contemporary textile art using rather unusual materials. Look closely for nails, springs, tubes, and all sorts from scrap stores. Elnaz loves working with community groups to reimagine embroidery and spark creativity.
In this episode of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Susan Weeks chats with Elnaz Yazdani, an embroidery artist and educator who merges traditional techniques with unconventional materials. Elnaz discusses her passion for community engagement and how embroidery can connect people and elevate well-being.
With a background that includes influences from Iran and Lancashire, she explores the use of embroidery as a way to tell stories, both personal and cultural. Elnaz is also known for using recycled and industrial materials in her creative process, pushing the boundaries to 're-imagine' of traditional embroidery.
Susan chats with Elnaz about:
Community-based embroidery projects: Elnaz is involved in various community projects that aim to connect people through the art of embroidery.
Unusual materials in embroidery: Elnaz explains how she uses materials like washers, computer parts, and plumbing supplies to create stunning embroidered artworks.
Creative freedom in projects: A discussion about how working with various groups inspires different interpretations of topics such as "place" and cultural storytelling.
Embroidery as social prescribing: Elnaz views embroidery as a therapeutic practice that can positively affect mental well-being.
Influence of her heritage: Being half Iranian and half English has shaped her love for textiles and her work's rich cultural storytelling influences.
Education and teaching: Elnaz emphasizes the importance of keeping the craft alive by inspiring and teaching embroidery to the next generation.
Juggling art practice & community projects: Elnaz shares some hard-won advice around setting boundaries and doing what you love!
Sustainability: Elnaz often works with upcycled and renewable materials, such as fruit netting and scrap items, reflecting her commitment to sustainability.
Some links & further info:
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Elnaz's work at https://stitcherystories.com/elnazyazdani
Visit: https://www.elnazyazdani.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/elnazyazdani
About Stitchery Courses!
VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn https://www.stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business!
DON’T MISS OUT!
https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join
Support Stitchery Stories:
Please share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show.
Buy Me A Coffee
If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going? https://buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Are We Connected On Socials?
Why not pop over to your fave social media places, connect and say Hello! I always LOVE to see what you are stitching and sharing!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusanWeeksYoutube
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Holly Jackson : Mix modern stumpwork embroidery with mixed media https://stitcherystories.com/hollyjackson/
Nikki Parmenter: Exuberant mixed-media textile artist https://stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter/
Claire Edwards: Pushing The Boundaries Of Traditional Hand Embroidery https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/
Dr. Jack Roberts, also known as JPR Stitch, is a fine artist specializing in freehand machine embroidery, creating stunning abstract shapes from dense, intricate webs of stitches.
His art reflects the calmness and tranquility he experiences while stitching, making sewing his form of meditation. Jack shares insights into his artistic journey, current projects, and unique approaches to displaying his work.
A key topic is Jack's 'quest'... seeking balance between simplicity and complexity, in his art, his practice, and in his life. Plenty of illuminating yet refreshing ideas, particularly around removing our own self-inflicted barriers to creativity, and indeed, everything else we do when apparently we are chasing our dreams!
In this episode of Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, host Susan Weeks chats with Jack about:
Daily Stitch Drawings: Jack's innovative practice of creating small stitch artworks daily since November last year as a counterbalance to his larger, time-consuming pieces.
Project Evolution: How his daily stitch drawings evolved to include more space and organic shapes as he became more comfortable with the process.
Display Challenges: The creative solutions Jack developed for displaying his daily stitch drawings, including a calendar mechanism and "towers of stitch" to represent the passage of time.
Artistic Inspiration: Flipping the influence of Jack's extensive immersion in the art world on his embroidery practice.
Creative Journey: The challenges and rewards of maintaining a daily art practice and how it contributes to Jack's overall artistic growth.
Personal Reflection: How Jack’s artworks serve as a reflection of his emotional state on any given day, showcasing the importance of balance in his life and art.
Travel Adaptations: Jack's strategies for continuing his daily stitch practice while traveling
Sewing as Meditation: The meditative and calming effects of sewing on Jack, and how this mindfulness is expressed through his intricate and organic stitching patterns.
Removing barriers and saying No: How to make it as easy as possible to get started...
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of Jack's work at https://stitcherystories.com/jackroberts
Visit: https://www.jprstitch.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/jpr_stitch/
Stitchery Courses
Discover and book courses with textile and embroidery experts at stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED as an expert teacher on Stitchery Courses and attract more customers into your business!
Support Stitchery Stories:
Share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show.
Buy Me A Coffee
If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going?
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Susan Hensel : Communicating Ideas Through Digital Machine Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/susanhensel/
David Morrish : Disruptive Digital Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/davidmorrish/
Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/
Alison Holt is a contemporary textile artist, teacher and author who combines silk painting and freehand machine embroidery to create beautiful landscapes and glimpses of the natural world.
Alison shares how her career and art continues to evolve, as she looks for new challenges. Following new opportunities as well as ongoing marketing and visibiity of one's art are also very important, and Alison shares her experience and wisdom with us.
Susan Weeks chats with Alison Holt about:
A current focus on the sea, a rich source of inspiration Her current success in finding new exhibiting venues and opportunities Developing her artistic style Capturing the atmosphere and sense of a place Scaling back her activities to develop her art practice Organising the "Stitch By Stitch" textile art exhibition Promoting your art and yourself Perspective of a long-standing professional artist
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Alison's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/alisonholt
Visit: https://www.alisonholt.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/alisonlholt/
STITCHERY COURSES is an exciting new place to discover and connect with experts who teach their art, craft & skills with thread, fabric & yarn.
Pop over to search through the experts and see what courses & classes they have available.
Or pop over and GET LISTED as an expert on Stitchery Courses and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new 'eyes' onto your business!
https://www.stitcherycourses.com/
Caroline Hyde-Brown is a textile artist with a long-established career.
Inspired by botanical research, she combines foraged plant material with a variety of textile art techniques to create fascinating weaves and vessels with fragile beauty. Combined with her purposeful art practice experience, Caroline shares plenty of wisdom on Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
With so many inspiring aspects to Caroline's textile art career, in this episode of Stitchery Stories we chose to focus on some unique plant-based research projects that Caroline has been involved with over the last couple of years. Firstly, on a project focused on the Grass Pea plant. And secondly on a project based around extracting natural dyes from food waste. These were truly fascinating and highlight the innovative use of plant-based materials within Caroline's textile art.
Susan Weeks chats with Caroline Hyde-Brown about:
- Overwintering in her practice, her garden and her art.
- Combining foraged plant materials with textile art techniques
- Purposeful development of an art practice
- The importance of outreach and connections
- Her love of nature and plants and research
- Making paper with grass pea fibres
- Extracting natural dyes from food waste from UK & Malaysia
- Contrasting writing styles for academic writing & art book
- Writing her first book 'Forage & Stitch'
- A hard lesson in understanding a design brief & clear communication
- And plenty more besides!
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Caroline's work at https://stitcherystories.com/carolinehydebrown
Visit: https://www.theartofembroidery.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/www.theartofembroidery.co.uk
Look: https://www.instagram.com/artistcaz/
VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn
https://www.stitcherycourses.com
GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn
DON'T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Jennie-maree Tempest : Beautiful Botanical Sculptures
https://stitcherystories.com/jenniemareetempest/
Meredith Woolnough: Machine Embroidered Natural Specimens
https://stitcherystories.com/meredithwoolnough/
Laura Edgar: Atmospheric Coastal Scenes in Textile Art
https://stitcherystories.com/lauraedgar/
Hannah Thompson has always loved crafting, quilting & textile art.
In 2017, at a crossroads in her life, dealing with emotional & family upset, she left her corporate career and set up Stitching Kitchen. On Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Hannah shares her story and we dive into what she describes as her transformational business year in 2023!
Susan Weeks chats with Hannah Thompson about:
- Her love for textile art, quilting, crafting and creativity
- Family life and a career pushing textile creativity to the background
- Turning to textile art to deal with a challenging time
- Taking the leap into setting up Stitching Kitchen
- How her business has evolved
- Discovering a love of teaching and facilitating others to enjoy textile art
- Starting to host guest tutors
- Getting help within her business
- Pushing out of her comfort zone with an inspiring community arts project with the National Paralympic Heritage Trust
- and lots more too!
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Hannah's work at https://stitcherystories.com/hannahthompson
Visit: https://stitchingkitchen.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitchingkitchen
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitchingkitchen/
Follow Susan Weeks for online course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/CraftyCourseProfitBooster
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
LEARN HOW to turn your in-person classes into on-demand online money-makers with her FREE online course
https://virtualityworks.com/unlock-your-profits-in-7-steps/
Other Episodes featuring artists Hannah has booked for 2024:
Anne Kelly: Textile Art From Re-used Textile Treasures
https://stitcherystories.com/annekelly/
Jayne Emerson Returns: Impatient Textile Rebel
https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson2/
Textile artist Holly Jackson shares her recent journey in developing her art career.
Developing her 'sneaky' stumpwork embroidery using modern materials and mixed media, there are plenty of exciting 'firsts' to celebrate with Holly!
We join Holly at the start of her first art exhibition. She shares her preparation and hopes from the show. We chat about her very interesting inspirations for her emerging body of work, and how she is developing her own 'take' on stumpwork, scaling it up, and using modern materials and mixed media to produce larger pieces, faster, yet still using hand embroidery.
Susan Weeks chats with Holly about:
- 'There's always one more thing!'
- How she got started on her new artist career
- The importance of getting in front of 'new eyes'
- Her preparations for her first 'booth show'
- The fascinating stories of the 'hidden women' behind historical Mardi Gras float designs
- The impacts of flooding & climate change on her region
- Developing 'sneaky stumpwork' techniques
- Creating her own unique textile art style and 'voice'
- Creating a body of work, using series and collections
- What's next after the show?
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Holly's work at https://stitcherystories.com/hollyjackson
Visit: https://flossinginthemoonlight.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/flossinginthemoonlight/
Other places & people we mentioned:
Chesapeake bay, USA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay
Tulane University Carnival Collection https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:p15140coll40
Jenny Adin-Christie
https://jennyadin-christieembroidery.com/
Other episodes you will enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell/
https://stitcherystories.com/katetume/
https://stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter/
Textile artist Jayne Emerson revisits the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast today!
She takes us on a journey on how she has pivoted her creative business to focus on teaching people around the world through her online courses and her unique membership The No-Rules Textiles Society.
Jayne was a guest here back in 2018 and gives a quick update as to where she was and what challenges she was facing back then.
And then we dive into the details of how she created her courses, and the practicalities of running her creative membership. The financial benefits and the fabulous network of new friendships she has developed online.
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jaynes's creative samples at https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson2
Visit: https://jayneemerson.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/jayneemersontextiles/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/JayneEmersonTextileDesign
Other places & people we mentioned:
Elizabeth Ashdown (Passementerie)
https://elizabethashdown.co.uk/
Other episodes you will enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/jayenemerson/
https://stitcherystories.com/florianeschmitt/
https://stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter/
Cornwall Cross Stitch Kit designer Emma Horan shares behind the scenes of her 'accidental' creative business based around counted cross stitch hand embroidery kits of the beautiful Cornish coast.
For the last 10 years, Emma has grown her cross stitch kit business from a therapeutic hobby as she recovered from illness, to a thriving creative business, shop & studio based in St Austell Town, Cornwall.
With the beautiful Cornish coast as her never-ending inspiration, with the desire to make bright colourful kits, Emma shares her journey from her first design made with 20p cross stitch software.
We peek into the 'nuts and bolts' of kit design and production and Emma kindly shares some hard-won lessons along the way!
Her mantra?
To provide kits so that people can stitch things that make them feel good.
Susan Weeks chats with Emma Horan about:
- painting & stitching as therapy whilst on sick leave from her corporate job
- her creative inspirations
- enjoying her studio and shop
- the steps from inspiration to kit for sale
- getting help and batch production
- dealing with counterfeiters
- colouring books?
- the beautiful and inspiring Cornish coast
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Emma's cross stitch kits at https://stitcherystories.com/emmahoran
Visit: https://www.emmalouiseartstitch.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/Emmalouiseartstitch/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Emmalouiseartstitch/
Tweet https://twitter.com/emmalouiseart
Other episodes you will enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/kriscampbell/
https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell/
https://stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/
Lottie Cockell started her creative business Purple Rose Embroidery fresh out of school, and has been busy growing shaping her business over the last 5 years. With a love of 'grid-based' hand embroidery, Lottie focuses on cross-stitch, blackwork and surface embroidery kits.
She is keen to try new things in her business and will often dive into the deep-end of something, figure it out as she goes, then decide if it is a direction that is suitable for her business and her self.
That's the magic about running our own business.... WE GET TO CHOOSE what we do and how it works for US.
This is a fabulous and very inspiring story, and I'm so pleased I spotted Lottie's colourful blackwork embroidery on Instagram, and never imagined the story that would be revealed!
Susan Weeks chats with Lottie about:
- Starting with hand embroidery commissions
- Quickly evolving into designs & kits
- Running her first stall ever at a high profile handmade event
- Designing her kits
- Encouraging and inspiring stitchers to have a go
- Shaping her business to suit her personality and lifestyle
- and so much more!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Lottie's art at https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell
Visit: https://purpleroseembroidery.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/purpleroseembroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/purpleroseembroidery
Also PurpleRoseEmbroidery on: TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest
Directory of all the things: https://bio.site/purpleroseembroidery
Other places & people we mentioned:
Kirstie Allsopp Handmade Fair
Hochanda / Create & Craft
Other episodes you will enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin/ https://stitcherystories.com/ilkecochrane/ https://stitcherystories.com/kriscampbell/
Prism Textile Group members Hayley Mills-Styles and Maria Walker share behind-the-scenes challenges of helping to organise an annual textile art exhibition which features work from the groups' international members.
Hayley & Maria explain the background and history of this well-known exhibiting group, and then we dive into the details of organising and marketing the annual exhibition.
This is a fascinating insight into the details of how such exhibitions spring into life, and the work that goes on behind-the-scenes by so many members.
The 2023 exhibition with a theme of 'Warped' is at The Art Pavillion, Mile End Park, East London from April 20th to May 1st
Susan Weeks chats with Hayley & Maria about:
- Connections & collaborations within the group
- The history of Prism textiles
- How the group organises itself
- Setting submission dates to support consistent event marketing
- Planning the exhibition
- Using social media to spotlight members textile art
- and so much more!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Prism group members art at https://stitcherystories.com/prismtextiles
Visit: https://www.prismtextiles.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/prismtextiles
Like: https://www.facebook.com/prismtextiles
Other places & people we mentioned:
Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, Clinton Road, London, E3 4QY
North Yorkshire Open Studios
https://www.nyos.org.uk/
The House Of Smalls
https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/
Other episodes you will enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/
https://stitcherystories.com/yorktextileartists/
Today I explore hand embroidered and beaded pop art with contemporary pop art textile artist Sarah Gwyer.
We talk about her magpie-like 'obsession' with colourful beads and charms and the artistic path to creating beaded portraits.
But beneath the colourful sparkling beads lies strong social commentary on celebrity, wealth and consumerism, all expressed in a distinctive pop art style.
And we dive into the copyright complexities that Sarah has found herself entwined in over her desire to portray celebrities as parody.
This is such an interesting chat, and thank you to Sarah for sharing her story. And of course... we have a good old laugh in amongst the serious topics!
Susan Weeks chats with Sarah Gwyer.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sarah's work at https://stitcherystories.com/sarahgwyer
Visit: https://www.sarahgwyer.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgwyer
Like: https://www.facebook.com/sarahgwyerartist
Other places & people we mentioned:
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
https://summer.royalacademy.org.uk/
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/eleanorpigman/
https://stitcherystories.com/alexhall/
https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/
Back in 2014, textile artist, academic & designer Vanessa Marr posed the question:
Women & Domesticity - What's Your Perspective?
And invited those thoughts to be embroidered upon a yellow duster, in red thread. Little did she realise what she had unleashed...
Nine years later, Vanessa has an amazing collection of embroidered dusters and an even more amazing collection of stories from the people (mostly women) who have sent her a duster. There are so many fascinating elements to this project, we barely scratch the surface!
We do have a laugh as we start our conversation highlighting the now closed one off collaboration with The Profanity Embroidery Group as part of their Domesticity themed exhibition in Whitstable, Kent in February 2023.
PEG were early guests on the podcast so this was a fun start to this episode BUT we must make it super clear that the general Domestic Dusters project is NOT about swearing about housework.
Susan Weeks chats with Vanessa Marr.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Vanessa's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/domesticdusters
Visit: https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com
Visit: https://marrvanessa.wordpress.com
Look: https://www.instagram.com/domesticdusters
Look: https://www.instagram.com/vanemarr
Research profile: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/vanessa-marr
Other places & people we mentioned:
The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Dinner Party by Judy Chicago
The Subversive Stitch by Rosita Parker
Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber
Profanity Embroidery Group (Whitstable)
https://pegwhitstable.co.uk/
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
https://stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/
https://stitcherystories.com/thereddress/
https://stitcherystories.com/karenruane/
Textile artist Kirstie Macleod shares her life in fabric & thread on Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast today! She shares her fascinating story of The Red Dress. It's an amazing project which has enabled unheard women, many in poverty, vulnerable through trauma and abuse, to share their personal stories, using the universal language of embroidery and hand stitching.
Kirstie had the idea for this dress back in 2009, and we chat about how the project and the dress has evolved over those years.
Connections and contrasts, empowerment & celebration, this is a story packed full of emotions.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of The Red Dress at https://stitcherystories.com/thereddress
Visit: https://reddressembroidery.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/thereddress_embroidery/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/thereddressembroidery
Other places & people we mentioned:
Tamay in Vietnam
https://reddressembroidery.com/Ly-Ta-May-Tamay
The FanSina artisans in St Catherines, Sinai, Egypt
Traces of Sisterhood, Salon Akademii Gallery, Warsaw, Poland
https://salonakademii.asp.waw.pl
‘SPEAKING OUT’, an exhibition dedicated to and co-produced by women survivors of conflict-based sexual violence, with the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
https://warchildhood.org/speaking-out-exhibition-experiences-of-crsv-survivors-and-children-born-of-war/
Preston Park Museum, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees
https://prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/
Embroidery artist Merrilyn Heazlewood shares her life in fabric & thread on Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast today! She takes us on a journey through her interesting and busy lifelong creative business career based around counted canvas work hand embroidery. And for those of you in the USA, you will know canvaswork as needlepoint.
Anyway, over the years, Merrilyn has owned several needlework shops, has written several books on wool embroidery, counted canvaswork techniques and also on silk ribbon embroidery. And she has also taught internationally for many years, in-person and now creating projects for online learning.
We catch up with Merrilyn as she looks forward to her summer holiday break, with several projects in mind to let her creativity flow.
Susan Weeks chats with Merrilyn about:
- why she opened a needlwork craft shop at age 23
- how she translates an idea into canvaswork and ribbon embroidery stitches
- playing with goldwork inspired by an ancient Aboriginal Rock art Echidna
- how do you learn crafts when your Mum is left-handed and you are right-handed?
- getting 'hooked' into counted cross-stitch embroidery
- combining silk ribbon embroidery with counted canvaswork / needlepoint
- a focus on inspiring customers
- self publishing several books...back inthe day when it was really difficult!
- selecting style, threads and accessories for 'longevity' of stitching
- meeting inspiring people around the world in so many locations
- designing the creative business you love and which protects your precious health.
- how NOT to thread your needle....
and so much more!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Merrilyn's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/merrilynheazlewood
Visit: https://merrilynheazlewood.com.au
Look: https://www.instagram.com/merrilynsstitches/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/MerrilynBHeazlewood
Other places & people we mentioned:
In Tasmania:
Tarraleah, Hobart, Launceston, Battery Point, Mount Wellington, Iron Pot (a small flat island in the mouth of the Derwent River, Tasmania)
The Kimberley region in north-west Australia
Aboriginal rock art Echidna
Gumnut Yarns
http://www.gumnutyarns.com/
Lowery Workstands
https://www.workstands.com/
Other episodes you will enjoy
Sarah Rakestraw: Glorious Goldwork Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/sarahrakestraw/
Tina Francis: Tapestry, Needlepoint, Canvaswork
https://stitcherystories.com/tinafrancis/
Ilke Cochrane: Delightful Hardanger Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/ilkecochrane/
A cheerful & inspiring episode as global listeners of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast share their stories of creative joy from 2022, and shoutout those 'joy bringers' who helped them in some way to achieve that joy.
Hello & Welcome to my final episode of 2022.
A recurring theme is how much comfort & joy creative activities bring us.
So I thought it would be lovely to hear your stories of creative JOY from 2022. But not only that, to give us an opportunity to hear about those people that helped create that joy for you - the JOY BRINGERS as I decided to call them.
A massive thank you to all of you who took the time to send in your JOY.
As usual I have created a blog post for this episode on the StitcheryStories.com site
Each contributor will be listed, with their links and also the details and links for their joy bringers.
I also sent out a quick question asking what your fevourite techniques, and again got some lovely replies, so I have featured a selection of those too, which are along the same theme of joy and yet more shoutouts to others.
Please tell your friends about this episode, share on socials thru stories, or write your own post, maybe with an image of you busy making and creating whilst listening? We can bring joy to others by sharing what we love. And it's always very much appreciated.
So as we wrap up 2022, I wish you all a creative and joyful 2023 Sue xxx
For this episode...
View Contributors, Links, & Information at https://stitcherystories.com/2022CreativeJoy
To support this embroidery & textile art podcast:
You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Course Creation Quick Start Guide. https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Elizabeth Griffiths is a mixed media artist using hand embroidery, lino print-making, inks and watercolours to explore a range of themes.
She shares the uplifting experience (and challenge!) of using hand embroidery as a competitor in Sky TV Portrait Artist Of The Year.
We dive behind the scenes!
Who was her portrait subject? How was it organised?
What was it like trying to compete using hand embroidery against 'paper & paint' artists?
This was just one of a number of events that have made 2022 a rollercoaster of a year for Elizabeth, and we chat about how these events have affected her art and creativity.
Susan Weeks chats with Elizabeth Griffiths about:
- Exploring mixed-media - lino prints, inks, watercolours - with hand embroidery
- The excitement of taking part in Sky Portrait Artist Of The Year
- How to use embroidery in a time limited, live, portrait competition
- Keeping true to her style
- Using mixed media to trigger embroidery
- Why Elizabeth put away her needles & thead for a while
- Do silk paints go off, we wondered?
- Evolving our art as we also evolve
- Using our art to cope with stress
- Having her 1st solo exhibition
- When everything happens at once...
and so much more!
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Elizabeth's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/elizabethgriffiths
Look: https://www.instagram.com/lizgstitches
Sky Portrait Artist Of The Year Competition 2022
https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/3e1cfda1-28a9-42f2-be75-220b7e8863ca/portrait-artist-of-the-year/episodes/season-9/episode-4
General Office - Gallery in Stourbridge, UK
https://generaloffice.co.uk/
Oh and for a laugh...
Sue mentioned that her portrait drawing attempts were like those of internet star 'Pet Portraits By Hercule'
Here is a BBC article about Hercule...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-58309087
Instagram: @portraitsbyhercule
To support this embroidery & textile art podcast:
You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Course Creation Quick Start Guide. https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Justine Warner: Textile art landscapes from a surprising source
https://stitcherystories.com/justinewarner/
Sorrell Kerrison: Creating Hand Embroidered Portraits
https://stitcherystories.com/sorrellkerrison/
Tracey Coverley: Textile Art Portraits
https://stitcherystories.com/traceycoverley/
Stacey Jones creates colourful, modern, abstract hand embroidery art. Her work powerfully reflects her thoughts & emotions through her life experiences.
Stacey shares her story of how her life with her husband has strongly informed her embroidery designs, particularly his illness, tragic death and her mourning process as she evolves into living alone. Embroidery has been a massive help to Stacey, and she shares stories and wisdom around the power of creativity in such situations.
This is a fascinating conversation about developing themes, ideas, inspirations, designs, colour and stitch.
Susan Weeks chats with Stacey Jones about:
- Using sunflowers as an enduring symbol of hope, strength and inspiration.
- The impact of mood & emotions on choosing a colour palette to work with.
- Considering 'the spaces in-between' and developing art around that concept.
- Inspiration from galaxies to the spaces inbetween seeds.
- Finding comfort in repetitive processes & stitching.
- Learning some new hand embroidery techniques, goldwork, tambour embroidery.
- Going to cool life drawing classes with neon painted models.
- The luxury of creating work purely for herself.
- Finding freedom in reposting her embroidery archive.
- Exciting plans for the future.
- Representing calm breath work with embroidery.
- Ways to spark creativity when you are feeling stuck.
- and so much more!
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of Stacey's work at https://stitcherystories.com/staceyjones
Look: https://www.instagram.com/bystaceyjones
The Hand & Lock embroidered arts exhibition 2021
https://handembroidery.com/hand-and-lock-exhibition-2021/
Sarcoma UK The bone & soft tissue cancer charity
https://sarcoma.org.uk/
To support this embroidery & textile art podcast:
You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Follow Susan Weeks for online course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information
on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Course Creation Quick Start Guide. https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Claire Edwards: Pushing The Boundaries Of Traditional Hand Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/
Jessica Grady: Embroidery Artist Using Unusual Materials And Bold Colours
https://stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady/
Michelle Morgan: Hand Embroidery Artist
https://stitcherystories.com/michellemorgan/
Floriane Schmitt loves to experiment with creative fabric manipulation ideas. Under her brand name of FloHomeDesign she creates accessories and home decor items from smocked neoprene and is writing a fabric manipulation book, due out end 2023.
Floriane shares her story of how her dream of a career in fashion evolved into specialising in fabric manipulation and creating her own collections bringing a very modern twist on some traditional Canadian Smocking techniques with very modern materials. Neoprene + Smocking = Neosmock
Floriane has packed a lot of experience into her education and career so far, topped off by her fabulous story behind the fabric manipulation book she is writing at time of recording (Oct 2022). This is an inspiring story of 'going for it, making opportunities, and of saying Yes!
Susan Weeks chats with Floriane Schmitt about:
- A chance comment on Instagram that led to a book writing deal
- The structure and challenges of creating her book
- Don't be afraid to show your work
- Using Instagram as a quicker way to showcase your skills and work
- Making a major pivot from fashion design to fabric manipulation designer
- Creating her accessories and home decor collections and brand
- Giving a traditional technique an interesting twist with modern materials
- Her inspiring internship
- Innovation with new fabrics and creative fabric manipulation techniques
- You can't keep the creativity flowing for endless hours
- and so much more!
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of Floriane's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/florianeschmitt
Visit: https://linktr.ee/florianeschmitt
https://florianeschmitt.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/florianeschmitt
Look: https://www.instagram.com/flohomedelight
Inspiration from Iris Van Herpen:
https://www.irisvanherpen.com/
You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners. Course Creation Quick Start Guide.
https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Ann Small: Layered Cloth
https://stitcherystories.com/annsmall/
Jayne Emerson: Textile Designer, Author & Tutor
https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson/
Kathleen Laurel Sage: Shaping Machine Embroidery With Heat
https://stitcherystories.com/kathleenlaurelsage/
Cath Janes is an award-winning human anatomical embroidery artist.
Under her brand name of Kraken Kreations she combines anatomically correct illustrations with colourful hand embroidery which all have a story to tell.
Cath shares her honest and hilarious story of the ups and downs of the creative life of an artist, and her unique and distinctive art. There is so much entertainment as well as valuable creative business lessons contained within this episode of the Stitchery Stories textile art and embroidery podcast.
Maybe you dream of going viral on Instagram, worry about being artistically lonely, or struggle to set boundaries and price your art?
You will certainly find some inspiration and hard-earned experience today. Oh, and have a right good laugh too!
Susan Weeks chats with Cath Janes about:
- Joys & frustrations of commissions
- Inspiring stories behind her anatomical embroidery commissions
- Her commissioned hoops are often part of a healing process
- Importance & prevalence of medical illustrations
- What is 'false colour'
- The surprising catalyst for becoming an anatomical embroiderer
- Anyone else love dissecting things?
- Dealing with artistic loneliness and finding your tribe
- What really happens when a 'reel' video goes 'viral' on Instagram
- Balancing commercial pressures with artistic urges
and so much more!
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Cath's work at https://stitcherystories.com/cathjanes
Visit: https://www.krakenkreations.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenKreations
Look: https://www.instagram.com/krakenkreationscath
You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast
Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Course Creation Quick Start Guide.
https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Ruth Norbury: Capturing Urban Decay With Textile Art https://stitcherystories.com/ruthnorbury/
Profanity Embroidery Group: Huge Fun. Beautiful Art. Ugly Words https://stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/
Jane Sanders: Textile Portraits Of Iconic Pop Stars https://stitcherystories.com/janesanders/
Susan Hensel is a multidisciplinary artist with a long-established career. She combines mixed media with digital machine embroidery to create beautiful sculptural forms flooded with colour. Alongside runs her gallery & curatative experience, giving us a fabulous guest sharing her art practice wisdom, on Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
Art is all about communication. Creating art to interpret your thoughts, inspirations, perhaps trying to make sense of the world.
And the communication continues long after the art is finished.... you need to tell everyone about it, so they can enjoy it too. Susan has some great advice about this side of a successful art practice.
We also dive into the aspects of when you take your art career to the 'next level' of exhibitions and galleries.
Susan Weeks chats with Susan Hensel about:
Getting excited about digital machine embroidery
The frustrations of inconsistent materials
Current inspirations from climate change & weather maps
How Donald Duck's blue jacket sent her into a life-changing artistic pivot!
Using techniques & approach appropriate for the ideas you are trying to express
Evolving beyond the clay & brealing out of the rectangle
Opening a gallery as a way of meting new people
Getting media & press attention
Artist representation
Understanding the gallery business
There are artists everywhere - who have created everything we use Switching between 'business mode' and 'creative mode' can be so difficult
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of Susan's work at
https://stitcherystories.com/susanhensel
Visit: https://susanhenselprojects.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/SusanHenselProjects/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/susan_hensel_multimedia_artist
Tweet: @hensel_susan
Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://virtualityworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners. Course Creation Quick Start Guide.
https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
David Morrish : Disruptive Digital Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/davidmorrish/
Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery
https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/
Kathleen Laurel Sage: Shaping Machine Embroidery With Heat
https://stitcherystories.com/kathleenlaurelsage/
Jennie-maree Tempest is a textile artist living on the Bass Coast of Australia. After many years creating art quilts and portraits, she has decided to challenge her textile art skills and creativity by creating textile art botanical sculptures.
Jennie-maree focuses her creativity inspired by the native Australian species that grow around her coastal home. The latest is a flowering yucca that is around 6ft / nearly 2m tall! It has been a massive undertaking, and has taken over four months of hard work to create. It's not only a challenge of textile art but also of construction. How did she make such a large item out of fabric & threads?
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Jennie-maree Tempest chats with Susan Weeks about her inspirations and challenges and her creative life by the coast.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jennie-maree's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/JenniemareeTempest
Visit: https://jemartem.com/
Like : https://www.facebook.com/JemARTem/
Look : https://www.instagram.com/jemartem.textiles/
Buy : https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/JemartemTextiles
Pin : https://www.pinterest.co.uk/jemartem/
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Nikki Parmenter shares her life in fabric & thread & a wide range of interesting materials too!
She chats with Susan Weeks about the wide range of inspirations and materials that she uses to create her large scale art. And although Nikki has a Fine Art background, she is very much self-taught when it comes to incorporating textiles and embroidery into the mix! Plenty of experimenting has developed a vivid and exuberant style.
Nikki 'escaped' the world of education back in 2016 but her absolute delight in teaching people still shines through everything that she does, and teaching is still an important aspect of her art practice.
In fact, as the global pandemic took hold, and everything was cancelled, Nikki carried on experimenting, and moved online, becoming very visible, and offering online workshops and talks via Zoom rather than the traditional 'in-person' approach. She shares plenty of tips and insight into how she did that, and the results she has generated.
For this episode... all links, info & examples of Nikki's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter
Tanya Bentham is an expert in the style of hand embroidery known as 'Opus Anglicanum'. It is a style of embroidery that was prevalent in the 13th & 14th centuries in England. Very specific stitches are used in a specific way with specific materials and style.
Tanya shares her fascinating story of how she got started in embroidery and how the obsession with Opus Anglicanum started.
It may sound dull that Tanya takes her inspiration from Medieval manuscripts. Far from it! Those manuscripts contain hilarious situations and crazy characters and this was an area that I wanted to dig down into with Tanya.
There is a lot of humour in her work. She also loves to take old images and put a modern twist on them, but still using relevant imagery and sticking strictly to the style and methods of the era.
Tanya has brought all that knowledge and experience together and her first book is just about to be published... exciting times!
Susan Weeks chats with Tanya about:
- What is Opus Anglicanum?
- The main stitches used and the specific thread.
- Her twist of 'The 3 living & the 3 dead'
- How to create a face in Opus Anglicanum
- Historical re-enactment
- Writing her book
- Knitting in the dark!
- Finding it difficult to start things and preferring longer bigger projects
- Where do all the crazy characters and silly scenes come from?
- Just how nerdy is nerdy?
- Medieval simplicity vs Jacobean crewelwork exuberance
- Learning which rules you can break so it is still 'Medieval'
- What to wear when you are a proper artist
- A fab excuse for not finishing a piece of embroidery....
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Tanya's work at https://stitcherystories.com/tanyabentham
Visit: https://www.opusanglicanumembroidery.com/
Like : https://www.facebook.com/groups/2131204437191134/
Read : https://opusanglicanum.wordpress.com/
Look : https://www.instagram.com/opusanglicanum/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJl2IvOniL94jIym33JNYA
Tweet: https://twitter.com/Opusembroidery
SIGN UP for Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox to get started for FREE on your online course creation journey
https://www.craftyonlinecoursecreator.info/workbox
Other episodes you might like! https://www.stitcherystories.com/phillipaturnbull/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/clarehunter/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/stamfordbridgetapestryproject/
Other links and things we talked about:
The Luttrell Psalter
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-luttrell-psalter
The Syon Cope
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-syon-cope
Bananarama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A-w5L7pygE
Asterix & Obelix
https://www.asterix.com/en/
Tintin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin
Les Dawson - wonky piano playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nNGlaiVypU
Vendulka Battais is a textile artist, quilter, embroiderer and designer who started her creative journey making clothes with her mum in the Czech Republic. She learnt simple patchwork when she moved to the UK and was looking for a new hobby!
Vendulka shares her fabulous story of where that early interest in patchwork took her. It's a story of creativity and of making opportunities and of taking action. From squares and triangles, Vendulka's work has evolved into quilting and embroidery, and a love of circular patterns inspired by mandalas and dream-catchers. Her love of teaching shines through with in-person classes and her new range of online video courses too.
Susan Weeks chats with Vendulka about:
- Coming out of covid lockdown and wondering what's next.
- Her dream of creating on demand online video classes.
- It's a whole new set of skills creating an online course.
- If you don't have guidance then you need plenty of time for trial and error!
- Investing effort into creating an on-demand online course is creating future income
- Habits have changed and online courses are now seen as a great way of learning and networking
- Running her fabric & haberdashery shop in Suffolk
- Starting her creative adventure with simple patchwork and quilting
- Starting a group which encourages designers to share their patterns and a central place to buy patterns from
- Connecting designers / creators with makers
- Being inspired by a 'stairway to heaven'
- Wanting to turn her hobby into a business and support her family
- Learning how to run a shop
- Celebrating 10 years as a shop business owner
- It's OK to improve over time... Just Start!
- Learning how to create with what you have
- The meditative effect of free motion quilting
- Glow in the dark fabric mandalas
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Vendulka's work at https://stitcherystories.com/vendulkabattais
Visit: https://www.oliven.co.uk/
Like : https://www.facebook.com/olivenpatchwork
Look : https://www.instagram.com/vendulkaoliven/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwNXZS-is0c
JOIN our Facebook Group to Buy & Sell patterns https://www.facebook.com/groups/buysellpatterns
SIGN UP for Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox to get started for FREE on your online course creation journey
https://www.craftyonlinecoursecreator.info/workbox
Other episodes you might like
https://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/saimakaur/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/lorraineturner/
Lorraine Turner is a textile artist who gives support for endangered animals through her vibrant textile art.
Lorraine has been a practicing artist for many years as a graphic designer, working on wide variety of commercial projects but her adventure into textile art started a few years ago, and she adopted the 'no rules' approach to her textile art creations.
Lorraine works on large textile art portraits of endangered animals, using bright patterned fabrics, materials and techniques that she experiments with to achieve what's in her head. Fabric applique, hand and free machine embroidery, aspects of quilting, so many techniques are layered together to produce her stunning art.
A key impact on Lorraine's work is her inspiration. Endangered animals come to her via her daily meditations and tell her their stories and troubles. This is a fascinating story of working from the heart and attracting fabulous opportunities along the way.
Lorraine chats with Susan Weeks in this episode of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
Her current Monarch butterfly art challenge The 'no rules' method of developing her textile art Taking it all back to the core Developing the commercial aspects of her art practice to support her focus & passions Generating revenue & charging for her expertise Meditation as inspiration for textile art How to shut off your brain and unplug Working with groups and uplifting children What makes your heart sing? Attracting amazing opportunities
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Lorraine's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/lorraineturner
Visit: https://calicohorses.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lorraine-Turner-Textile-Artist/100063678787825/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/lorraineturnerartist/
Buy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LorraineTurnerArtist
Sew: Monarch Butterfly Challenge
https://calicohorses.com/monarch-sewing-art-challenge/
Follow Sue for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Get your FREE "Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox" and fortnightly 'Crafty Course Chat'
https://bit.ly/3sgAIji
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Janine Heschl
https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl/
Kate Tume
https://www.stitcherystories.com/katetume/
Catriona Baird is Textiles Curator at Paisley Museum, in Scotland, which celebrates it's 150th anniversary on 11th April 2021.
Catriona shares the story of the Paisley pattern - that swirly floral stylised teardrop motif that pops up in so many designs and objects, as well as of course on the famous Paisley Shawls.
This is a story that brings together geography, history, fashion and textiles and gives a fabulous insight into early industrial textile production too.
In this episode of Stitchery Stories, Catriona Baird chats with Susan Weeks around:
- Her current research as part of the Paisley Museum Re-imagined Project
- What is the Paisley Pattern
- Where did the Paisley pattern originate
- The history of Paisley as an important textile production centre
- Making Paisley Shawls
- The Jaquard Loom and making 'point paper' designs
- Paisley Museum history & its collections
- The types and styles of Paisley shawls
- The first exhibition of Paisley shawls
- The links with The Needlework Development Scheme
- Investigating the museum collections
- The museum re-development project
And we also make a CALLOUT for interesting objects which feature the Paisley pattern and have an interesting story.
If you have an interesting Paisley object with an interesting story then please email a picture and the story to Catriona at the museum and she will be delighted.
Email: paisleymuseum@renfrewshire.gov.uk
For this episode...
View Links, information & Examples of the paisley pattern at http://www.stitcherystories.com/paisleypattern
Visit: https://reimagined.paisleymuseum.org/
Like: https://en-gb.facebook.com/PaisleyMuseum/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/paisleymuseum/
Tweet: @PaisleyMuseum
Follow Sue for course creation and online marketing stuff
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining
https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Get your FREE "Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox" https://bit.ly/3sgAIji
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Lindy Richardson & The Needlework Development Scheme
https://www.stitcherystories.com/lindyrichardson/
Dr Jennie Batchelor & The Great Lady's Magazine Stitch-off
https://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor/
Clare Hunter: Banner Maker Writing The Threads Of Life
https://www.stitcherystories.com/clarehunter/
Dr Gail Cowley is the founder and director of The School Of Stitched Textiles. Through the school, Gail offers a range of courses from beginner through to advanced practitioner, in a range of textile related subjects.
As we hit the one year anniversary of Covid disruptions, lockdowns and challenges, we dig into many topics around online education and the acceptance of technology and learning via the internet.
Gail shares tons of wisdom around creating online courses for practical, art and craft topics, and the changes that she has witnessed over the last few years in particular. We also chat about building and maintaining community around our stitching and learning, as well as how we can all support the things that we love.
In this episode of Stitchery Stories, Gail Cowley chats with Susan Weeks around:
- knitting socks: her new lockdown obsession
- the volume of course work produced by her students during the pandemic
- everyone being more comfortable with video chats, using zoom, Facebook lives etc
- connections & community
- her path to being an online course creator
- evolution of moving courses into digital delivery
- working with a professional videographer
- making filming an enjoyable experience...
- ... and how it shows in the finished videos.
- It's time to 'up our game' in the quality of our digital content production
- the pleasure of following students progress into employment & business opportunities
- the impact we have on other's lives
- the unexpected contents in a bag of a student's work
- new courses coming up in needle felting & crewel work
- the new online exhibition to showcase students work
- the Stitch Directory: directory of small independent suppliers
- Please support your local independent suppliers
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples from The School Of Stitched Textiles courses at http://www.stitcherystories.com/gailcowley
Visit: https://www.sofst.org/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolOfStitchedTextiles/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/school_of_stitch/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/sofst1/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCroaRYOYR5GlROrodMfIybw
Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.
Get your FREE "Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox"
https://bit.ly/3sgAIji
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Sara Dennis https://www.stitcherystories.com/saradennis/
Jane Sanders https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders/
Ami James https://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames/
Other people & Places mentioned:
The Repair Shop
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08l581p
Gawthorpe Hall
https://www.gawthorpetextiles.org.uk/
Ruth Norbury is a textile artist who specialises in creating urban decay art. But Ruth is full of contrasts and surprises, and today we dig into her story. She is almost entirely self taught, and loves to experiment to create the look and feel of her textile art. It's an ongoing challenge to represent the processes of decay in the urban landscape and buildings, using fabric and thread.
So with that being said... you will be surprised to discover the subject that Ruth had been embroidering for many years! Feeling trapped by the commercial success of her embroidery art, Ruth has (finally) allowed her true artistic soul to emerge and guess what? What she produces now brings more success than her original topic ever did!
There is so much to chat about and reflect upon in our conversation.
In this episode of Stitchery Stories, Ruth chats with Susan Weeks around:
- falling into an artistic genre that really doesn't reflect your true soul
- being brave to make changes so you can be more 'you'
- even a small niche is massive on the global internet
- having the confidence to step into your true niche
- attracting your true audience, your 'tribe' as they say
- the confidence in deciding to do your thing and be you
- printing experiments
- a novel way of dealing with UFO's
- the camera never lies....
- canal boat living
- the dragon phase
- the perils and delights of taking (and offering) advice
- excited about experimenting again
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Ruth's urban decay artwork at http://www.stitcherystories.com/ruthnorbury
Visit: https://www.ruthnorbury.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/ruthnorburyartist
Look: https://www.instagram.com/ruthnorburyart
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Claire Fell https://www.stitcherystories.com/clairefell/
Laura Edgar https://www.stitcherystories.com/lauraedgar/
Sorrell Kerrison https://www.stitcherystories.com/sorrellkerrison/
Other people & Places mentioned:
Tides gallery, Mumbles
https://www.tidesfineartgallery.co.uk/
The Embroiderers' Guild in the UK was established back in 1906 and is a charity established to build awareness of stitch and textile art. They educate, encourage, inspire and promote the achievement of excellence. And also the Guild preserves an important collection of embroidery and textile art.
Penny Hill is one of the Board of trustees of the Guild and today (February 2021) we are chatting about a very upsetting crisis within the Guild. It is on the verge of financial collapse, and drastic measures are being proposed by the Trustees to rescue what can be rescued to best meet the Guild's charitable objectives (and requirements).
The members of the Guild are understandably upset and angry at the measures being proposed, and therefore I invited the Guild to come and chat about what's happening.
Penny stepped up to chat with me
Susan Weeks chats with Penny Hill around the issues facing the Embroiderers Guild and the forthcoming General Meeting to be held on 4th March 2021.
We talked about:
- The role of the trustees
- The origins and history of the guild
- The crisis resulting from falling membership and closing branches
- The drastic proposals to save the Guild & the collection
- What will happen to the Branches going forward
- Looking forward
For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of some embroidery from the collection at http://www.stitcherystories.com/pennyhill
Visit: https://embroiderersguild.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/embroiderersguild
Look: https://www.instagram.com/embroiderersguildukofficial/
Learn: https://embroiderersguild.com/courses/
JoinIn: https://embroiderersguild.com/threadit/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Guild Scholars:
David Morrish https://www.stitcherystories.com/davidmorrish/
Georgina Bellamy
https://www.stitcherystories.com/georginabellamy/
Beryl Dean Award recipient Jan Dowson
https://www.stitcherystories.com/jandowson/
Featured Guild Trustees:
Anthea Godfrey
https://www.stitcherystories.com/antheagodfrey/
Loetitia Gibier
https://www.stitcherystories.com/loetitiagibier/
Tartan Designer: Emma Wilkinson
https://www.instagram.com/emmawilkinson.design/
Deanne Fitzpatrick is the artist and businesswoman behind HookingRugs, a globally popular rug hooking business based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Deanne shares with us a very interesting glimpse behind the scenes of her daily life as an artist and creative business owner.
Susan Weeks chats with Deanne today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. We delve into the backstory of how Deanne got hooked on rug hooking and why and how she started to develop a business around her beloved hobby. She talks about her creative process, and inspirations and her passion for sharing her art through rug hooking kits, online courses creation, several books about rug hooking and her successful weekly Facebook 'lives'.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Deanne's work at
http://www.stitcherystories.com/deanefitzpatrick
Visit: https://www.hookingrugs.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/DeanneFitzpatrickStudio
Listen: https://hookingrugs.com/pages/podcasts
Look: https://www.instagram.com/hookingrugs/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Tina Francis https://www.stitcherystories.com/tinafrancis/
Jenni Dutton https://www.stitcherystories.com/jennidutton/
Other places, people & things mentioned:
Art Gallery Of Nova Scotia
https://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/
Nimbus Publishing
https://nimbus.ca/
Mary Corbet is the creator behind 'Needle N Thread' a globally popular and very long-standing hand embroidery blog. It is very much the hub of her brand, and through it, Mary shares her beautiful hand embroidery designs and kits, embroidery 'how-to' videos and creates an informative and enjoyable stream of blog posts about all things hand embroidery.
Susan Weeks chats with Mary today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast.
We delve into the backstory of why and how Mary got started with her blog and some of the challenges along the way. 2020 was a challenge for us all, so as we get started with 2020, Mary shares her projects and plans for the coming year, and we both agree.... we are NOT Wonder Woman so why do we try to cram in so much into our lives???
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Mary's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/marycorbet
Visit: https://www.needlenthread.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/MaryCorbetsNeedleNThread
Join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/needlenthreadcommunity
Look: https://www.instagram.com/needlenthreadmc/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Sharon Boggon
https://www.stitcherystories.com/sharonboggon/
Cindy Jackson
https://www.stitcherystories.com/cindyjackson/
Other places, people & things mentioned:
Inspirations Magazine https://www.inspirationsstudios.com/
Erica Wilson
Jane Zimmerman
Mary Thomas
Elisabetta Sforza
https://elisabettasforzaembroidery.it/en/
Cindy Jackson is a freelance embroiderer, embroidery designer and embroidery tutor based in Ottawa, Canada, with a fascination for Tudor embroidery. In fact Cindy is an expert in this area, with published research papers and she has also developed kits and classes focused on Tudor embroidery.
Susan Weeks chats with Cindy today on Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Some highlights of our chat include:
- Learning how to teach online and loving it!
- Has online teaching breathed new life into embroidery?
- So many people are picking up a needle and enjoying the theraputic benefits of embroidery
- Enjoying her new basement studio during snowy weather and lockdown
- More online visibility for textile artists
- More online accessibility for experienced embroiderers and learners alike
- The habit of a daily Facebook post
- The consistency of keeping going is one of our biggest challenges with social media
- "Let's do it online and make an adventure of it"
- It was a shot in the dark... applying to be an RSN Apprentice in the 70s, from Toronto!
- From RSN Apprentice to Cartographic Technician
- Flabbergasted by the Elizabethan Burse at the British Museum
- Where and What is Gutter Lane?
- Invenire Gaudium "Find Joy"
- The detailed process of creating a design for a kit or course
- Mailing envelopes around the world to eager students
- Helping stitchers to meet others from around the world
- "they are not UFO's they are experiments!"
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Cindy's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/cindyjackson
Visit: https://gutterlaneembroidery.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/gutterlaneembroidery
Look: https://www.instagram.com/gutter_lane_embroidery/
Other Episodes You Might Like:
Natalie Dupuis
https://www.stitcherystories.com/nataliedupuis/
Sarah Rakestraw
https://www.stitcherystories.com/sarahrakestraw/
Other places, people & things mentioned:
Burse For The Great Seal of Elizabeth 1 at the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1997-0301-1
Worshipful Company Of Broderers
Broderers Hall, Gutter Lane 1515 to 1940
https://broderers.co.uk/
Here we are on the final day of 2020 and what a challenge it has been!
But we all know that so let's focus instead upon the inspiring highlights based around stitching, embroidery & textile art.
Come and listen as Sue Weeks presents some fabulous 2020 Stitchery Highlights from listeners from around the world.
Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast is a globally popular podcast, and everyday it is featured in many places around the world in the Apple Podcasts Top 200.
Listeners have sent a wonderful range of highlights and stories.
Common 'threads' are:
- Keeping connected with each thru through embroidery
- Community projects and creative challenges
- Using up what we have
- Being creative keeps us all sane
- Our art tells stories, creates movements, honours people and creates a bright spot in a gloomy day.
All the artists who shared their stories are listed in the episode show notes over on
https://www.stitcherystories.com/2020ListenerHighlights
along with their links and images.
And there is plenty of stuff to follow and enjoy over on Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Keep Stitching, Keep Smiling,
Happy New Year for 2021.
Cheers, Sue xxx
As we head towards Christmas 2020, Sue Weeks, from Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, shares her Christmas Greetings.
Sue is searching for your inspiring 2020 Stitchery Highlights to share in a special Highlights episode for the last day of 2020.
She knows that they are out there - let's share our creativity and positivity and celebrate what we HAVE achieved in this very weird year.
And then to round off with some silliness, Sue shares her embroidery version of the 12 Days Of Christmas. Yes, it's the 12 Embroideries Of Christmas! No poultry, milking maids or leaping lords in this version!
Enjoy your festive holiday break and celebrations, as and when you can, with what you have, and with as much sparkle and positivity and love as you can summon.
Happy Christmas,
Cheers, Sue xxx
For this episode... View Images & Lyrics at https://www.stitcherystories.com/christmas2020
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Today we meet Kris Campbell, a textile artist from New York state who has decided to take cross stitch to the absolute MAX!
This is a fascinating story where we can see the threads of an artist's story come together in a body of work.
In response to the global pandemic and the desire to make viewing art a safe experience, Kris decided to create a series of bold flowers, sewn in cross stitch.... on 11ft (4 metres) squares of construction debris netting. YES - that stuff they use to cloak buildings to protect passersby from falling construction debris!
She creates translucent floral tapestries, featuring one large bold bloom and is making a rainbow of them. They are outdoor art, designed to viewed in a field, and Kris is also fascinated in whether they will actually survive out there and what happens as they age. As Kris says, "this is not your Grandmothers needlework!"
Susan Weeks chats with Kris on this episode of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
- The challenge of creating art to be exhibited outdoors
- Using construction debris netting for her cross stitch
- Cross stitch on a massive scale
- Filling her studio with one piece of stitching
- Fighting the urge to use flowers as her subject matter
- This is 'socially distanced' textile art
- An exploration in failure
- Tapestries swaying gently in the wind
- Will her art survive the great outdoors?
- And if not... why not
- The hilarious subject of her first stitching adventure
- Byzantine paintings with golden domes and coloured mosaics are very inspiring for Kris
- Creating an entire body of work planned from the start
- The beauty of wool even though Kris doesn't like using it
- Choosing materials
- Best quote of the year... "only 40ft was stitched in 4 weeks"
- Creating a giant Pride rainbow of giant flowers designed to be experienced outside
For this episode
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Kris's massive cross stitch flowers at https://www.stitcherystories.com/kriscampbell
Visit: https://www.kriscampbellart.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/kriscampbellart
Other Episodes We Mentioned:
Jenni Dutton
https://www.stitcherystories.com/jennidutton/
Phillipa Turnbull
https://www.stitcherystories.com/phillipaturnbull/
Claire Fell is a machine embroidery artist who believes that textile art is a haven from the harsh realities of what we call modern life! She has recently written her first book 'Machine Embroidery - Techniques and Projects' and Claire shares her story of how her 'creative outburst' came into being, and the creative adventure she enjoyed along the way. In fact Claire's whole creative career is a fascinating string of serendipity as she learnt to listen to that inner voice and take action.
The strong theme running through Claire's story however is one of determination to keep going and to follow her dream, taking tough but necessary decisions along the way.
Susan Weeks chats with Claire about:
- Settling down and feeling drained after her book
- Learning to value herself as an artist and to stop putting herself last.
- The power of enrolling in a local business course
- Developing the courage to move forward
- Almost giving up with embroidery
- Keeping going through the turmoil of our lives
- How do we choose between work, our health, and our art
- The challenge of planning and creating her book so it reflected her vision
- Starting her embroidery career in ecclesiastical embroidery
- Needing the motivation of having a goal to aim for
- Finding her creative focus and confidence
- Using water soluble film to transfer designs for machine embroidery
- UFO's breeding everywhere in the house, and even in the shed!
- The unfinished face....
- Why no-one likes the sound of their own voice, so DON'T let it stop you!
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Claire's machine embroidery at https://www.stitcherystories.com/clairefell
Visit: https://www.clairefell.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/clairefellmachineembroideryartist
Look: https://www.instagram.com/clairefelltextileartist/
Read: Machine Embroidery Techniques and Projects from The Crowood Press
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/clarencecole
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Emma Broughton https://www.stitcherystories.com/emmabroughton/
Annie Crane
https://www.stitcherystories.com/anniecrane
Jayne Emerson
https://www.stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson/
Other People, Places & Things mentioned:
Felicity Howatson ( Revelations)
Carol Naylor
http://www.carolnaylor.co.uk/
Eat That Frog - Get more of the important things done today
by Brian Tracy
Why the sound of your own voice makes you cringe
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jul/12/the-real-reason-the-sound-of-your-own-voice-makes-you-cringe
Justine Warner is inspired by the beautiful Yorkshire countryside on her doorstep and has developed a distinctive style for the textile art landscapes she creates. She works under the brand Pearl Loves Paisley.
She loves to experiment with different techniques and materials. A VERY surprising and very important element in her work is... patterned men's ties. Yes, stripey, spotty, and particularly paisley. When you look closely you can see those patterns hiding in plain sight in her atmospheric landscapes of woods and rolling hills.
Justine shares her inspiration, techniques and her story of how she has developed her art practice alongside being a busy secondary school teacher.
Susan Weeks chats with Justine Warner about:
- Her love of recycling - even old photographic plates
- Renovating old stables into a lovely new studio
- Hiding patterned men's ties in plain sight in her landscapes
- Oooooo winning a prize at the village show as a total newcomer!
- Creating landscapes inspired by the local scenery
- Blending the patterns, textures and richness of the ties
- The delights of the village Jumble Sale
- What to do with all the labels from all those ties?
- Using Tyvek, Lutrador, painting on Bondaweb, and burning back the layers
- It's hard to know where to start capturing the beauty and variety of the Yorkshire landscape
- Having a love hate relationship with seed beads
- Practical solutions developed by trial and error
- Creating personal connections combining a loved ones ties and their favourite view
- Juggling school teaching and her own art practice development
- Setting up Zoom online workshops
- When we love what we are doing, it doesn't ever feel like hard work!
- Who is Pearl and why does she love Paisley???
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Justine's textile art at https://www.stitcherystories.com/justinewarner
Visit: https://www.justinewarnerartist.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/JustineWarnerArtist/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/pearl_loves_paisley/
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Fran Brammer
https://www.stitcherystories.com/franbrammer/
Lynn Comley
https://www.stitcherystories.com/lynncomley/
Laura Edgar
https://www.stitcherystories.com/lauraedgar/
North Yorkshire & East Yorkshire places we also mentioned:
Millington Woods
Thixendale
Hornsea
Pocklington
Nunnington
Sheriff Hutton
Boggle Hole
Sandsend
Driffield
Yorkshire Arboretum
https://www.yorkshirearboretum.org/
Castle Howard
https://www.castlehoward.co.uk/
Nunnington Hall
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall
Nunnington Galleries
https://www.nunningtongalleries.co.uk/
Salt gallery, Beverley
https://www.galleryatsalt.co.uk/about
And here are a couple of links to some lovely photographs around different areas of Yorkshire:
https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a518/pictures-of-yorkshire-that-are-so-beautiful-it-hurts/
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/incoming/gallery/beautiful-yorkshire-300714-7533874
https://unsplash.com/s/photos/yorkshire
Sharon Boggon embraced the internet back in 1996 and has been an inspiring leader in embroidery both online and offline, for many years. She has a passion for building enriching communities of stitchers and strives to keep embroidery alive.
Sharon reminds us how difficult it was in the early internet days to make and share images and create web pages, and tells the story of how her online stitch directory has developed from such technologically trying times.
Fast forward to 2020 and Sharon is still building communities, it's much easier with Facebook! As well as continuing to push forward the creativity of hand embroidery stitches with her second book coming out in November 2020. YAY.
Susan Weeks chats with Sharon Boggon about:
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sharon's embroidery at https://www.stitcherystories.com/sharonboggon
Visit: https://pintangle.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/pintangle
Pin: https://www.pinterest.com.au/sharonboggon/boards/
Join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/696049427533461 (creative embroidery)
Join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/128698983911229 (take a stitch tuesday)
Join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1968574283398317 (fabric books)
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Susie Martin https://www.stitcherystories.com/susiemartin/
Jessica Grady https://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady/
Jan Dowson https://www.stitcherystories.com/jandowson/
Today on Stitchery Stories we have a very unique story, where embroidery has been the catalyst for a personal journey of discovery, of re-connecting with family and deep spiritual meanings.
We are usually chatting about embroidery as an art form, or decoration of functional items. For Erika Maizi however, the interest in embroidery has grown from meditation, spiritualism, and the symbolism within the embroidery and connections with her Kazak and Siberian families.
Sacred embroidery as we discuss today, is not embroidery used in churches. It is the deeply personal symbols that emerge through a meditative state, whilst exploring one's own past and destiny. We talk of fascinating elements of Norse and Russian mythology, and cultural traditions, and therefore embroidery, from Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
This is a fascinating story of healing and reconnecting with ancestors and family, and the women's wisdom and stories within embroidery.
There are many terms, places and people that will be very unfamiliar so I have also listed them on Erika's episode on StitcheryStories.com to help you make further discoveries.
Susan Weeks chats with Erika Maizi about:
- Re-connecting with family in Kazakhstan
- Her journey on the Trans-Siberia Railway
- Discovering the symbolism and personal stories within sacred embroidery
- Creating her first 'Rushnyk' - her destiny towel
- The story of creating her embroidered symbolic destiny dress
- Her vision of preserving cultural embroidery from Kazakhstan & Mongolia
- Connecting with powerful goddess energy
- The symbolism within goldwork and the power of golden threads
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Erika's sacred embroidery at https://www.stitcherystories.com/erikamaizi
Visit: https://erikaamaizing.me/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232724404592026
Look: https://www.instagram.com/weavingdestiny
Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/erikamaizi11
Watch https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGODpjFUsuPCw_rO-PfvFA/videos
Read: https://erikaamaizing.me/my-book-thewyrdingway
Aluna The Movie
http://www.alunathemovie.com/
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Louise Gardiner (and her Cape Of Empowerment)
https://www.stitcherystories.com/louisegardiner/
Diane Gaffney Textile Traders
https://www.stitcherystories.com/dianegaffney/
The inspiration for today's episode of Stitchery Stories comes from litter, running and Sheffield Embroiderers' Guild. David Morrish is enjoying his exploration of digital embroidery and he very much enjoys collaborating with other artists to grow awareness and appreciation of embroidery as a vibrant and fascinating art form.
David, who has a background in fashion, shares his very interesting story of how he started creating and exploring digital embroidery. Working through his Masters Degree in Fashion & Textiles has pushed his creativity and developed some fascinating ideas. I discovered David through his connection with Sheffield Embroiderers' Guild and his 'marathon' embroidery project which documents the prevalence of litter along the route of the Windermere Marathon. Since I love running, hate litter, love embroidery and sharing a great story, and of course with my involvement with the Embroiderers' Guild, this was a perfect Stitchery Story!
David is so full of enthusiasm and creativity, and I love the way in which he is reaching out to other artists in different mediums and collaborating with them. The results are fabulous!
Susan Weeks chats with David Morrish about:
- documenting his full creative process not just the outcome
- the power of just asking
- why did they say yes?
- what is digital embroidery?
- using the power of the computer and machine in a unique creative way
- combining running, embroidery... and litter?
- loving the idea of many people creating together
- A BIG shout out to Sheffield Embroiderers' Guild
- 1 foot to 1 mile, it's a marathon of embroidery
- combining Peter Rabbit with a can of Strongbow cider
- on being an Embroiderers' Guild scholar
- promoting embroidery to a wider world through collaborations
- learning to value our work
- celebrating all forms of embroidery
- what happened at Mile 15?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of David's digital embroidery at https://www.stitcherystories.com/davidmorrish
Visit: https://www.kingflytailoring.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/kingflytailoring
Read: https://bit.ly/2STWVDF
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Clare Hunter
https://www.stitcherystories.com/clarehunter/
Anthea Godfrey
https://www.stitcherystories.com/antheagodfrey/
Hayley Mills-Styles
https://www.stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/
Other artists & places mentioned:
Woven In Kirklees
https://woveninkirklees.co.uk/
Unravel at Denby Dale
http://www.unravelcrafts.co.uk/home/
Dugdale Bros & Co The finest luxury cloth
https://www.dugdalebros.com/
Sadie Williams
Instagram @sadiewilliams_studio
Daryl Watson
Instagram @darylwatsontattoo
Richard Kilroy
Instagram @richardkilroy
Phillipa Turnbull is an expert on historic crewel embroidery and has spent the last 25 years building her embroidery business The Crewel Work Company, which sells exquisite crewel embroidery kits and organises luxury embroidery retreats.
Phillipa shares many inspiring stories around the ups and downs of building a business based around embroidery. She also shares her passion for ensuring that those of us who work in the creative arts and particularly embroidery and textile art are paid fairly for our creative endeavours. I think we are all with Phillipa on that one!
It was really interesting chatting with Phillipa about her business challenges and growth, and of course how she and her fabulous team have adapted their working practises so they can continue to send out crewel work kits throughout the coronavirus pandemic. In Phillipa's case, it truly DOES take a village to keep the business moving forward.
Susan Weeks chats with Phillipa in this episode of Stitchery Stories:
- Giving back to the historic houses who inspire the crewelwork designs and kits
- From doormats & livery stables to historic embroidery
- Building long-term friendships over embroidery
- Mother & daughter making a fabulous team with complimentary skills & personalities
- Growing a sustainable embroidery business
- Being passionate about 'paying people properly'
- Developing a love for crewelwork from watercolour painting
- The unique qualities of embroidering with wool
- Crewel work is so calming
- Using good posture with needlework
- Fabulously simple advice for capturing your original perspective on your topic
- Recreating the 1619 costume of Lady Anne Clifford
- Crossing over into the world of historic re-enactors Harnessing skills in your team to grow and benefit everyone
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Phillipa's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/phillipaturnbull
Visit: https://www.crewelwork.com/
Like: http://www.facebook.com/crewelworkco
Look: http://www.instagram.com/crewelworkco
Tweet: http://www.twitter.com/crewelworkco
Pin: http://www.pinterest.com/crewelworkco
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Lianne Van Leyen https://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/
Tracy A Franklin https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/
Other places & people also mentioned:
Alison Cole https://alisoncoleembroidery.com.au/
Jessica Grim https://www.jessicagrimm.com/
Kate Barlow https://www.katebarlowembroidery.com/
Nicola Jarvis https://nicolajarvisstudio.co.uk/
Jenny Adin-Christie https://jennyadin-christieembroidery.com/
Mandy Ewing
Sarah Thursfield https://www.sarahthursfield.com/
Jacqui Hyman http://www.textilerestoration.co.uk/
Appletons Fine quality tapestry and crewel wool
https://www.appletons.org.uk/
Collette Kinley is an embroidery artist who uses both free motion machine embroidery as well as hand embroidery, although she is really enjoying hand embroidery at the moment. Collette shares her story of how 'going for it' and a new piece of embroidery has sparked several exciting opportunities for her.
Collette talks about her artistic journey so far, which started with sewing childrens clothes! When Sue catches up with her, Collette has been inspired by creating hand embroidered 'birds eye view' of allotments.
By the way, in the UK, an allotment, according to the National Allotment Society, is an area of land, leased either from a private or local authority landlord, for the use of growing fruit and vegetables. ... An allotment is traditionally measured in rods (perches or poles), an old measurement dating back to Anglo-Saxon times.
Anyway, we had a lovely chat!
Susan Weeks chats with Collette in this episode of Stitchery Stories:
- Being inspired by allotments
- Changing subject to avoid creative block
- Do allotments exist in other countries?
- Feeling nervous about posting a different style of work and subject matter
- Put yourself out there!
- Stop worrying about 'the likes'
- Learning new hand stitches
- Developing confidence and your artistic voice
- Being on a 'knife edge' with your embroidery!
- Dealing with procrastination
- Having the haven of a studio to escape to
- Doing the best we can
- The enjoyment of creating PDF patterns that sell
- Give it a go.. and see what happens :-)
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Collette's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/collettekinley
Visit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewnbyColletteKinley
Like: https://www.facebook.com/SewnByCollette/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sewnbycollettekinley
Tweet: https://twitter.com/sewnbycollette
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Amanda Cobbett https://www.stitcherystories.com/amandacobbett/
Laura Bray https://www.stitcherystories.com/laurabray/
Other places & people also mentioned:
Poppy Treffry 'Freehand Machine Embroidery' https://poppytreffry.co.uk/collections/shop-by-category-making-books/products/fmebook
Janine Heschl Textile Wildlife Art https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl/
Saatchi Gallery Instagram Takeover
#SAATCHITAKEOVER https://www.saatchigallery.com/
Society For Embroidered Work S.E.W
https://www.societyforembroideredwork.com/
National Allotment Society
https://www.nsalg.org.uk/
Alison Carpenter-Hughes is a mixed-media artist who loves free machine embroidery. Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Alison shares her life in fabric and thread. And since she decided to give her art practice her focus and 'go for it', there have been some fantastic opportunities reveal themselves to her.
Alison talks about her artistic journey so far, and of course, how she has had to adapt everything she had planned, due to the corona virus pandemic.
Susan Weeks chats with Alison in this episode of Stitchery Stories:
- Taking part in the Artist Pledge initiative
- Adapting everything in response to changes caused by corona virus
- Her current fascination with eyes as her hoop art focus
- Opportunities happen when you 'get out there' and be proactive
- Working with an online business coach
- Teaching herself free machine embroidery
- Her creative spark in 2018
- Winning awards and developing her artistic confidence
- The power of having goals!
- The hazy contrast between dreams and reality and our connections with each other
- Using materials not often associated with sewing
- The stories behind 'Little Connie' and 'Girl On Train'
- 'Freedom Of Expression' is her next challenge
- Working towards a sustainable art career
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Alison's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/alisoncarpenterhughes
Visit: https://ajcgallery.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/ajcgallery/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/pootlesmoon/
Tweet: https://twitter.com/pootlesmoon
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pootlesmoon/
Other places & people also mentioned:
Artist Support Pledge
https://artistsupportpledge.com/
Studioname http://www.studioname.co/
Needlecrafter OF The Year award (2019) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/living/national-needlecraft-awards-2019-pictures/needlecrafter-yearlittle-connie-alison-carpenter-hughesthe/
Meredith Woolnough shares her insight and techniques around the beautiful machine embroidered natural specimens she creates. They are inspired by the skeletal forms of flora and fauna, particularly those she finds on walks and scuba dives.
Meredith has specialised in working exclusively with water-soluble fabric, using machine embroidery to re-create the lacy, delicate forms she loves so much. Once embroidered, and after the fabric is washed away, Meredith then creates a more sculptural form to create her delicate 'specimens'.
Susan Weeks chats with Meredith Woolnough about:
- Creating a series of 100 machine embroidered pieces
- Exclusively working on water-soluble fabrics
- Natural forms and structures are her main inspirations
- A fine line between creating a cohesive series and getting stuck in a rut!
- Challenge of creating the series so it all works together
- Creating framed artworks makes them easier to sell
- Potential purchasers of textile art are often concerned about how to care for it and display it.
- Planning your boundaries and methods for your projects to ensure success
- A change in scale often adds another layer of challenge
- Liberating embroidery from it's base fabric!
- Making scary choices
- Matching technique, materials, and subject matter
- Combining art, science and nature and lots of research
- Doing the best that you can to juggle life, family and art
For this episode, View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Meredith's work at
https://www.stitcherystories.com/meredithwoolnough
View: http://www.meredithwoolnough.com.au
Like: https://www.facebook.com/meredithwoolnoughartist/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/meredithwoolnough/
Read: https://amzn.to/2DBIrnl
Other things, people and places that we mentioned:
Tamworth Textile Triennial National Tour
https://www.tamworthregionalgallery.com.au/open-house-tamworth-textile-triennial-national-tour
Today we meet Jenni Dutton who shares stories around her powerful work and the unique way in which she creates her large portraits. Although starting her creative journey as a fine artist, creating large oil pastel landscapes, Jenni ventured into textile art portraits.
We talk about how life takes unexpected twists and how surprising opportunites can pop up as we share our work and thoughts. Jenni's largest body of work is her Dementia Darnings which document the emotional journey of her mum as she declined through dementia. Jenni has also started to explore her own ageing process through her Absurd Sewn Selfies series. She wonders if she could still be making those into her eighties!
Susan Weeks chats with Jenni Dutton about:
- The challenge of going back to a series you thought you had finished
- The theme of loss and repair with darning
- Trying a new approach with her latest portrait
- Why mask off areas on a piece of work?
- Don't let your logical brain upset your artistic vision
- The anxiety caused by deadline
- Discovering the delights of Anchor tapestry wools
- The emotions involved whilst documenting her mum's decline through dementia
- Confronting one's own ageing
- The horrors of 'lockdown' hair!
- Sharing our work as a counterbalance to our solo artistic time
- Can embroidery be improved with a blow torch..... or beeswax!
- Problems with moths, anyone?
- Being fierce about guarding our time
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jenni's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/jennidutton
Look: https://www.instagram.com/jennidutton9342/
Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/jennidutton
View: http://www.jennidutton.com
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/sorrellkerrison/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/suestone/
Other Places & People Mentioned:
The Horniman Museum
https://www.horniman.ac.uk/
University Of Iowa Medical Museum Gallery https://uihc.org/medical-museum
The Absent Gallery
http://theabsentgallery.co.uk/ http://theabsentgallery.co.uk/acearts/
This is where you can visit Jenni's 'Dementia Darnings' exhibition in a virtual gallery.
Today we meet Annie Crane, from Fort Collins, Colorado, on her birthday. It's a milestone birthday and Annie is marking it as a new beginning. After years of putting everyone else first, Annie is stepping out into the creative world. She is excited about (finally) giving herself permission to develop her art and to create with whimsical abandon.
Annie shares her story. She started making and painting things in tin, and has always loved embellishing clothes, shoes, and many other things. But what made her switch to using textile art as her medium of choice? As she has navigated life and caring for others, she has made some brave steps towards calling herself an artist, and now feels 'ready'.
Susan Weeks chats with Annie Crane about:
- Creating with whimsical abandon
- marking her 60th birthday
- taking and making more time for her textile art
- why she started making quiet bracelets
- it's OK to leave holes in clothes
- or embellish the repair with embroidery
- growing up hunting for treasure!
- the importance of how Annie feels about something
- the inspiration that comes from emotions
- creating a place for people to share their stories
- her strangest collection of stuff in her stash
- the excitement of burning holes in her work
- developing new friendships to share her love of textile art
- being a determined 'go-getter'
- the stress of commissions
- being ready, acknowledging it, and being excited about it
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Annie's work at
https://www.stitcherystories.com/anniecrane
Look: https://www.instagram.com/coffeefishco/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/coffeefish/
View: https://www.coffeefish.co
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/alexhall/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/annekelly
Today we meet Claire Edwards, who embodies her brand name of Defiant Embroidery. Claire shares her fascinating story of how she discovered her creativity and passion for hand embroidery as part of her quest to discover her third career.
After an enjoyable career in the RAF and then working with young offenders, Claire suffered some setbacks that led her to going to University and discovering hand embroidery.
However, Claire has decided to push the boundaries of what is thought possible with traditional hand embroidery and has started combining her beautiful sculptural hand embroidery with unusual materials such as concrete and acrylic resin.
Susan Weeks chats with Claire Edwards about:
- Being inspired to 'entomb' her beautiful embroideries in resin
- A LOT of trial and error to test resin and its effects upon her embroidery
- Building up layers and creating a unique wall hanging
- Our impact and damage to the natural world is a recurring theme
- Coral reefs and an affinity with the sea
- Discovering creativity later in life!
- It all started with crochet...
- Life changing decisions and discovering her next path
- Finding her way, developing her ideas and her embroidery 'voice'
- Beads are a big thing!
- The challenges of entering the Hand & Lock competition
- The phoenix as a personal reflection on life's journey
- A trip to her local hospital 'Accidents & Emergency'
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Claire's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/claireedwards
Look: https://www.instagram.com/defiant.embroidery/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/defiantembroidery
View: https://defiantembroidery.com/
Link: http://www.linkedin.com/in/%20claire-edwards-6a6990b2
Send: defiantembroidery@yahoo.com
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/daniellebalfoort/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/maryanntoop/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
Karen Nichol
http://www.karennichol.com/
Today we meet Jessica Aldred, a former Royal School of Needlework graduate and tutor, who combines her love of embroidery with her love of all things vintage! Jessica shares some fabulous career highlights with us as she is close to the new adventure of motherhood.
With big changes coming along in her life, Jessica has been investigating different ways of working and extending how she can support other embroidery artists. She loves to help others 'know where to start' in developing their embroidery career, and develop the confidence to move forward.
An interesting aspect of Jessica's business is her love of vintage clothing and styling, and we chat about how she has combined the 2 aspects to create her own unique brand and business.
Susan Weeks chats with Jessica about:
- Using lockdown time to investigate different ways of working online
- Conserving an embroidery from 1715
- Passionate about helping people who want to generate income from their embroidery skills
- Consultation around producing embroidery kits
- The feeling of fear when you start working on vulnerable antique embroideries
- Keen to support artists 'know where to start' and develop the confidence to move forward
- Always loved buttons & beads
- Her route into the Royal School of Needlework
- The delights of Pinterest
- Including her love of vintage styling into her business
- Embroidery for royalty
- Embroidery for prisoners
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jessica's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicaaldred
Look: https://www.instagram.com/houseofheydayembroidery/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/houseofheydayvintage/
View: http://houseofheyday.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/houseofheydayltd/
Send: houseofheyday@outlook.com
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/
https://www.stitcherystories.com/saradennis/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
The History Wardrobe with Lucy Adlington http://www.historywardrobe.com/
Bright Star (movie 2009)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/
Bankfield Museum, Halifax https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/visit/bankfield-museum
Elstob & Elstob Auctioneers
https://www.elstobandelstob.co.uk/
Today we hear from Susan Weeks, the host of Stitchery Stories. Susan shares her thoughts around the future direction for this globally popular textile art podcast. She also unveils a Listener Survey that she would love everyone to complete. It's anonymous, only takes a minute and will really help her understand and serve all you lovely listeners in a more powerful way.
And a key change is that Susan intends to put this podcast at the heart of her business, and focus on helping professional textile artists and embroidery artists with their quest and challenges around getting their businesses online, creating online courses and membership schemes, as well as selling stuff online too.
This is a perfect example where professional skills and years of experience meet a much loved hobby. Sue is very excited about how this can develop!
Susan chats about:
- She loves to see what you are stitching and working on
- How her online business skills and courses can support professional textile artists
- Why she started this podcast
- The 'Free' way vs the 'headache-free' way to develop your business
- Is textile art & embroidery your hobby OR your business?
- Please take part in the Stitchery Stories Listener Survey
- Also watch out for a survey for professional embroidery & textile artists
- Exploring sponsorship and other revenue generation opportunities
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & fill out the survey at https://www.stitcherystories.com/may2020update
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining/
View: https://www.stitcherystories.com
Survey: https://forms.gle/rJwqdmZqwmat1Yms7
Early Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/susiemartin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/
Today we meet Claire Mort, an award-winning British textile artist who creates colourful and powerful pop art using hand embroidery. And if you read 'Be Creative With Workbox' magazine, then you will already know her from her column, 'Morts Thoughts'.
Claire has an inspiring story and we discuss how opportunities come from the most extraordinary situations, and really that we need a mixture of joy and hope to carry us through the exciting adventure of life. Although we did cover some rather serious topics, we did it with humour and joy.
Susan Weeks chats with Claire about:
- Stitching into bras
- Inspiring women and their stories
- The impact of the Corona virus 'lockdown'
- Assessing all aspects of her art business and to continue and adapt
- Developing self-reliance and sustainability
- The shortest exhibition in history!
- Embroidery is an incredibly powerful tool
- The influence of graphic design and the skills needed for online work
- Opportunities come from extraordinary situations
- Writing a magazine column
- The delight of Instagram
- Inspired by 70's and 80's UK kids cartoons
- The joy of the handmade item - in all mediums
- So much to be learnt from playing
- The battle with our inner critic
- Courage and hope
- Wondering how to start creating an online course
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Claire's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/clairemort
Look: https://www.instagram.com/clairemortartist/
View: https://www.clairemortartist.com/
Shop: https://www.redbubble.com/people/clairemortarty/shop
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/juilatriston
https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
The Embroiderers' Guild
https://embroiderersguild.com/
The Society For Embroidered Work (S.E.W.) https://www.societyforembroideredwork.com/
A Mighty Girl
https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/
Being Bold: Finding Myself When Everything Changed Susan Weeks on International Womens Day 2017 https://youtu.be/qqHDevdVg2g
'Be Creative With Workbox' magazine
https://www.creativewithworkbox.com/
Today we meet Ilke Cochrane, a Dutch ex-pat living in the UK witha delightfully quirky sense of humour! Ilke has a great story, particularly around the name of her business brand... Mabel Figworthy's Fancies.
As well as designing 'what she fancies' for kits and charts, Ilke runs workshops and is very eager for anyone to 'have a go' at embroidery. She shares a great story about her neighbour, and also shares wise advice about treating ourselves kindly and admiring what we have created without comparing to others.
Susan Weeks chats with Ilke about:
- Stitch-A-Longs (SAL)
- Working on the RSN Certificate of Technical Hand Embroidery
- The self-imposed pressure of 'falling behind' when joining a SAL and then giving up
- Creating uniqueness with colours, styles and threads
- "not hampered by any knowledge"
- Discovering The Cross Stitch Forum
- Who is Mabel Figworthy?
- The unpredictability of whether a design will sell, or not!
- It's OK to NOT want 'world domination' in your niche
- Be happy where you are
- What is Hardanger embroidery
- Use short affordable workshops to try out a new technique
- Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
- The story of the gold thread...
- It might work, so 'have a go'
- From a painted pebble to an enthusiastic embroiderer
- Introducing Hengist The Medieval Unicorn
- Get Blogging!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Ilke's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/ilkecochrane
Like: https://www.facebook.com/mabelsfancies
View: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/
Shop: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/
Read: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/fof/
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
The Knitting & Stitching Show https://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/
Ami James returns to Stitchery Stories today with a very positive message to share with us as we adjust to life 'under lockdown'. Ami was an early guest on Stitchery Stories back in October 2017 when we chatted about how textile art had changed her life after her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It's been a very busy couple of years for Ami since then, with, sadly, several painful, personal situations to deal with. Yet here she is, pushing forward and helping others deal with anxiety through mindful stitching, as well as an interesting collaboration with a life coach.
Our chat turns to what Ami has been doing online to stay connected with her in-person classes and to encourage those who are suffering from anxiety caused by our global situation of fear, isolation and financial worries too.
Susan Weeks chats with Ami about:
- Keeping anxiety at bay with quilting
- Ami's mental health journey from bipolar diagnosis to her recent discharge from mental health services
- Being brave and doing live videos on Facebook
- Stepping up and helping others deal with their anxiety through mindful crafts
- Doing Facebook live tutorials
- Getting round to running courses online
- Sue talks about Zoom video conferencing
- Taking part in an online 'Zoom' class is easy - honestly!
- Collaborating with a friend who is a life coach
- Is the secret to all of this 'hand eye coordination'?
- "... an internet sensation..."
- Planning for a more resilient future
- Should we be giving away our knowledge for free at the moment?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Ami's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/amijamesreturns
Like: https://www.facebook.com/simplyneedlecraft/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Social-Isolation-Mindset-Focus-102718361388766/
Look: https://instagram.com/simply_needlecraft/
View: https://simplyneedlecraft.com/
Shop: https://simplyneedlecraft.com/
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/yvonnefuchs/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
Harry Perfors Life Coach https://www.facebook.com/LifestyleUpgradeSpecialist/
Newspaper article https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/swadlincote-seamstress-battling-mental-health-3969388
Ruth Cereceda: Asking about local groups making face masks
https://www.instagram.com/cerecedastudio/
https://ruthcereceda.wixsite.com/studio/contact
"Learn How To Use Zoom Video Conferencing So You Can Take Your Business Online" by Susan Weeks from The Missing Training
https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining/
Jane Austen Embroidery, the newly published book from Pavilion Books, created by Jennie Batchelor and Alison Larkin is the subject of this episode of the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Both of these talented ladies are my friends and I have followed this book project closely over the last 3 years! Alison was my first ever (brave) guest on Stitchery Stories, and Jennie was guest number six.
This is a truly gorgeous book, and will attract stitchers of all levels, as well as fans of Jane Austen. It brings together 18th century embroidery patterns, re-imagined into modern embroidery projects. A delightful addition is the quotes from Jane Austen's novels and letters, as well as illustrations and beautiful photography.
So I dig behind the stitches and words to highlight the interesting stories shared by Alison and Jennie.
Susan Weeks chats with Jennie and Alison about:
- The Lady's Magazine and the embroidery patterns within
- The story of how Jane Austen Embroidery was 'born'
- A friendship started on Twitter
- "we should write a book!!!"
- Connecting Jane Austen, The Lady's Magazine and 18th century embroidery
- You did WHAT with those patterns, Sue!
- The range of creativity the patterns have sparked
- The typical stitches used in the book projects
- What level of skill is needed for the book projects
- Building a community of stitching friends around the world
- Bringing together research, writing, quotes, illustrations, photography... and of course, embroidery!
- Book launch plans
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Images from Jane Austen Embroidery at http://www.stitcherystories.com/janeaustenembroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/alisonlarkinembroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/ladysmagproject/
Look: https://instagram.com/ladysmagproject/
Look: https://instagram.com/alisonlarkinstitcher
Tweet: https://twitter.com/larkinstitcher
Tweet: https://twitter.com/ladysmagproject
View: https://www.jenniebatchelor.net/
Shop: https://amzn.to/2IVMv1h
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/alisonlarkin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
Pavilion Books https://pavilionbooks.com
Lianne Van Leyen is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, where she shares how she re-creates antique schoolgirl samplers into patterns for the modern cross stitch enthusiast. Lianne is the founder of 1897 Schoolhouse Samplers and is an avid collector of antique schoolgirl samplers.
After many years of dreaming and planning, she escaped her corporate career and landed her dream job as a historic cook and historical domestic interpreter at the Upper Canada Village living history museum, located in Eastern Ontario, Canada. This also gave her the opportunity to focus on launching her business: 1897 Schoolhouse Samplers.
Susan Weeks chats with Lianne about:
- Taking 10 to 15 years to move from "I think I can do this" to "I know I can do this" to "I am doing it!"
- Decisions around how to scale, at a relevant price point, at desired quality level
- Learning to let go of what we thought would work
- Getting out of our own way
- Using PCStitch to map out cross stitch antique sampler patterns
- The challenges and processes involved in interpreting antique schoolgirl samplers
- A growing collection of antique schoolgirl samplers
- How did the sampler collection start?
- Juggling a corporate career and finding the headspace to think about creative endeavours
- Designing a way to have the dream job and have a creative business based around cross stitch
- Being brave, reaching out to strangers and developing strong creative relationships, friends and connections
- Learning to trust your decisions
- Having a variety of tasks in the pipeline to work on to cope with overwhelm and tricky decisions
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Lianne's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen
Like: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolhouseSamplers/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/1897schoolhousesamplers/
Shop: Etsy 1897Schoolhouse
Email: lianne@1897schoolhousesamplers.ca
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/alisonlarkin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor/
Other people, places & things we mentioned:
Upper Canada Village
https://www.uppercanadavillage.com/
PCStitch popular design software for counted cross stitch pattern making
http://www.pcstitch.com/
Kate Tume is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, where she shares how she creates powerful art from embroidery and textile art techniques to highlight the devastation of species loss and the destruction of our natural world.
Susan Weeks chats with Kate about:
- What is an artists residency
- The luxury of focusing on art and nothing else
- Toucans, scorpions, iguanas, halloween crabs
- The stories behind endangered creatures
- Developing a distinctive style to highlight the impact of species loss
- What is special, revered, hallowed?
- Corona virus in a chat about embroidery?
- School art squashing the desire to be artistic
- Another corporate escapee desperate for creativity
- When do you 'own' that you ARE an artist?
- Where did 'Mother Eagle' come from?
- Pushing boundaries with materials
- Collecting rejections
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Kate's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/katetume
Visit: https://madebymothereagle.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/MadeByMotherEagle/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/mother_eagle_arts/
Shop: https://mothereagle.bigcartel.com/
Learn: https://www.skillshare.com/user/mothereagle
Email: mothereagle@hotmail.com
Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl/
Other people, places & things we mentioned: https://www.gmccullochportraits.com/ https://taliapeckel.format.com/
The Mauser Foundation http://mauserfoundation.org/
Jane's Addiction - Wrong Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6nbvS7LcOI
Eva Kitok lives in the north of Sweden and has organised her life and career so she can make the most of her time and spend as much time as possible doing embroidery and creating textile art. She loves to embroider whilst watching TV on long winter evenings and also whilst cooking!
Susan Weeks chats with Eva about:
- Music and embroidery
- The challenges of embroidering The Cure album covers
- Creating applique portraits
- A new enthusiasm for traditional Swedish wool embroidery
- Don't be bored. Plan embroidery in your head instead!
- Being an enthusiastic teenage embroidery fan
- Pinterest & Instagram - the gateway drugs for creativity
- Can embroidery yet again solve a mid-life crisis?
- Going to classes or experimenting yourself?
- Enjoying success at prestigious art shows
- Keeping success private from work colleagues
- The trials of embroidering Michael Jackson
- Hmmmmm the evolution of politicians
- Making the most of all of those 'spare' minutes
- The excitement of holding her first solo exhibitions
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Eva's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/evakitok
Visit: https://www.evakitok.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/kitokeva/
Email: evakitok@gmail.com
Other Episodes You might like to listen to:
More music themed textile art: https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders/
2019 Listener Highlights: https://www.stitcherystories.com/2019highlights/
This week we celebrate our stitching, embroidery, textile art highlights from 2019.
Susan Weeks, as the host of this popular textile art podcast, shares some lovely stories and highlights sent in by listeners from around the world.
We hear from some previous guests, from new listeners, from long-time listeners.
What fabulous and inspiring messages have been received - these will cheer you up.
And in this season of goodwill, Sue also appeals for a mentor for a young woman in Russia. Let's make 2020 a fabulous year for Daria! Who can help her dreams come true?
For this episode... and to see images from our contributors, links to them all, and related past episodes, then go visit https://www.stitcherystories.com/2019highlights
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Our contributors:
Saima Kaur
@sewsaima on Instagram
Jane Cook
'Stitch To Enrich'
Annie Taylor
@whitstabletail on Instagram
#hasshenothingbettertodo
https://whitstabletail.wordpress.com
Tim Buchheim
@tim1724 on Instagram
Rosie Creyke
Linda Harvey
@lindaharvey1973 on instagram https://facebook.com/LindaHarveyTextileArtist
Eva Kitok, Sweden
@kitokeva on Instagram
Liljevalchs Varsalong https://www.liljevalchs.se/utstallningar/varsalongen-2019/
Susan Pepper, Melbourne, Australia
Cas Holmes
www.casholmes.com
https://facebook.com/casholmestextiles
Rosemary Cousins, East Yorkshire
Courtney Cox, Austin, Texas
@courtneycoxart on Instagram
www.courtneycoxart.com
Agatha Lee 'Agy' from Singapore
www.agytextileartist.com
@agytextileartist on Instagram
Joanna Dermenjian from Ontario, Canada https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianredcrossquilts/
Alex Law
www.elaraembroidery.com
@elara.embroidery on Instagram
Related Stitchery Stories Episodes:
Saima Kaur:
https://www.stitcherystories.com/saimakaur/
Community Stitching: https://www.stitcherystories.com/ionabarker/
Profanity Embroidery Group: https://www.stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/ Annie Taylor
https://www.stitcherystories.com/annietaylor/
York Textile Artists https://www.stitcherystories.com/yorktextileartists/
Cas Holmes
https://www.stitcherystories.com/casholmes/
Other artists and places also mentioned:
Jen Skedd
Artisan Stitch https://artisanstitch.co.uk
Hull & East Riding Embroiderers' Guild https://www.facebook.com/HERByEmbroidery/
Burton Constable Hall
https://www.burtonconstable.com/
This week CarolAnn J Allan is our lovely guest on Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. CarolAnn loves slow stitching, taking the time to enjoy the process, and she particularly loves shibori and indigo dyeing.
We chat about her interesting journey into being a textile artist, and the community arts projects that she loves to support. Although CarolAnn was one of my guests for the live recording of Stitchery Stories, I wanted to chat with CarolAnn on her own, and we covered lots of new stuff.
Susan Weeks chats with CarolAnn about:
- Getting excited to try a new technique, Bojagi
- The delights of slow stitch and creating pieces inspired by traditional embroidery stitches
- Making time to follow our own dreams despite supporting family members young and old
- The magic of shibori and waiting to see how it has turned out
- Inspiring artists and community groups
- Creativity to generate confidence and friendship
- The importance of ongoing personal development
- Giving ourselves time and space to explore techniques and ideas
- And so much more!
Sue has had a brainwave and invites you to contribute to the 2019 year end episode. She explains all at around the 23 minute point. Contributions by Monday 16th December 2019 please.
For this episode... and to see images of CarolAnn's work, then go visit https://www.stitcherystories.com/carolannjallan
Visit: https://www.carolannjallan.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/CarolAnnJAllan/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/carolannjallan/
Other artists and places also mentioned:
Sara Cook and Bojagi
https://bojagiuk.com/
Dionne Swift
https://www.stitcherystories.com/dionneswift/
Sunny Bank Mills
https://sunnybankmills.co.uk/
Junko Oki
https://www.junkooki.com/
Fiona Wilson
https://www.facebook.com/fionawilsonstudio/
This is PART TWO of the Stitchery Stories LIVE recording at the Podcast Social Club!
Please listen to PART ONE before listening to this - it won't make any sense if you haven't heard Part One!
This is the second half of the live recording.
It was a lot of fun chatting with my two lovely guests, CarolAnn J Allan and Mary-Ann Toop about fabric and threads, creativity and our well-being. It was also a step out of collective comfort zones to be doing this live in front of a ticket-bearing audience :-)
Thank you to Podcast Social Club for inviting us and for organising such an interesting event. We were honoured to be taking part.
Anyway, we chatted around our cornerstone topics and as usual had a laugh doing so. We also had an interesting discussion about the emotional and social and mental health benefits of stitching and creativity.
Sue had 2 amusing contributions... a recent 'disaster' and a very old UnFinished Object.
For this episode... and to see images of the 2 items from Sue that caused such hilarity, then go visit https://www.stitcherystories.com/podcastsocialclubparttwo
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Podcast Social Club:
Visit: https://www.podcastsocialclub.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastSocialClub/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/PodcastSocialClub/
Mary-Ann Toop
https://www.stitcherystories.com/maryanntoop/ https://concordiasworld.com/
CarolAnn J Allan
https://www.stitcherystories.com/carolannjallan (From 11Dec19) https://www.carolannjallan.com/
Other artists and places also mentioned:
Mr Finch
http://www.mister-finch.com/
Meredith Woolnough
http://meredithwoolnough.com.au/
Samantha Bryan
http://samanthabryan.co.uk/
George Steinmetz
https://georgesteinmetz.com/
Burton Constable Hall
https://www.burtonconstable.com/
Hull & East Riding Branch of The Embroiderer's Guild
https://www.facebook.com/HERByEmbroidery/
Stitchery Stories LIVE at the Podcast Social Club!
This is the first half of the live recording. It was a lot of fun chatting with my two lovely guests, CarolAnn J Allan and Mary-Ann Toop about fabric and threads, creativity and our well-being.
It was also a step out of collective comfort zones to be doing this live in front of a ticket-bearing audience :-)
Thank you to Podcast Social Club for inviting us and for organising such an interesting event. We were honoured to be taking part.
Anyway, we chatted around our cornerstone topics and as usual had a laugh doing so. We also had an interesting discussion about the emotional and social and mental health benefits of stitching and creativity.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & some photos from the event, at https://www.stitcherystories.com/podcastsocialclubpartone
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Podcast Social Club:
Visit: https://www.podcastsocialclub.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastSocialClub/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/PodcastSocialClub/
Mary-Ann Toop
https://www.stitcherystories.com/maryanntoop/ https://concordiasworld.com/
CarolAnn J Allan
https://www.stitcherystories.com/carolannjallan (From 11Dec19) https://www.carolannjallan.com/
Guest also mentioned: Dionne Swift https://www.stitcherystories.com/dionneswift/
Lynn Comley is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Lynn works under the brand name of Up And Down Dale and the name gives us a clue as to the source of her artistic inspiration... the landscape around her!
Lynn has recently relocated from the Derbyshire Peak District to the North Yorkshire coast and has been enjoying several changes not just in her surroundings but in her artistic creations too. Lynn loves working with her handmade felt, with machine embroidery and increasingly, hand embroidery, to make the marks and highlights to her landscapes.
Susan Weeks chats with Lynn about:
- An endless fascination with landscape and the sea
- Inspiring vistas and miniscule worlds
- A newcomer to textile art
- Getting hooked into feltmaking
- Leaping into exhibiting with Derbyshire Open Arts trail
- Moving from hobby to business to meet demand for her work
- From novice stitcher to addicted stitcher :-)
- It's not embroidery, it's mark making with thread
- The delights of thread
- How to recreate inspiring scenes in stitch
- The patterns of the sea on the beach
- Experimenting with collagraph printing and felt
- Choosing Stitchery Stories over the BBC and Nick Knowles :-)
- The Society For Embroidered Work
- Learning from failures and revisiting them
- The pro's and con's of doing commissions
- Go with the flow
- Getting over creative block
- And so much more!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Lynn's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/lynncomley
Like: https://www.facebook.com/UpandDownDale/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/upanddowndale/
Visit: https://www.upanddowndale.co.uk/
Other artists episodes you might like: Tracey Coverley (who also shows at Derbyshire Open Arts trail) https://www.stitcherystories.com/traceycoverley/
Passionate about Batik, Tori Riley is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast. Tori shares her story of being inspired by Batik as a young child living in Java, and how her love of it has led her to running workshops and talks, whilst being a busy mum of four!
Susan Weeks chats with Tori about:
- Who else wanted a colouring job when they grew up?
- an inspiring gap year absorbing the Indonesian culture and drawing
- influences from a childhood spent living in several places around the world
- combining batik and embroidery
- making it easy to started with an idea in a workshop
- how to do batik
- the challenge of marking out your design for batik
- labelling our work so future generations know more about it
- what equipment is needed for batik making
- how to apply the wax
- what type of dye to use for batik
- how do you get the wax out afterwards
- when developing some film created performance art
And so much more!
For this episode:
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Tori's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/toririley
Like:
https://www.facebook.com/Batik-Inspiration-720549448141697/ Look: https://www.instagram.com/batikinspirationuk/
Email: victoria.art.riley@gmail.com
Call: 07455 885 797
Other artists episodes you might like:
Diane Gaffney from Textile Traders, who also loves Batik! https://www.stitcherystories.com/dianegaffney/
Fabric sculpture artist Mary-Ann Toop is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast. Mary-Ann shares her story of leaving her civil engineering career, battling depression and starting her fascinating creative journey. Mary-Ann is determined to make her soft fabric sculptures move - and is particularly fascinated by flight... it's the engineer in her creeping out again!
Susan Weeks chats with Mary-Ann about:
- Experimenting with automata
- Making her stitched creations move
- Starting a creative journey to see what she could do
- Trying to be creative every day
- How creativity help battle depression and ill-health
- The benefits of becoming immersed in small repetitive movements like embroidery
- Exploring Pinterest... and discovering that textiles and embroidery can be art
- Who is Concordia?
- A fascination with flight
- Evolving techniques using wire, clay, fabric, embroidery
- The story of the nightshirt and the gargoyl
- And so much more!
For this episode
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Mary-Ann's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/maryanntoop
Visit: https://concordiasworld.com/
Read: https://concordiasworld.com/category/blog/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/concordiasworld
Look: https://www.instagram.com/concordiasworld/
Other artists episodes mentioned:
Bryony Rose Jennings https://www.stitcherystories.com/bryonyrosejennings/
Annie Taylor https://www.stitcherystories.com/annietaylor/
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, textile artist Tracey Coverley shares her story of leaving the railway industry and turning her fine art skills into creating textile art portraits of iconic figures from music and film.
She works under her brand, "Handmade In Horwich End".
Susan Weeks chats (and laughs a lot) with Tracey about:
- One day a face appeared in fabric and thread
- What do you grab first when you get evacuated?
- Why a queue of traffic is perfect for getting commissions
- Who buys the dolls?
- The differences between Instagram & Facebook for getting work
- The importance of social media for artists
- Inspirations from film and music icons
- Developing her technique and style
- Her most exciting commission
- Tracey's unique way of keeping an eye on her UFO's
- The magic of deadlines!
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Tracey's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/traceycoverley
Visit: https://handmadeinhorwichend.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/handmadeinhorwichend/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/traceycoverley/
Other artists episodes mentioned: Jane Sanders https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders/
Exhibition at : Think In NG (in Nottingham) http://www.thinkinng.org/
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Diane Gaffney shares her fascinating story of developing a well-established business based around her love of travel. Diane and her husband Jim, are the founders of Textile Traders. They have been buying and selling hand made textiles from south east Asia since 1984.
Susan Weeks chats with Diane about:
- Organising World Textile Days
- The logistics of organising long duration buying trips
- How Diane and Jim created this business
- Their first forays into flea markets and festivals
- Being commissioned to collect Batik from all over Java
- A deep interest in batik
- How to manage buying 'stuff' in different languages
- Making long term friendships with inspiring village women in Java and Thailand
- The adventure of taking an adult 'gap year'
- Overland travel challenges... and toilets!
- Remembering the stories and people around purchases
- Managing a business with extended buying trips
- The benefits of having help in our businesses
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photos of Diane's travels and textiles at http://www.stitcherystories.com/DianeGaffney
Visit: https://www.textiletraders.co.uk/
Visit: http://worldtextileday.co.uk/
Read: https://asiatextilejourney.wordpress.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Textile-Traders-1131127837033379/
SFSNAD: San Francisco School Of Needlework And Design
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, the co-founders of SFSNAD, Ellice Sperber and Lucy Barter share their story of turning their chats into dreams and their dreams into reality as they established their embroidery school in San Francisco.
Susan Weeks chats with Ellice & Lucy about:
- Getting worldwide participation in their Stitch At Home challenges
- Collaborating with brands
- The heartwarming stories that often accompany challenge submissions
- The power of attraction of a giant denim Peace sign
- What started their journey to setting up SFSNAD
- Building community near and far
- Establishing a large, varied and growing Reference Library
- Drooling over embroidery from around the world
- Not everyone is gifted with the ability to teach
- The importance of having support when making strategic business decisions
- Developing their signature Comprehensive Studies Program
- Learning to audit ourselves when designing courses and training
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of artist's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/SFSNAD
Visit: https://www.sfneedleworkanddesign.org/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscoschoolofneedleworkanddesign/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sfsnad/
Email: info@sfsnad.org
Podcaster Susan Weeks celebrates that her embroidery and textile art podcast is two years old this week.
Susan shares some of the backstory around her podcast and talks about her entertaining, inspiring and courageous guests.
Of course plenty of thanks are in order and Susan also has some questions for you, and highlights some ideas for the future.
https://www.stitcherystories.com/2ndbirthdaycelebrations
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories
Discover more about Susan Weeks:
https://virtualityworks.com (Online Technology Trainer) https://podcastprogress.com (Podcast Producer & Podcast Training) https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks
Textile Artist Amanda Cobbett shares her life in fabric and threads. Amanda creates realistic 3-dimensional, papier-mâché and machine-embroidered sculptures of fungi and lichen and other hidden treasures of the woodland floor.
From her studio in the Surrey Hills, Amanda is surrounded by inspiration for her work. Her pieces are so realistic that viewers of her art assume that they are real! A nice problem to have and the subject of endless questions at Amanda's successful exhibition at 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower show.
Susan Weeks chats with Amanda about:
- The exhilaration of a successful exhibition at RHS CHelsea Flower Show
- The challenge of people understanding what they are seeing
- Can things be so lifelike the viewers don't know it's art?
- Doing your own thing and pushing the boundaries, even at school
- The joy when someone wants to buy your work
- If everything is an experiment then it can't be a disaster!
- Setting boundaries with our clients
- Making difficult but wise business decisions
- The creative freedom leveraged by having an admin assistant
- Running a realistic business and not a hobby
And so much more!
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Amanda's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/amandacobbett
Visit: https://www.amandacobbett.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/amandacobbett
Like: https://www.facebook.com/amandacobbett
Other links & people mentioned:
Byard Art, Cambridge : https://byardart.co.uk/
Somerset House :https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
Textile artist Sally Stone shares her life in fabric & thread, and yarn. With her textile art, Sally works in both small and large scale. She creates colourful pieces of textile jewellery, finding a new lease of life and use for a selection of objects. And then of course there is her joy with Extreme Knitting!
Sally is also the enthusiastic creator of several Yarnstorming installations in her UK hometown of York. We have a good chat about her yarnstorming antics and if you are quick you still have chance to take part in her current yarnstorm with the theme of 'Tree Leaves'.
Susan Weeks chats with Sally about:
- Community projects bringing colour to our lives
- Organising yarnstorming in York
- Top tips for yarnstorming & displaying your pieces outdoors
- Contrasts in scale from Extreme Knitting to Jewellery
- Extreme knitting inspirations
- Re-using objects in textile art jewellery
- Planning community art projects that are scale-able depending upon how many people participate
- Is this our oldest UFO?????
And much more!
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sally's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/sallystone
Visit: http://hippystitch.blogspot.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/hippystitch/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/hippystitch/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/hippystitch
Tweet: https://twitter.com/hippystitch
Other links & people mentioned:
Rowntree Park, York https://www.york.gov.uk/directory_record/376/rowntree_park
https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/cafes/rowntree-park-reading-cafe/
Pittenweem Arts Festival in Fife, Scotland https://www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk/
Textile Wildlife Artist Janine Heschl shares her life in fabric and threads. Janine creates photo realistic portraits of animals using free-motion machine embroidery, and an exceptional eye for detail, light, colour and texture. And even more amazing, Janine is entirely self-taught.
Along with the beautiful portraits runs a deep passion for nature, wildlife and our world, and with her needle, Janine speaks out for creatures that can't speak for themselves.
Susan Weeks chats with Janine about:
- Organising an exhibition for Jane Goodall Institute
- Creating the 'Wounda' chimpanzee portrait for Jane Goodall Institute fundraising
- Can we try too hard to create perfection?
- Connecting humans and nature with thread
- Why Janine bought a sewing machine, and what happened next!
- Do what you love everyday
- Selecting thread colours
- Reaching emotions and inspiring action through art
- The secret to stitching realistic hair and fur
- Failure should be embraced, particularly by artists
- The challenge of making yourself 'do' art
And so much more!
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Janine's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl
Visit: https://www.textilewildlifeart.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/textile_wildlife_art
Like: https://www.facebook.com/textilewildlifeart/
Call For Art: https://janegoodall.at/call-for-art-ivism_en/
Call For Art Enquiries: art@janegoodall.at
Other links & people mentioned:
The Story of Wounda The Chimpanzee http://news.janegoodall.org/2017/11/21/tchimpounga-chimpanzee-of-the-month-wounda/
United Nations Global Assessment Report https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/06/human-society-under-urgent-threat-loss-earth-natural-life-un-report
Textile Artist Sarah Cross shares her life in fabric and threads. Having chosen teaching as her career path, Sarah has taught art based textiles and fine art in a variety of school for 20 years. However, she has continued to learn skills, experiment with techniques and create her own pieces grabbing time where she can! A recent TV appearance on BBC1's 'Home Is Where The Art Is' has really boosted her confidence and commissions and her dream of a garden studio is now coming to fruition.
Susan Weeks chats with Sarah about:
- Being 'on the telly'
- Taking a teaching path for her creative skills
- Who needs to pass needlework exams anyway?
- Always learning new techniques and ideas throughout her career
- Push outside of our comfort zone and reap the benefits
- The excitement of a long awaited garden studio
- Developing confidence in oneself and ones abilities
- Working on a Catwalk show for London Fashion Week
- Using heat-mould-able polyester to create shapes and structures
- Do workshops make you feel sick.....
And so much more!
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sarah's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/sarahcross
Visit: http://www.sarahcrossart.co.uk
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sarahcrossart
Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/sarahcross01
Textile Artist Kathleen Laurel Sage shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Kathleen combines machine embroidery, using water soluble stabiliser and layering organza and meltable threads and acrylic felt to create her nature inspired pieces. She then melts and burns the pieces using a soldering iron or heat gun to create her distinctive pieces.
Kathleen shares a lot of inspiration with us, and talks about moving her practice forward, and embracing new ideas and technology. She has made fundamental changes to how she organises her time this year and you can tell by her excitement that those changes are working very well.
Susan Weeks chats with Kathleen about:
- Playing with using Block Printing in her creative processes
- Pushing techniques and adapting new ones
- Keeping your style fresh and new
- How to stop ideas banging around your head
- Putting your mark on a technique
- Combining techniques, solving problems
- Developing skills with a soldering iron
- Sketchbooks
- The liberation of worldwide travel and opportunities
- Growing your visibility and business with videos on Youtube
and so much more.
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Kathleen's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/kathleenlaurelsage
Visit: https://www.kathleenlaurelsage.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenlaurelsagetextiles
Like: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenLaurelSageTextiles/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE1rDoa9VM97EomoSJztyVw
Also Mentioned: Jamie Malden https://www.stitcherystories.com/jamiemalden/
Emma Broughton shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Emma is a classically trained hand embroidery artist with a real passion for designing and making embroidered boxes. So much so that she is the author of a new book launching April 2019 simply called "Embroidered Boxes".
Emma shares her story of being inspired by goldwork embroidery at a young age, and of being determined to follow embroidery as her career. And you will be amazed when she shares her story of how her book became a reality.
Susan Weeks chats with Emma about:
- Deciding to write a book on embroidered boxes
- How long did it take from proposal to contract?
- Encouragement from a creative and inspiring mum
- What sparked the determination to study at the RSN
- Developing a complimentary range of skills
- The joy of lifelong learning
- Enjoying the challenge of box making
- A range of gorgeous techniques
- Using her book as a catalyst to launch her business
- and so much more.
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Emma's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/emmabroughton
Visit: www.fairywrenembroidery.com
Look: https://www.instagram.com/fairy_wren_embroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/fairywrenembroidery
Email: emma@fairywrenembroidery.com
Also Mentioned: https://farnhammaltings.com/
Loetitia Gibier shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Loetitia is French but has made the UK her home and is a hand embroidery artist, and tutor, who also designs kits for sale.
Loetitia shares her fascinating story, and the good things that have happened to her embroidery career since she decided to be brave and 'get out there'. An inspiring example of what can happen when you make the decision to stop hiding and start reaching out for opportunities.
Susan Weeks chats with Loetitia about:
- Designing kits and projects for advanced skills as well as beginners
- What is a Korrigan?
- Learning embroidery in a weekend :-)
- Is it cool to be into embroidery when you are a student?
- Discovering cross-stitch
- And discovering The Embroiderer's Guild
- Bingeing on embroidery classes at Missenden Abbey
- Taking a leap of courage and putting herself 'out there'
- Becoming an Embroiderer's Guild Trustee
- Why did Loetitia throw her embroidery into the garden???
- The joy (and stress?) of entering competitions
- A very unusual collaboration...
- and so much more.
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Loetitia's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/loetitiagibier
Visit: https://korrylittleshop.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/korry77
Like: https://www.facebook.com/KorrysLittleShop/
Email: Info@korrylittleshop.co.uk
Other guests mentioned in this episode:
Georgina Bellamy
Also Mentioned Tshirts by E2 https://explicitee.com/
Rie Wenham shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Rie shares the various aspects of her creative career, and the story of why she loves to create beautiful spiders and snakes combining goldwork, crewelwork & stumpwork. Rie dislikes the waste behind 'fast fashion' and shares how she makes a difference.
Susan Weeks chats with Rie about:
- Juggling opportunities as they come along
- The frustrations of not being able to share work created for commissions
- Getting organised for #MeetTheMaker
- Feeding Instagram
- The story behind her beautiful spiders and snakes
- Wasteful fast fashion
- Add embroidery to your clothes and love them for longer
- Will she finish Chewbacca for her boyfriend's birthday?
- Developing skills as an online tutor
- Hitting the gym and nurturing our bodies
- and so much more.
Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Rie's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/riewenham
Look: https://www.instagram.com/rie_wenham_embroidery
Pin: https://www.pinterest.com/riewenhamembroidery/
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/riewenhamembroidery
Email: mariewenham@hotmail.com
Other guests mentioned in this episode:
Joe Mitchell
Natalie Dupuis
Also Mentioned Claire De Pourtales
Danielle Balfoort shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
Danielle shares her steps on her journey as an embroidery entrepreneur. After being made redundant from her office job, Danielle decided to go for it and launch her dream of creating a business around her passion for embroidery.
Susan Weeks chats with Danielle about:
- Developing abstract embroidery pieces from mood board inspirations.
- The delights of a studio in a workspace with other creatives
- Discovering embroidery and learning tambour embroidery
- Preparing for her first exhibition
- Being brave and doing this podcast :-)
- The balance between doing embroidery and developing a business
- Building a global network of embroidery friends
and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Danielle's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/daniellebalfoort
Visit: website is under development at the moment
Like: https://www.facebook.com/studioupnorth/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/studioup_north/?hl=en
Other guests mentioned in this episode:
Jen Goodwin https://www.stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin/
Natalie Dupuis https://www.stitcherystories.com/nataliedupuis/
Natalie Dupuis shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Natalie shares her determined steps from being a teacher of children to being a teacher of goldwork embroidery, and a designer of unique goldwork embroidery kits.
Susan Weeks chats with Natalie about:
- The benefits of kits for trying new things
- Developing goldwork embroidery kits with unique designs
- Steampunk meets goldwork
- Step by step to building her 2nd career
- Learning perseverance from toddlers
- The importance of teaching skills in addition to embroidery skills
- Developing an interest in Japanese embroidery
- When can you call yourself a designer?
- The story of the wonky wheel
- Are you sitting comfortably & healthily
- 'Stealing' pieces of time to be creative
- and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Natalie's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/nataliedupuis
Visit: www.SewByHand.com
Like: https://www.facebook.com/SewByHandMontreal/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sewbyhandmtl/?hl=en
Other organisations mentioned:
San Francisco School Of Needlework & Design
https://www.sfneedleworkanddesign.org/
Embroiderer's Guild Of America
https://egausa.org/#
Embroiderer's Association Of Canada
https://eac.ca/eng/
Clare Hunter shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
Clare has run her own business for many years, with a strong emphasis on community textile art projects, and banner making. Clare is also the author of new book 'Threads of Life : A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle.' This book takes a fascinating and powerful look at how sewing and embroidery have been used throughout history to enable forgotten people, in difficult circumstances, to tell their stories.
Susan Weeks chats with Clare about:
- The ideas behind her book
- Encouraging all members of society to pick up a needle
- Banner making for Processions 2018
- Stories around memories represented by cloth: 'Material Matters'
- Working with large banners
- Learning academic historical research techniques
- Are UFO's tasty?
- Creative writing vs creative textile art
- Mary Queen Of Scots
- and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Clare's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/clarehunter
Visit: http://www.sewingmatters.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/sewingmatters/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sewingmatters
Read: https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473687943
Other episodes & guests mentioned:
Processions 2018
Hattie McGill
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Laura Bray shares her life in fabric & thread. Laura has run her own business for many years, firstly as a business consultant, and currently enjoying her creative business built around embroidery, fabric and crafts.
Laura shares plenty of great stories around her embroidery and creative business, and 'cos Sue loves all things online digital marketing, we also had a good chat about social media, Pinterest and managing our creative time. Laura has a couple of very interesting projects on the go too - come and have a listen to discover more about them!
Susan Weeks chats with Laura about:
- Making new connections through stitching
- Social Media Detox
- Building a creative business
- Using Pinterest in a strategic way
- Investing time into blogging & newsletters
- Who loves French Knots?
- Why is Laura going to her local seed library?
- Does everything have to be for sale
- Increasing creativity & beating procrastination
- and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Laura's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/laurabray
Visit: http://laurabraydesigns.com/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/laurabraydesigns/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/user/millbray
Like: https://www.facebook.com/laurabraydesigns/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/laurakbray
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Joe Mitchell Shares His Life In Fabric & Thread. Joe creates the most beautiful, sparkling beaded tambour embroidery using beads, silk ribbons, sequins and all manner of gorgeous things!
Joe shares plenty of great stories around his love of tambour embroidery as well as giving us a peek into the world of haute couture embroidery and embroidery for film costumes.
Susan Weeks chats with Joe about:
- The magic of tambour embroidery
- Tambour embroidery frames
- Working on haute couture embroidery
- Seeing with your fingers
- Can you embroider this?
- Vegas or Paris...
- Watch out for those 'stork' scissors
- Embroidery for films
- Embroidery dreams come true
- and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Joe's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/joemitchell
Like: https://www.facebook.com/JoeMitchellEmbroideries/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/brodeurbear
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Tina Francis Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. Based in Birmingham, Tina chats with Susan Weeks about creating her 2nd career based around her love of tapestry, bringing bargello back, and working on community stitch projects that bring people together.
Susan chats with Tina about:
- Is it tapestry, needlepoint or canvaswork?
- Bringing bargello back
- Using stitch to cope with grief and bereavement
- Protest with textile art
- Building a portfolio creative career
- Micro Business Matters day
- Producing tapestry kits
- Use Up Your Stash
- The delights of Community Stitch projects
- Extending your artwork
- and so much more.
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Tina's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/tinafrancis
Visit: http://tinafrancis.co.uk
Like: https://www.facebook.com/TinaFrancisTapestry/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/tinafrancistapestry
Blog: http://tinafrancisgallery.blogspot.com/
Shop: http://www.tina-francis-tapestry.co.uk/shop/
Micro Biz Matters Day 11 Jan 2019
https://microbizmatters.co.uk/
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Eleanor Pigman Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. Eleanor is a contemporary bead embroidery artists who creates vibrant portraits of marine life.
She chats with Susan Weeks about how she rose to the challenge of using thousands of donated beads in her artwork, starting with portraits and finding her inspiration for bead embroidery in the ocean.
Susan Weeks chats with Eleanor about:
- Meeting inspiring cross stitchers
- Discovering her love for teaching
- Going for it - starting with Barack Obama...
- From portraits to ocean creatures
- The therapeutic aspects of bead embroidery
- Her top secret tip for bagging up beads
- Selling kits
- How to do well on Etsy
- What is Fun Friday?
- And much more besides...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Eleanor's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/eleanorpigman
Visit: http://eleanor-pigman.squarespace.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Eleanor-Pigman-Seed-Bead-Artist-123534724327237/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/pigseedbead/
Buy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Epigman
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, my guest is Michelle Morgan, hand embroidery artist.
Michelle shares her story with us how she discovered embroidery four years ago and how it has literally changed her life. Focusing on embroidery helped Michelle to change her path of unhealthy, destructive habits to feeling calm, centered, and happy.
She has a busy full-time position at Yale University, so embroidery is a treat and a haven from the world, and Michelle spends as much of her free time on it as possible.
Susan Weeks chats with Michelle about:
- Getting interested in embroidery 'by accident'
- Fabulous family stories and history within old family embroidery and household linens
- Being inspired by her long family tradition of workers making things with their hands
- Creating images of concepts and feelings
- How embroidery calmed and healed her
- The excitement of a solo exhibition
- and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Michelle's work at https://stitcherystories.com/michellemorgan
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/mutuallyassureddeconstruction/
Other artists mentioned:
Ami James
https://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames/
Adrian Cronos
https://www.stitcherystories.com/riggedthread/
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art and embroidery podcast, my guest is Helen McCook, an artisan hand embroiderer.
Helen shares her story with us of purpose and direction as she realised that she wanted to create her career around her love of embroidery. Helen has worked on many high profile embroidery and textile related projects, and has now opened her own textile teaching school from her base in Birmingham.
Susan Weeks chats with Helen about:
- A new book in the works
- Launching the 'Traditional Textiles School'
- Being very clear what an embroidery project contains, particularly time and budget constraints
- The influence of her sporty family on her career progression
- A pivotal conversation whilst at University
- The Royal School Of Needlework
- A Royal Wedding
- Embroidery and the visually impaired and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Helen's work at https://stitcherystories.com/helenmccook
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://traditionaltextilesschool.com/
Visit: https://www.helenmccook.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/traditionaltextilesschool
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art and embroidery podcast, we have a subject for embroidery that you may find rather unusual, and intriguing. This episode also features our first guest from outside of the UK.
My guest is Adrian Cronos, from the USA East Coast, who creates embroidery inspired by the ancient art of Japanese rope bondage known as Shibari. Adrian shares her story with us how she was inspired when 2 very different worlds collided... her early and long standing love of embroidery, and seeing images of shibori. She wondered if she could create art with these 2 subjects. And yes of course, she has done.
Susan Weeks chats with Adrian about:
Learning embroidery from her grandma & YouTube What is Shibari Where do her source images come from Consent, in art, in images, and in Shibari A very powerful and moving artistic highlight Helping her family to understand her choices and celebrate her art Managing her creative time and her busy full-time job and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Adrian's work at https://stitcherystories.com/riggedthread
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/rigged.thread
Other artists on Instagram mentioned:
Megham Willis @tsurubride
Rachael @usedthreads
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art and embroidery podcast, we have a different story and guest for you! My guest is Liz Burton, a corporate fashion designer, currently employed as Design Manager at Incorporatewear, a specialist corporate fashion and workwear company, based in Birmingham.
Liz shares her story of fashion design, and we focus on the variety and challenges involved with designing successful corporate fashion.
Sue shares her TWO hideous corporate clothing stories, and lets's be clear, there was nothing at all fashionable, or even nice, about the 2 work uniforms she has worn in her life!
Susan Weeks chats with Liz about:
- Her love for fashion from a young age
- Developing her career in fashion
- An interesting range of clothing design challenges
- The key aspects of successful corporate fashion design
- The steps involved in designing corporate clothing
- How to keep everyone happy....
- Fabric design and performance
- Sustainable fashion
and much more...
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Liz's work at https://stitcherystories.com/lizburton
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://www.incorporatewear.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethjburton
Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-j-burton-103b406a/
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art and embroidery podcast, Sarah Rakestraw shares her story in fabric and gold threads! She is the founder and owner of Golden Hinde Goldwork, a specialist embroidery brand selling goldwork supplies, kits and also offering classes.
Sarah shares how she spotted an opportunity to grow her mum's love of goldwork into a family business. She was training to be a chartered accountant at the time. With her love of goldwork, and her head for business, and a lot of hard work, Golden Hinde Goldwork has flourished.
Susan Weeks chats with Sarah about:
- The excitement of her Goldwork embroidery book being published
- The benefit of goldwork kits as a way to develop skills
- Why cross-stitch is an excellent starting point for embroidery
- The range of wires and thread available for goldwork
- It doesn't have to be worked in Gold!
- Couching & Beading... we can all do that can't we?
- Enjoying meeting embroidery enthusiasts at the shows
- Making banners embellished with goldwork
- Building up the range of supplies stocked by Golden Hinde
- Expanding into blackwork and whitework
- Buying other embroidery supplies related businesses
- Encouraging & supporting beginners to develop goldwork skills
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sarah's work at https://stitcherystories.com/sarahrakestraw
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://golden-hinde.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Golden-Hinde-Goldwork-Embroidery-170301689808514/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/goldenhindegoldwork/
Read: Glorious Goldwork by Sarah Rakestraw & Sue Hinde
Other guests mentioned in our chat:
Jen Goodwin
https://www.stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin/
Georgina Bellamy
https://www.stitcherystories.com/georginabellamy/
Anthea Godfrey
https://www.stitcherystories.com/antheagodfrey/
Other Artists mentioned:
Natalie Dupuis
https://www.instagram.com/sewbyhandmtl/
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, two members of York Textile Artists share their story of forming a new group.
The group was formed by uniting 8 textile artists around the city of York who had all exhibited at York Open Studios in April 2018. An early guest of Stitchery Stories, Bridgette Bernadette Karn has been a major instigator of the group.
The group aim to not only support each other in creating textile art but also to act as a force for change in promoting the value of Textile Arts.
Susan Weeks chats with Carol Coleman & Alison Spaven about:
- How the group became established
- The aims and mission of the group
- The members and their areas of expertise
- The challenges of setting up a group
- Do they spend time together as a group?
- The journey to getting a group bank account
- The excitement of their forthcoming exhibition 10th & 11th November
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of group members work at https://stitcherystories.com/yorktextileartists
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://www.yorktextileartists.com/
Exhibition 10th & 11th November 2018, 10am to 4pm
York Cemetery Chapel, Cemetery Road, York http://yorkcemetery.org.uk
Other episodes mentioned in our chat:
Bridget Bernadette Karn https://www.stitcherystories.com/bridgetbernadettekarn/
Fran Brammer https://www.stitcherystories.com/franbrammer/
Profanity Embroidery Group https://www.stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/
Iona Barker Say It Ain't Sew https://www.stitcherystories.com/ionabarker/
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Louise Gardiner shares her life in fabric & thread.
Louise specialises in contemporary embroidery, particularly complex machine embroidered applique, with great detail, plenty of beads and texture.
Louise has recently worked on some high profile projects, including the Pukka Herbs Cape of Empowerment, and her Instagram initiated Stitch-A-Cloud. She also extends her work, using her embroidery designs to create beautiful velvet poufs and luxurious silk scarves. These items are essential additions to her business.
Susan Weeks chats with Louise about:
- Her love of complex applique, machine embroidery & beading
- Creating The Cape of Empowerment commissioned by Pukka Herbs
- The emotional response experienced by it's wearers
- The popularity of her Instagram #stitchacloud project
- Having the courage to say No and to create space for something else
- The ups and downs of freelancer life
- Extending artwork into other saleable products
- Supporting creativity and artisans
- The excitement of exhibiting at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
- and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Louise's work at https://stitcherystories.com/louisegardiner
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.lougardiner.co.uk/
Shop: http://www.lougardiner.co.uk/shop.php
Look: https://www.instagram.com/lou_gardiner_embroidery/
Other guests mentioned: Jayne Emerson
Alex Hall: Textile Artist & Tutor
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Alex Hall shares her life in fabric & thread. Alex is a textile artist who has recently transitioned from her 30 year primary school teaching career into the adventure of creating her own business following her passion for textile art and creativity.
Alex loves experimenting and discovering and trying out new stitches and techniques. She also creates inventive ways of using found objects, and using stuff other people throw away.
Susan Weeks chats with Alex about:
- Using iron on transfers and a stitch book to teach herself embroidery
- A delight in trying out new and varied stitches
- Does everything have to be finished?
- Teaching naughty boys bullion knots!
- The textile inspiration within The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
- The rich learning from distressed alliums
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Alex's work at https://stitcherystories.com/alexhall
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://underatopazsky.wordpress.com
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Underatopazsky
Email: ahall2410@aol.com
Other guests mentioned: Alison Larkin & Chris Gray
Anthea Godfrey: Embroidery Artist & Creative Leader
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Anthea Godfrey shares her life in fabric & thread.
Anthea is an embroidery artist with an outstanding career in teaching, leading and supporting embroidery and textile art. She is currently the Artistic Director of The Embroiderers' Guild and has been instrumental in leading many fantastic projects, often on an epic scale, for the Guild, for organisations and for pubic arts projects. She has also worked in film, theatre, and at many levels in the textile art and embroidery education world too.
Above all else, Anthea is a passionate supporter of creativity in all its forms, and in keeping our skills alive and relevant to the next generations.
Susan Weeks chats with Anthea about:
- Her career in embroidery & textile art
- The large scale projects she has been involved with for the Embroiderers' Guild
- Magna Carta - An Embroidery
- The White Walker commissioned by HBO Game Of Thrones
- Forthcoming international projects
- Her love of working large scale
- Her love of Or Nue and Beading
- An epic UFO
- The importance of creativity across society
- Her petition to support creativity in schools
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Anthea's work at https://stitcherystories.com/antheagodfrey
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://embroiderersguild.com/
Visit: https://embroiderersguild.com/index.php?page_no=911&page_menu=campaign-for-creativity
Sign: https://www.change.org/p/the-rt-hon-damian-hinds-secretary-of-state-for-education-campaign-for-creativity-in-schools
Bryony Rose Jennings: Textile Sculpture Creates Characterful Creatures
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Bryony Rose Jennings shares her life in fabric & thread. Bryony is a textile sculptor who originally trained in jewellery making and silversmithing, although she has always has textiles and creativity in her life. She creates her textile menagerie, which is a wonderful world of stylised imaginary creatures full of character and personality.
Bryony shares why she moved from jewellery to textile sculpture, and we highlight that there are more commonalities between the two than you would first think!
Susan Weeks chats with Bryony about:
- Juggling international teaching with a young family
- Turning to more toddler-friendly materials and techniques for her art
- A madcap patchwork donkey that changed her life
- Her textile sculpture techniques - these are NOT soft toys!
- Making time everyday to be creative
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Bryony's work at https://stitcherystories.com/bryonyrosejennings
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.prettyscruffy.com/home
Look: https://www.instagram.com/bryonyrosejennings
Like: https://www.facebook.com/BryonyRoseTextileMenagerie
Shop: https://bryonyrosetextilemenagerie.bigcartel.com/
Marna Lunt : Artist Using Bold Colour & Thread Instead Of Paint
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Marna Lunt shares her life in fabric & thread. Marna is a fine artist turned hand embroidery artist who offers online embroidery courses, as well as one off original paintings, drawings, thread paintings, and contemporary embroidery.
Marna shares why she moved from painting, to painting with a needle and in our conversation, classical art and art history are a recurring subject. However, when family life meant that large-scale painting in oils wasn't practical, Marna turned to fabric & thread for relaxation, therapy and to earn a living.
Susan Weeks chats with Marna about:
- Using thread in a painterly way
- Taking part in Stitchtober & Threaduary
- 'Guiding Lights'... starting a conversation about inspirational women
- Being a painter at heart
- How she got started earning a living from her hand embroidery
- Feeling overwhelmed with >80K followers
- Inspirational Italian Renaissance painters
- The North Yorkshire Moors - same scenes, different colours every day
- Struggling with the idea of being called a textile artist
- Including colours in skin tones
- Applying fine art techniques to colour blending with stitches
- Nobody can copy what is in your brain
- Celebrating high points and daily achievements alike
- Fitting stitching around her children's care and family time
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Marna's work at https://stitcherystories.com/marnalunt
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.marnalunt.co.uk
Look: https://www.instagram.com/marnalunt
Like: https://www.facebook.com/marnaluntartist/
Shop: https://madebyhandonline.com/collections/marna-lunt
Visit: ArtAnd at York Racecourse 26-28 Oct 2018 https://www.artand.co.uk/
Visit: CraftedByHand at Masham Town Hall (North Yorkshire) 3 & 4 Nov 2018
http://www.by-handevents.com/
Other people, things & places mentioned in this episode:
MadeByHandOnline.com Cowslip Workshops: https://www.cowslipworkshops.co.uk/tutor/marna-lunt
Andy from Vinegar & Brown Paper
Adam Pritchett (previous guest on Stitchery Stories)
Cas Holmes (previous guest on Stitchery Stories)
Frida Kahlo
Vivienne Westwood
Ada Lovelace
Textile Landscapes by Cas Holmes
Sorrell Kerrison: Creating Hand Embroidered Portraits
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Sorrell Kerrison shares her life in fabric & thread, and music!
Sorrell is a creative who produces work in different mediums - textile art, print, painting, film, as well as writing music, playing guitar and singing in several bands through the years.
Our main focus in this episode is around the excitement of the four large hand embroidered portraits that Sorrell was commissioned to create for Bolton Museum Egyptology collection. These are now part of the Museum's permanent collection.
We have a fascinating chat about colour and also about Sorrell finding her focus around hand embroidered portraits.
Susan Weeks chats with Sorrell about:
- Seeing the opportunity to propose hand embroidery as a suitable medium for portraits for Bolton Museum commission
- Winning the bid for all four portraits
- Being very specific about her creative process
- Why embroidery can be similar to Jazz "improv"
- Finding self expression in art and film making and rebelling against rigid ideas
- Fascination with faces
- Saying "hello" to her portraits
- Developing consistency, finding her path and loving her portrait work
- Stitching as therapy whilst listening to podcasts
- About her interesting use of colour
- Making a vow and some 'rules' to help finish things
- What's Stopping You? Just Go and do that thing you've always wanted to do
- What it takes to create a body of work
- Embroidery is enforced patience
- Building a Patreon page
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sorrell's work at https://stitcherystories.com/sorrellkerrison
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://sorrellkerrison.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sorrellck
Tweet: https://twitter.com/@SorrellKerrison
Visit: Bolton Museum http://www.boltonlams.co.uk/museum/collections-overview/the-egyptology-collection
Other people, things & places mentioned in this episode:
Francis Bacon
Jenny Saville
The Manic Street Preachers album 'The Holy Bible'
Armando Iannucci
Cayce Zavaglia
Louise Bourgeois
Jayne Emerson: Textile Designer, Author & Tutor
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Jayne Emerson shares her life in fabric & thread.
Jayne is a textile designer, as well as the author of 6 books and a tutor in a range of textile related techniques. Her skills range from couture to crafts.
Susan Weeks chats with Jayne about:
Working within the secretive fashion world Starting to include elements of her fabric design samples & techniques into workshops The positive affirmations & excitement of Banner Making Embrace techniques and let fabric 'do it's thing' Following her heart and studying textiles NOT history You don't have to be good at drawing to be creative Getting lost in Pinterest & Instagram Using mood boards to find yourself and discover your style What is a weave agent? Developing 'Fabric Recipes' Is the back more exciting than the front? Don't worry... the TV crew will do your hair and makeup Is our fabric stash (thread stash) too nice to use? Is a turning point coming up for Jayne? Work in the way that brings you Joy
and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jayne's work at https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://jayneemerson.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/jayneemersontextiles
Like: https://www.facebook.com/jayneemersontextiledesign
Tweet: https://twitter.com/@jayneemerson
Pin: https://uk.pinterest.com/jayneemerson/
Visit: New Brewery Arts - Cirencester https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/
Visit: The Hand Made Fair Hampton Court Sewing & Textiles, Janome Sewing Masterclass https://www.thehandmadefair.com/hampton-court/
Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, Hayley Mills-Styles shares her life in fabric & thread. Hayley describes herself as a thread artist, and has had a very busy year so far culminating in two solo exhibitions. Whilst she has a love for backstitch, we have a great chat about her love of digital embroidery.
Susan Weeks chats with Hayley about:
- A busy year preparing for exhibitions
- The joy of working collaboratively, as well as visiting museums for research
- Loving libraries and all those "real books"
- Connecting people, places and materials
- Unpicking things as a curious child
- How much do we love backstitch?
- Discovering the world of digital embroidery
- An obsession with pin cushions
- The excitement of unusual objects as embroidery inspiration
- Writing about Narwhals!
- The roller-coaster of freelance creative businesses
- Who has 37 types of 'post-it notes'?
- and much more...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Hayley's work at https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.hayleymillsstyles.com
Look: https://www.instagram.com/hmillsstyles
Like: https://www.facebook.com/hmillsstyles
Tweet: https://twitter.com/@HMillsStyles/
Visit: Whitby Museum https://whitbymuseum.org.uk/
Visit: Love Arts Festival (Leeds) http://www.loveartsleeds.co.uk/
Jen Goodwin: Traditionally Trained Artisan Embroiderer & RSN Tutor
Jen Goodwin is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Jen shares her very interesting story as she has developed her embroidery skills, including being a Royal School of Needlework Tutor & Assessor.
Jen has a studio based at Walford Mill crafts, Wimbourne, Dorset and shares some great insights into the value of having other creative makers and specialists working in the same location, in different disciplines. She also shares aspects of the book she is working on!
Susan Weeks chats with Jen:
- Writing a Blackwork book
- Designing modern blackwork
- When sewing is more of a 'proper job' than maths or science!
- Teaching & assessing at the Royal School of Needlework
- Being inspired by other onsite makers at Walford Mill
- The many benefits of working in a supportive creative environment
- The technical elements of blackwork shading
- Her love of 'fiddly' goldwork
- The challenge of colours and texture when silk shading
- Enjoyment in showing that pieces can have a modern twist to them yet be technically accurate traditional techniques
- The joys of educating people about embroidery techniques and what can be achieved with fabric & thread
- Thinking 'I wonder what will happen if...'
- Things DO go wrong, and unpicking is very human and very normal
- Only you know what it is supposed to look like
- Be confident in what you have created... No Backstories!
- Don't fret over those UFO's or feel guilty if you actually start working on one again :-)
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.jengoodwinembroidery.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/jagembroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/jengoodwinembroidery
Fenella Dawnay: Processions 2018 & Banner Making
Fenella Dawnay is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Our episode is rather different than usual in that Fenella is NOT a textile artist!
This episode is all about Processions 2018 a mass participation artwork celebrating the centenary of (some) British women gaining the right to vote. It takes places across 4 locations in the UK on 10th June, 2018.
We talk about that and in particular the 100 Years 100 Banners project. These 100 banners are being created for the procession with 100 arts organisations and women's groups. Textile artists have been involved with the banner making groups.
Fenella is a freelance arts and theatre producer, working as Associate Producer for Artichoke on PROCESSIONS and is managing engagement across the UK. She has recruited 100 arts organisations from Shetland to Cornwall, Derry to North Wales to make 100 centenary banners for the celebrations and is managing relationships with national partners and project ambassadors.
Everyone is invited to join Processions on 10th June! You don’t need to make a banner to be at PROCESSIONS – just register to be there at www.processions.co.uk.
Susan Weeks chats with Fenella about:
- The history of the project and how it has been organised
- Giving women a voice with textiles
- The 100 banners and the textile artists and groups involved
- Banners and their role in protest movements
- How you can join in and make your own banners
- Some practicalities in banner making
- How to sign up and join one of the four processions on June 10th
- Some of the logistical challenges involved in organising such a massive arts project
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/processions2018
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://www.processions.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/artichoketrust
Like: https://www.facebook.com/PROCESSIONS2018/
Tweet: https://twitter.com/processions2018
Sara Dennis: RSN Qualified Hand Embroidery Tutor
Sara Dennis is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Sara shares her interesting story of training to be a nurse, joining the Army and travelling the world with her husband.
Discover how she took the opportunity to study at The Royal School of Needlework and launch her second career as a hand embroidery tutor. Her current exhibition 'An Apprentice's Journey' features her work whilst studying with the RSN.
Listen as Sara shares different ways in which her love of embroidery and museum curation, combined with her military background, has manifest itself in her new career.
Susan Weeks chats with Sara about:
Her early art ambitions were thwarted by the Art teacher's wig... Her delight at teaching in Williamsberg, USA with the RSN Going to University later in life - and loving learning again Her path to the RSN's Future Tutor course Insight into training at the Royal School of Needlework The challenges of growing a teaching business Using locally produced Herdwick wool in her Goldwork pieces The highlight curating her own solo exhibition at Farfield Mill, Sedburgh 'An Apprentice's Journey' Supporting Combat Stress & SSAFA Hand embroidery helping service men and women suffering PTSD Silk Shading - a simple stitch, a very tricky technique And as for 'Both Sides Alike'.... Is it cheating to include your Grandma's UFO? The amazing textiles in Military museums
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/saradennis
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://saradennisembroidery.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/saradennisembroidery
Like: https://www.facebook.com/saradennisembroidery
Email: hello@saradennisembroidery.co.uk
Other organisations mentioned:
Farfield Mill, Sedburgh, Cumbria
http://www.farfieldmill.org/
Cable & Blake
https://www.cableandblake.co.uk/
Combat Stress
https://www.combatstress.org.uk/
SSAFA
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/
Other episodes with some related themes:
Dionne Swift - Military Wives project
Iona Barker - Free Hand Sewing classes to promote mental wellbeing
Yvonne Fuchs - slow stitch to promote mental wellbeing
Ami James - textile art changed her life
Alison Larkin - 'both sides alike' embroidery
Iona Barker: Fun Free Hand Sewing Classes For Mental Wellbeing
Iona Barker is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Laura shares her story of creativity and then burnout as she pursued her fashion and costume career. Fighting depression she turned to creativity to help her healing, and Say It Ain't Sew was born. It is a non-profit organisation which encourages creativity through running free hand sewing classes across several locations in Scotland. Listen as Iona shares her fascinating story and vision of using craft as a tool to reduce social isolation, improve cognitive skills and increase mental wellbeing.
Susan Weeks chats with Iona about:
- The recent debut of Say It AIn't Sew in England (York)
- Cutting things up when a child and being taught to sew them back together
- Being repeatedly told 'You can't do that you are a girl'
- Becoming burnt out in London's fashion industry and fighting depression afterwards
- Always turning to hand sewing when feeling low or unhappy
- Surprise at learning that sewing and creativity are being forced out of schools
- The importance of hand sewing in civilisation over millenia
- The delights of home sewing and knitting
- Realising that running sewing classes would help others to feel better who were also struggling
- Providing motivation to get out of the house, meet people, and be creative again
- Attracting other young professionals with a similar story
- The lovely aspects of sewing in a group
- Is the pub the perfect place to sit, chat or sew?
- Dragging along husbands and boyfriends & getting them sewing
- The delight of helping people discover they are creative and the enjoyment of sewing
- Creativity, problem solving and their role in helping to combat dementia
- Hoarding fabric... are we all guilty of this?
- Spreading the word on creativity and sewing
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/ionabarker
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://www.sayitaintsew.org/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/Sayitaint_sew
Like: https://www.facebook.com/sewglasgow/
Tweet: @SayitaintsewUK
Email: info@sayitaintsew.co.uk
Laura Edgar: Atmospheric Coastal Scenes in Textile Art
Laura Edgar is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Laura shares her life as a textile artist and tutor who is inspired by her native beautiful & dramatic Northumberland coastline. Laura loves to create her seascapes using recycled clothing and vintage textiles and trimmings, as well as applying paint, heat and stitch.
Listen as Laura shares her lifelong delight with textile art.
Susan Weeks chats with Laura about:
- The fascination of the back of embroidery
- Looking forward to some creative playtime
- Oh, the delights of Jumble Sales & astrakhan coats!
- Being inspired by the sea
- How to create beautiful folds and creases in fabric
- Spontaneity with reverse stitching... hopefully
- Not a fan of Hardanger preferring less structure & formality
- The excitement of being included in her first book
- The delight of meeting others who get so excited about fabric & threads
- Working on commissions
- Getting the balance and not over-working or over-embellishing
- Being the eager recipient of 'button tins' donated by work colleagues
- Enjoying taking part in Embroiderers' Guild events, activities, competitions & exhibitions, branch, regional & nationally
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at
https://www.stitcherystories.com/lauraedgar
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://www.lauraedgar.co.uk/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/lauraedgartextileart
Like: https://www.facebook.com/LauraEdgarArtist
Shop https://www.etsy.com/uk/people/lauraedgar1
Read: http://www.d4daisy.com/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/lauraedgarart/
Alnmouth Art Festival http://www.alnmouthartsfestival.co.uk/
Karen Ruane: Contemporary Hand Embroidery & Connections With Cloth
Karen Ruane is our guest today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Karen shares her life as a contemporary hand embroidery artist who specialises in teaching and building supportive communities via online embroidery courses.
Listen as Karen shares her embroidery journey from Cross Stitch, through leisure classes and onto a degree when her children had flown the nest. Karen's main focus is teaching through her online embroidery courses, as well as some limited workshops in London. A key element of her online embroidery classes is the duration and levels of personal interaction, which helps build a very engaged and supportive online community with her students.
Susan Weeks chats with Karen about:
- Artists Books created to store, display and protect small embroidery samples
- The challenge of keeping up with your students when running longer term workshops
- The logistics of running online embroidery workshops
- Building strong community support in an online group
- Making friends for life online AND meeting up In Real Life
- From one Cross Stitch kit... Look at what's happened!
- In-depth research into the role of the family and motherhood and the relationship with cloth
- Using her embroidery as a way of staying connected with her grandmas and kids
- Being inspired by her students and feeling connected to them through embroidery
- Loving hand embroidery and embellishments
- How many wraps of the needle to make a bullion knot???
- The temptation to hide mistakes and the pressure to be perfect on social media
- The value of showing mistakes as part of the online embroidery courses so students gain valuable learning
- Allowing your personality to shine through video and students having the feeling of being in the room too, in that moment.
- The massive elephant in the room....
- The self imposed pressure of feeding your blog on a daily basis
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/karenruane
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: http://karenannruane.typepad.com/karen_ruane/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/karenruane/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/karenruaneembroidery/
Learn: http:http://karenruane.bigcartel.com/product/create-and-embellish
Learn: http://karenruane.bigcartel.com/product/artist-books-2-month-subscription
Georgina Bellamy: 3D Goldwork & Beaded Animals
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Georgina Bellamy shares her life as a hand embroidery artist who specialises in creating truly gorgeous 3D goldwork and beaded animals.
Listen as Georgina shares her embroidery journey from working at a Dry Cleaners, through City & Guilds, a degree and then stepping out on her own and developing her embroidery brand and business.
Georgina shares stories that highlight the battle between creativity and commercial necessity and the challenges of teaching workshops around Europe. We also chat about being brave and being engaging on social media, particularly using live streaming and videos.
Susan Weeks chats with Georgina about:
- Teaching in various locations across Europe and getting very good at miming!
- The benefits of working in themes
- Doing live stream video to demonstrate techniques and build important engagement with followers
- Following City & Guilds before University degree and learning from so many talented older ladies
- Winning the Embroiderer's Guild annual scholarship as a springboard for further opportunities to exhibit and grow her business
- Struggling to settle with the lack of acknowledgement for her art and skill working within fashion studios
- Taking brave steps to do her own thing and see what happened
- The realisation that art needs a commercial aspect to it
- The ideas and evolution behind the 3D goldwork beaded animals
- Her love of working with the metal wires (purls) and pushing the limits of stumpwork
- Creating work that makes you happy but in the context of a viable business
- Proudly promoting traditional techniques and making them attractive to today's market
- International travel is not always a glamorous experience
- The challenge of the human form .... and zombies!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/georginabellamy
Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/
Visit: https://thatembroiderygirl.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/thatembroiderygirl/
Buy: https://thatembroiderygirl.com/shops/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/thatembroiderygirl/
For more about the annual Embroiderer's Guild Scholarship scheme: Embroiderers Guild Scholarship Scheme
Hattie McGill: Hand Embroidery Artist
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Hattie McGill shares her life as a hand embroidery artist and freelance embroiderer working in fashion, costume and film.
Listen as Hattie shares her embroidery journey and how she balances her own art for sale and commission, with the typically unpredictable world of being a freelance embroiderer. Hattie also shares some very interesting insights into doing embroidery for films and fashion designers. And by total contrast, her own work is heavily influenced by the natural world and objects around us.
Susan Weeks chats with Hattie about:
- The fairs she is busy making for at the moment including the London Artisans fair 31 March and 1st April (links below)
- Embroidering clothes and items for the recent Kenneth Branagh film 'Murder On The Orient Express'
- Creating crustaceans with amusing names
- Making an embroidery for Mother's Day aged 3
- A creative path that led to the Royal School Of Needlework
- Collecting things and being inspired by the natural world
- Hoarding furniture...
- Working with fashion house Alexander McQueen
- The demand for haute couture embroidery
- Valueing the skills and traditions we have in the UK around embroidery
- Can Hattie pick a favourite technique?
- Working on elements in a Dolls House for the V&A Museum Of Childhood
- Why sewing by candlelight is no longer advised!
- The annoyance of sewing your embroidery to your clothes by mistake... grrr
- The doomed skeleton that only consists of ONE ARM so far
- Feeling guilty at doing embroidery 'just' for herself
- The challenges of combining freelance work and making your own work for sale and commission
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/hattiemcgill
Visit: https://www.hattiemcgillembroidery.com/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/hattiemcgillembroidery/
Buy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HattieMcGill
The London Artisan http://www.thelondonartisan.com/
Yvonne Fuchs: Relax With Slow Stitching
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Yvonne Fuchs shares her relaxing approach to slow stitch and creating mindful and contemplative textile art. Listen as Yvonne shares her textile journey and her world journeys and their influence on her work.
We are focusing on Slow Stitch today. Yvonne has combined her 2 worlds of Zen and mindfulness with her love of teaching textile art to create unique classes in Slow Stitch. Yvonne explains the backstory that led to the creation of this approach and the many benefits that combat our stressful and busy lives, including creating beautiful and very personal pieces of work.
Susan Weeks chats with Yvonne about:
- The inspirations from our travels
- Embroidery in different places and cultures
- Stitching as a core aspects of life
- Relaxing with stitch and mindfulness
- Why our lives resemble the back of an embroidery - knots and all!
- Meditation and slow stitching as a way of being calm
- So what is Slow Stitching
- The influence from Japanese boro
- Stitching in silence... is this really possible?
- Reflections on life and passions bound together by stitch
- Appreciating our skills and uniqueness as we journey through life
- Brewing up natural dyes
- The delights of 'mono-tasking'
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/yvonnefuchs
Like: https://www.facebook.com/slowstitchcommunity/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/brandinworkshop/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/zenofbusiness/
Book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/slow-stitch-course-april-2018-tickets-39699552430
Whitstable Textile Society
https://www.facebook.com/Whitstable-Textile-Society-892031767584622/
Other places & people mentioned:
Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art
by Claire Wellesley Smith
http://www.clairewellesleysmith.co.uk/
THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE®
by Stephen R Covey
https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php
Saima Kaur: Inspired By Indian Folk Art And Colourful Textiles
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Saima Kaur shares her colourful hand embroidery inspired by her Indian heritage and Indian Folk art.
Listen as Saima shares her embroidery journey and begins her adventure into creating a sustainable business through her textile art. Saima has an interesting story and brings Indian textiles alive through her own textile collection and research.
Susan Weeks chats with Saima about:
- Starting the journey towards developing a sustainable textile arts based business
- Using mini-embroideries to develop ideas in colour, technique and design
- NOT being taught sewing and embroidery by her talented mother and explaining the Indian cultural reasons why
- Developing a project to express her journey as the mother of her autistic daughter
- Being always inspired by Indian Folk art embroidery and textiles
- Celebrating the women who have come before us with their embroidery made in difficult life circumstances
- Her love of, and research into, Punjabi Phulkaris
- Building up a variety of stitches with traditional threads and and hand woven cotton fabric
- Basing work on traditional stylised icons and designs
- Everyone started with their first talk and feeling brave
- Knowing when to stop!
- Her personal collection of Indian textiles and embroidery
- Using art and language together to create inclusion and community
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/saimakaur
Look: https://www.instagram.com/sewsaima/
Other places & people mentioned:
Jessica Grady https://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady/
Lindy Richardson https://www.stitcherystories.com/lindyrichardson/
Deborah Mullins https://www.stitcherystories.com/deborahmullins/
Adam Pritchett: Intricate Insects & Antique Frames
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, embroidery artist Adam Pritchett shares his intricate embroidered spiders and pieces inspired by antique frames, antiquarian themes... and a sprinkling of magic and creepiness!
Listen as Adam shares his relatively recent embroidery journey through his inspirations and techniques. And of course, he gets a Gold Star for being our first male embroidery artist on Stitchery Stories.
Susan Weeks chats with Adam about:
- Loving Instagram for getting discovered and connecting with other artists
- Using antique frames to inspire textile art
- After an unplanned Fine Art degree, developing an interest in embroidery
- Teaching himself embroidery via YouTube and old books
- Being inspired by nature and books
- Using versatile woollen fabric and recycled velvet as a contrast to the insects and spooky subjects
- Building up textures with knots and beads
- Opportunities to exhibit with the Light Grey Art Lab in Minneapolis, USA
- Appearing on Kirsty Allsop's Handmade Christmas TV programme
- Being featured on Martha Stewart's Blog
- What do Adam's mates think to all these embroidery antics?
- Virtual communities making it easier to share our work and inspirations
- Spiders in the coffee shop?
- Collaboration with fashion designer Hogan McLaughlin
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/adampritchett
Visit: www.apritchett.co.uk
Like: https://www.facebook.com/adampritchettneedleworks
Look: https://www.instagram.com/ajpritchett
Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/aj_pritchett
Read: https://www.marthastewart.com/1522303/adam-pritchett-stitchtober-needlework-series
Other places & people mentioned:
Light Grey Arts Lab, Minneapolis, USA
http://lightgreyartlab.com/
Hogan McLaughlin
http://hogan-mclaughlin.com/
Jane Sanders: Textile Portraits Of Iconic Pop Stars
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Jane Sanders shares her vibrant and exciting textile portraits of very iconic pop stars. The stars Jane chooses for her portraits are famous across a range of genres, eras and styles, so there is always something fresh about her work. And even if you don't like all of their music - you will love the artistry and stitching that Jane creates... in her kitchen!
Listen as Jane shares her inspirations, techniques, and how everything always comes in useful eventually.
Susan Weeks chats with Jane about:
- Instagram is brilliant for textile artists and growing our audience
- Textile art as a legitimate art form
- Rock n roll applique!
- Adding features to make portraits realistic
- Keeping a tin of glass eyes in the kitchen
- Learning handicrafts as a child and developing those skills into 'something else' that can be viewed on a gallery wall
- What to do with wadding and black enamel spray paint
- Using stuff lying about the house and collecting more
- Working towards her latest exhibition
- Seeing 41 pieces of her work all together at her exhibition at Arts Centre Washington in late 2017
- Making the most of our time
- What happened to Iggy Pop?
- Would you like a scorpion as a free gift?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders
Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitchininthekitchen73/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitchin_in_the_kitchen
Read: https://www.mrxstitch.com/jane-sanders/
Email: stitchininthekitchen73@gmail.com
Other places mentioned: Arts Centre Washington http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/
The People's Theatre, Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne https://www.peoplestheatre.co.uk/
Ann Small: Layered Cloth and Quirky Characters
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Ann Small shares her techniques, inspiration and current excitement. Describing herself as a typical Pisces swimming in opposite directions...
Ann does indeed have 2 very different aspects to her work and creativity. There are her colourful reverse applique based, large hangings which she describes as her serious textile art work. Then there are her very individual character dolls which she makes to look very old. These are her 'fun' outlets for her creativity.
Listen as Ann explains how the serious and the fun aspects of her work have evolved.
Susan Weeks chats with Ann about:
- Being taken over by making character dolls
- Using bones to make other characters
- Always making something in a creative household
- From sparkly tap dance costumes for daughters into a fancy dress costume business
- From book idea to book publication
- Fancy dress to historical costume and workshops
- Does anyone love the M25?
- Inspirations all around including the patterns on your cat!
- Reverse applique as a strong foundation to 'serious work'
- Fun vs serious work
- The story of Mowgli's toys
- Being visible so prospective buyers find your art
- When art goes up in flames
- Planning for exhibitions
- Planning how to hang your exhibition space at large shows
- Winged cats... wings off, wings on.. what's next?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annsmall
Visit: http://www.asmalldesign.co.uk
Look: https://www.instagram.com/asmalldesign
Read: Layered Cloth published by Search Press
Anne Brooke: From Sketchbooks To Mixed Media Stitched Collage
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Anne Brooke shares her techniques and inspiration behind her stitched multimedia collages.
A key feature of her work is to stitch onto paper, although she is now venturing into using fabrics, particularly vintage embroidered pieces. Her work is inspired by journeys - her walks and travels, as well as the life journeys undertaken by the vintage fabrics she uses and the work when it leaves her hands.
She is also a master 'juggler' - she still works 4 days a week as an art teacher at her local secondary school, as well as developing her practice, making pieces for sale and leading workshops too. Phew!
Susan Weeks chats ( and laughs) with Anne about:
- New excitement around using vintage fabrics & making woodcut blocks
- Developing a serious workshop habit whilst trying to find her 'thing'
- Her fortuitous start to creating her textile art career
- The importance of 'just playing' to develop skills and ideas
- Pinterest... and losing hours of your life!
- Going on walks, taking photos, reflecting on journeys
- Anne's sketchbook habit, and how she uses them
- Hint: take your sketchbooks to workshops with you!
- Hand dyeing threads
- Where is Harold going next we wonder?
- UFO's, PHD's and PIGS
- The joy of spending 'crafty' time with her teenage daughters
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annebrooke
Visit: http://www.annebrooke.co.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/hannemade
Look: https://www.instagram.com/hannemadebyanne
Tweet: https://twitter.com/hannemade
Annie Taylor: Telling Stories With Large Soft Sculptures
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Annie Taylor shares her wonderful stories around the stories she creates and tells with her textile art.
A key outlet for her creativity and artwork are her rather large soft sculptures. The word 'doll' just doesn't seem right when you see how large they are... Big Alice, for example is 16 foot tall! These evolve from recycled bedding, their personality takes shape as their faces and limbs take shape. They are then embroidered with text telling their story. They are however, taking over Annie's house...
Susan Weeks chats ( and laughs) with Annie about:
- Continuing a family habit of recycling and creativity
- How her fairytale drawings and art sparked the creation of the dolls
- Creating large soft sculptures out of recycled duvets, pillows and bedding
- The 'wake up call' of having RSI in her hands
- Telling the stories of the dolls on their bodies and letting ideas evolve
- Nostalgia and 'crinoline ladies'
- Developing techniques for the lettering that is such a key element of her work
- Lessons learned at the Post Office
- Whatever is going to happen to 'Martha'?
- Where to store all those arms and legs
- What to do with 'that anchor'
- Gardening, bindweed and sycamore seedlings
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annietaylor
Visit: https://whitstabletail.wordpress.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/whitstable.tail/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/whitstabletail/?hl=en
Tweet: https://twitter.com/whitstabletail
Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/WhitstableTails?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Other places and people mentioned today:
"Sheela Na Gig" by PJ Harvey https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pjharvey/sheelanagig.html
Bloody Mother F*ing Ahole by Martha Wainwright
from Lyrics.com Martha Wainwright Bloody Mother F*ing Ahole
Profanity Embroidery Group: Huge Fun Creating Beautiful Art From Ugly Words
Before I introduce this very entertaining episode please note there is no swearing in this episode despite the title of the group and episode. Please listen - this is a lovely story.
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Annie Taylor & Bridget Carpenter share their hilarious stories around their 'rather different' embroidery group - yes, it's the Profanity Embroidery Group. Formed by accident in 2014, and meeting in the local pub, this group has huge fun. They create and exhibit beautiful textile art and embroidery based around profanity, as well as some feminist issues. Their current project however, features anonymous Stitched Secrets that have been sent in from around the world. Some funny, some shocking, some very moving.
Susan Weeks chats with Annie & Bridget about:
- How a funny cartoon inspired the creation of an interesting embroidery group
- The evolution of The Profane Quilt and the sense of humour in the group
- How the group decide what projects to work on next
- Interpreting those traditional 'saucy' seaside postcards
- "Older Women Rock" - interpreting poems by Leah Thorne on vintage clothing and developing body confidence
- The Stitched Secrets project extended participation outside Whitstable across the world via Facebook & Instagram
- Anonymous stitchers from around the world have stitched secrets and sent them in
- The group hopes that the secret stitchers have had therapeutic value from taking part
- Humour is a powerful medium to deal with serious and emotional issues
- Men have sent in stitched secrets too
- Why should men miss out on opportunities to enjoy fun,therapeutic and creative activities such as these women are enjoying
- It is all HUGE FUN!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup
Visit: https://lovesecretsand.wordpress.com/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/profanityembroiderygroup/
Look: https://www.instagram.com/lovesecretsand
Other places and people mentioned today:
The Fabric Shop, Whitstable http://www.thefabricshopwhitstable.co.uk/
The FishSlab Gallery, Whitstable https://fishslabgallery.co.uk/
Older Women Rock - Leah Thorn https://loveolderwomenrock.wordpress.com/about/ http://www.leahthorn.com/
Jan Dowson: Award-Winning Textile Art Tutor & Textile Artist
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Jan Dowson shares her joy of teaching textile art over 20 years and in the process facilitating 8 students who achieved City & Guilds Gold Medals. Jan has also received a City & Guilds Gold Medal for teaching as well as 2 other prestigious awards. Following retirement, it's now 'her time' to focus on her own textile art and enjoy her own creativity.
Susan Weeks chats with Jan about:
- A busy exhibition schedule at the start of 2018
- Creating a very successful career in textile art tuition
- Expressing challenging subjects in textile art
- Her ongoing inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including family members and memories, dog walks, and the nearby sea.
- Loving simplistic applique and slow hand stitch, darned, covered surfaces
- Using felt, wire and lots of paint to transform fabric into 'something else'
- Facilitating 8 City & Guilds Gold Medals awarded to her students over the years.
- Winning her own City & Guilds Gold Medal for teaching
- An additional award from the Worshipful Company Of Broderers
- Why Jan loves to polish her work room sink....
- Winning the Embroiderers Guild Beryl Dean Award for Teaching Excellence in Embroidery & Design in 2015
- If you don't like your piece... cut it up or throw paint on it!
- Taxidermy - is this the latest challenge for Jan?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/jandowson
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Jan-Dowson-Textile-ArtistTeacher-2036710249894135/
Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/ddowson1/
Deborah Mullins: Embroidery Artist Inspired By Palestine
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Deborah Mullins shares her passion for Palestine. The beautiful traditional embroidery and the places and people - as well as a deep sadness at the cleansing, displacement & social injustice experienced within that land.
Susan chats with Deborah about:
- Kickstarting a passion for embroidery after many years of other creative pursuits
- Being inspired by 3 months in Palestine - the traditional embroidery but also the places and the tragic tales of displacement and injustice
- Playing with colour and hand stitched textures
- Bethlehem Couching & traditional Palestinian embroidery
- The 'Key Of Return' - a symbol of memory and longing to return
- Winning the Gold Medal for Creative Textiles from City & Guilds
- Meeting Princes Anne at St. James's Palace to receive an award from The Worshipful Company Of Haberdashers
- A special visit to the British Museum stores to handle and study items of Palestinian costume
- Why election results programs are so helpful...
- Deborah's exhibition 6-10 June 2018 at The Old School Room, Haworth
For this episode...
View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/deborahmullins
Visit: http://www.deborahmullins.uk/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010993620362
Jamie Malden: Block Printing Specialist & Founder of Colouricious.com
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Jamie Malden from Colouricious.com shares her enthusiasm, knowledge and great joy of block printing.
Susan chats with Jamie about:
- Developing an interest in block printing in Jaipur
- The design & making process for Colouricious wooden printing blocks
- Supporting the traditional wooden block hand carving skills by employing carpenters around Jaipur, India to hand carve the wooden blocks
- The pleasure in supporting families and traditional skills through wooden block carving
- Preparing new 'Printology' workshops
- The power of video and YouTube for sharing creativity, and skills development
- The power of video, audio and the internet to reach your target audience
- The pleasure created by seeing other people's creative creations using Colouricious blocks, tuition and inspiration
- The diversity of what can be done with block printing
- The endless possibilities of other cultures and creative techniques
- The unique experience of a Colouricious textile holiday.
- The excitement of seeing painted elephants & cows in real life!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/jamiemalden
Visit: http://colouricious.com
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/user/Colouricious
Travel: https://www.instagram.com/colouriciousholidays/
Like: https://www.facebook.com/Colouricious
Lindy Richardson: Historic Embroidery Conservation & Community Inspiration ss019
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Lindy Richardson shares her current research project. She chats with Susan Weeks about the collection of historic embroidery held by Edinburgh College of Art which was originally part of the Needlework Development Scheme.
The NDS was founded in Scotland in 1934, sponsored by J and P Coats, the thread manufacturers. Its aim was to encourage embroidery and up until it was disbanded in 1961, well over 3000 items of historic embroidery from across the world had been amassed.
70 items held by Edinburgh College Of Art form the focus of a project which has seen study and conservation of the items. The project has involved diverse community groups, assisting with conservation as well as inspiring them to create their own Embroidered Stories. This is an uplifting project.
Susan chats with Lindy about:
- The history of the collection of the Needlework Development Scheme (NDS)
- Discovering 70 pieces from the collection tucked away in cupboards
- The current project focused on the collection
- Taking the project to the Scottish Prison Service
- Involving immigrants & refugees
- Expert amateurs from local 'Guilds'
- Studying and conserving the collection
- The therapeutic benefits of doing embroidery within the daily routine of prison life
- Creating the 'Embroidered Stories' pieces and creating an exhibition around them
- Integrating the different groups through the project
- Inspiring newcomers to design and create their own embroidery
- The challenges of handling & restoring historic embroidery
- The challenges of getting project 'stuff' into prison!
- Keeping the collection true to it's origins as a handling collection
If you have been involved with the Needlework Development Scheme over the years in any capacity, or know someone who has, then Lindy would love to talk to you. Please contact her!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs of the project at http://www.stitcherystories.com/lindyrichardson
Visit: http://embroideredstories.eca.ed.ac.uk (after 10Dec2017)
Read: http://edin.ac/embroideredstories
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/embroiderednds https://www.instagram.com/ecatextilesdepartment
Contact Lindy:
Lindy Richardson
Programme Director Textiles
Edinburgh College of Art
University of Edinburgh, EH3 9DF
0131 651 5812
l.richardson@ed.ac.uk
Jessica Grady: Embroidery Artist Using Unusual Materials And Bold Colours ss018
Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Jessica Grady shares her life in fabric and thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about building her business after graduating from a textiles degree. Jessica has developed a very original style and features bright bold colours, and heavily embellished pieces, using traditional embroidery stitches with modern and unusual materials.
Susan chats with Jessica about:
- Exploring a new theme of coral reefs and 3D structures
- How much time we need to spend working ON our business
- The power of social media and being featured by a French textile artist
- Which led to invitation to exhibit at French textile art festival in Nantes this year
- Creating interesting embellishments from recycled objects
- Freelance embroidery designs for the fashion industry
- Instagram inspirations
- Her love of 'washers' and the seemingly endless things she can do with them
- Cotton buds - her new favourite beads
- Being determined to 'Go For It' and strive for what you want as an artist
- Selected as one of 12 winning artists for the RAW Talent national award program
- Why people are drawn to Work In Progress shots
- The possibilities of Trello for organising ourselves
- If it goes through the fabric, you can use anything for embroidery!
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jessica's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady
Visit: http://www.jessicagrady.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicagradyembroideryartist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jgradyartist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_rosestitch/
Nicky Merrick: Event Photographer to Pole Wear - A Creative Journey ss017
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Nicky Merrick Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her creative journey from an event photographer at pagan ceremonies, to building great success designing and making pole dancing costumes. And all the while managing her health after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is such a wonderful story from a very inspiring lady.
Susan chats with Nicky about:
- Creating a show stopper for upcoming pole wear events
- Using fabulous modern materials and methods
- Pagan ceremonies & nature inspired her beautiful cloaks
- Keeping the same 'alternative' niche audience and serving them with a different business
- Adapting her business opportunities to manage her health
- A childhood passion for dance and designing her own costumes for her mum to make, has come full circle
- Building a successful pole wear business on a chance remark
- The influence of mum, tutors and Jane White Couture Tuition
- Her thoughts on design piracy
- The sneakiness of passing off a UFO onto mum!
- Managing a full and busy life and business, with homeschooling, as well as supporting her husband's 2 businesses!
- The perceptions and treatment by society of people with disabilities and her determination to prove them wrong
For this episode - View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Nicky's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/nickymerrick
Visit: www.pinkgiraffe.co.uk
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pinkgiraffepolewear/ https://www.facebook.com/PinkGiraffe/ https://www.facebook.com/nickymerricktextileartist/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pink_giraffe_uk https://www.instagram.com/pinkgiraffepolewear
Jane White Couture Tuition:
http://www.janewhitetuition.co.uk/ http://www.stitcherystories.com/janewhite/
Fran Brammer: Inspired By Beautiful Yorkshire Landscapes SS016
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Fran Brammer Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her creative journey and her desire to combine her love of hill walking, landscapes, costume and art.
Susan chats with Fran about:
- Being inspired by the Yorkshire landscapes that she enjoys hiking through
- Her new adventure with garments, text, and landscape - exploring common elements
- The excitement of 'Feed Dogs'
- Finding & generating textures
- The creative arguments she has with her textile artwork
- Weathering her work to provide another layer of unpredictability
- Depth of colour in landscapes provided by contrasting and unusual colours
- The story of the art, the wind, and the rosebush...
- Being proactive in developing opportunities in her textile art practice
- Establishing her 'Stitchiness' Facebook Group
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Fran's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/franbrammer
Visit: https://sites.google.com/site/franbrammer/
Blog: http://franbramm.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frantextiles
Email: franbramm@gmail.com
Viking Loom embroidery supplies shop: http://www.vikingloom.co.uk/
And I thought I would share with you how beautiful the Yorkshire landscape is - of course I am biased since I am Yorkshire gal! But I know we have listeners across the globe so I hope you enjoy the landscape too.
Yorkshire Wolds: http://www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/yorkshire-wolds/
North Yorkshire Moors http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/
Yorkshire Dales: http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/
Julia Triston: Textile Artist Celebrating Marks & Memories In Old Clothing & Cloth SS015
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Julia Triston shares her life in fabric and thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her enduring fascination with fashion and clothing, and the stories and memories from them that inspire her textile art.
Susan chats with Julia about:
- Fashion, garment construction, deconstruction and upcycling
- Inspired by Japanese fashion designers, Gaudi, and the peeling paintwork on Frida Kahlo's house
- The importance of continual growth, learning and self- reflection
- The simplicity and rhythm of running stitch
- Theraputic machine embroidery and drawing with the needle
- Memories in cloth - using upcycled and secondhand garments, uniforms, jeans, underwear
- The wear and tear and marks from previous uses and owners of fabric
- Her hour on the 4th plinth of Trafalgar Square
- Knicker Bunting and Bra-ra Dresses...
- Selfcare, headspace, and making the most of those "10 minutes" in a busy life
- Enjoying membership and stimulation of the Textile Study Group
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of artist's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/juliatriston
Visit : http://www.juliatriston.com
Email : textilearts@juliatriston.com
Twitter: : https://twitter.com/juliatriston
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/JuliaTristonTextiles/
Textile Study Group: https://textilestudygroup.co.uk
STITCHBUSINESS: http://www.stitchbusiness.com/site/
Anne Kelly: Textile Art From Re-used Textile Treasures SS014
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Anne Kelly shares her life in fabric & thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her inspiration drawn from everyday objects and textiles, international travel and folk art.
Susan chats with Anne about:
- International travel is not always a positive experience for everyone
- Her Moving Memories collaborative project (come and join in)
- Folk Art and being inspired by everyday, ordinary objects
- Collage as the link from mixed media to textiles
- Use those old pieces of fabric that you love - liberate your textile treasures!
- Cover your background to remove that threat of a blank page
- Writing books, teaching, and sharing our art
- How the internet has transformed life for an artist
- Thriving on 'happy accidents'
- The unhelpfulness of self imposed pressures
- How working on more than one project at a time can be very helpful but why multitasking is not...
- Why not use your UFOs as a starting point for a new piece of work?
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Anne's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annekelly
Visit: www.annekellyartist.net
Blog: https://annekellytextiles.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annekellyartist
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Akellytextiles
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annekellytextiles
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/acegkelly
And if you want to participate in the Moving Memories 'travel tags' collaborative project - Deadline for contributions is 22nd February 2018. Check out: https://annekellytextiles.blogspot.co.uk/p/exhibitionsevents.html
email for details: mail@annekellytextiles.com
Chris Gray: Medieval Mysteries, Mushrooms, Moths and Mice
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Chris Gray Shares Her Life In Fabric and Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about research and inspirations from earlier periods of history, and her desire to present her art on 3d forms.
Susan chats with Chris about:
- Using mushrooms, moths and mice to showcase work on ancient themes
- The joys of blogging to inspire others
- Being gripped by Medieval Mysteries
- What on earth is a 'beakhead'
- How very useful is expanding foam
- Get yourself down to B&Q
- Working small pieces to create large pieces
- Opus Anglicanum and Medieval Crewel Work
- Her longstanding relationship as a 'Stitch' magazine contributor
- Teaching embroidery on cruise ships
- The story of the French Knots and the Stabiliser...
- Embroidery and caravan adventures
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Chris's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/chrisgray
Visit: http://mabonarts.co.uk
Blog: http://chris-gray-textile-art.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=555382986
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/chrisgraytextileart/
Shirley Smith: Hand Embroidery & Mixed Media Artist
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Shirley Smith Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about developing her artistic skills from lace to embroidery, and the friends and community spirit she enjoys within the embroidery 'world'.
Susan chats with Shirley about:
- Her traditional start being surrounded by creative family members
- Where changing an L to an E led her...
- Inspiring tutors and mentors
- Including stained glass into textile art
- Taking part: Magna Carta & Jurist Edward Coke
- Taking part: The White Walker's Blue Blingy Pendant
- What happened to a major commission when Shirley fell down the stairs...
- The fate of the Golden Plover
- Juggling those metaphorical plates
- Taking part and joining in
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Shirley's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/shirleysmith
You may contact Shirley via email shirley dot smith2 @ btinternet.com
Shirley is an exhibiting member of The Ebor Group based in York. She is also co-Chair of York branch of The Embroiderer's Guild http://yorkembroidery.blogspot.co.uk/
Ami James: How Textile Art Changed Her Life
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Ami James Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about how textile art has changed her life, helped her recover from illness, and developing the courage to 'go for it' in 2017.
Susan chats with Ami about:
- What happened when the Floristry class was full...
- Coping with Bipolar Disorder with textile art
- Developing new skills and continuous learning and development
- Dyeing and printing fabric ends the search for the 'right' pieces of fabric
- Drawing with sewing machine rather than paper and pencil
- 2017: gaining confidence and 'getting out there'
- Developing exhibition experience and learning from group members
- Overcoming our fear of rejection - not everyone will like everything we create
- 2 VERY funny stories when things didn't go as planned
- Using 'Mindmaps' to capture inspiration and keep organised
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Ami's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames
Visit: http://www.amijamestextileart.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Amijamestextiles
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/@amijames_textiles
Article on TextileArtist.org http://www.textileartist.org/ami-james-how-textiles-can-change-lives/
Midlands Textile Forum: http://midlandstextileforum.com/
Quilter's Guild Derbyshire: http://region-10.quiltersguild.org.uk/about-region-10
Cas Holmes: Textile Artist & Tutor: Found-Stitch-Paint
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Cas Holmes shares her life in fabric & thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her textile art work which is summed up in her own words as being Found-Stitch-Paint. Using those key elements of found materials, stitch and paint, Cas explores the connections between land, place and environment through pieces for exhibition, her tutoring and her books.
Susan chats with Cas about:
- A lifelong interest in taking things apart and re-creating them
- That dreaded school cross-stitch project
- Paper and fabric as similar and interchangeable materials
- Open your eyes to your surroundings
- Deconstruction and layering
- Wonder how we got onto Star Trek, fairground organs, and creativity vs linear thinking
- Mastering your craft so it looks effortless and simple for the observer
- The experience of writing books and encouraging people to create their own 'Stitch Stories'
- The Pride Of India Award
- Yes - you ARE good enough!
- Using limited equipment and our hands, eyes and minds
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Cas's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/casholmes
Visit: http://www.casholmes.co.uk
Blog: http://www.casholmes.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casholmes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casholmestextiles
During our chat Cas also mentioned:
Magdelena Abakanowicz https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/24/magdalena-abakanowicz-obituary
Fibre Arts Australia: http://www.fibrearts.jigsy.com/
West Dean College: https://www.westdean.org.uk/
https://embroiderersguild.com/index.php?page_no=894#
Sue Stone: Textile Artist, Woman With A Fish & Current 62 Group Chair
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Sue Stone aka 'The Woman With The Fish', Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her journey through fashion, to embroidery, back to fashion to earn a living, and finally back to embroidery and her current achievements.
Susan chats with Sue about:
- Her major exhibitions this year
- Studying fashion but discovering embroidery from Constance Howard at Goldsmith's College
- The theme of identity, portraits, people & life observations
- Working with a small variety of stitches
- Building layers and creating texture with hand embroidery & applique
- Being current Chair of The 62 Group, as well as being an exhibiting member for the second time
- Her first solo exhibition in USA in New York
- Being featured on the front cover of 'Embroidery' Magazine
- Re-use, Recycle, & Record our failures for future reference, as well as our successes
- A busy schedule of exhibitions coming up over the next two years
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sue's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/suestone
Visit: womanwithafish.com
Blog: womanwithafish.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/suestone.womanwithafish
Twitter: @womanwithafish
Instagram: @womanwithafish
Online Course: Sign up at http://www.textileartist.org/ to keep informed when the next one is running
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, contemporary textile artist & tutor, Dionne Swift Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about developing rhythm and process as she recreates marks representing landscape not only in textiles but with paper and paint too.
Susan chats with Dionne about:
- Her long-term project with North Yorkshire Military Wives
- Stitching vs Painting in a competition at Windsor Castle!
- Working through process rather than patterns and instructions
- Being connected with her work and being in flow
- Developing a sense of independence & ability to self-critique
- Taking textile art to 'normal' Art shows & exhibitions
- Changing techniques over the years... from Devoré to surface printing embellished with stitch to current landscape inspired contemporary embroidered art
- Planning ahead into 2019
- International travel & exhibition opportunities for textile art
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Dionne's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/dionneswift
Visit: http://www.dionneswift.co.uk/
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/DionneSwiftTextileArtist/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/dionneswift/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/DionneSwift
Heather Cawte: Battle Of Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project.
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Heather Cawte shares the story of the Battle Of Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project. It is a community embroidery celebrating the Battle Of Stamford Bridge in 1066. The project started in 2015 and great progress has been made, not just in the stitching, but in generating media atention and in fundraising.
Susan Weeks chats with Heather about:
- How the tapestry project got started
- How the team have developed their skills in many areas NOT just stitching
- How the design, colours, materials & stitches were chosen
- The excitement of Royal admirers
- How the stitchers organise their work
- How big is the tapestry
- When will it be finished
- Where will it be displayed
- Speaking, exhibitions, & displays
- Media attention & spreading the word
The Story of the Battle as told by Heather is in a separate audio file here: The Story Of The Battle Of Stamford Bridge 1066
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of the Stamford Bridge tapestry progress & stitchers at
http://www.stitcherystories.com/stamfordbridgetapestryproject
Visit: http://www.stamfordbridgetapestry.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1637699893135508/
Email: publicity@stamfordbridgetapestry.org.uk
Dr Jennie Batchelor: The Great Lady's Magazine Stitch-Off
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Dr Jennie Batchelor, shares her research on the embroidery patterns created for The Lady's Magazine published in the 18th & 19th centuries. She chats with Susan Weeks about how her 18th century magazine research project at the University Of Kent sparked enthusiasm & creativity in 21st century embroiderers & textile artists as they joined in The Great Lady's Magazine Stitch Off.
Susan chats with Jennie about:
- Embroidery patterns in the 18th century The Lady's Magazine
- Waiting & waiting to actually see an embroidery pattern
- How the patterns took off via social media
- Generating global interest
- What! NO instructions!
- The Great Lady's Magazine Stitch-off
- Embroidery exhibition at Chawton House
- Did Jane Austin ever sew one of the Lady's Magazine embroidery patterns?
- What was learnt about the embroidery patterns & the skills of the 18th century embroiderers
- Creating a virtual community of stitchers
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of the patterns at http://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor
Visit: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ladys-magazine/
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NjJnojRTuE
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladysmagproject/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladysmagproject
The Patterns: https://www.kent.ac.uk/english/ladys-magazine/patterns/index.html
Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Bridget Bernadette Karn Shares Her Life In Wool & Felt. She chats with Susan Weeks about discovering wet felting and creating a business based around that newly discovered love, leading to being selected for the Royal Academy Of Arts Summer Exhibition.
Susan chats with Bernadette about:
- Discovering wet felting at her craft club
- Seeing the potential to create a business
- The power of video for generating interest, leads & customers
- Building a lifestyle business
- Valuing quality of life
- The pressure to have a 'proper' job
- Developing our creative skills
- Pre-felt, dry felt, needle felt and adding the details
- Gaining acceptance & understanding
- Creating an online course
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Bridget's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/bridgetbernadettekarn
Visit: https://www.bridgetbernadettekarn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyGallerySPACE
Artist In Residence Boston Spa Arts Festival: http://www.bostonspaartsfestival.co.uk/
Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Tracy A Franklin Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about the different facets of her professional hand embroidery career in particular her role as Head Broderer at Durham Cathedral and her busy tuition and teaching business.
Susan chats with Tracy about:
- How she started her embroidery career
- Her career at the Royal School of Needlework
- Building her own embroidery tuition business
- Having a studio in the centre of Historic Durham
- Groups, friendships & long term courses
- The importance of learning new ideas
- Changes within the City & Guilds certifications
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Tracy's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/traceyafranklin
Visit: http://www.tracyafranklin.com
Visit: http://www.stitchbusiness.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tracy.A.Franklin.Embroiderer.page/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracy_franklin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyafranklin/
Durham Cathedral Cope project: http://www.durhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/14295922.Can_Cathedral_broderers_Cope_with_robe_challenge_/
Mixed Media Artist Susie Martin Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread in this episode of the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.
Susan Weeks chats with Susie about:
- Dissolving Margins & Crumbling Cliffs
- Learning skills by making clothes for Barbie dolls
- Enjoying being an active member of The Embroiderer's Guild
- Exploring variations in colour, stitch and threads
- Burning and melting for surprising results
- Helping curate a major exhibition
- Being a member of Textilia3
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Susie's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/susiemartin
Visit www.facebook.com/SusieStitchings
Email: susiestitchings@gmail.com
and to follow the antics of the Textilia3 group of textile artists http://www.textilia3.blogspot.co.uk
Couture Dressmaking Tutor Jane White Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread in this episode of the Stitchery Stories podcast.
Jane shares stories and insight about her lifelong love of sewing and her determination to share that love and knowledge of couture dressmaking with her students.
Susan chats with Jane about:
- Great Auntie Margaret's treadle Singer sewing machine,
- inspiring sewing teachers,
- inspiring designers,
- finding lovely dressmaking fabrics,
- the importance of toiles and fitting,
- running workshops at The Great British Sewing Bee Live,
- and having fun and making friends in the sewing classroom...
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jane's & her students' work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/janewhite
Visit http://www.janewhitetuition.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneWhiteTuition/
Alison Larkin Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread on this episode of the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Alison talks about developing her second career based around her love of traditional embroidery, historical costume, and 18th century waistcoats.
Susan Weeks chats with Alison about:
- Making & wearing historical costume,
- Captain Cook's Waistcoat,
- travelling to Australia & New Zealand for waistcoat research,
- working on a small scale,
- double sided embroidery,
- Alison's favourite techniques
- and using embroidery to keep you from going crazy at work!
- Oh and of course, how sociable it is being a member of a group such as The Embroiderer's Guild. :-)
For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Alison's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/alisonlarkin
Visit http://alisonlarkinembroidery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alisonlarkinembroidery/
and to follow the antics of the Hull & East Riding branch of The Embroiderer's Guild check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/HERByEmbroidery/