Stitchery Stories Susan Weeks

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/
 
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https://stitcherystories.com/alexhall/
https://stitcherystories.com/claireedwards/