Stitchery Stories

Stitchery Stories... Where textile artists share their life in fabric & thread. Embroidery. Textile Art. Inspiration, Techniques, Disasters & Delights. Join embroidery enthusiast & 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... Discover More https://stitcherystories.com/

Owen Kelly: A Creative Storyteller With Distinctive Hand Stitched Style 04/03/2025

Owen Kelly: A Creative Storyteller With Distinctive Hand Stitched Style 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 Follow Owen on Facebook: Follow Owen on Instagram: Follow Seamus O'Comanssy on Facebook: World Peace, One World, One People, One Stitch at a time (Facebook Group) ==============================================================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 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! ================================================== 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? 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: Facebook: Youtube: /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/35979910

Sally McCollin: Inspiring Creativity Through Textiles, Teaching and Online Embroidery Courses 02/05/2025

Sally McCollin: Inspiring Creativity Through Textiles, Teaching and Online Embroidery Courses 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 Visit: Read: 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 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! 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? 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: Facebook: Youtube: Other Episodes You Might Like: /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/35135565

Elizabeth Ashdown: Passementerie Artist Transforming An Endangered Craft 11/21/2024

Elizabeth Ashdown: Passementerie Artist Transforming An Endangered Craft 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: Visit: Look: 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 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! /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/34076116

Ailish Henderson: Bringing Fine Art Narrative Textiles To Life 10/09/2024

Ailish Henderson: Bringing Fine Art Narrative Textiles To Life 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 Visit: Look: Other Episodes You Might Like: Julia Triston: Celebrating Marks & Memories In Old Clothing & Cloth Tracy Franklin : Specialist Freelance Embroiderer & Durham Cathedral Head Broderer Cas Holmes : Textile Artist & Tutor: Found-Stitch-Paint /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/33390452

Caroline Hyde-Brown : Weaving Plant Material Into Textile Art 10/04/2024

Caroline Hyde-Brown : Weaving Plant Material Into Textile Art 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 Visit: Like: Look: VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn DON'T MISS OUT! Other Episodes You Might Like: Jennie-maree Tempest : Beautiful Botanical Sculptures Meredith Woolnough: Machine Embroidered Natural Specimens Laura Edgar: Atmospheric Coastal Scenes in Textile Art https://stitcherystories.com/lauraedgar/ /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/31087168

Elnaz Yazdani : Contemporary Textile Art With Unusual Materials 09/10/2024

Elnaz Yazdani : Contemporary Textile Art With Unusual Materials 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 Visit: Look: 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 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! 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? 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: Facebook: Youtube: Other Episodes You Might Like: Holly Jackson : Mix modern stumpwork embroidery with mixed media Nikki Parmenter: Exuberant mixed-media textile artist Claire Edwards: Pushing The Boundaries Of Traditional Hand Embroidery https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/ /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/32990387

Jack Roberts: Freehand Machine Embroidery Fine Artist 06/27/2024

Jack Roberts: Freehand Machine Embroidery Fine Artist 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 Visit: Look: 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 David Morrish : Disruptive Digital Embroidery Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/31911857

Alison Holt: Freehand Machine Embroidery Landscapes 05/25/2024

Hannah Thompson: A Transformational Year As A Creative Business 12/12/2023

Holly Jackson : Mixing modern stumpwork embroidery with mixed media : An artists journey 09/15/2023

Jayne Emerson Returns: Impatient Textile Rebel 08/03/2023

Emma Horan: Cornwall Cross Stitch Kit Designer 05/24/2023

Lottie Cockell : Growing Her Creative Business From Hand Embroidery 04/21/2023

Prism Textiles Group: behind the scenes of their annual textile art exhibition 04/07/2023

Sarah Gwyer : Contemporary Embroidery Beaded Pop Art 03/15/2023

Vanessa Marr: Domestic Dusters: Embroidery On Women And Domesticity 02/24/2023

Kirstie Macleod : The Red Dress Global Embroidery Project 02/09/2023

Merrilyn Heazlewood : Creative Counted Canvaswork Embroidery 01/20/2023

Merrilyn Heazlewood : Creative Counted Canvaswork Embroidery 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 Visit: Look: Like: 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 Lowery Workstands Other episodes you will enjoy Sarah Rakestraw: Glorious Goldwork Embroidery Tina Francis: Tapestry, Needlepoint, Canvaswork Ilke Cochrane: Delightful Hardanger Embroidery /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/25670037

Stitchery Stories Listeners Creative Joy Highlights 2022 12/29/2022

Elizabeth Griffiths : Using hand embroidery for Portrait Artist Of The Year competition 12/09/2022

Elizabeth Griffiths : Using hand embroidery for Portrait Artist Of The Year competition 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 Look: Sky Portrait Artist Of The Year Competition 2022 General Office - Gallery in Stourbridge, 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... Instagram: @portraitsbyhercule To support this embroidery & textile art podcast: You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff 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. Other Episodes You Might Like: Justine Warner: Textile art landscapes from a surprising source Sorrell Kerrison: Creating Hand Embroidered Portraits Tracey Coverley: Textile Art Portraits /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/25275702

Stacey Jones : Modern Abstract Hand Embroidery 11/22/2022

Stacey Jones : Modern Abstract Hand Embroidery 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 Look: The Hand & Lock embroidered arts exhibition 2021 Sarcoma UK The bone & soft tissue cancer charity To support this embroidery & textile art podcast: You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: Follow Susan Weeks for online course creation and online marketing stuff 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. Other Episodes You Might Like: Claire Edwards: Pushing The Boundaries Of Traditional Hand Embroidery Jessica Grady: Embroidery Artist Using Unusual Materials And Bold Colours Michelle Morgan: Hand Embroidery Artist /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/25098861

Floriane Schmitt : Creative Fabric Manipulation Ideas 11/02/2022

Floriane Schmitt : Creative Fabric Manipulation Ideas 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 Visit: Look: Look: Inspiration from Iris Van Herpen: You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff 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. Other Episodes You Might Like: Ann Small: Layered Cloth Jayne Emerson: Textile Designer, Author & Tutor Kathleen Laurel Sage: Shaping Machine Embroidery With Heat /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/24885684

Cath Janes : Hand Embroidered Human Anatomy 10/19/2022

Cath Janes : Hand Embroidered Human Anatomy 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 Visit: Like: Look: You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff 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. Other Episodes You Might Like: Ruth Norbury: Capturing Urban Decay With Textile Art Profanity Embroidery Group: Huge Fun. Beautiful Art. Ugly Words Jane Sanders: Textile Portraits Of Iconic Pop Stars /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/24734529

Susan Hensel : Communicating Ideas Through Digital Machine Embroidery 10/05/2022

Susan Hensel : Communicating Ideas Through Digital Machine Embroidery 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 Visit: Like: Look: Tweet: @hensel_susan Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff 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. Other Episodes You Might Like: David Morrish : Disruptive Digital Embroidery Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery Kathleen Laurel Sage: Shaping Machine Embroidery With Heat /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/24591015

Jennie-maree Tempest : Beautiful Botanical Sculptures 10/31/2021

Nikki Parmenter: Exuberant mixed-media textile artist 09/29/2021

Tanya Bentham : What is Opus Anglicanum embroidery? 06/16/2021

Vendulka Battais: An inspiring textile artist moving with the times 05/26/2021

Vendulka Battais: An inspiring textile artist moving with the times 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 Visit: Like : Look : Watch: JOIN our Facebook Group to Buy & Sell patterns SIGN UP for Crafty Online Course Creator's Workbox to get started for FREE on your online course creation journey Other episodes you might like /episode/index/show/stitcherystories/id/19246322

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