Stitchery Stories

Latest Episodes:

Clare Hunter: Banner Maker Writing The Threads Of Life Feb 06, 2019

Show notes

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

Laura Bray: Embroidery Artist & Creative Business Owner Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

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

Joe Mitchell: Tambour Embroidery & Haute Couture Embroidery Jan 15, 2019

Show notes

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

Tina Francis: Tapestry, Needlepoint, Canvaswork: Embroidery using wool & canvas Jan 09, 2019

Show notes

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/

Eleanor Pigman: Contemporary Bead Embroidery Artist Jan 02, 2019

Show notes

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

Michelle Morgan: Hand Embroidery Artist Dec 12, 2018

Show notes

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/

Helen McCook: Artisan Hand Embroiderer Dec 05, 2018

Show notes

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

Rigged Thread: Contemporary Embroidery Inspired By Shibari Nov 28, 2018

Show notes

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

Liz Burton: Corporate Fashion Designer Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

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/

Sarah Rakestraw: Glorious Goldwork Supplies, Kits & Classes Nov 14, 2018

Show notes

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: