Stitches and Stories with Rachel Wright
Nov 17, 2025
Rachel Wright’s book, “Dreams of Amarna,” will help you develop your own creative skills.One of Rachel Wright’s recent projects is this embroidery of Aethelflaed. Read about how she’s developed the piece in her blog.We’re joined this week by artist Rachel Wright of VirtuoSew Adventures. Ancient history, particularly Egypt, is what captivates and drives her embroidery. For Rachel, it’s not the finished product that she enjoys. It’s the process of developing a piece and the many adjustments that are involved in getting the needlework to tell the story she wants shared and does so in just the right way. When she needs a break from, what is intense work, she turns to canvas work for an escape. Her approach and insight into her inspiration can be explored in her book, “Dreams of Amarna: Stitching an Egyptological Adventure.” According to Anthea Godfrey, Artistic Director, The Embroiderers Guild, “Dreams of Amarna is an inspirational book that explores Rachel Mary Wright’s passion for ancient Egyptian culture and art. Her enthusiasm for reinventing the visual ideas she has come to admire manifests itself in her own textile journey, which will, I’m sure, encourage embroiderers to do the same.”—Gary
This interpretation of William Marshall is an example of Rachel’s Opus Anglicanum work.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Rachel Wright. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
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Fiber Talk Midweek Chat, 11-12-25
Nov 12, 2025
Kevin the pheasant, designed by Hazel Blomkamp.The Design Collective, Vol. 1, from Inspirations, is a great collection of pincushion designs.The day after Tuesday has arrived and Cindy and Gary volunteered to spend some time talking about stitching. Our conversation focuses on new and upcoming Patreon shows and our Krista West conversation from Nov. 9. We spend most of the time talking about the two projects we plan to stitch from books we own. For Cindy, it’s the Celeste Fig by Christine Burton from the Inspirations book “Design Collective, Vol. 1.” For Gary, it’s Kevin the pheasant from Hazel Blomkamp’s “Crewel Birds” book. We also talk about what we carry in our stitching “go bags.” If you want to support all of the needlework content we produce, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter at patreon.com/FiberTalk. Sunday’s guest: Rachel Wright of VirtuoSew Adventures.
Watch the video.Click here to view it. Harvest Trio, stitched by Cindy.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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How to Schedule Uninterrupted Stitching Time, Krista West, Avlea Folk Embroidery
Nov 09, 2025
Kithara Begonia embroidery design, created by Krista West, Avlea Folk Embroidery.Byzantine Rose Ashwood design by Krista West, Avlea Folk Embroidery.This week we are joined by designer Krista West of Avlea Folk Embroidery (avleafolkembroidery.com). But we’re not talking (much) about her designs. Our focus for this conversation is Krista’s design weeks, which are periodic multi-day sessions in which she shuts the world out so she can focus on moving her design work forward. While Krista sets aside entire weeks, the techniques and practices she uses will work for stitchers who are looking for a day/afternoon/couple of hours of uninterrupted/focused needlework time. In the conversation, we learn how Krista prepares for a session and how she stays focused for several days. At the end of the show, you’ll also get a peek at some of the new things coming up from Avlea Folk Embroidery. Make some notes while you’re listening and give Krista’s techniques a try the next time you want to focus on your needlework, or any other project that’s not getting enough attention.—Beth and Gary
Aegean ornaments, designed by Krista West, Avlea Folk Embroidery.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Krista West. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
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EGA’s Many Facets with Brad Cape, Exec. Dir.
Nov 02, 2025
Brad Cape, EGA Executive DirectorA piece from the EGA Collection.EGA’s Executive Director Brad Cape is our guest this week, the show is sponsored by Avlea Folk Embroidery (20% off everything in November), and our topic is the many ways EGA can enhance and advance your stitching experiences. Our conversation covers a wide range of EGA offerings including Group Correspondence Courses, Lightning Rounds the Virtual Lecture Series, and the lending library, among many other benefits. It’s an informative conversation that will help you better understand the breadth of what EGA has to offer. Visit egausa.org today to learn more and become a member. While you’re online, head to avleafolkembroidery.com and save 20% off everything in November.—Beth and Gary
Please support our sponsor, Avlea Folk Embroidery, at avleafulkembroidery.com.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Brad Cape. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
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Fiber Talk Midweek Chat, 10-29-25
Oct 29, 2025
This magnetic frame, available soon from PNB Making Memories on Etsy, may be a solution for perf linen and paper stitching.You can never go wrong with Pepper Pot Silks and Stitchers Garden has a lot of them. Picked up a few other things while I (Gary) was there.We return from an unannounced hiatus (sorry Helen) and plow through a ton of subjects. The list includes Krista West’s Thank you sale (20% off everything at Avlea Folk Embroidery in November), an upcoming show with Krista on blocking out time, sleeping earbuds, Vikki Clayton/Hand-Dyed Fibers leftover/fragment bags, EGA virtual lectures, ANG’s new membership structure, a magnetic frame from PNB Making Memories to hold perf linen sheets, and a terrific visit to Stitchers Garden in Naperville, IL. Sunday: Brad Cape, Executive Director, EGA.–Beth and Gary
Watch the video.Click here to view it. November is Thank You month at Avlea Folk Embroidery. Get 20% off of everything at avleafolkembroidery.com.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.
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America’s Tapestry: The Delaware Panel
Oct 12, 2025
The Delaware panel and the people who are stitching it are the focus of this week’s show.Amy Gilley (l) and Becky Gutin (r), are co-chairs of the America’s Tapestry Delaware project.The Embroiderers’ Guild of America (egausa.org) is sponsoring this week’s show about the America’s Tapestry Delaware project. In our June 7, 2025 show, we met Stefan Romero, creator of the America’s Tapestry project. The purpose of the project is to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with stitched panels from each of the 13 colonies that tell little-known stories about America’s formative days. To learn all of the details, listen to that initial show with Stefan. This week, we meet with Stefan and Delaware co-chairs Becky Gutin and Amy Gilley to learn how they mapped out how to stitch the Delaware panel, their approach to making it possible for needleworkers of all skill levels to contribute to the panel, and what a stitching session is like. To keep up with the projects in all 13 colonies, visit americastapestry.com. To follow the Delaware project, join their Facebook group and/or follow them on Instagram. All links are listed below. Also, if you want to support the overall project beyond stitching, visit the America’s Tapestry website for details.—Gary
Visit the EGA website at egausa.org and consider joining.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
Contact Becky and Amy at americastapestry.de@gmail.com
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Becky, Amy, and Stefan. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
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Fiber Talk Midweek Chat, 10-8-25
Oct 08, 2025
The Delaware panel is the first of the America’s Tapestry series that we’ll explore.It appears that another Wednesday has arrived and our habit is to gather for some needlework chat. This week Cindy and Gary fired up the online recording system to talk about Sunday’s upcoming America’s Tapestry show, helping beginners without scaring them off (bite your tongue, a lot), the new set of needlepoint cards from Emma Homent of Markers Marks, a question from Debra Yerike about using wheat paste to protect the back of your projects (there will be more about this topic in upcoming shows), and a tangent discussion about the value of reading books. Sunday’s guests are Becky Gutin and Amy Gilley of the Delaware America’s Tapestry project.—Cindy and Gary
Watch the video.Click here to view it. You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.
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Indigo Dyeing and Sashiko with Suzanne Connors
Oct 05, 2025
Fabric dyed by Suzanne Connors.Suzanne creates beautiful designs in her dyed fabric.Suzanne Connors of Aya Fiber Studio joins us this week to talk about her career practicing a variety of Japanese dyeing techniques. While Shibori and indigo dyeing is her go-to technique, she also practices Katazome, Rozome, Natural dyeing, and Eco printing among others. Suzanne also weaves and does beautiful Sashiko stitching. She conducts an extensive schedule of classes in her beautiful, fully equipped Florida studio and produces some amazing dyed fabrics. Make some time to visit her website to learn more.–Gary
The Aya Fiber Studio in Florida.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Suzanne Connors. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
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Regency Embroidery with Hilary Leslie
Sep 28, 2025
Flower bouquet embroidery design by Hilary Leslie.Hilary Leslie’s new book, “Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery,” is available from your favorite bookseller.Embroidery artist Hilary Leslie, of HLeslie Design, joins us this week. Hilary combined her drawing addiction, a small bag of embroidery materials she picked up at a yard sale, and extra time during the pandemic to develop an embroidery design business that now offers a huge number of patterns, videos, and classes. In the five years she’s been designing embroidery art, she has also written a book, Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery, that contains several projects inspired by the TV show. If you want to give embroidery a try and/or are looking for attractive smaller projects, visit Hilary’s website. You’ll likely find something you want to stitch.–Gary
This design is from Hilary Leslie’s book, “Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery.”You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, and Podbean. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Hilary Leslie. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.
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