Stitchery Stories

Podcaster Susan Weeks celebrates that her embroidery and textile art podcast is two years old this week.

Susan shares some of the backstory around her podcast and talks about her entertaining, inspiring and courageous guests.

Of course plenty of thanks are in order and Susan also has some questions for you, and highlights some ideas for the future.

https://www.stitcherystories.com/2ndbirthdaycelebrations

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

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Discover more about Susan Weeks:

https://virtualityworks.com (Online Technology Trainer) https://podcastprogress.com (Podcast Producer & Podcast Training) https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks

Textile Artist Amanda Cobbett shares her life in fabric and threads. Amanda creates realistic 3-dimensional, papier-mâché and machine-embroidered sculptures of fungi and lichen and other hidden treasures of the woodland floor.

From her studio in the Surrey Hills, Amanda is surrounded by inspiration for her work. Her pieces are so realistic that viewers of her art assume that they are real! A nice problem to have and the subject of endless questions at Amanda's successful exhibition at 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower show.

Susan Weeks chats with Amanda about:

• The exhilaration of a successful exhibition at RHS CHelsea Flower Show
• The challenge of people understanding what they are seeing
• Can things be so lifelike the viewers don't know it's art?
• Doing your own thing and pushing the boundaries, even at school
• The joy when someone wants to buy your work
• If everything is an experiment then it can't be a disaster!
• Setting boundaries with our clients
• Making difficult but wise business decisions
• The creative freedom leveraged by having an admin assistant
• Running a realistic business and not a hobby

And so much more!

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Amanda's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/amandacobbett

Visit: https://www.amandacobbett.com/

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

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

Other links & people mentioned:

Byard Art, Cambridge : https://byardart.co.uk/

Somerset House :https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/

Textile artist Sally Stone shares her life in fabric & thread, and yarn. With her textile art, Sally works in both small and large scale. She creates colourful pieces of textile jewellery, finding a new lease of life and use for a selection of objects. And then of course there is her joy with Extreme Knitting!

Sally is also the enthusiastic creator of several Yarnstorming installations in her UK hometown of York. We have a good chat about her yarnstorming antics and if you are quick you still have chance to take part in her current yarnstorm with the theme of 'Tree Leaves'.

Susan Weeks chats with Sally about:

• Community projects bringing colour to our lives
• Organising yarnstorming in York
• Top tips for yarnstorming & displaying your pieces outdoors
• Contrasts in scale from Extreme Knitting to Jewellery
• Extreme knitting inspirations
• Re-using objects in textile art jewellery
• Planning community art projects that are scale-able depending upon how many people participate
• Is this our oldest UFO?????

And much more!

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sally's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/sallystone

Visit: http://hippystitch.blogspot.com/

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

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

Pin: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/hippystitch

Tweet: https://twitter.com/hippystitch

Other links & people mentioned:

Rowntree Park, York https://www.york.gov.uk/directory_record/376/rowntree_park

https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/cafes/rowntree-park-reading-cafe/

Pittenweem Arts Festival in Fife, Scotland https://www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk/

Textile Wildlife Artist Janine Heschl shares her life in fabric and threads. Janine creates photo realistic portraits of animals using free-motion machine embroidery, and an exceptional eye for detail, light, colour and texture. And even more amazing, Janine is entirely self-taught.

Along with the beautiful portraits runs a deep passion for nature, wildlife and our world, and with her needle, Janine speaks out for creatures that can't speak for themselves.

Susan Weeks chats with Janine about:

• Organising an exhibition for Jane Goodall Institute
• Creating the 'Wounda' chimpanzee portrait for Jane Goodall Institute fundraising
• Can we try too hard to create perfection?
• Connecting humans and nature with thread
• Why Janine bought a sewing machine, and what happened next!
• Do what you love everyday
• Selecting thread colours
• Reaching emotions and inspiring action through art
• The secret to stitching realistic hair and fur
• Failure should be embraced, particularly by artists
• The challenge of making yourself 'do' art

And so much more!

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Janine's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/janineheschl

Visit: https://www.textilewildlifeart.com/

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

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

Call For Art: https://janegoodall.at/call-for-art-ivism_en/

Call For Art Enquiries: [email protected]

Other links & people mentioned:

The Story of Wounda The Chimpanzee http://news.janegoodall.org/2017/11/21/tchimpounga-chimpanzee-of-the-month-wounda/

United Nations Global Assessment Report https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/06/human-society-under-urgent-threat-loss-earth-natural-life-un-report

Textile Artist Sarah Cross shares her life in fabric and threads. Having chosen teaching as her career path, Sarah has taught art based textiles and fine art in a variety of school for 20 years. However, she has continued to learn skills, experiment with techniques and create her own pieces grabbing time where she can! A recent TV appearance on BBC1's 'Home Is Where The Art Is' has really boosted her confidence and commissions and her dream of a garden studio is now coming to fruition.

Susan Weeks chats with Sarah about:

• Being 'on the telly'
• Taking a teaching path for her creative skills
• Who needs to pass needlework exams anyway?
• Always learning new techniques and ideas throughout her career
• Push outside of our comfort zone and reap the benefits
• The excitement of a long awaited garden studio
• Developing confidence in oneself and ones abilities
• Working on a Catwalk show for London Fashion Week
• Using heat-mould-able polyester to create shapes and structures
• Do workshops make you feel sick.....

And so much more!

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Sarah's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/sarahcross

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

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

Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/sarahcross01

Textile Artist Kathleen Laurel Sage shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast. Kathleen combines machine embroidery, using water soluble stabiliser and layering organza and meltable threads and acrylic felt to create her nature inspired pieces. She then melts and burns the pieces using a soldering iron or heat gun to create her distinctive pieces.

Kathleen shares a lot of inspiration with us, and talks about moving her practice forward, and embracing new ideas and technology. She has made fundamental changes to how she organises her time this year and you can tell by her excitement that those changes are working very well.

Susan Weeks chats with Kathleen about:

• Playing with using Block Printing in her creative processes
• Pushing techniques and adapting new ones
• Keeping your style fresh and new
• How to stop ideas banging around your head
• Putting your mark on a technique
• Combining techniques, solving problems
• Developing skills with a soldering iron
• Sketchbooks
• The liberation of worldwide travel and opportunities
• Growing your visibility and business with videos on Youtube

and so much more.

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Kathleen's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/kathleenlaurelsage

Visit: https://www.kathleenlaurelsage.co.uk/

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

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

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE1rDoa9VM97EomoSJztyVw

Also Mentioned: Jamie Malden https://www.stitcherystories.com/jamiemalden/

Emma Broughton shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Emma is a classically trained hand embroidery artist with a real passion for designing and making embroidered boxes. So much so that she is the author of a new book launching April 2019 simply called "Embroidered Boxes".

Emma shares her story of being inspired by goldwork embroidery at a young age, and of being determined to follow embroidery as her career. And you will be amazed when she shares her story of how her book became a reality.

Susan Weeks chats with Emma about:

• Deciding to write a book on embroidered boxes
• How long did it take from proposal to contract?
• Encouragement from a creative and inspiring mum
• What sparked the determination to study at the RSN
• Developing a complimentary range of skills
• The joy of lifelong learning
• Enjoying the challenge of box making
• A range of gorgeous techniques
• Using her book as a catalyst to launch her business
• and so much more.

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Emma's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/emmabroughton

Visit: www.fairywrenembroidery.com

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

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

Email: [email protected]

Also Mentioned: https://farnhammaltings.com/

Loetitia Gibier shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Loetitia is French but has made the UK her home and is a hand embroidery artist, and tutor, who also designs kits for sale.

Loetitia shares her fascinating story, and the good things that have happened to her embroidery career since she decided to be brave and 'get out there'. An inspiring example of what can happen when you make the decision to stop hiding and start reaching out for opportunities.

Susan Weeks chats with Loetitia about:

• Designing kits and projects for advanced skills as well as beginners
• What is a Korrigan?
• Learning embroidery in a weekend :-)
• Is it cool to be into embroidery when you are a student?
• Discovering cross-stitch
• And discovering The Embroiderer's Guild
• Bingeing on embroidery classes at Missenden Abbey
• Taking a leap of courage and putting herself 'out there'
• Becoming an Embroiderer's Guild Trustee
• Why did Loetitia throw her embroidery into the garden???
• The joy (and stress?) of entering competitions
• A very unusual collaboration...
• and so much more.

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Loetitia's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/loetitiagibier

Visit: https://korrylittleshop.co.uk/

Look: https://www.instagram.com/korry77

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

Email: [email protected]

Other guests mentioned in this episode:

Georgina Bellamy

Also Mentioned Tshirts by E2 https://explicitee.com/

Rie Wenham shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast. Rie shares the various aspects of her creative career, and the story of why she loves to create beautiful spiders and snakes combining goldwork, crewelwork & stumpwork. Rie dislikes the waste behind 'fast fashion' and shares how she makes a difference.

Susan Weeks chats with Rie about:

• Juggling opportunities as they come along
• The frustrations of not being able to share work created for commissions
• Getting organised for #MeetTheMaker
• Feeding Instagram
• The story behind her beautiful spiders and snakes
• Wasteful fast fashion
• Add embroidery to your clothes and love them for longer
• Will she finish Chewbacca for her boyfriend's birthday?
• Developing skills as an online tutor
• Hitting the gym and nurturing our bodies
• and so much more.

Episode Show Notes, Links & Examples of Rie's work at https://www.stitcherystories.com/riewenham

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

Pin: https://www.pinterest.com/riewenhamembroidery/

Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/riewenhamembroidery

Email: [email protected]

Other guests mentioned in this episode:

Joe Mitchell

Natalie Dupuis

Also Mentioned Claire De Pourtales

Danielle Balfoort shares her life in fabric & thread on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast.

Danielle shares her steps on her journey as an embroidery entrepreneur. After being made redundant from her office job, Danielle decided to go for it and launch her dream of creating a business around her passion for embroidery.

Susan Weeks chats with Danielle about:

• Developing abstract embroidery pieces from mood board inspirations.
• The delights of a studio in a workspace with other creatives
• Discovering embroidery and learning tambour embroidery
• Preparing for her first exhibition
• Being brave and doing this podcast :-)
• The balance between doing embroidery and developing a business
• Building a global network of embroidery friends

and so much more.

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

Visit: website is under development at the moment

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

Look: https://www.instagram.com/studioup_north/?hl=en

Other guests mentioned in this episode:

Jen Goodwin https://www.stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin/

Natalie Dupuis https://www.stitcherystories.com/nataliedupuis/