Stitchery Stories

Jessica Grady: Embroidery Artist Using Unusual Materials And Bold Colours ss018

Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Jessica Grady shares her life in fabric and thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about building her business after graduating from a textiles degree. Jessica has developed a very original style and features bright bold colours, and heavily embellished pieces, using traditional embroidery stitches with modern and unusual materials.

Susan chats with Jessica about:

• Exploring a new theme of coral reefs and 3D structures
• How much time we need to spend working ON our business
• The power of social media and being featured by a French textile artist
• Which led to invitation to exhibit at French textile art festival in Nantes this year
• Creating interesting embellishments from recycled objects
• Freelance embroidery designs for the fashion industry
• Instagram inspirations
• Her love of 'washers' and the seemingly endless things she can do with them
• Cotton buds - her new favourite beads
• Being determined to 'Go For It' and strive for what you want as an artist
• Selected as one of 12 winning artists for the RAW Talent national award program
• Why people are drawn to Work In Progress shots
• The possibilities of Trello for organising ourselves
• If it goes through the fabric, you can use anything for embroidery!

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jessica's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady

Visit: http://www.jessicagrady.co.uk

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jgradyartist

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

Nicky Merrick: Event Photographer to Pole Wear - A Creative Journey ss017

Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Nicky Merrick Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her creative journey from an event photographer at pagan ceremonies, to building great success designing and making pole dancing costumes. And all the while managing her health after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is such a wonderful story from a very inspiring lady.

Susan chats with Nicky about:

• Creating a show stopper for upcoming pole wear events
• Using fabulous modern materials and methods
• Pagan ceremonies & nature inspired her beautiful cloaks
• Keeping the same 'alternative' niche audience and serving them with a different business
• Adapting her business opportunities to manage her health
• A childhood passion for dance and designing her own costumes for her mum to make, has come full circle
• Building a successful pole wear business on a chance remark
• The influence of mum, tutors and Jane White Couture Tuition
• Her thoughts on design piracy
• The sneakiness of passing off a UFO onto mum!
• Managing a full and busy life and business, with homeschooling, as well as supporting her husband's 2 businesses!
• The perceptions and treatment by society of people with disabilities and her determination to prove them wrong

For this episode - View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Nicky's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/nickymerrick

Visit: www.pinkgiraffe.co.uk

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pinkgiraffepolewear/ https://www.facebook.com/PinkGiraffe/ https://www.facebook.com/nickymerricktextileartist/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pink_giraffe_uk https://www.instagram.com/pinkgiraffepolewear

Jane White Couture Tuition:

http://www.janewhitetuition.co.uk/ http://www.stitcherystories.com/janewhite/

Fran Brammer: Inspired By Beautiful Yorkshire Landscapes SS016

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Fran Brammer Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her creative journey and her desire to combine her love of hill walking, landscapes, costume and art.

Susan chats with Fran about:

• Being inspired by the Yorkshire landscapes that she enjoys hiking through
• Her new adventure with garments, text, and landscape - exploring common elements
• The excitement of 'Feed Dogs'
• Finding & generating textures
• The creative arguments she has with her textile artwork
• Weathering her work to provide another layer of unpredictability
• Depth of colour in landscapes provided by contrasting and unusual colours
• The story of the art, the wind, and the rosebush...
• Being proactive in developing opportunities in her textile art practice
• Establishing her 'Stitchiness' Facebook Group

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Fran's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/franbrammer

Visit: https://sites.google.com/site/franbrammer/

Blog: http://franbramm.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/frantextiles

Email: [email protected]

Viking Loom embroidery supplies shop: http://www.vikingloom.co.uk/

And I thought I would share with you how beautiful the Yorkshire landscape is - of course I am biased since I am Yorkshire gal! But I know we have listeners across the globe so I hope you enjoy the landscape too.

Yorkshire Wolds: http://www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com/yorkshire-wolds/

North Yorkshire Moors http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/

Yorkshire Dales: http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/

Julia Triston: Textile Artist Celebrating Marks & Memories In Old Clothing & Cloth SS015

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Julia Triston shares her life in fabric and thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her enduring fascination with fashion and clothing, and the stories and memories from them that inspire her textile art.

Susan chats with Julia about:

• Fashion, garment construction, deconstruction and upcycling
• Inspired by Japanese fashion designers, Gaudi, and the peeling paintwork on Frida Kahlo's house
• The importance of continual growth, learning and self- reflection
• The simplicity and rhythm of running stitch
• Theraputic machine embroidery and drawing with the needle
• Memories in cloth - using upcycled and secondhand garments, uniforms, jeans, underwear
• The wear and tear and marks from previous uses and owners of fabric
• Her hour on the 4th plinth of Trafalgar Square
• Knicker Bunting and Bra-ra Dresses...
• Selfcare, headspace, and making the most of those "10 minutes" in a busy life
• Enjoying membership and stimulation of the Textile Study Group

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of artist's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/juliatriston

Visit : http://www.juliatriston.com

Email : [email protected]

Twitter: : https://twitter.com/juliatriston

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

Textile Study Group: https://textilestudygroup.co.uk

STITCHBUSINESS: http://www.stitchbusiness.com/site/

Anne Kelly: Textile Art From Re-used Textile Treasures SS014

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Anne Kelly shares her life in fabric & thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her inspiration drawn from everyday objects and textiles, international travel and folk art.

Susan chats with Anne about:

• International travel is not always a positive experience for everyone
• Her Moving Memories collaborative project (come and join in)
• Folk Art and being inspired by everyday, ordinary objects
• Collage as the link from mixed media to textiles
• Use those old pieces of fabric that you love - liberate your textile treasures!
• Cover your background to remove that threat of a blank page
• Writing books, teaching, and sharing our art
• How the internet has transformed life for an artist
• Thriving on 'happy accidents'
• The unhelpfulness of self imposed pressures
• How working on more than one project at a time can be very helpful but why multitasking is not...
• Why not use your UFOs as a starting point for a new piece of work?

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Anne's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annekelly

Visit: www.annekellyartist.net

Blog: https://annekellytextiles.blogspot.co.uk

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Akellytextiles

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/acegkelly

And if you want to participate in the Moving Memories 'travel tags' collaborative project - Deadline for contributions is 22nd February 2018. Check out: https://annekellytextiles.blogspot.co.uk/p/exhibitionsevents.html

email for details: [email protected]

Chris Gray: Medieval Mysteries, Mushrooms, Moths and Mice

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Chris Gray Shares Her Life In Fabric and Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about research and inspirations from earlier periods of history, and her desire to present her art on 3d forms.

Susan chats with Chris about:

• Using mushrooms, moths and mice to showcase work on ancient themes
• The joys of blogging to inspire others
• Being gripped by Medieval Mysteries
• What on earth is a 'beakhead'
• How very useful is expanding foam
• Get yourself down to B&Q
• Working small pieces to create large pieces
• Opus Anglicanum and Medieval Crewel Work
• Her longstanding relationship as a 'Stitch' magazine contributor
• Teaching embroidery on cruise ships
• The story of the French Knots and the Stabiliser...
• Embroidery and caravan adventures

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Chris's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/chrisgray

Visit: http://mabonarts.co.uk

Blog: http://chris-gray-textile-art.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=555382986

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/chrisgraytextileart/

Shirley Smith: Hand Embroidery & Mixed Media Artist

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Shirley Smith Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about developing her artistic skills from lace to embroidery, and the friends and community spirit she enjoys within the embroidery 'world'.

Susan chats with Shirley about:

• Her traditional start being surrounded by creative family members
• Where changing an L to an E led her...
• Inspiring tutors and mentors
• Including stained glass into textile art
• Taking part: Magna Carta & Jurist Edward Coke
• Taking part: The White Walker's Blue Blingy Pendant
• What happened to a major commission when Shirley fell down the stairs...
• The fate of the Golden Plover
• Juggling those metaphorical plates
• Taking part and joining in

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Shirley's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/shirleysmith

You may contact Shirley via email shirley dot smith2 @ btinternet.com

Shirley is an exhibiting member of The Ebor Group based in York. She is also co-Chair of York branch of The Embroiderer's Guild http://yorkembroidery.blogspot.co.uk/

Ami James: How Textile Art Changed Her Life

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Ami James Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about how textile art has changed her life, helped her recover from illness, and developing the courage to 'go for it' in 2017.

Susan chats with Ami about:

• What happened when the Floristry class was full...
• Coping with Bipolar Disorder with textile art
• Developing new skills and continuous learning and development
• Dyeing and printing fabric ends the search for the 'right' pieces of fabric
• Drawing with sewing machine rather than paper and pencil
• 2017: gaining confidence and 'getting out there'
• Developing exhibition experience and learning from group members
• Overcoming our fear of rejection - not everyone will like everything we create
• 2 VERY funny stories when things didn't go as planned
• Using 'Mindmaps' to capture inspiration and keep organised

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Ami's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames

Visit: http://www.amijamestextileart.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Amijamestextiles

Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/@amijames_textiles

Article on TextileArtist.org http://www.textileartist.org/ami-james-how-textiles-can-change-lives/

Midlands Textile Forum: http://midlandstextileforum.com/

Quilter's Guild Derbyshire: http://region-10.quiltersguild.org.uk/about-region-10

Cas Holmes: Textile Artist & Tutor: Found-Stitch-Paint

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Cas Holmes shares her life in fabric & thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her textile art work which is summed up in her own words as being Found-Stitch-Paint. Using those key elements of found materials, stitch and paint, Cas explores the connections between land, place and environment through pieces for exhibition, her tutoring and her books.

Susan chats with Cas about:

• A lifelong interest in taking things apart and re-creating them
• That dreaded school cross-stitch project
• Paper and fabric as similar and interchangeable materials
• Open your eyes to your surroundings
• Deconstruction and layering
• Wonder how we got onto Star Trek, fairground organs, and creativity vs linear thinking
• Mastering your craft so it looks effortless and simple for the observer
• The experience of writing books and encouraging people to create their own 'Stitch Stories'
• The Pride Of India Award
• Yes - you ARE good enough!
• Using limited equipment and our hands, eyes and minds

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Cas's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/casholmes

Visit: http://www.casholmes.co.uk

Blog: http://www.casholmes.blogspot.co.uk

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

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

During our chat Cas also mentioned:

Magdelena Abakanowicz https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/apr/24/magdalena-abakanowicz-obituary

Fibre Arts Australia: http://www.fibrearts.jigsy.com/

West Dean College: https://www.westdean.org.uk/

https://embroiderersguild.com/index.php?page_no=894#

Sue Stone: Textile Artist, Woman With A Fish & Current 62 Group Chair

Today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, Sue Stone aka 'The Woman With The Fish', Shares Her Life In Fabric & Thread. She chats with Susan Weeks about her journey through fashion, to embroidery, back to fashion to earn a living, and finally back to embroidery and her current achievements.

Susan chats with Sue about:

• Her major exhibitions this year
• Studying fashion but discovering embroidery from Constance Howard at Goldsmith's College
• The theme of identity, portraits, people & life observations
• Working with a small variety of stitches
• Building layers and creating texture with hand embroidery & applique
• Being current Chair of The 62 Group, as well as being an exhibiting member for the second time
• Her first solo exhibition in USA in New York
• Being featured on the front cover of 'Embroidery' Magazine
• Re-use, Recycle, & Record our failures for future reference, as well as our successes
• A busy schedule of exhibitions coming up over the next two years

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sue's work at http://www.stitcherystories.com/suestone

Visit: womanwithafish.com

Blog: womanwithafish.wordpress.com

Facebook: facebook.com/suestone.womanwithafish

Twitter: @womanwithafish

Instagram: @womanwithafish

Online Course: Sign up at http://www.textileartist.org/ to keep informed when the next one is running