Christi Johnson on moving from NYC to upstate New York as an artist who grew up in Florida.

When textile artist Christi Johnson and I spoke in 2018, she shared her story of moving from the city to the country, and it really inspired me. I love how honest she was about how it wasn't all glamorous and easy. But it was worth it.

Fast forward to now, Dec 2025, and I would never have guessed that I'd be going through a similar story! I recently listened to this episode again for my own personal inspiration, and it holds a timeless message about finding your way to places that nourish your deeper needs.

In this conversation we also get into:

• How naturally dyed textiles and embroidery support healing
• Christi's ancestral connection to textiles
• Overcoming fear of sharing her thoughts and work publicly
• Adornment as self-expression and talismanic protection

When this episode was first published, Christi created a special guide for our listeners about magic sewing and embroidery. Since then that guide grew into a full-blown published book called Mystical Stitches! And now she has a second book called The Art of Embroidery Design.

Christi has so many free and low-cost resources on her website, mixedcolor.net, so if you're interested in sewing, stitching, or magical embroidery, definitely take a look.

She has a pocket altar zine in her workshop section about crafting a sacred space of tiny talisman that you can carry with you.

Christi also has a podcast called Stitch Wish Radio, which you'll definitely enjoy if you liked this episode.

And we brought her back for a second interview on the podcast a few years ago about stitching magic making through talismanic embroidery.

All of this is linked in the show notes.

Thanks and enjoy this episode!

Links

• Earth Speak newsletter
  • https://www.earthspeak.love
• Christi Johnson's gorgeous website, where you can sign up for her newsletter, take workshops, and enjoy so many free resources, like her embroidery portal which teaches you how to stitch, for free
  • https://www.mixedcolor.net/
• Pocket Altar Zine
  • https://www.mixedcolor.net/altar-in-your-pocket
• Stitch Wish Radio podcast
  • https://www.mixedcolor.net/podcast
• Instagram @christijay
  • https://www.instagram.com/christijay/
• Christi's other interview on the Earth Speak podcast on weaving symbolism into magic making with talismanic embroidery
  • https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IzQC2Z4vBtIbrBq7nYTCk?si=494f790e0e5f4420