Stitchery Stories

Today we meet Claire Edwards, who embodies her brand name of Defiant Embroidery. Claire shares her fascinating story of how she discovered her creativity and passion for hand embroidery as part of her quest to discover her third career.

After an enjoyable career in the RAF and then working with young offenders, Claire suffered some setbacks that led her to going to University and discovering hand embroidery.

However, Claire has decided to push the boundaries of what is thought possible with traditional hand embroidery and has started combining her beautiful sculptural hand embroidery with unusual materials such as concrete and acrylic resin.

Susan Weeks chats with Claire Edwards about:

• Being inspired to 'entomb' her beautiful embroideries in resin
• A LOT of trial and error to test resin and its effects upon her embroidery
• Building up layers and creating a unique wall hanging
• Our impact and damage to the natural world is a recurring theme
• Coral reefs and an affinity with the sea
• Discovering creativity later in life!
• It all started with crochet...
• Life changing decisions and discovering her next path
• Finding her way, developing her ideas and her embroidery 'voice'
• Beads are a big thing!
• The challenges of entering the Hand & Lock competition
• The phoenix as a personal reflection on life's journey
• A trip to her local hospital 'Accidents & Emergency'

For this episode...

View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Claire's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/claireedwards

Look: https://www.instagram.com/defiant.embroidery/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/defiantembroidery

View: https://defiantembroidery.com/

Link: http://www.linkedin.com/in/%20claire-edwards-6a6990b2

Send: [email protected]

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:

https://www.stitcherystories.com/daniellebalfoort/

https://www.stitcherystories.com/maryanntoop/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

Karen Nichol

http://www.karennichol.com/

Today we meet Jessica Aldred, a former Royal School of Needlework graduate and tutor, who combines her love of embroidery with her love of all things vintage! Jessica shares some fabulous career highlights with us as she is close to the new adventure of motherhood.

With big changes coming along in her life, Jessica has been investigating different ways of working and extending how she can support other embroidery artists. She loves to help others 'know where to start' in developing their embroidery career, and develop the confidence to move forward.

An interesting aspect of Jessica's business is her love of vintage clothing and styling, and we chat about how she has combined the 2 aspects to create her own unique brand and business.

Susan Weeks chats with Jessica about:

• Using lockdown time to investigate different ways of working online
• Conserving an embroidery from 1715
• Passionate about helping people who want to generate income from their embroidery skills
• Consultation around producing embroidery kits
• The feeling of fear when you start working on vulnerable antique embroideries
• Keen to support artists 'know where to start' and develop the confidence to move forward
• Always loved buttons & beads
• Her route into the Royal School of Needlework
• The delights of Pinterest
• Including her love of vintage styling into her business
• Embroidery for royalty
• Embroidery for prisoners

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

Look: https://www.instagram.com/houseofheydayembroidery/

Look: https://www.instagram.com/houseofheydayvintage/

View: http://houseofheyday.co.uk/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/houseofheydayltd/

Send: [email protected]

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/

https://www.stitcherystories.com/saradennis/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

The History Wardrobe with Lucy Adlington http://www.historywardrobe.com/

Bright Star (movie 2009)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/

Bankfield Museum, Halifax https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/visit/bankfield-museum

Elstob & Elstob Auctioneers

https://www.elstobandelstob.co.uk/

Today we hear from Susan Weeks, the host of Stitchery Stories. Susan shares her thoughts around the future direction for this globally popular textile art podcast. She also unveils a Listener Survey that she would love everyone to complete. It's anonymous, only takes a minute and will really help her understand and serve all you lovely listeners in a more powerful way.

And a key change is that Susan intends to put this podcast at the heart of her business, and focus on helping professional textile artists and embroidery artists with their quest and challenges around getting their businesses online, creating online courses and membership schemes, as well as selling stuff online too.

This is a perfect example where professional skills and years of experience meet a much loved hobby. Sue is very excited about how this can develop!

Susan chats about:

• She loves to see what you are stitching and working on
• How her online business skills and courses can support professional textile artists
• Why she started this podcast
• The 'Free' way vs the 'headache-free' way to develop your business
• Is textile art & embroidery your hobby OR your business?
• Please take part in the Stitchery Stories Listener Survey
• Also watch out for a survey for professional embroidery & textile artists
• Exploring sponsorship and other revenue generation opportunities

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & fill out the survey at https://www.stitcherystories.com/may2020update

Look: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast

Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining/

View: https://www.stitcherystories.com

Survey: https://forms.gle/rJwqdmZqwmat1Yms7

Early Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/susiemartin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/

Today we meet Claire Mort, an award-winning British textile artist who creates colourful and powerful pop art using hand embroidery. And if you read 'Be Creative With Workbox' magazine, then you will already know her from her column, 'Morts Thoughts'.

Claire has an inspiring story and we discuss how opportunities come from the most extraordinary situations, and really that we need a mixture of joy and hope to carry us through the exciting adventure of life. Although we did cover some rather serious topics, we did it with humour and joy.

Susan Weeks chats with Claire about:

• Stitching into bras
• Inspiring women and their stories
• The impact of the Corona virus 'lockdown'
• Assessing all aspects of her art business and to continue and adapt
• Developing self-reliance and sustainability
• The shortest exhibition in history!
• Embroidery is an incredibly powerful tool
• The influence of graphic design and the skills needed for online work
• Opportunities come from extraordinary situations
• Writing a magazine column
• The delight of Instagram
• Inspired by 70's and 80's UK kids cartoons
• The joy of the handmade item - in all mediums
• So much to be learnt from playing
• The battle with our inner critic
• Courage and hope
• Wondering how to start creating an online course

For this episode...

View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Claire's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/clairemort

Look: https://www.instagram.com/clairemortartist/

View: https://www.clairemortartist.com/

Shop: https://www.redbubble.com/people/clairemortarty/shop

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:

https://www.stitcherystories.com/juilatriston

https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

The Embroiderers' Guild

https://embroiderersguild.com/

The Society For Embroidered Work (S.E.W.) https://www.societyforembroideredwork.com/

A Mighty Girl

https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/

Being Bold: Finding Myself When Everything Changed Susan Weeks on International Womens Day 2017 https://youtu.be/qqHDevdVg2g

'Be Creative With Workbox' magazine

https://www.creativewithworkbox.com/

Today we meet Ilke Cochrane, a Dutch ex-pat living in the UK witha delightfully quirky sense of humour! Ilke has a great story, particularly around the name of her business brand... Mabel Figworthy's Fancies.

As well as designing 'what she fancies' for kits and charts, Ilke runs workshops and is very eager for anyone to 'have a go' at embroidery. She shares a great story about her neighbour, and also shares wise advice about treating ourselves kindly and admiring what we have created without comparing to others.

Susan Weeks chats with Ilke about:

• Stitch-A-Longs (SAL)
• Working on the RSN Certificate of Technical Hand Embroidery
• The self-imposed pressure of 'falling behind' when joining a SAL and then giving up
• Creating uniqueness with colours, styles and threads
• "not hampered by any knowledge"
• Discovering The Cross Stitch Forum
• Who is Mabel Figworthy?
• The unpredictability of whether a design will sell, or not!
• It's OK to NOT want 'world domination' in your niche
• Be happy where you are
• What is Hardanger embroidery
• Use short affordable workshops to try out a new technique
• Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
• The story of the gold thread...
• It might work, so 'have a go'
• From a painted pebble to an enthusiastic embroiderer
• Introducing Hengist The Medieval Unicorn
• Get Blogging!

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

Like: https://www.facebook.com/mabelsfancies

View: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/

Shop: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/

Read: http://mabelfigworthy.co.uk/fof/

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/tracyafranklin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

The Knitting & Stitching Show https://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/

Ami James returns to Stitchery Stories today with a very positive message to share with us as we adjust to life 'under lockdown'. Ami was an early guest on Stitchery Stories back in October 2017 when we chatted about how textile art had changed her life after her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It's been a very busy couple of years for Ami since then, with, sadly, several painful, personal situations to deal with. Yet here she is, pushing forward and helping others deal with anxiety through mindful stitching, as well as an interesting collaboration with a life coach.

Our chat turns to what Ami has been doing online to stay connected with her in-person classes and to encourage those who are suffering from anxiety caused by our global situation of fear, isolation and financial worries too.

Susan Weeks chats with Ami about:

• Keeping anxiety at bay with quilting
• Ami's mental health journey from bipolar diagnosis to her recent discharge from mental health services
• Being brave and doing live videos on Facebook
• Stepping up and helping others deal with their anxiety through mindful crafts
• Doing Facebook live tutorials
• Getting round to running courses online
• Sue talks about Zoom video conferencing
• Taking part in an online 'Zoom' class is easy - honestly!
• Collaborating with a friend who is a life coach
• Is the secret to all of this 'hand eye coordination'?
• "... an internet sensation..."
• Planning for a more resilient future
• Should we be giving away our knowledge for free at the moment?

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

Like: https://www.facebook.com/simplyneedlecraft/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/Social-Isolation-Mindset-Focus-102718361388766/

Look: https://instagram.com/simply_needlecraft/

View: https://simplyneedlecraft.com/

Shop: https://simplyneedlecraft.com/

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:

https://www.stitcherystories.com/amijames/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/yvonnefuchs/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

Harry Perfors Life Coach https://www.facebook.com/LifestyleUpgradeSpecialist/

Newspaper article https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/swadlincote-seamstress-battling-mental-health-3969388

Ruth Cereceda: Asking about local groups making face masks

https://www.instagram.com/cerecedastudio/

https://ruthcereceda.wixsite.com/studio/contact

"Learn How To Use Zoom Video Conferencing So You Can Take Your Business Online" by Susan Weeks from The Missing Training

https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining/

Jane Austen Embroidery, the newly published book from Pavilion Books, created by Jennie Batchelor and Alison Larkin is the subject of this episode of the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Both of these talented ladies are my friends and I have followed this book project closely over the last 3 years! Alison was my first ever (brave) guest on Stitchery Stories, and Jennie was guest number six.

This is a truly gorgeous book, and will attract stitchers of all levels, as well as fans of Jane Austen. It brings together 18th century embroidery patterns, re-imagined into modern embroidery projects. A delightful addition is the quotes from Jane Austen's novels and letters, as well as illustrations and beautiful photography.

So I dig behind the stitches and words to highlight the interesting stories shared by Alison and Jennie.

Susan Weeks chats with Jennie and Alison about:

• The Lady's Magazine and the embroidery patterns within
• The story of how Jane Austen Embroidery was 'born'
• A friendship started on Twitter
• "we should write a book!!!"
• Connecting Jane Austen, The Lady's Magazine and 18th century embroidery
• You did WHAT with those patterns, Sue!
• The range of creativity the patterns have sparked
• The typical stitches used in the book projects
• What level of skill is needed for the book projects
• Building a community of stitching friends around the world
• Bringing together research, writing, quotes, illustrations, photography... and of course, embroidery!
• Book launch plans

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Images from Jane Austen Embroidery at http://www.stitcherystories.com/janeaustenembroidery

Like: https://www.facebook.com/alisonlarkinembroidery

Like: https://www.facebook.com/ladysmagproject/

Look: https://instagram.com/ladysmagproject/

Look: https://instagram.com/alisonlarkinstitcher

Tweet: https://twitter.com/larkinstitcher

Tweet: https://twitter.com/ladysmagproject

View: https://www.jenniebatchelor.net/

Shop: https://amzn.to/2IVMv1h

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like:

https://www.stitcherystories.com/alisonlarkin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

Pavilion Books https://pavilionbooks.com

Lianne Van Leyen is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, where she shares how she re-creates antique schoolgirl samplers into patterns for the modern cross stitch enthusiast. Lianne is the founder of 1897 Schoolhouse Samplers and is an avid collector of antique schoolgirl samplers.

After many years of dreaming and planning, she escaped her corporate career and landed her dream job as a historic cook and historical domestic interpreter at the Upper Canada Village living history museum, located in Eastern Ontario, Canada. This also gave her the opportunity to focus on launching her business: 1897 Schoolhouse Samplers.

Susan Weeks chats with Lianne about:

• Taking 10 to 15 years to move from "I think I can do this" to "I know I can do this" to "I am doing it!"
• Decisions around how to scale, at a relevant price point, at desired quality level
• Learning to let go of what we thought would work
• Getting out of our own way
• Using PCStitch to map out cross stitch antique sampler patterns
• The challenges and processes involved in interpreting antique schoolgirl samplers
• A growing collection of antique schoolgirl samplers
• How did the sampler collection start?
• Juggling a corporate career and finding the headspace to think about creative endeavours
• Designing a way to have the dream job and have a creative business based around cross stitch
• Being brave, reaching out to strangers and developing strong creative relationships, friends and connections
• Learning to trust your decisions
• Having a variety of tasks in the pipeline to work on to cope with overwhelm and tricky decisions

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

Like: https://www.facebook.com/SchoolhouseSamplers/

Look: https://www.instagram.com/1897schoolhousesamplers/

Shop: Etsy 1897Schoolhouse

Email: [email protected]

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/alisonlarkin/ https://www.stitcherystories.com/drjenniebatchelor/

Other people, places & things we mentioned:

Upper Canada Village

https://www.uppercanadavillage.com/

PCStitch popular design software for counted cross stitch pattern making

http://www.pcstitch.com/

Kate Tume is the guest today on the Stitchery Stories podcast, where she shares how she creates powerful art from embroidery and textile art techniques to highlight the devastation of species loss and the destruction of our natural world.

Susan Weeks chats with Kate about:

• What is an artists residency
• The luxury of focusing on art and nothing else
• Toucans, scorpions, iguanas, halloween crabs
• The stories behind endangered creatures
• Developing a distinctive style to highlight the impact of species loss
• What is special, revered, hallowed?
• Corona virus in a chat about embroidery?
• School art squashing the desire to be artistic
• Another corporate escapee desperate for creativity
• When do you 'own' that you ARE an artist?
• Where did 'Mother Eagle' come from?
• Pushing boundaries with materials
• Collecting rejections

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

Visit: https://madebymothereagle.com/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/MadeByMotherEagle/

Look: https://www.instagram.com/mother_eagle_arts/

Shop: https://mothereagle.bigcartel.com/

Learn: https://www.skillshare.com/user/mothereagle

Email: [email protected]

Related Stitchery Stories episodes you might like: https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl/

Other people, places & things we mentioned: https://www.gmccullochportraits.com/ https://taliapeckel.format.com/

The Mauser Foundation http://mauserfoundation.org/

Jane's Addiction - Wrong Girl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6nbvS7LcOI

Eva Kitok lives in the north of Sweden and has organised her life and career so she can make the most of her time and spend as much time as possible doing embroidery and creating textile art. She loves to embroider whilst watching TV on long winter evenings and also whilst cooking!

Susan Weeks chats with Eva about:

• Music and embroidery
• The challenges of embroidering The Cure album covers
• Creating applique portraits
• A new enthusiasm for traditional Swedish wool embroidery
• Don't be bored. Plan embroidery in your head instead!
• Being an enthusiastic teenage embroidery fan
• Pinterest & Instagram - the gateway drugs for creativity
• Can embroidery yet again solve a mid-life crisis?
• Going to classes or experimenting yourself?
• Enjoying success at prestigious art shows
• Keeping success private from work colleagues
• The trials of embroidering Michael Jackson
• Hmmmmm the evolution of politicians
• Making the most of all of those 'spare' minutes
• The excitement of holding her first solo exhibitions

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

Visit: https://www.evakitok.com/

Look: https://www.instagram.com/kitokeva/

Email: [email protected]

Other Episodes You might like to listen to:

More music themed textile art: https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders/

2019 Listener Highlights: https://www.stitcherystories.com/2019highlights/