In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Dr Susan Kay-Williams.

Dr Susan Kay-Williams was the Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework from 2007 to 2024 and is a recognised expert on the history of colour and textile art.

In this second part of our NeedleXChange we talk about the history of the Royal School of Needlework, and Susan's role within it (something that ends in August 2024). I get her take on the Embroidery as Art debate and we cover a lot of random ground, as I had so many questions that I wanted to ask her.

It was a complete pleasure talking with Susan, who has been very supportive of my journey as MrXStitch and I hope that you enjoy the show.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:07 - The Story of the Royal School of Needlework

00:12:01 - Preserving Embroidery Stitches: The RSN Stitch Bank

00:32:17 - Recognising Embroidery as an Art Form

00:36:50 - The Resurgence of Embroidery in a Digital Age

00:40:29 - The Changing Perception of Crafts Over Time

00:48:00 - Susan's Cultural Touchpoints

00:56:00 - An interesting fact not many people know about Dr Susan Kay-Williams

Links:

Website: Royal School of Needlework

Instagram: royalneedlework

Intro music is This Was Fun by Gavin Luke via Epidemic Sound.

About NeedleXChange:

NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.

Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.

Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchange/

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If you want embroidery inspiration and regular doses of textile art, visit the Mr X Stitch site here: https://www.mrxstitch.com

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