In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Sally Wilson.

Sally Wilson is a UK-based Mixed Media artist whose work has to be seen to be believed. Her background in sculpture and years as an art teacher underpin her creative output, which is diverse and exciting, Sally's life was transformed after a head injury which has fundamentally altered how she thinks, but her artwork evolved with these changes and her Royal Cloak art piece won third place in The Mr X Stitch Contemporary Needlework Prize Mixed Media category.

Sally is a true creative force whose work is fearless - I think you'll enjoy listening to her!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:50 - Reflecting on an alternative creative path

00:09:40 - Pearls of wisdom from Sally’s teaching career

00:13:10 - The value of being an art teacher

00:16:50 - Other artists Sally admires

00:25:20 - Favourite Band

00:27:50 - Favourite Book

00:30:50 - Favourite Film

00:32:20 - An interesting fact that no one knows about Sally Wilson

Links:

Website: sallywilson.co.uk

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Sally Wilson.

Sally Wilson is a UK-based Mixed Media artist whose work has to be seen to be believed. Her background in sculpture and years as an art teacher underpin her creative output, which is diverse and exciting, Sally's life was transformed after a head injury which has fundamentally altered how she thinks, but her artwork evolved with these changes and her Royal Cloak art piece won third place in The Mr X Stitch Contemporary Needlework Prize Mixed Media category.

Sally is a true creative force whose work is fearless - I think you'll enjoy listening to her!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:50 - Sally’s Sculpture Degree

00:08:00 - Sally’s life after her head injury

00:12:15 - The variety of Sally’s creative output

00:17:35 - How Sally’s work documents life

00:22:00 - The Royal Cloak, Sally’s award winning artwork

00:32:00 - Sally’s fearless approach to making work

Links:

Website: https://www.sallywilson.co.uk

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview John Thomas Paradiso.

John Thomas Paradiso is a Washington-based artist who has been exploring the intimacy of gay culture through needlework for over 30 years.

Using hand embroidered quilting techniques, working on surfaces including leather and suede, and using traditional materials like doilies to mask the graphic parts of his subjects, John’s work treads the line between pornography and personal portraiture. His art is unapologetic in its openness and his expressions of the passion of gay love are both sensitive and sensational.

In our NeedleXChange we talk about how John’s artistic career has run alongside the timeline of the HIV pandemic, the value in re-appropriating homophobic slurs, and how his art has defined his own queer identity.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - How John’s subjects come into being

00:04:00 - Why John hand quilts his work

00:08:00 - The challenge of entering into quilt shows

00:16:00 - How John honours his feminine side and strives for masculinity

00:21:00 - Reflecting on his earlier work

00:23:00 - John’s definition of success

00:25:15 - Favourite Album

00:26:55 - Favourite Book

00:29:26 - Favourite Film

00:33:00 - John’s reflections on working in the care sector

Links:

Website: john-paradiso.com

Instagram: john_paradiso_artist

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview John Thomas Paradiso.

John Thomas Paradiso is a Washington-based artist who has been exploring the intimacy of gay culture through needlework for over 30 years.

Using hand embroidered quilting techniques, working on surfaces including leather and suede, and using traditional materials like doilies to mask the graphic parts of his subjects, John’s work treads the line between pornography and personal portraiture. His art is unapologetic in its openness and his expressions of the passion of gay love are both sensitive and sensational.

In our NeedleXChange we talk about how John’s artistic career has run alongside the timeline of the HIV pandemic, the value in re-appropriating homophobic slurs, and how his art has defined his own queer identity.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:38 - John’s award winning piece- The Prince of Pansies

00:07:00 - John’s early photography work

00:10:20 - How John’s work ran alongside the AIDS epidemic

00:13:00 - The current state of HIV & AIDS

00:15:24 - John’s transition into textiles

00:20:24 - The power of pansies

00:22:00 - Reclaiming slurs

00:26:45 - How textiles makes graphic work easier to consume

Links:

Website: john-paradiso.com

Instagram: john_paradiso_artist

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Niki McDonald.

Niki McDonald, also known as TapestryGirl, is an Australian needlework artist whose urban pop art portraits use modern street art styles to tell stories of iconic characters she has created.

In this second part of our interview, we talk about how Niki’s work fits within the art ecosystem, her local art scene in Sydney, and she shares a regal fact about a previous job that you’re going to love.

Timestamps:

00:01:10 - How Niki manages projects

00:07:30 - How needlepoint gives street art another chance

00:08:10 - Bob Girl - The Urban Explorer

00:16:30 - The benefits of an alter-ego

00:19:45 - How Niki’s work fits within the broader artistic ecosystem

00:27:00 - The Australiana project

00:34:00 - Earworms…

00:39:10 - Favourite Podcast

00:41:10 - Favourite Book

00:43:10 - Favourite Album

00:44:10 - Favourite Film

00:46:10 - Favourite outdoor space for stitching

00:48:55 - Interesting fact that no one knows about Niki McDonald

Links:

Website: tapestrygirl.com

Instagram: tapestry.girl

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Niki McDonald.

Niki McDonald, also known as TapestryGirl, is an Australian needlework artist whose urban pop art portraits use modern street art styles to tell stories of iconic characters she has created.

In this first part of our interview we talk about how Niki juggles the artistic path while also working in special needs education and being a modern mother. 

Timestamps:

00:01:11 - Niki’s day job and the value of hands-on activities for mental health

00:04:20 - The benefits of moving away from digital to analog forms of making

00:09:20 - Niki’s educational background

00:20:00 - Stitching as a “spiritual” practice

00:25:40 - How Niki makes space to work

Links:

Website: tapestrygirl.com

Instagram: tapestry.girl

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/modern-cross-stitch-magazine/

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Meredith Woolnough.

Meredith Woolnough is an Australian machine embroidery artist whose organic creations are instantly recognisable and simply stunning. Meredith’s art pieces are celebration of the beauty of nature and at the same time, a technical marvel. We talk about her passion for science and nature, the pleasure she gets from teaching, and how her work is much like darning.

Timestamps:

00:00:15 - Start

00:03:30 - How her artistic journey began

00:07:15 - How Meredith’s technique is like darning

00:12:00 - Her involvement in scientific realms

00:21:00 - The 100 Embroideries Project

00:24:10 - How Meredith juggles art/life/children

00:27:00 - Meredith’s toolset

00:32:00 - Teaching embroidery online

00:42:00 - Favourite Band

00:43:00 - Favourite Podcast

00:45:30 - Favourite Film

00:46:15 - Favourite Book

00:48:00 - Interesting fact that no one knows about Meredith Woolonough

Links:

Website: meredithwoolnough.com.au

Instagram: meredithwoolnough

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/subscribe

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Joetta Maue.

Joetta is a curator, artist and teacher whose embroidered work focuses on liminal moments - the in-between spaces that contain magic if we take time to notice them. I’ve known Joetta for over a decade, but this was the first time we’d spoken to each other, and we have a great chat about how parenthood influences her creative approach, what she learns from teaching young people to evolve their art, and how she gets inspired by minutiae.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:10 - Casual Barbie movie review

00:05:11 - Joetta’s role as teacher and researcher

00:13:10 - Photography as an art form vs textile art

00:21:10 - How Joetta found embroidery

00:35:10 - Joetta’s newer work

00:41:10 - The worlds within dust

00:58:10 - How motherhood changed her artistic approach

01:06:40 - Routine vs ritual

01:13:10 - What is making art anyway?

01:25:10 - Favourite Album

01:27:22 - Favourite Podcast

01:30:10 - Favourite Book

01:33:10 - Favourite Film

01:34:10 - Interesting fact that no one knows about Joetta Maue

Links:

Website: joettamaue.com

Instagram: joettamaue

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/subscribe

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Liv Aanrud.

Liv Aanrud is a Los-Angeles based artist whose vibrant tufted rug art pieces are a new form of folk art. These large scale pieces simultaneously explore two realms of the female experience - joy and pain - and are packed with instinctual colour choices that make them visually arresting.

Among other things, we talk about the perceived novelty of tufted rugs as an art form and how Liv’s rural upbringing influenced her aesthetic.

Be sure to visit our YouTube channel where you can see Liv’s work in detail and if you liked the show, please share it with your fellow creatives. Enjoy the show!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:07 - The varied career of Liv Aanrud

00:06:28 - Liv’s education and background

00:12:00 - Considering the folk art tradition

00:16:00 - The impulsiveness of the creation process

00:19:30 - Working with a tufting gun

00:27:00 - Colour palette decision making

00:32:00 - The storytelling process

00:35:00 - The perception of tufted rug art

00:41:00 - The size and weight of it all

00:50:00 - The tufting community

00:56:00 - Other artists that inspire Liv

01:02:00 - Favourite album

01:07:00 - Favourite film

01:11:00 - Most interesting thing that no one knows about Liv Aanrud

Links:

Website: livaanrud.com

Instagram: livaanrud

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/subscribe

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Jane Sanders.

Jane Sanders, also known as Stitchin In The Kitchen, has made a name for herself with her machine embroidered, mixed media pop portraits. Jane’s hippie punk foundations underpin her artistic mindset and, among other things, we talk about the joy of communal art projects and the challenges of commissioned work.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:30 - Keeping It Real

00:05:30 - Jane’s back story

00:10:30 - Jane’s technique

00:19:00 - Fan culture

00:25:00 - The Lee “Scratch” Perry portrait

00:30:00 - The Paul McCartney portrait

00:33:00 - Jane’s sewing machine

00:38:00 - The “Husband Dave” portrait

00:41:00 - Tips for making portraits

00:44:00 - Jane’s business model

00:49:00 - Artists that Jane admires

00:55:00 - Favourite book

00:56:00 - Favourite film

00:57:00 - Favourite album

01:02:00 - The most interesting thing no one knows about Jane Sanders

Links:

Website: janesanders.co.uk

Instagram: stitchin_in_the_kitchen

Intro music is Let's Go Find The Sun by Sarah the Illstrumentalist 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.

Sign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChange

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

If you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!

Subscribe to XStitch Magazine here: https://xstitchmag.com/subscribe

And follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrXStitch
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MrXStitch
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MrXStitch
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitch/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.