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 creativityFamily life and a career pushing textile creativity to the backgroundTurning to textile art to deal with a challenging timeTaking the leap into setting up Stitching KitchenHow her business has evolvedDiscovering a love of teaching and facilitating others to enjoy textile artStarting to host guest tutorsGetting help within her businessPushing out of her comfort zone with an inspiring community arts project with the National Paralympic Heritage Trustand 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 careerThe 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 designsThe impacts of flooding & climate change on her regionDeveloping 'sneaky stumpwork' techniquesCreating her own unique textile art style and 'voice'Creating a body of work, using series and collectionsWhat'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 jobher creative inspirationsenjoying her studio and shopthe steps from inspiration to kit for salegetting help and batch productiondealing with counterfeiterscolouring 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 commissionsQuickly evolving into designs & kitsRunning her first stall ever at a high profile handmade eventDesigning her kitsEncouraging and inspiring stitchers to have a goShaping her business to suit her personality and lifestyleand 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 groupThe history of Prism textilesHow the group organises itselfSetting submission dates to support consistent event marketingPlanning the exhibitionUsing 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 23how she translates an idea into canvaswork and ribbon embroidery stitchesplaying with goldwork inspired by an ancient Aboriginal Rock art Echidnahow do you learn crafts when your Mum is left-handed and you are right-handed?getting 'hooked' into counted cross-stitch embroiderycombining silk ribbon embroidery with counted canvaswork / needlepointa focus on inspiring customersself publishing several books...back inthe day when it was really difficult!selecting style, threads and accessories for 'longevity' of stitchingmeeting inspiring people around the world in so many locationsdesigning 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 embroideryThe excitement of taking part in Sky Portrait Artist Of The YearHow to use embroidery in a time limited, live, portrait competitionKeeping true to her styleUsing mixed media to trigger embroideryWhy Elizabeth put away her needles & thead for a whileDo silk paints go off, we wondered?Evolving our art as we also evolveUsing our art to cope with stressHaving her 1st solo exhibitionWhen 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 dealThe structure and challenges of creating her bookDon't be afraid to show your workUsing Instagram as a quicker way to showcase your skills and workMaking a major pivot from fashion design to fabric manipulation designerCreating her accessories and home decor collections and brandGiving a traditional technique an interesting twist with modern materialsHer inspiring internshipInnovation with new fabrics and creative fabric manipulation techniquesYou can't keep the creativity flowing for endless hoursand 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 commissionsInspiring stories behind her anatomical embroidery commissionsHer commissioned hoops are often part of a healing processImportance & prevalence of medical illustrationsWhat is 'false colour'The surprising catalyst for becoming an anatomical embroidererAnyone else love dissecting things?Dealing with artistic loneliness and finding your tribeWhat really happens when a 'reel' video goes 'viral' on InstagramBalancing 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 AnglicanumHistorical re-enactmentWriting her bookKnitting in the dark!Finding it difficult to start things and preferring longer bigger projectsWhere do all the crazy characters and silly scenes come from?Just how nerdy is nerdy?Medieval simplicity vs Jacobean crewelwork exuberanceLearning which rules you can break so it is still 'Medieval'What to wear when you are a proper artistA 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 incomeHabits have changed and online courses are now seen as a great way of learning and networkingRunning her fabric & haberdashery shop in SuffolkStarting her creative adventure with simple patchwork and quiltingStarting a group which encourages designers to share their patterns and a central place to buy patterns fromConnecting designers / creators with makersBeing inspired by a 'stairway to heaven'Wanting to turn her hobby into a business and support her familyLearning how to run a shopCelebrating 10 years as a shop business ownerIt's OK to improve over time... Just Start!Learning how to create with what you haveThe meditative effect of free motion quiltingGlow 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/