Textile Talk
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- 21 Oct 2026
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This podcast is for craft and textile enthusiasts all around the world. We're constantly adding great interviews with textile artists, tutors and retailers plus a little advice on our own distance study courses in craft and much more. The School of Stitched Textiles is the largest UK provider of City & Guilds Accredited Textile based distance learning courses. You can find out site at https://www.sofst.org/. We also host the Stitch Directory, which showcases independent craft retailers and suppliers from around the world https://www.sofst.org/stitch-directory/.
Episodios 50
Artist Interview - Sayali Goyal
Sayali Goyal is a visual artist and ethnographer. She creates abstract expressions on textiles and paper based on her research into material cultures. Her two bodies of work, 'Ether' (created in Jaipur and …
Notas del episodio
Sayali Goyal is a visual artist and ethnographer. She creates abstract expressions on textiles and paper based on her research into material cultures. Her two bodies of work, 'Ether' (created in Jaipur and inspired by the colours of the old city, the symbolism of tantric paintings and the craft of block printing) and 'Indigo' (inspired by the pigment's colour, the process of natural dye and alchemy), have been exhibited at the Japan Foundation, British Council, Kathiwada City House, Jaipur Art Week, Kamladevi Gallery IIC as well as Melina Finkelstein Gallery in California. Her inspirations stem from inner worlds. Sayali is also the author of 'Everyday Indian Aesthetic,' published by Roli Books in 2024, and the Founding Editor of Cocoa and Jasmine magazine. Her ongoing projects examine collaborative methods with artisans across borders and the symbolism of shared identity. Sayali has furthered her practice by curating artist x artisan residencies in Punjab, India, and by curating textile installations, such as 'Safed' at Nehru Centre, Ministry of Culture (India), London, UK.
https://www.cocoaandjasmine.com/zine/ether-the-fifth-element
https://www.instagram.com/cocoaandjasmine/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Diana Springall MBE
Diana Springall, who has just been awarded an MBE for services to arts and crafts, is one of Britain's most respected textile artists, teachers and champions of embroidery and I am delighted to have been …
Notas del episodio
Diana Springall, who has just been awarded an MBE for services to arts and crafts, is one of Britain's most respected textile artists, teachers and champions of embroidery and I am delighted to have been invited to her home to look around her amazing collection of embroidered pieces and record this podcast episode with her. She has dedicated her life not only to creating extraordinary embroidery, but also to ensuring that the rich history of British stitch is preserved for generations to come.
Diana is also a collector of the work of other embroidery and textile artists. Over many decades she has assembled what is widely regarded as one of the world's finest collections of British embroidery and stitch-based textile art, a collection that began simply because she wanted inspiring examples to show her own students.
Now, that remarkable collection is destined to find a permanent home at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, which has ambitious plans to become a national centre for embroidery, with exhibition spaces, workshops and study facilities dedicated to celebrating this wonderful craft. Planning permission has been secured, but fundraising continues to make that vision a reality.
When I visited Diana at her beautiful home in Kent, I found someone who was incredibly welcoming and generous with her knowledge and time and whose passion for embroidery, education and community remains every bit as inspiring today as it has throughout her remarkable career.
If you've enjoyed hearing Diana's story and would like to learn more about the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery and its plans to create a permanent home for her internationally significant collection, you'll find details below. It's a project that deserves the support of everyone who cares about the future of embroidery. If you'd like to make a much needed and appreciated donation to the building fund via, then you can contact the management team directly via email at [email protected] or by calling 01932 788101. They can provide the charity’s direct bank details for a secure BACS/bank transfer donation. Alternatively, we can also supply bank details to you directly - please drop us a line at [email protected].
You can view The Diana Springall MBE collection at https://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/
School of Stitched Textiles www.sofst.org
Artist Interview - Mary Ann Gebhardt
Whether you're new to mindfulness or have an established practice, you'll find plenty to reflect on as we explore the fascinating relationship between textile arts, creativity, well-being and mindful …
Notas del episodio
Whether you're new to mindfulness or have an established practice, you'll find plenty to reflect on as we explore the fascinating relationship between textile arts, creativity, well-being and mindful living.
Mary Ann shares how knitting, textile making, yoga and mindfulness have become deeply interconnected in her own creative life. Together, we discuss how the simple act of making can help us slow down, become more present, and create moments of calm in an increasingly busy world.
We also explore the role that creativity can play in supporting our mental and emotional well-being, and why so many of us are drawn to the quiet, rhythmic nature of stitching, knitting and other textile crafts. Whether you embroider, quilt, knit, crochet, weave, spin, or simply enjoy working with textiles, I think you'll find plenty of inspiration in Mary Ann's thoughtful approach to creative practice.
So, make yourself comfortable, perhaps pick up your latest project, and enjoy my conversation with Mary Ann Gebhardt.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mary_ann_gebhardt/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maryann.lynchgebhardt/
Mary Ann is the author of Knitting Meditation: The 40-Day Journal, a reflective guide inviting makers to explore the meditative and restorative qualities of their craft.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Jan Beaney
Jan trained as a painter and since the 1960’s has been a practicing textile artist.As an Honorary Member of the 62 group of Textile artist, a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, she has exhibited and …
Notas del episodio
Jan trained as a painter and since the 1960’s has been a practicing textile artist.
As an Honorary Member of the 62 group of Textile artist, a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, she has exhibited and sold work in the UK and overseas. All forms of landscape are a constant challenge and inspiration for her work. Jan has taught drawing and textiles in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and Europe. She was joint Chief Examiner for the City and Guilds Institute for Embroidery. She has written many books, including those written with her friend and colleague Jean Littlejohn. They founded Double Trouble Enterprises in 1997 to promote drawing and all aspects of textiles.
Jan will be exhibiting work in the Exhibition, ‘Stitch Unbound 2026’ at the Willow Gallery, CIC, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry SY11 1AD, 4th July – 29th August and hopefully with the SDC in London in November.
Website www.doubletroubleenterprises.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/doubletroublejanjeanofficial/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Victoria Merness
Victoria is a qualified artist and educator, holding an MA in Contemporary Fine Art and a Masters-level PGCE in Art and Creative Practice. Since 2021, she has been teaching through her own creative business …
Notas del episodio
Victoria is a qualified artist and educator, holding an MA in Contemporary Fine Art and a Masters-level PGCE in Art and Creative Practice. Since 2021, she has been teaching through her own creative business, Little House of Victoria, where she shares her passion for textiles and storytelling.
You may recognise Victoria from her embroidery kit demonstrations on Sewing Street, and previously Hochanda, where her distinctive style has reached a wide audience of makers.
Her work sits within the Folk Art tradition, often inspired by vintage photography and personal narratives. Combining embroidery with mixed media, Victoria brings together printmaking, painting and drawing to create richly layered textile pieces.
Based at Woodend Mill in Mossley, a historic cotton mill nestled in the Saddleworth hills near Manchester, her practice is deeply connected to the heritage of textiles and place.
Website:
https://www.littlehouseofvictoria.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/littlehouseofvictoria/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/littlehouseofvictoria
School of Stitched Textiles
Artist Interview - Murron Fraser
Murron delves into the connection between nature, folklore and storytelling. Inspired by the hidden depths of the natural world and the narratives with it, she creates intuitive textile artworks that seamlessly …
Notas del episodio
Murron delves into the connection between nature, folklore and storytelling. Inspired by the hidden depths of the natural world and the narratives with it, she creates intuitive textile artworks that seamlessly blend nature and narrative into visual storytelling.
Her practice is grounded in curiosity and observation, aiming to ignite a spark of connection, glimmers and wonder in the viewer. Murron explores a diverse range of textile techniques, including machine embroidery, printmaking and hand-applied processes. Colour, texture and symbolism are central to her style.
As a qualified teacher, Murron is passionate about sharing her skills and empowering others to discover their creativity. She actively delivers community arts projects and offers her own artist-led workshops and creative experiences.
LINKS
Website - https://www.textilesbymurron.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/textiles_by_murron/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/textilesbymurron/
Newsletter - https://www.textilesbymurron.com/newsletter
SST Courses https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Sarah Simi Nudinits
Sarah was taught how to knit by her mum when she was eight and was then forever knitting jumpers, cuddly Clangers and even an outfit for her guinea pig that it sensibly refused to wear. After working as a …
Notas del episodio
Sarah was taught how to knit by her mum when she was eight and was then forever knitting jumpers, cuddly Clangers and even an outfit for her guinea pig that it sensibly refused to wear. After working as a stylist, writer and designer for many years, an idea formulated in Sarah's mind for a knitted village full of eccentric British characters - a misspent childhood watching Thunderbirds and Carry On Films may have contributed to this. At first the village was more of a traditional affair but after reading an article about free hiking (hiking in the nude) Sarah's villagers lost their clothes and nudinits was born.
Sarah then collaborated with animator Ed Hartwell to make her first film, 'Tickled Pink' which went on to win a Best Comedy and a Best Animation award and nudinits have never looked back. They've now become an online hit with further films, awards and lots of nudinit products to enjoy including books with knitting patterns for the much loved characters and their accessories.
View her work:https://www.sofst.org/from-knitting-to-stop-motion-the-playful-world-of-sarah-simi/
Together Sarah and Ed now run Woollyvision, a stop-motion animation company in London which specialises in making animation with wool, fabric and felt. Their films are multi-award winning and have been shown at film festivals around the world.
The website is www.nudinits.com
Woolly Vision is www.woollyvision.com
@nudinits on all social media.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Student Interview - Holly Jackson
Today Gail is joined by Holly Jackson, a mixed media textile artist based on a tiny island in the Chesapeake Bay, living and working from a fisherman’s cottage dating back to 1870.Holly combines traditional …
Notas del episodio
Today Gail is joined by Holly Jackson, a mixed media textile artist based on a tiny island in the Chesapeake Bay, living and working from a fisherman’s cottage dating back to 1870.
Holly combines traditional stumpwork techniques with contemporary narratives and an interest in lost people and places. Her work has been featured on Fiber Talk, Stitchery Stories, and in All Stitched Up, and she exhibits regularly along the east coast of the United States.
Already an exhibiting artist, Holly chose to undertake Stumpwork Stage 2 with the School of Stitched Textiles and is now progressing through our Master Practitioner programme.
In this episode, we explore what structured, assessed study looks like from an American perspective — particularly given that City & Guilds qualifications are not a typical pathway for textile artists in the US.
We talk about:
• why she chose formal study when she was already exhibiting
• what assessment and tutor feedback actually feel like
• how her work evolved through the programme
• whether studying remotely from the US presents any real barriers
• and what she would say to other American textile artists who are curious but unsure.
Links
IG: @flossinginthemoonlight
Website: https://flossinginthemoonlight.com
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Wen Redmond
“Making my art allows me to tap into levels of perception, becoming more aware, more conscious, & more grateful. I’ve loved photography my entire life. This brings a tender sensitivity to one’s surroundings. I …
Notas del episodio
“Making my art allows me to tap into levels of perception, becoming more aware, more conscious, & more grateful. I’ve loved photography my entire life. This brings a tender sensitivity to one’s surroundings. I make the art then the art makes me.”
New England’s internationally recognized artist, Wen Redmond’s fascination with photography finds expression through printing original manipulated photographs directly onto created mixed media substrates, and specially treated natural fibers to craft unique photographic textural constructions. Imaginative presentations add to the pioneering innovations and giving her work edge. Every work generates an artistic tension, followed by the excitement of the actual creation of the work. A dialogue is started, and the work becomes real. She calls this work, Digital Mixed Media. Redmond’s work has been exhibited in major internationally recognized exhibitions, including Quilt National, Visions Museum CA, SAQA’s International Exhibit’s, Fiberart International, Fantastic Fibers, Quilts=Art=Quilts, Intersect Chicago, Excellence In Fibers, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Art Quilt Elements, New Legacies, World of Threads, CA among other juried, invitational and solo exhibitions. Her work has won awards at New Legacies CO, Fiber Arts IX, Sebastopol, CA, Maryland Federation of Art, Maria V. Howard Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC , Fantastic Fibers and Visions Art Museum’s Quilt Japan Award among others. She has appeared on Quilting Arts TV, produced Interweave DVD Workshops and made an appearance on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims in 2025. Her work has traveled the US, UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia, and is part of the permanent collections of Marbaum at San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, CA, Maria V. Howard Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC, New England Quilt Museum, and private collections. She has been featured in numerous magazines and books including her own published books, Digital Fiber Art and Mixed Media Masterpiece and Explorations with Collage- Merging Photographs, Paper and Fiber with Schiffer Publishing. She currently splits her time between North Carolina and New Hampshire.
School of Stitched Textiles' website https://www.sofst.org/
Wen's Site and contact details.
Website http://www.wenredmond.com/
BOOKS- Explorations with Collage! Merging Photographs, Paper & Fiber and Digital Fiber Art: Combine Photos & Fabric - Create Your Own Mixed-Media Masterpiece DVD- Digital Imagery in Fiber Art: Using Textured Backgrounds for a Painterly Effect https://www.interweave.com/store/digital-imagery-in-fiber-art-download-in-hd
FaceBook- https://www.facebook.com/greymooncove
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/wenredmond/?hl=en
Etsy UpLIFTmeNTs Shop- https://www.etsy.com/shop/WenRedmondArt
U-Tube channel- https://www.youtube.com/user/wenredmond/videos
Artful Home- https://www.artfulhome.com/navigate?searchTerm=redmond
Professional Member of SAQA- https://www.saqa.com/art/juried-artists/wen-redmond
Surface Design Org https://www.surfacedesign.org/members/premium-gallery/?sauthor=wen%20redmond
Fine Art America- https://fineartamerica.com/featured/whispers-of-the-positive-wen-redmond.html
New Hampshire Art Association- https://www.nhartassociation.org/member-directory League of NH Craftsmen si
Artist Interview - Cassandra Dias
Cassandra was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1985, and has been creating art since she was old enough to pick up a crayon and put it to paper. She started her self-taught embroidery journey in January …
Notas del episodio
Cassandra was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1985, and has been creating art since she was old enough to pick up a crayon and put it to paper. She started her self-taught embroidery journey in January 2020 with a bag of vintage DMC thread and quickly became passionate about the mindful work of creating her landscape hoops, developing her style over the following months during the pandemic lockdown. Her work has since been reviewed on Colossal, My Modern Met, and School of Stitched Textiles. She has been featured in print in Love Embroidery Magazine, The Montecito Journal, and Studio Visit Book, Vol. 3 by Arts To Hearts Project. She also taught an online workshop for members of The Stitch Club on TextileArtist.org and presented live with Creative Spark Online Learning. Her work was selected to be included in the group exhibition, Open Call: All Media 2025, at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, California. And, most recently, she wrote her first book, Richly Stitched Landscape Embroidery: Mastering Thread Painted Scenes, scheduled to be released on April 28, 2026.
Cassandra lives and works in Camarillo, California, where she continues to produce original art pieces, and shares her love of hand embroidery on her social pages.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Cassandra's Links:
- Website: https://www.cassandramdias.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiemdias
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassiemdias
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassiemdias
- Pre-Order Richly Stitched Landscape Embroidery: https://rstyle.me/+vPmLRLQK7zZWBsXXrgvZjg
- My Favorite Embroidery Products: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Cassiemdias/productsets/11eec2ff5596b721968b0242ac110003
Artist Interview - Kandy G Lopez
Kandy G Lopez was born in 1985 in New Jersey, USA and is a multidisciplinary artist exploring cultural identity, representation, and power through fiber art, portraiture, painting, and mixed media. Born to …
Notas del episodio
Kandy G Lopez was born in 1985 in New Jersey, USA and is a multidisciplinary artist exploring cultural identity, representation, and power through fiber art, portraiture, painting, and mixed media. Born to Dominican parents, she draws from her experience navigating multiple cultural landscapes.
Lopez holds a BFA in Painting and a BS in Marketing/Management from the University of South Florida and earned her MFA in Painting from Florida Atlantic University in 2014. Her background in both fine arts and business informs her meticulous material investigations and strategic engagement with art institutions. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and Arts at Nova Southeastern University, where she integrates critical theory with hands-on material practice.
Website: kandyglopez.com
Instagram: @kandyglopez
Artist Interview - Carolyn Forster
Carolyn Forster is a quilt designer, teacher and author from Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Since self-publishing her first book, “Quilting On the Go” in 2007 Carolyn has gone on to write many more patchwork and …
Notas del episodio
Carolyn Forster is a quilt designer, teacher and author from Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Since self-publishing her first book, “Quilting On the Go” in 2007 Carolyn has gone on to write many more patchwork and quilting books with Search Press in the UK and Landauer Publishing in the USA.
She has been a regular project contributor for magazines in the UK, including Todays Quilter, as well as abroad.
Carolyn's quilts are an eclectic mix of fabrics, a posh way to say she makes scrappy quilts, and they always have their roots from some point in the past, being inspired by quilt makers who have gone before us. Accessibility is Carolyn’s key philosophy with her teaching, demystifying techniques to allow every quilter to discover their own voice.
Carolyn combines her passion for travel and teaching, having been a regular teacher at Quilt Festival Houston, as well as for The American Quilters Society. She continues teaching in the UK exploring new areas and meeting new quilters both at home and abroad and is a textiles tutor for the craft holiday company Stitchtopia.
Carolyn's website is https://www.carolynforster.co.uk/
Instagram is @quiltingonthego
School of Stitched Textiles www.sofst.org
Artist Interview - Robert Ossant and Jessica Pile
Robert Ossant Author and fashion historian Robert Ossant hails from Lancashire and moved to London to work in newspapers, getting his big break at the Daily Mirror. Feeling disillusioned with tabloid life, he …
Notas del episodio
Robert Ossant
Author and fashion historian Robert Ossant hails from Lancashire and moved to London to work in newspapers, getting his big break at the Daily Mirror. Feeling disillusioned with tabloid life, he joined London embroidery house Hand & Lock as their communications manager in 2013. It was at the 258-year-old atelier that he became close friends with co-author Jessica Jane Pile and developed his love and passion for embroidery.
Regularly inspired by the designers, artisans, makers and artists he met, Robert enrolled at night school and completed a Master’s in the History of Art. Now, equipped with cultural studies insights and academic frameworks, he applies the tools of art analysis and interpretation to all areas of the fashion industry. From haute couture catwalk show analysis to researching Queen Victoria’s wardrobe, his interests and expertise span both contemporary and historical style.
Now based in France, his freelance work has appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, Selvedge, The Independent, Forbes and Newsweek, and he has worked with international fashion brands including McQueen, Saint Laurent, Gucci and Balenciaga. He has also spoken at the World Embroidery Conference, the Chelsea Flower Show and the National Gallery on embroidery as a vital expression of art.
Whether researching, writing or talking about embroidery, he brings personality, humour and intellectual rigour - making an often-overlooked artistic expression feel vivid, relevant and alive.
Jessica Jane Pile
Born in Kent, Jessica Jane Pile is an author, designer, educator and technical embroidery specialist based in London. After graduating from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a degree in Costume construction for Performance, she joined historic embroidery house Hand & Lock. Within a few years, she was appointed Managing Director, becoming the youngest person to hold that role.
During her twelve-year tenure, she relaunched the embroidery school, expanded the annual embroidery competition into a globally recognised art and fashion event, and managed complex commissions for major fashion houses including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Dior and Vivienne Westwood. She also worked on large-scale, high-profile embroidery projects for the 2012 London Olympics, The Diamond Jubilee and Kings Coronation.
In 2018 while working at Hand & Lock, she authored Fashion Embroidery: Embroidery Techniques and Inspiration for Haute‑Couture Clothing, drawing on her deep knowledge of high-level embroidery. The book’s success led to a demand for a follow-up, and Jess approached Robert to bring ‘The Art of Couture Embroidery’ to life
In 2023, she left Hand & Lock to found Norica Studios, an embroidery studio focusing on bespoke embroidery for interior design and fashion. The business she runs with her sister Eleanor, and they are currently developing a new product range launching in 2026.
Whether leading projects, teaching or writing, she combines technical skill with a calm, confident tone that has made her a trusted voice in contemporary embroidery.
Photographer credit is: Michael Barrow
https://www.instagram.com/michaelbarrowphoto/
Robert and Jess's new book, The Art of Couture Embroidery, is available from 6th November in the UK https://amzn.to/3J9UtXc
School of Stitchex Textiles's course details are at https://www.sofst.org/
Textile Artist - Hannah Lamb
Fascinated by textiles and the stories they can tell, Hannah Lamb’s practice is a personal dialogue with materials. From her studio in Bingley, West Yorkshire she experiments with layers of imagery and surface …
Notas del episodio
Fascinated by textiles and the stories they can tell, Hannah Lamb’s practice is a personal dialogue with materials. From her studio in Bingley, West Yorkshire she experiments with layers of imagery and surface. Print, stitch and deconstruction techniques are carefully combined to create both sculptural installation works and smaller, more intimate pieces. She is particularly known for her use of cyanotype printing to create shadow-like prints on textiles.
Hannah’s interest in archives, collections and the heritage of textile manufacturing in the North of England has led to a number of collaborations and commissions, including ‘Lasting Impressions’ (2016 & 2017) with Claire Wellesley-Smith at Salts Mill, ‘Fragment of a Dress’, commissioned by the Brontë Parsonage Museum and ‘A Cloth for The Lost Mills’ (2024) for 509 Arts with Hannah Robson. She has a love of historical buildings and interesting industrial spaces and enjoys situating her work in non-gallery settings. Hannah exhibits widely and is an exhibiting member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists.
Alongside her work as an exhibiting artist, Hannah is a lecturer and author. She teaches the Foundation Degree and BA Textiles Practice programmes at Bradford School of Art, Bradford College. She has also delivered talks, workshops and masterclasses for Gawthorpe Hall, FibreArts Australia, Harewood House, Hope & Elvis, DeMontfort University, The Textile Study Group and The 62 Group. Her first solo book Poetic Cloth: Creating Meaning in Textile Art was published by Batsford in 2019. Her second book Unfolding Cloth: Inspiration from Historical Textiles is released 11 September 2025.
Hannah's website www.hannahlamb.co.uk
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Emily Jo Gibbs
Emily Jo Gibbs has established an international reputation for her delicate silk organza appliqué. In her current practice Emily creates hand-stitched Portraits and Still Lifes with a graphic quality, observing …
Notas del episodio
Emily Jo Gibbs has established an international reputation for her delicate silk organza appliqué. In her current practice Emily creates hand-stitched Portraits and Still Lifes with a graphic quality, observing the quiet beauty of the overlooked. Gently advocating The Value of Making by creating work that celebrates people who make things; their skill, dexterity, material knowledge and their creative problem solving. Emily first started working to this theme for Collect Open in 2018
She makes work to commission and for exhibitions and projects. She is currently Artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
She is a member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists, Contemporary Applied Arts and the Artworkers Guild.
Between 1993 and 2006 Emily made luxury handbags. Works from this period are in The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Crafts Council Collection and The Museum of Fine Art, Houston.
instagram and Facebook are @emilyjogibbs
Photo credit Lol Johnson
School of Stitched Textiles www.sofst.org
Artist Interview - Fleur Woods
Fleur Woods is a Contemporary Fibre Artist, Author, Teacher and Mentor based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Inspired by nature and drawn to fibres and textiles Fleur has developed her 'stitched paintings' through a …
Notas del episodio
Fleur Woods is a Contemporary Fibre Artist, Author, Teacher and Mentor based in Aotearoa New Zealand. Inspired by nature and drawn to fibres and textiles Fleur has developed her 'stitched paintings' through a decade of experimentation in her studio. Largely self taught she creates intuitively and her works evolve organically, often combining concept development and research as the pieces evolve. Stitch became a large part of her practice, making marks with thread has overtaken brush work due to the beautiful texture and dimension it brought to her pieces. A collector of all things vintage and pre-loved many textiles and found objects are repurposed into her maximalist works.
The Untamed Thread, Fleur's popular book is part journey from corporate world to full time artist and part creative inspiration and guide to the art of living creatively and developing an art practice. When she's not in the studio creating originals, dying wools & textiles or creating other projects, Fleur can be found on the road teaching in person workshops / online gathering with her Joyful Embroidery students or enjoying creative conversation mentoring sessions.
https://www.fleurwoodsart.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fleurwoodsart/
Textile Talk with Emma Rosa
With a keen observation of nature, Emma Rosa uses multi-disciplinary techniques and mixed media to create botanical studies from fabric and thread.Marrying a foundation in fine art and a past career in …
Notas del episodio
With a keen observation of nature, Emma Rosa uses multi-disciplinary techniques and mixed media to create botanical studies from fabric and thread.
Marrying a foundation in fine art and a past career in dressmaking, she utilises machine embroidery with traditional Japanese flower making techniques, creating sensitive and intricate detailing.
Through closely studying flora, she aims to capture the essence of a plant, or indeed a particular stage of growth such as the fleeting moments of efflorescence and senescence. Seeking out lesser-known species and native wild plants while focusing on distinctive botanical elements, allow her to pursue a unique sculptural presence.
Emma is constantly pushing the boundaries of fabric and thread utilisation to acquire a desired effect
She is drawn to antiquated botanical illustrations, how they show the whole plant – every element is important, not just the flower that most regard as the focus of beauty - where science and art meet.
Nestled in the heart of rural Devon, the turning of the seasons, conservation and folklore are the threads that weave through her work.
Links
Artist Interview - Ellie Hipkin
Ellie is a textile artist working from her garden studio in Brighton. Surrounded by the South Downs, Sussex coastline and wild plants discovered on walks, she draws inspiration from colours, contours and the …
Notas del episodio
Ellie is a textile artist working from her garden studio in Brighton. Surrounded by the South Downs, Sussex coastline and wild plants discovered on walks, she draws inspiration from colours, contours and the ever-changing atmosphere of the natural world. Ellie's artworks reflect this connection, blending abstract painting with delicate textile techniques to create pieces that evoke a sense of place and season.
Ellie's paintings often feature unique imprints taken from seed heads and grasses, preserving their organic forms in fabric. Drawing into these compositions with free-motion embroidery, appliqué, and hand stitching, utilizing techniques she honed during a decade as a fashion designer.
At the heart of her practice is a passion for creating and teaching. Through the Flourish Textile Art Hub, an online platform she founded in 2021, Ellie shares a wide variety of textile techniques, inspiring creativity. Recently she has introduced guest tutors, expanding the Art Hubs offerings and fostered a vibrant, supportive community. Alongside this, she continues to deliver in-person workshops and exhibit her work nationally.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Art website: www.elliehipkinart.com
online courses: https://flourish-hub.com/
Join the community: Free Facebook group
Instagram : @elliehipkinartist
Artist Interview - Kelley Aldridge
Kelley graduated from the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship in 2005 after many years in Management Development Training. She went on to establish the very successful Bristol branch of the RSN in 2011 …
Notas del episodio
Kelley graduated from the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship in 2005 after many years in Management Development Training. She went on to establish the very successful Bristol branch of the RSN in 2011 and was involved in creating the replacement for the Apprenticeship, known as the Future Tutors Programme. In 2019 she relocated to London to run the course at Hampton Court Palace. One year later she shepherded the School’s tutors through the shift to online teaching during the Covid pandemic and found a new outlet for her embroidery, teaching and IT passions. In 2021 she returned to self-employment and has been teaching online ever since, utilising a wide variety of digital technology to bring the classroom into students’ homes around the world.
Kelley is a popular teacher and thanks to a background including project management, IT and training, her courses are known for their high level of content, student support and overall quality. Students return year after year and frequently ask ‘what’s next?’ The online community has allowed students from across the globe to meet and make friends with similar interests and she is very proud to be part of this. Her vision is to foster lifelong creativity through the art of embroidery.
Facebook: Kelley Jane Stitches
Instagram: @kelleyjanestitches
Website: www.kelleyjanestitches.com
RSN Tutor work exhibition https://www.instagram.com/handstitchedheritage
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Amanda Cobbett
Amanda Cobbett is an award-winning textile artist with over 25 years’ experience. Inspired by nature in all its forms, Amanda’s 3-dimensional, papier-mâché and free machine-embroidered sculptures are created …
Notas del episodio
Amanda Cobbett is an award-winning textile artist with over 25 years’ experience. Inspired by nature in all its forms, Amanda’s 3-dimensional, papier-mâché and free machine-embroidered sculptures are created from her studio in the Surrey Hills. She scours the understorey of the forest floor seeking its hidden treasures. Over time, she has honed an inherent ability to locate intriguing flora in the most unexpected of places.
Amanda’s 3 Dimensional embroidered sculptures appear to float in their Perspex cases and have the feeling of just being collected from the forest for display, very much a modern version of a Victorian plant hunter’s specimen case. ‘I like to think that my pieces could trick the eye into thinking that what you are seeing might be real. I am also passionate about highlighting and preserving specimens from the forest that could, without care, become red listed. If we are not aware that they exist, how will we know when they have disappeared? By recreating an embroidered sculpture of a natural object and displaying it in a case in a gallery, it brings our natural world into another dimension, we then might look for that specimen in nature, and care about its existence.
Amanda grid references her original finds and offers that information with the embroidered artwork, further giving it an authenticity.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Amanda Cobbett's website https://www.amandacobbett.com/
Artist Interview - Karen L Miller (Aurifil Threads)
Karen L. Miller, owner of Redbird Quilt Co., is Master Educator for Aurifil USA, an Aurifilosopher, author, and passionate advocate for free motion quilting. Her quilting journey began in 2007 when her sister …
Notas del episodio
Karen L. Miller, owner of Redbird Quilt Co., is Master Educator for Aurifil USA, an Aurifilosopher, author, and passionate advocate for free motion quilting.
Her quilting journey began in 2007 when her sister invited her to join a simple block of the month program. Karen quickly fell in love with hand appliqué and free motion machine quilting, sparking a passion that would shape her career.
As Karen's enthusiasm for learning and developing her quilting skills grew, she naturally gravitated towards Aurifil's 100% Egyptian cotton threads. The exceptional quality and impressive range of weights and colors captivated her, aligning perfectly with her creative vision.
In 2019, Karen's expertise and passion led her to join forces with Milan-based Aurifil, becoming their Master Educator and launching the innovative thread education program called "Aurifilosophy".
Her work with Aurifil thread focuses on educating quilters about how these high-quality threads can elevate projects from simply finished to artistically extraordinary, unlocking new creative possibilities.
Karen's versatility shines through her love for both hand and machine creations. She continually designs and experiments with all weights of Aurifil thread, generously sharing her knowledge and experience with the broader quilting community.
Her commitment to education and inspiration has made her a respected figure in the quilting world, known for her ability to instill confidence and creativity in quilters of all skill levels.
School of Stitched Textiles: View her work here https://www.sofst.org/textile-talk-with-karen-miller/
Aurifil Website: https://aurifil.com/
Aurifil USA Shopping: https://shopaurifil.com/
Aurifil Blog:https://auribuzz.com/
Aurifil Thread Education Program: https://www.aurifil.com/aurifilosophy
Aurifil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurifilthread/
Aurifil Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aurifil.quilt.thread
Aurifil Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aurifil/
Aurifil Newsletter Subscription: http://eepurl.com/M6vOn
Aurifil Resources: Thread Reference and Product Guides can be found here: https://www.aurifil.com/auriworld/resources
Artist Interview - Gail Harker
Gail is a Canadian who resided for 20 years in Britain, until returning t the US in 1995. She moved to Britain in 1976 with her American husband and family. She studied art in Canada, England and Scotland. She …
Notas del episodio
Gail is a Canadian who resided for 20 years in Britain, until returning t the US in 1995. She moved to Britain in 1976 with her American husband and family. She studied art in Canada, England and Scotland. She completed both parts 1 and 2 (Diploma) of the City & Guilds Design and Embroidery course, achieving a distinction in both parts. She was awarded the Senior Award of Licentiateship (LCGI)by the City & Guilds Institute. Gail has previously taught City & Guilds Embroidery courses and was for many years, a City & Guilds External Verifier for various colleges in the UK. She has authored five books in Embroidery. Since moving to the US she has directed and taught at the Arts Centre she founded in Washington State - Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts. She has taught Certificate and Diploma Courses in Design and Embroidery to hundreds of students from all parts of North America. She says that living and working in the UK was the single most important contributor to her labour of love as a designer and embroiderer that continues to lead her on a lifelong journey of discovery!
Links
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts
Blog: https://gailcreativestudies.wordpress.com/
Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gailcreativestudies
Website: https://gailcreativestudies.com
Master Pratitioner Course - Lorrraine Benjamin
Lorraine has been creating with fiber since she was a young girl. As a child she would while away the hours sewing, crocheting, and working with crewelwork. She learned to sew garments at the side of her mother …
Notas del episodio
Lorraine has been creating with fiber since she was a young girl. As a child she would while away the hours sewing, crocheting, and working with crewelwork. She learned to sew garments at the side of her mother and paternal grandmother who were both gifted seamstress’.
She is a self-taught artist. She began quilting in 1997 and immediately was intrigued with the design elements of the quilt. Thus, began her exploration of color, repetition, design, and texture. Soon Lorraine began to experiment with a more contemporary approach to textiles and developed her own artistic voice. Her creative roots are firmly embedded in the traditional needle arts and this is reflected in her current body of work. Inspired by her Faith, her travels and the natural world, she employs layers of both hand and machine stitches together with various surface design techniques. This unique approach allows her to successfully captures the depth, color, contrast, and texture of her subject matter.
Since 1993 Lorraine had lived in the Ithaca area of the Finger Lakes Region in Central New York until 2019 when she relocated to The Villages, Florida. She recently retired from a career in nursing. She enjoys the support of her husband, their children, and grandchildren.
Lorraine is an exhibiting textile artist and has won several awards for her fiber art.
She owns and operates The Tangled Thread, a longarm quilting business; gives presentations and teaches classes focused on mixed media and stitched art.
These days, she dedicates her energy to facilitating a group of twenty-five local artists, who meet twice a month to share and explore their common love for textile art. Lorraine also enjoys writing poetry and painting with acrylics and watercolor.
School of Stitched Textiles MP Programme https://www.sofst.org/courses/masters-courses/
Contact Information:
Lorraine Benjamin
web https://lorrainebenjamin.com/
email [email protected]
facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lorisue28
instagram https://www.instagram.com/lorisue28/
Artist Interview - Lucy Martin
Lucy Martin from Hand and Lock grew up in the Peak District, where her love for stitching began as she helped her mother make wedding dresses from age three. Her talent led her to work with renowned brands like …
Notas del episodio
Lucy Martin from Hand and Lock grew up in the Peak District, where her love for stitching began as she helped her mother make wedding dresses from age three. Her talent led her to work with renowned brands like Alexander McQueen, Burberry, and Catherine Walker. A classically trained embroiderer with a first-class honours degree, Lucy joined Hand & Lock in 2022 as Head of Education. Since then, she has transformed the school into an internationally recognized centre for contemporary embroidery, building a supportive community for students of all levels.
Lucy’s role involves designing and implementing a dynamic educational program, organizing diverse classes with guest tutors, and collaborating with venues like The National Portrait Gallery and Kew Gardens for private courses. Her responsibilities also include hosting embroidery retreats worldwide, sharing her passion and dedication to preserving this craft.
Currently, Lucy is teaching the Hand & Lock Diploma in Contemporary Embroidery, a rigorous program combining traditional and modern techniques. Her goal is to guide students in mastering technical skills while encouraging them to find their artistic voices, fostering the evolution of contemporary embroidery. Lucy’s commitment ensures that each student’s learning experience is challenging and couture-focused, leaving a lasting impact on the craft’s future.
Links:
@handandlocklondon
https://www.handembroideryshop.com/
@lucymartinembroidery https://lucymartinembroidery.com/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Master Practitioner Course Interview - Annegret Fauser
Annegret is a German American fiber artist who divides her time between Chapel Hill, a university town, and Kill Devil Hills, a town on the North Atlantic coast. Born in Germany and now residing in North …
Notas del episodio
Annegret is a German American fiber artist who divides her time between Chapel Hill, a university town, and Kill Devil Hills, a town on the North Atlantic coast. Born in Germany and now residing in North Carolina, she lived in Ghana, France, Great Britain, and Australia before moving to the United States in 2001. Together with travels to countries as varied as Italy and India, these different cultural frameworks have shaped both her life and her art. The shores of the Albemarle Sound, near Kill Devil Hills on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, have become the inspiration for her recent work which explores the fragile ecosystems of the seaboard, where the impacts of global warming, human expansion, and nature’s resilience create a beautiful albeit precarious environment. Both the colors of the seashore and the use of earth pigments shape her palette, and photography serves as visual inspiration.
Her journey as an artist started almost thirty years ago as a traditional, self-taught quilter. After taking numerous in-person and online workshops, she decided that it was necessary to acquire a more formal education. Between 2018 and 2020, she completed an advanced (Level 4) City and Guild accredited course with the School of Stitched Textiles, followed by its two-year Master Practitioner Course which emphasized design skills and artistic development. She is active in the Studio Art Quilts Associates – both in the European and Middle Eastern region and the one covering North Carolina and Virginia. Her work has been exhibited in Europe and the United States, and she has her first solo exhibition coming up in May.
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Annegret's website https:/www.afauser.com
Instagram @annegretfauser
Artist Interview - Sophie Standing
Sophie is a British wildlife artist who has lived in Africa for 22 years. She now lives in Dorset, England. She is moving to Costa Rica in the new year, where a whole new array of wildlife inspirations …
Notas del episodio
Sophie is a British wildlife artist who has lived in Africa for 22 years. She now lives in Dorset, England. She is moving to Costa Rica in the new year, where a whole new array of wildlife inspirations await!
Sophie produces her artworks by combining a collage of appliquéd fabrics with free motion embroidery. The details of the animals are sewn over the top of the appliqué collage; there is no pen or paint used.
She uses a heavyweight cotton ground fabric which is painted or dyed with botanical printing.
For the appliqué, Sophie mostly uses cotton fabrics from Liberty of London and the Kaffe Fassett Collective (Philip Jacobs, Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably). Her sewing threads are 100% cotton and made by Aurifil of Italy. Sophie produces work up to 1.5 meters long, and a single piece of art this size can contain 3000 meters of thread.
Sophie also teaches online and in person. Details of her online courses can be found on her website.
In person workshops are advertised via her instagram and Facebook pages. She has taught in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, England and the USA.
Her next teaching tour with be in the U.K June/July 2025…..dates and venues to be finalised.
http://www.sophiestanding.art/
https://www.instagram.com/sophiestandingart/
Artist Interview - Althea Crome
Althea’s Crome is an Indiana based fiber artist who has chosen a very niche art form to express her artistic ideas and challenge her own skills as a technician. Crome is a micro-knitter and has been developing …
Notas del episodio
Althea’s Crome is an Indiana based fiber artist who has chosen a very niche art form to express her artistic ideas and challenge her own skills as a technician.
Crome is a micro-knitter and has been developing her techniques for over 20 years. Using very fine silk threads and needles that she makes herself from surgical stainless steel, she can achieve a gauge of 80 stitches per inch. With so many stitches to the inch, Crome has been able to achieve incredible details in a minute scale. Her tiny pieces of knitting are intended as stand alone, sculptural pieces of art which she often refers to as “sweaterscapes.”
Some of her pieces tell autobiographical stories, others are romantic pastoral scenes and many are inspired by the art and artists she admires. Crome’s work has been featured around the world in shows, galleries, museums books and even on the silver screen in the movie Coraline.
Artist Interview - Anne Kelly
UK based textile artist Anne Kelly is an award-winning artist, author and tutor. Her multi-layered and densely stitched textiles have been described as ‘small worlds’. Trained in Canada and at Goldsmiths …
Notas del episodio
UK based textile artist Anne Kelly is an award-winning artist, author and tutor. Her multi-layered and densely stitched textiles have been described as ‘small worlds’. Trained in Canada and at Goldsmiths College in London, she creates wall hangings and objects using a mixture of mixed media collage and hand and machine embroidery. Her inspirations are taken from travel, memory, nature and especially folk art.
Anne tutors and teaches fine art and textiles to a variety of groups in the UK and abroad. and is a member of the Embroiderers Guild UK, the Crafts Council Directory and the Society for Embroidered Work. She also exhibits and curates group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Her four books for Batsford are widely collected and studied by students of all ages around the world.
Anne's website https://annekellytextiles.com/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Holly Guertin
Holly Guertin is a contemporary fiber artist and textile designer in the Philadelphia, PA area. In her work, she explores the interconnectedness of the human person and invites her viewers to look at sheep and …
Notas del episodio
Holly Guertin is a contemporary fiber artist and textile designer in the Philadelphia, PA area. In her work, she explores the interconnectedness of the human person and invites her viewers to look at sheep and their wool as if in a mirror. In an increasingly disconnected, disembodied, and virtual world, her process-intense work grounds the viewer to the tactile and the real, showing the human experience as a marvel and a wonder. Holly graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a BFA in Fibers in 2011 and has been working in textiles and fiber arts ever since. Aside from her fiber artwork, she also creates textile designs for fashion brands. Her artwork has been featured in publications like Colossal, Business of Home, Frankie Magazine, and Knit Wit Magazine, among others. Her artwork has been displayed through SCAD’s Permanent Collection in Atlanta, Savannah, Hong Kong, and France. In 2019, she collaborated with Anthropologie for two collections, Fall and Holiday, inspired by her artworks. As a mother to four young sons, she explores themes of connection, passage of time, dignity of labor and the human body, and feminine tradition in textiles.
Holly on Instagram @hollyguertinart
Holly on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hollyguertinart/
Holly's website http://hollyguertin.com/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Artist Interview - Alison Whateley
Alison is a self-taught artist who works primarily with textiles, often incorporating mixed media elements into her work to enhance their compositions. She began her journey into textile art in her mid-forties …
Notas del episodio
Alison is a self-taught artist who works primarily with textiles, often incorporating mixed media elements into her work to enhance their compositions. She began her journey into textile art in her mid-forties, and since then, her work has continually evolved as she experiments with new techniques and ideas. Her work is a celebration of the natural world, captured through this tactile and versatile medium.
Drawing inspiration from the ever-changing seascapes and landscapes around her, Alison seeks to capture the beauty and tranquillity of nature in each piece she creates. She skilfully combines new and reclaimed fabrics, using meticulous layering and stitching to create two distinct styles: one that is richly textured and abstract, and the other that embodies a representational, painterly quality.
Her work has been featured in notable exhibitions, including the ING Discerning Eye exhibition and the Royal Society of Marine Artists’ exhibition. She also took part in series 9 of Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year. She is a member of the Society for Embroidered Work, the Visual Artists Association and the Devon Artists Network.
She has now written her first book entitles ‘Textile Seascapes’ which is published by Crowood Press. It takes readers through the essential skills and techniques needed to create stunning textile seascapes. This comprehensive resource equips both beginners and seasoned artists with the knowledge to craft beautiful textile pieces.
Alison's site https://alisonwhateleydesign.co.uk/
School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/
Amazon link to Alison's book https://amzn.to/3Up7cHU
Aquí están los 40 episodios más recientes de 50. Los anteriores están en el feed del podcast.
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