Hannah Thompson has always loved crafting, quilting & textile art.

 In 2017, at a crossroads in her life, dealing with emotional & family upset, she left her corporate career and set up Stitching Kitchen. On Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Hannah shares her story and we dive into what she describes as her transformational business year in 2023!

Susan Weeks chats with Hannah Thompson about:

• Her love for textile art, quilting, crafting and creativity
• Family life and a career pushing textile creativity to the background
• Turning to textile art to deal with a challenging time
• Taking the leap into setting up Stitching Kitchen
• How her business has evolved
• Discovering a love of teaching and facilitating others to enjoy textile art
• Starting to host guest tutors
• Getting help within her business
• Pushing out of her comfort zone with an inspiring community arts project with the National Paralympic Heritage Trust
• and lots more too! 

For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Hannah's work at https://stitcherystories.com/hannahthompson

 Visit: https://stitchingkitchen.co.uk/

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

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

Follow Susan Weeks for online course creation and online marketing stuff 

https://virtualityworks.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/CraftyCourseProfitBooster

https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks

LEARN HOW to turn your in-person classes into on-demand online money-makers with her FREE online course

https://virtualityworks.com/unlock-your-profits-in-7-steps/

Other Episodes featuring artists Hannah has booked for 2024:

Anne Kelly: Textile Art From Re-used Textile Treasures

https://stitcherystories.com/annekelly/

Jayne Emerson Returns: Impatient Textile Rebel

https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson2/

Textile artist Holly Jackson shares her recent journey in developing her art career.

Developing her 'sneaky' stumpwork embroidery using modern materials and mixed media, there are plenty of exciting 'firsts' to celebrate with Holly!

We join Holly at the start of her first art exhibition. She shares her preparation and hopes from the show. We chat about her very interesting inspirations for her emerging body of work, and how she is developing her own 'take' on stumpwork, scaling it up, and using modern materials and mixed media to produce larger pieces, faster, yet still using hand embroidery.

Susan Weeks chats with Holly about:

• 'There's always one more thing!'
• How she got started on her new artist career
• The importance of getting in front of 'new eyes'
• Her preparations for her first 'booth show'
• The fascinating stories of the 'hidden women' behind historical Mardi Gras float designs
• The impacts of flooding & climate change on her region
• Developing 'sneaky stumpwork' techniques
• Creating her own unique textile art style and 'voice'
• Creating a body of work, using series and collections
• What's next after the show?

For this episode...

View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Holly's work at https://stitcherystories.com/hollyjackson

Visit: https://flossinginthemoonlight.com/

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

 

Other places & people we mentioned: 

Chesapeake bay, USA

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay

Tulane University Carnival Collection https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:p15140coll40

Jenny Adin-Christie

https://jennyadin-christieembroidery.com/

 

Other episodes you will enjoy:

https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell/

https://stitcherystories.com/katetume/

https://stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter/

 

Textile artist Jayne Emerson revisits the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast today!

She takes us on a journey on how she has pivoted her creative business to focus on teaching people around the world through her online courses and her unique membership The No-Rules Textiles Society.

Jayne was a guest here back in 2018 and gives a quick update as to where she was and what challenges she was facing back then.

And then we dive into the details of how she created her courses, and the practicalities of running her creative membership. The financial benefits and the fabulous network of new friendships she has developed online. 

For this episode...

View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Jaynes's creative samples at https://stitcherystories.com/jayneemerson2

Visit: https://jayneemerson.co.uk/

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

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

 

Other places & people we mentioned:

 Elizabeth Ashdown (Passementerie)

 https://elizabethashdown.co.uk/

 

Other episodes you will enjoy: 

https://stitcherystories.com/jayenemerson/

 https://stitcherystories.com/florianeschmitt/

 https://stitcherystories.com/nikkiparmenter/

 

Cornwall Cross Stitch Kit designer Emma Horan shares behind the scenes of her 'accidental' creative business based around counted cross stitch hand embroidery kits of the beautiful Cornish coast.

For the last 10 years, Emma has grown her cross stitch kit business from a therapeutic hobby as she recovered from illness, to a thriving creative business, shop & studio based in St Austell Town, Cornwall.

With the beautiful Cornish coast as her never-ending inspiration, with the desire to make bright colourful kits, Emma shares her journey from her first design made with 20p cross stitch software.

We peek into the 'nuts and bolts' of kit design and production and Emma kindly shares some hard-won lessons along the way!

Her mantra?

To provide kits so that people can stitch things that make them feel good.

Susan Weeks chats with Emma Horan about:

• painting & stitching as therapy whilst on sick leave from her corporate job
• her creative inspirations
• enjoying her studio and shop
• the steps from inspiration to kit for sale
• getting help and batch production
• dealing with counterfeiters
• colouring books?
• the beautiful and inspiring Cornish coast

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Emma's cross stitch kits at https://stitcherystories.com/emmahoran

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

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

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

Tweet https://twitter.com/emmalouiseart

 

Other episodes you will enjoy:

https://stitcherystories.com/kriscampbell/

https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell/

https://stitcherystories.com/liannevanleyen/

 

Lottie Cockell started her creative business Purple Rose Embroidery fresh out of school, and has been busy growing shaping her business over the last 5 years. With a love of 'grid-based' hand embroidery, Lottie focuses on cross-stitch, blackwork and surface embroidery kits.

She is keen to try new things in her business and will often dive into the deep-end of something, figure it out as she goes, then decide if it is a direction that is suitable for her business and her self. 

That's the magic about running our own business.... WE GET TO CHOOSE what we do and how it works for US.

This is a fabulous and very inspiring story, and I'm so pleased I spotted Lottie's colourful blackwork embroidery on Instagram, and never imagined the story that would be revealed! 

Susan Weeks chats with Lottie about:

• Starting with hand embroidery commissions
• Quickly evolving into designs & kits
• Running her first stall ever at a high profile handmade event
• Designing her kits
• Encouraging and inspiring stitchers to have a go
• Shaping her business to suit her personality and lifestyle
• and so much more!

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Lottie's art at https://stitcherystories.com/lottiecockell

Visit: https://purpleroseembroidery.com/

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

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

Also PurpleRoseEmbroidery on: TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest

Directory of all the things:  https://bio.site/purpleroseembroidery

 

Other places & people we mentioned:

Kirstie Allsopp Handmade Fair

Hochanda / Create & Craft

Other episodes you will enjoy:

https://stitcherystories.com/jengoodwin/ https://stitcherystories.com/ilkecochrane/ https://stitcherystories.com/kriscampbell/

Prism Textile Group members Hayley Mills-Styles and Maria Walker share behind-the-scenes challenges of helping to organise an annual textile art exhibition which features work from the groups' international members.

Hayley & Maria explain the background and history of this well-known exhibiting group, and then we dive into the details of organising and marketing the annual exhibition.

This is a fascinating insight into the details of how such exhibitions spring into life, and the work that goes on behind-the-scenes by so many members.

The 2023 exhibition with a theme of 'Warped' is at The Art Pavillion, Mile End Park, East London from April 20th to May 1st

Susan Weeks chats with Hayley & Maria about:

• Connections & collaborations within the group
• The history of Prism textiles
• How the group organises itself
• Setting submission dates to support consistent event marketing
• Planning the exhibition
• Using social media to spotlight members textile art 
• and so much more! 

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Prism group members art at https://stitcherystories.com/prismtextiles

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

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

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

 

Other places & people we mentioned: 

Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, Clinton Road, London, E3 4QY

North Yorkshire Open Studios

https://www.nyos.org.uk/

The House Of Smalls

https://www.thehouseofsmalls.art/

Other episodes you will enjoy:

https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/

https://stitcherystories.com/yorktextileartists/

 

Today I explore hand embroidered and beaded pop art with contemporary pop art textile artist Sarah Gwyer.

We talk about her magpie-like 'obsession' with colourful beads and charms and the artistic path to creating beaded portraits.

But beneath the colourful sparkling beads lies strong social commentary on celebrity, wealth and consumerism, all expressed in a distinctive pop art style.

And we dive into the copyright complexities that Sarah has found herself entwined in over her desire to portray celebrities as parody.

This is such an interesting chat, and thank you to Sarah for sharing her story. And of course... we have a good old laugh in amongst the serious topics!

Susan Weeks chats with Sarah Gwyer.

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

 

Visit: https://www.sarahgwyer.com/

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

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

 

Other places & people we mentioned: 

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

https://summer.royalacademy.org.uk/

 

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:

https://stitcherystories.com/eleanorpigman/

https://stitcherystories.com/alexhall/

https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/

 

Back in 2014, textile artist, academic & designer Vanessa Marr posed the question:

Women & Domesticity - What's Your Perspective?

And invited those thoughts to be embroidered upon a yellow duster, in red thread. Little did she realise what she had unleashed...

Nine years later, Vanessa has an amazing collection of embroidered dusters and an even more amazing collection of stories from the people (mostly women) who have sent her a duster. There are so many fascinating elements to this project, we barely scratch the surface!

We do have a laugh as we start our conversation highlighting the now closed one off collaboration with The Profanity Embroidery Group as part of their Domesticity themed exhibition in Whitstable, Kent in February 2023.

PEG were early guests on the podcast so this was a fun start to this episode BUT we must make it super clear that the general Domestic Dusters project is NOT about swearing about housework.

Susan Weeks chats with Vanessa Marr.

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Vanessa's work at

https://stitcherystories.com/domesticdusters

Visit: https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com

Visit: https://marrvanessa.wordpress.com

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

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

Research profile: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/vanessa-marr

 

Other places & people we mentioned: 

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Dinner Party by Judy Chicago

The Subversive Stitch by Rosita Parker

Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years by Elizabeth Wayland Barber

 

Profanity Embroidery Group (Whitstable)

 https://pegwhitstable.co.uk/

 

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy: 

https://stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/

https://stitcherystories.com/thereddress/

https://stitcherystories.com/karenruane/

 

Textile artist Kirstie Macleod shares her life in fabric & thread on Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast today! She shares her fascinating story of The Red Dress.

It's an amazing project which has enabled unheard women, many in poverty, vulnerable through trauma and abuse, to share their personal stories, using the universal language of embroidery and hand stitching.

Kirstie had the idea for this dress back in 2009, and we chat about how the project and the dress has evolved over those years.

Connections and contrasts, empowerment & celebration, this is a story packed full of emotions.

 For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of The Red Dress at https://stitcherystories.com/thereddress

Visit: https://reddressembroidery.com/

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

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

Other places & people we mentioned:

Tamay in Vietnam

 https://reddressembroidery.com/Ly-Ta-May-Tamay

 The FanSina artisans in St Catherines, Sinai, Egypt

 Traces of Sisterhood, Salon Akademii Gallery, Warsaw, Poland

 https://salonakademii.asp.waw.pl

 ‘SPEAKING OUT’, an exhibition dedicated to and co-produced by women survivors of conflict-based sexual violence, with the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

 https://warchildhood.org/speaking-out-exhibition-experiences-of-crsv-survivors-and-children-born-of-war/

Preston Park Museum, Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees

 https://prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/

 

Embroidery artist Merrilyn Heazlewood shares her life in fabric & thread on Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast today! She takes us on a journey through her interesting and busy lifelong creative business career based around counted canvas work hand embroidery. And for those of you in the USA, you will know canvaswork as needlepoint.

Anyway, over the years, Merrilyn has owned several needlework shops, has written several books on wool embroidery, counted canvaswork techniques and also on silk ribbon embroidery. And she has also taught internationally for many years, in-person and now creating projects for online learning.

We catch up with Merrilyn as she looks forward to her summer holiday break, with several projects in mind to let her creativity flow.

Susan Weeks chats with Merrilyn about:

• why she opened a needlwork craft shop at age 23
• how she translates an idea into canvaswork and ribbon embroidery stitches
• playing with goldwork inspired by an ancient Aboriginal Rock art Echidna
• how do you learn crafts when your Mum is left-handed and you are right-handed?
• getting 'hooked' into counted cross-stitch embroidery
• combining silk ribbon embroidery with counted canvaswork / needlepoint
• a focus on inspiring customers
• self publishing several books...back inthe day when it was really difficult!
• selecting style, threads and accessories for 'longevity' of stitching
• meeting inspiring people around the world in so many locations
• designing the creative business you love and which protects your precious health.
• how NOT to thread your needle....

and so much more!

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Examples of Merrilyn's work at

https://stitcherystories.com/merrilynheazlewood

Visit: https://merrilynheazlewood.com.au

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

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

Other places & people we mentioned:

In Tasmania:

Tarraleah, Hobart, Launceston, Battery Point, Mount Wellington, Iron Pot (a small flat island in the mouth of the Derwent River, Tasmania)

The Kimberley region in north-west Australia

Aboriginal rock art Echidna

Gumnut Yarns

http://www.gumnutyarns.com/

Lowery Workstands

https://www.workstands.com/

 

Other episodes you will enjoy

Sarah Rakestraw: Glorious Goldwork Embroidery

https://stitcherystories.com/sarahrakestraw/

Tina Francis: Tapestry, Needlepoint, Canvaswork

https://stitcherystories.com/tinafrancis/

Ilke Cochrane: Delightful Hardanger Embroidery

https://stitcherystories.com/ilkecochrane/

 

A cheerful & inspiring episode as global listeners of Stitchery Stories textile art podcast share their stories of creative joy from 2022, and shoutout those 'joy bringers' who helped them in some way to achieve that joy.

Hello & Welcome to my final episode of 2022.

A recurring theme is how much comfort & joy creative activities bring us.

So I thought it would be lovely to hear your stories of creative JOY from 2022. But not only that, to give us an opportunity to hear about those people that helped create that joy for you - the JOY BRINGERS as I decided to call them.

A massive thank you to all of you who took the time to send in your JOY.

As usual I have created a blog post for this episode on the StitcheryStories.com site

Each contributor will be listed, with their links and also the details and links for their joy bringers.

I also sent out a quick question asking what your fevourite techniques, and again got some lovely replies, so I have featured a selection of those too, which are along the same theme of joy and yet more shoutouts to others.

Please tell your friends about this episode, share on socials thru stories, or write your own post, maybe with an image of you busy making and creating whilst listening? We can bring joy to others by sharing what we love. And it's always very much appreciated.

So as we wrap up 2022, I wish you all a creative and joyful 2023 Sue xxx

For this episode...

View Contributors, Links, & Information at https://stitcherystories.com/2022CreativeJoy

 

To support this embroidery & textile art podcast:

You can 'Buy Sue A Coffee' here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast

Follow Susan Weeks for course creation and online marketing stuff

https://virtualityworks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheMissingTraining

https://www.instagram.com/susan.l.weeks

Sign up for information on Sue's 'How To Create An Online Course' which is specifically created for textile artists and other crafty business owners.

Course Creation Quick Start Guide. https://virtualityworks.com/how-do-you-create-a-course-quick-start/