The work of South African artist Kim Lieberman takes us on a journey; seeking to investigate communication and interaction between people her work has an extraordinary global vision which dissects figuratively and at times literally the currency of connection.

Through drawing, sculpture, stitching and lace, Lieberman explores responsibility, generosity and social response. Using deeply significant materials such as money, postage stamps and lace she challenges us to think differently about the meanings we attach to these materials across cultures and time.

It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Kim for this episode as she shares insights into her practice as well as some of her current work which is part of the inaugural exhibition at Finkelstein Gallery in Melbourne until September 28, 2019.

You can find out more about Isabel and her work on her website: https://www.kimlieberman.com

Or follow her on Instagram: @kimlieberman_

You can find out more about Finkelstein Gallery via their website: https://finkelsteingallery.com/

Or on Instagram: @finkelsteingallery

Would you prefer to listen with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/IPAF85HtXf4

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Bringing together two of the major fields of traditional craft & design – Textiles and Wood – designer Isabel Avendaño Hazbún creates functional and nonfunctional art objects which open up new dialogues about material, dress and identity.

Her innovative and often surprising use of materials offers a refreshing and unique take on both crafts which is continually evolving into a rich and complex creative language. Whether she is making objects for the home or to be worn on the body Isabel’s work pushes us to think differently about the relationship between objects and our bodies.

In this episode of TextileStories Isabel joins me to discuss her creative process and her current exhibition GIANTS which is on at the Australian Design Centre in Sydney until September 25, 2019.

You can find out more about Isabel and her work on her website: http://www.isabel-avendano-hazbun.com/

Or follow her on Instagram: @isabel_avendano_hazbun

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/BClY2hGWpYc

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Sometimes an artist travels far and wide to discover that in the end all roads lead home. Jordanian designer and artist Ishraq Zraikat has had an incredible professional journey so far; studying architecture in the United States, textile design in Italy, working as a designer in architecture and fashion and even as a design journalist in New York her travels and cross cultural experiences have led her to have a unique insight into the world of design in three very different cultures and industries. Now having returned to Amman, where she grew up she is digging deep into the roots of Jordanian textile culture and seeking ways to bring this tradition into a sustainable future.

In this episode Ishraq shares some of her experiences of working across cultures and continents, and some of her new projects including a campaign to bring local Jordanian wool into use and to revisit the beautiful traditional Bedouin rugs of Jordan in a way that brings them into the world of contemporary design and fashion.

Aside from the themes of industry and design this episode touches on the deeper themes of cultural identity and homecoming. Finding a new way to connect with one’s culture of origin and is a particularly relevant conversation for those who (myself included), have divided their lives between two countries and are seeking to reconnect and reestablish themselves in their country of origin.

This episode is quite long and has an epic quality so make yourselves a pot of tea and get ready to hear some amazing stories and a very personal approach to design.

You can find out more about Ishraq and her work on her website: http://ishraqzraikat.com/

Or follow her on Instagram: @ishraqzraikat

There are also two short videos about Ishraq’s work here:

About her textile journey and learning to weave Bedouin rugs: https://vimeo.com/118540936

From the presentation of her first handwoven prayer rug: https://vimeo.com/179542420

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/GwM6WbFWYLY

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Love, passion, courage, triumph, transcendence…there are eternal themes which are common to art across cultures and centuries. Another eternal theme, death, has been a source of inspiration to many artists and so it should perhaps not be so surprising that an organization which arranges funerals should seek the collaboration of an artist in residence, and yet it somehow feels taboo.

This week on TextileStories I had the immense pleasure of speaking with artist Michele Elliot about her role as artist in residence at Tender Funerals, a non-profit community organization that organizes funerals and support for grieving families. The role of handwork and sewing circles as a tool for helping people through difficult times and to reconnect with others, and the tender art of giving comfort to perfect strangers simply because that is part of being human.

Join us as we discuss Michele’s experience, the topics of death and grief and the beautiful body of work which has come out of this creative journey.

You can see more of Michele’s work on her website: https://micheleelliot.com/

Or follow her on Instagram: @michele_elliot_artist

To learn more about Tender Funerals check out their website here: http://tenderfunerals.org/

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vhm24a1y0k0

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

It is the best feeling in the world to see a student graduate and find their true path and the joy it brings me to see Leesha Arora, founder and creative director of Prune India, finding so much success and fulfilment in her work is priceless. I first met Leesha in 2012 when she came to Milan with a group of her classmates to do Summer School. It was clear that while her classmates were working towards their graduation with the intention of designing for some of India’s major textile companies, Leesha was different. She wanted to do her own thing and was trying to find her niche.

And what a beautiful niche she found! In 2013 she founded Prune India, a company which makes bespoke floral jewellery for brides, particularly for the Mehendi and Haldi (henna and turmeric) ceremonies which are a part of traditional Hindu weddings. Taking her lifelong passion for weddings and her gift for helping brides to find just the right things for their special day, Leesha has been able to found and grow a successful company (which has now become 4 shops) with it’s flagship store in Delhi’s trendy fashion district Shahpur Jat.

It was wonderful to chat with Leesha about her work and how she created a space for herself within the colourful, sumptuous and quite competitive bridal fashion market.

You can follow Prune’s luscious Instagram feed: @pruneindia

Or find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pruneindia/

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4nWGMwICDb4

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Some of you know me as a teacher & researcher, others as a tour leader or as a blogger and now pod-caster, but I am also a cancer survivor and as today is international cancer survivor’s day I wanted to do a short episode that I have had in the back of my mind for a couple of years…

So now that I am a whole 32cm from my chemo coiffure, I thought it was time to have a chat. About the hats.

Over the last few years a number of people have asked me if there is some sort of gift that would be of comfort to friends or family members going through cancer treatment and most of them have been surprised when I have answered “anything but a hat or bandanna!”. So I thought it might be useful to explain this based on my own experience and what I learned chatting with other patients in the chemo ward.

Now, to be clear, I get it, a hat seems like the most obvious thing to make…I mean there is an obvious vulnerability that we see in chemo patients, when they lose their hair it is a natural impulse to want to wrap them up and protect them and that is generally in the form of a hat.

But it is a little more complicated than that. It is incredibly confronting when all of your hair falls out because you are sick. There is a sense of loss of control over you own life which can be exacerbated by others trying to dress you. The thing about hair-loss is that it is a very visible, public sign of the illness the patient is experiencing and how they choose to deal with that is extremely personal.

Some patients are happy to channel their inner Yul Brunner or Sinead O’Connor while others have special wigs fitted so no one need know what they are going through…then in-between there are many types of hats, scarves and bandannas which patients can choose from depending on their personal style.

The problem with gifting hats is that it takes that control out of the patients hands at a time that they need to hang on to any small choices that they can – hats also sit differently when you don’t have any hair and it is tricky to find the right one, I personally got through with my husband’s collection of plain black beanies which were discreet and perfect.

The other tricky thing is that sometimes in an attempt to cheer the patient up people get a bit carried away with their hat creations or choices using bright colours, quirky patterns or giant flowers which just draw more attention to the fact that they have lost their hair and can leave them feeling that they are somewhere between being in fancy dress or maybe even a bit like a teapot.

So in the interests of sparing everyone an embarrassing experience I thought it might be useful to make some suggestions of alternative handmade gifts which can show your loved one that you are there for them at this difficult time, and you can tune in to hear them or read all about it over on the blog: https://www.textilesupport.net/single-post/2019/06/02/HugsnotHats

Teacosy by: Cherie Hingee

Music: "Survivor" by Destiny's Child

So many textile stories, and particularly lace stories, are about women, their work and their often-unrecognized artistic contribution to their culture and their time. Thankfully some of these stories are collected and recorded by scholars allowing us a great insight into some seemingly small lives which actually had significant impact on the textile arts.

One such character was Cándida García Irajudo, who is the subject of Mariña Regueiro’s latest book Candida Lace: The Lace in Seville in the first half of the 20th Century. The book traces the extraordinary career of Cándida, a woman from a modest background whose gift for designing original and fashionable laces allowed her to build a wonderful career as a lace designer and teacher for the ladies of Seville’s most elite families.

In this special episode of TextileStories I am joined not only by Mariña, but also by lace maker Rocío Utray; daughter, niece and granddaughter to some of Cándida’s students and keeper of a significant part of her archive and legacy. It is a wonderful story not only of a gifted artist and teacher, but also of incredible courage, confidence and autonomy, the story of an uneducated woman who learned to write her name so that she could sign her designs and “show everyone she was an artist” and who was welcomed into the parlors of her city’s most important families because of great talent.

If you would like to buy the book the best ways are as follows:

In Europe it will be available through Barbara Fay http://www.barbara-fay.com/index.php/en/

In Australia I will be ordering a box or two so if you would like to have a copy just let me know – shipping will take 3-4 weeks.

Everywhere else it is best to contact Mariña directly via her website.

Learn more about Mariña’s work at: http://www.escueladeencajes.com

or follow her on Instagram @marinaregueiro

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/L8KyphEMTCM

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Many of you are probably already familiar with the fragile, haunting, crochet sculptures of artist Caitlin McCormack. So many images of her beautiful work have gone viral in recent years, but do you know the story behind them and where her creative journey is leading her? This week on TextileStories I had the pleasure of speaking with Caitlin about her work thus far and the brave new direction she has taken in her current exhibition “See You All in There” which is on at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia until April 13, 2019.

In her new work Caitlin shifts the focus from us being the examiners of the work; the specimen-like quality her sculptures have had until now, to the concept of seeing and being seen. Raising questions about privacy and vulnerability, Caitlin has taken a brave new direction, seeking interconnection between different groups and communities and calling us all to be more aware of what is happening in the world which surrounds us.

Direct, and at times quite raw, Caitlin generously shares some of her journey as an artist and this episode is a must listen for anyone who is striving to live a creative life, who has experienced feelings of hopelessness when trying to make a valid contribution to society and for anyone who has ever struggled with depression.

Thank you Caitlin for your honesty and your beautiful work.

see more of Caitlin's work at:

https://caitlintmccormack.com/home.html

or follow her on Instagram (she has a wonderfully creative feed) @mister_caitlin

or see the online catalogue of her work here:

https://www.paradigmarts.org/collections/caitlin-mccormack

Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/bxvW7PM_ez4

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Starting out as a creative soul unsure of which path to take in life, after completing her very hands-on studies in costume design at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, an internship at the prestigious Hand & Lock embroidery workshop in 2010 led to a successful and fascinating career within the company, becoming Production Director in 2014.

This week had an interesting chat about her journey into the exquisite world of fashion embroidery, some of the amazing projects she has worked on, her wonderful book which came out last year “Fashion Embroidery: Embroidery Techniques and Inspiration for Haute-Couture Clothing” and some behind-the-scenes insights into the workings of the couture embroidery industry.

We also talked about Hand & Lock’s prestigious annual embroidery prize and how it really seeks to foster talent within the industry and assist embroiderers who wish to pursue a professional career with their craft. It was inspiring to hear how they are promoting excellence in the craft of embroidery in such a tangible and supportive way, and if YOU love to embroider and would be interested in entering the 2019 edition you have until the end of March to register and you can see other key dates for the prize via the link below.

To read more about Jessica and Hand & Lock go to: https://handembroidery.com

For a list of key dates for the Hand & Lock Embroidery Prize see: https://handembroidery.com/the-prize/dates-diary-prize-2019/

You can also follow Hand & Lock on Instagram @ handandlocklondon

Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/4OBxJbqAOWc

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free

brokeforfree.com/

From a child with mis-matched socks to being recognized as one of the Chicago Tribune’s 2018 Chicagoans of the year, Sky Cubacub is the founder - and heart and soul – of Rebirth Garments; a clothing line for people on the full spectrum of gender, size and ability. Rebirth Garments is more than a clothing brand, it is a movement centred around a concept which Sky calls “Radical Visibility” which really challenges the way we think about dress and what that signals to those around us.

I was very lucky to have been able to catch up with Sky recently to talk about the brand, their projects and what is means to be radically visible.

To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog

To read more about Sky and Rebirth Garments go to: http://rebirthgarments.com

You can also follow rebirth Garments (a fabulous feed!) @rebirthgarments

Sky’s Radical Visibility Manifesto can be found here: http://rebirthgarments.com/radical-visibility-zine

Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/GGynww9frs8

Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free

brokeforfree.com/