The last time Judy Martin and I caught up was about a year ago. At the point in time, she was just starting Your Fragile Life, a quilt project that she just wrapped up in recent weeks. If you haven’t heard our first chat, you can find it in the feed under April 2023. That conversation is one of the most-listened to episodes of all time, and in that chat, called HOW TO HOLD YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS, Judy and I talk about: ① the tole time plays in our work ② how we can meet ourselves in our materials ③ how our creative arc shifts over time

These days, she’s getting ready for her first international solo show at the Festival of Quilts in the UK and so there’s a lot to catch up on. In this conversation, Judy shares her reflections on quilting, caretaking, and the meaningful interactions she has had with different audiences, including a recent visit to her granddaughter's class. She discusses recent projects, like 'Your Fragile Life,' the importance of showing her work, even though showing itself comes with its own demands.

One thing you’ll hear in this conversation that I think it quintessentially Judy is how she emphasizes the essential nature of care and touch in her quilts, highlighting how these elements connect with viewers on a deeply personal level. The discussion also touches on the power of minimalism, daily routines for creativity, and the broader implications of quilts in fostering compassion and understanding in the world we live in.

→ Get your copy of THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR NEXT QUILT
→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ Claim your free copy of 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED QUILTING
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE → Nominate a GUEST for SEAMSIDE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

Recently Dana Staves, writer and textile artist, wrote a post on the NOOK that was so sweet and real and inspiring that I asked if she wouldn't mind recording it for y'all to hear. And luckily for us, she did. Thank you, Dana. I hope you enjoy this reflection on art & craft by Dana Staves.

If you’d like to see how the NOOK can support you in your creative process, claim your free trial at the link below.

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK

In this episode, I share more about a quilt I call LIKE FAMILY. It's part of the Southern White Amnesia Collection, which explores the kinds of stories that Southern White families tell one another, or maybe more importantly, the ones they don’t tell one another about their own family history. You may have heard me talk about other pieces in the same collection on SEAMSIDE before, and if not, I'd encourage you to check out some of those episodes. So far, we've got SILVER DOLLAR, SNAKE HANDLER, OUR CHILDREN, and ONUS // ON US.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, we explore:

① an old Southern family burial ground

② why the phrase “like family” can often describe a one-sided view of relationships

③ a moment from THIS HERE FLESH by Cole Arthur Riley

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE? This episode weaves together a vulnerable exploration of identity, history, and responsibility, providing listeners with a deep, reflective experience on how historical legacies impact our current world

I first met Victoria Van Der Laan in Catskill, New York, standing in the gravel driveway in front of the HUDDLE House where me and twenty-five other NOOKers where spending a long weekend quilting together. I had assumed she’d just whisk me away for a quick coffee and pastry while I was in town and that would be it, but Victoria ended up coming back to the house for a trunk show and then spent all afternoon with us just sewing and sharing stories. Noticing the warmth and generosity she moves through the world with, I knew we’d become fast friends.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Victoria and I talk about:
① how the demands of life can pressurize our creative practice
② why her colors seem to vibrate
③ how to expand and contract as the season allows

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more from this episode with SEAMSIDE EXTRAS
→ Learn more about Zak
→ Support Victoria through Buy Me A Coffee

I think I’ve been thinking about time all wrong. I’m not sure it’s linear, but maybe that it accretes and infuses itself into itself. What does all that mean? This quilt says it better than I ever can.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, I share some stories about: ① how we need a new way of thinking about time ② the life cycle of a single garment ③ how we can tend and nourish the past

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

Talking to Kathryn Greenwood Swanson is like completing an electrical circuit that you hadn’t realized was open. Big ideas just light up this entire conversation. Kathryn and I catch up on the one year anniversary of our SEAMSIDE chat to catch up on everything that’s happened since we last talked.

If you haven’t heard our first conversation, Kathryn runs a thriving creative reuse shop in Turner Falls, Massachusetts called Swanson’s Fabric, and you can find it here. In that conversation we talked about: the role of the communal stashhouse, the shame so often associated with our fabric stashes, and how to start your own secondhand fabric store like Swansons.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Kathryn and I talk about: ① how to work with the energy of objects ② fixing the entire world in one fell swoop ③ our dreams for a cross-country multi-city quilty bus tour

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

Talking to Kathryn Greenwood Swanson is like completing an electrical circuit that you hadn’t realized was open. Big ideas just light up this entire conversation. Kathryn and I catch up on the one year anniversary of our SEAMSIDE chat to catch up on everything that’s happened since we last talked.

If you haven’t heard our first conversation, Kathryn runs a thriving creative reuse shop in Turner Falls, Massachusetts called Swanson’s Fabric, and you can find it here. In that conversation we talked about: the role of the communal stashhouse, the shame so often associated with our fabric stashes, and how to start your own secondhand fabric store like Swansons.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Kathryn and I talk about: ① how to work with the energy of objects ② fixing the entire world in one fell swoop ③ our dreams for a cross-country multi-city quilty bus tour

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

Every time Woomin’s work pops up in my feed it’s a quilty dopamine hit. Her appliqued wall pieces depict scenes from her life in Queens New York and back home in Korea. And you don’t have to see very many of her pieces to realize that her world is abundant in story-telling objects and almost completely devoid of pesky and interfering humans. To hear her talk about how in her previous sculpture practice, she often felt alone, solo on stage, but now having connected with fabric, she never feels alone surrounded by the rich narratives textiles carry.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Woomin and I discuss: ① why objects make better story-tellers than humans ② how to capture a sense of home no matter where you may be ③ what our daily spaces reveal about us

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
Woomin Kim shares her journey from sculpture to textile collage, using fabric to narrate personal and communal stories. Central to Woomin’s work are the themes of home, identity, and the unseen labor embedded in everyday objects and environments.

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

This textile piece, OUR CHILDREN, that we’re talking about today explores how we’re taught about our racial identity, gender, and sexuality from a young age. It’s a part of a collection I’m calling Southern White Amnesia which explores the stories that Southern white families tell (and don't tell) about their own family histories.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, I share thoughts about: ① the first time I realized I was White ② the lingering legacy of off-handed comments ③ how to reprogram all those internal messages

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more from this episode with SEAMSIDE EXTRAS
→ Learn more about Zak

The casual Instagram scroller would be forgiven if they scrolled past one of Rachel’s patchwork pieces and assumed it was something generated by artificial intelligence. But AI can only dream of creating the real-world objects of beauty that Rachel creates. They capture light and color, breeze and the occasional animal slops.

In this dreamy SEAMSIDE conversation, textile artist and photographer Rachel Hayes and I discuss:
① the rewards and perils of public art pieces
② the intangible and metaphysical layers of a quilt
③ how to collaborate with our physical environment

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE
Discover how Rachel Hayes creatively merges textiles with architecture and nature, challenging traditional perceptions of quilting and fabric art. Her journey from traditionally small-scale quilt patterns to expansive outdoor installations reveals the boundless possibilities of textiles in art

HELPFUL LINKS
→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ See images and more from this episode with SEAMSIDE EXTRAS
→ Learn more about Zak

In this episode, I share a collection of stories behind SNAKE HANDLER, a large banner I made featuring a writhing white snake. It’s really a three-part story about wrestling, specifically wrestling with identity, privilege, and role in the struggle for racial justice. I share personal reflections on understanding and confronting my privilege, recommending reading suggestions, sharing two strategies I use to address biases and hurtful statements, and encouraging us to take active roles in addressing racial inequality.

Get more free resources with this episode with SEAMSIDE EXTRAS! Click on the link below to access: https://www.zakfoster.com/seamside/snakehandler

HELPFUL LINKS
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK https://nook.zakfoster.com/
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/
→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts
→ Email me zak@zakfoster.com

Leslie Rogers is an unpinnable butterfly of a human. Her creative practice flits from quilts to performance to garment-making to puppetry. She’s a deeply thoughtful artist whose often whimsical or jarring pieces are underpinned by hours of historical research. Leslie and I met at Penland, and if her name sounds familiar, it’s because she came up in my conversation recently with Paolo Arao. That episode, HOW TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER is a treat in and of itself and I’d encourage you to give that one a listen too.

In this conversation, Leslie and I discuss:
①how to set fire to quilts without burning them up
② how to make quilts float on water, the old-fashioned way
③ the nonhierarchical thingness of things

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
Leslie Rogers merges quilts with performance, breathing life into textiles and exploring profound historical and social narratives that create rich story-telling that often belies a whimsical appearance

SEAMSIDE EXTRAS: Get more out of this episode! Find free resources like images, reflection questions, and more, all at the website below: https://www.zakfoster.com/seamside/leslie/

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community https://nook.zakfoster.com/
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide https://gift.zakfoster.com/pzp
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/
→ Visit Zak’s website https://www.zakfoster.com/
→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts

Barbara Campbell Thomas had a long-established painting practice when, about a decade ago, her mother bought her a sewing machine. Little did she know, but that gift provided her the perfect missing piece to her creative practice.

What draws me to Barbara’s work is the balance between tautness and texture. Her stretched and pieced canvas quilt works pushes back an “all or nothing” perspective on genre. Her work is naturally generative and generous, creating expanses for so much.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Barbara and I explore ① the value of a regular sketchbook practice (even if you don’t draw) ② what even is abstraction ③ how you can detect your matriarchs at work

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ Claim your free copy of 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED QUILTING
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Nominate a GUEST for SEAMSIDE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

As you may have heard the NOOK had our first in-person gathering recently called a HUDDLE. As part of this gathering, I asked participants to share what they were thinking about over the weekend. Funny enough in this old house, there was an old wooden phone booth that provided just enough privacy for us to sit and speak our thoughts into a small digital handheld recorder. What you're about to hear in this special episode of SEAMSIDE is a collection of sixteen short reflections: some are really vulnerable stories, but they’re each insightful stories of transformation.

There’s so much more to this conversation! For images and journaling prompts and more click on the SEAMSIDE EXTRAS link below
www.zakfoster.com/seamside/huddle-catskill

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
This episode offers a unique insight into the intimate and transformative experiences of quilters who attended the first-ever NOOK HUDDLE. These stories capture the essence of community, creativity, and personal growth through the art of quilting, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the why community matters when it comes to making quilts.

Special thanks to Shan, Agneta, Paige, Jacquie, Lynn, Nicole, Patrick, Lynanne, Cindy, Hannah, Jeff, Christina, Madi, Shari, Ronnie, Nathasha, and Amanda

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Sign up for Zak's Weekly Newsletter
→ Free Video Tutorial: HOW TO MAKE A TINY QUILT
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide
→ Follow Zak on Instagram

A few weeks ago, I caught up with quilt researcher and author Janneken Smucker to thumb through her new book together. If you haven’t heard our conversation yet on A New Deal for Quilts, I recommend you go back and catch that episode first, and then come join me for this conversation.

Because today we’re going behind the scenes, behind the book, and into the International Quilt Museum itself. I’m joined by the curator of International collections at IQM, Marin Hanson, to hear what it was like to put together the exhibition for A New Deal for Quilts. I know very little about how curators pull off such a quilt feat, so I had all kinds of questions.

In this conversation Marin and I discuss:
① a curators calculus for choosing the perfect quilts
② the significance of feed sacks in quilt-making
③ the impact of quilts on the human experience

You can see images of quilts we discuss on the episode website

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
Listeners interested in textiles, history, or art will find this episode particularly engaging. Marin's insights provide a unique perspective on the curation process and the deep connections between quilts and cultural narratives.

REFLECTION PROMPTS
Textiles in Personal Life: Think about a textile (like a quilt, blanket, or garment) that holds special meaning in your life. What story does it tell, and how does it connect you to your personal or cultural history?

Art as a Historical Lens: How can art forms like quilting offer unique insights into historical events and societal changes? Reflect on the role of everyday objects in shaping and preserving our understanding of the past.

Sustainability in Textiles: The use of feed sacks in quilting is a testament to resourcefulness and sustainability. How can we apply similar principles of reuse and creativity in our current approach to textiles and fashion?

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Free Video Tutorial: HOW TO MAKE A TINY QUILT
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak
→ Visit Zak’s website
→ Follow Zak on Instagram

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show the inner work of textiles. Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE👇
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

For most of my life, I had a tough time wrapping my head around the idea of privilege. But as I started researching my own family, something became crystal clear: the two branches of my family tree had two different experiences here in this country. On my dad's line, they are all subsistence farmers. They barely had enough money to get it registered on the census. On my mom's side of the family, however, where all the enslaving happened, they were wealthier in ways that my dad's folks could've never even imagined, and it was this wealth that set up generations of my family for a life of privilege and access.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, we reflect on how this one quilt contains:
① the magical alchemy of cheap fabric
② the convergent story of two White American families
③ how the mechanism of intergenerational wealth works

You can see images of quilts we discuss on the episode website https://www.zakfoster.com/seamside/silverdollar

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
This episode is a profound exploration of how personal and family histories intersect with larger societal issues like privilege, race, and the lasting impact of slavery. Zak’s use of a quilt to narrate his family's lineage and its implications on his life offers a unique and tangible connection to broader themes of inheritance, memory, and responsibility. His approach encourages listeners to reflect on their own histories and the legacies they carry forward.

REFLECTION PROMPTS
Exploring Personal Legacy: Consider your own family history. What stories, values, or legacies have been passed down through generations, and how do they shape your identity and worldview?

Art as a Medium for Social Commentary: Think about the role of art and storytelling in unpacking complex social issues. How can creative expressions foster dialogue around topics that are often difficult to discuss?

Active Responsibility: This quilt serves as a form of reparation and acknowledgment of a family's past. What actions can individuals take to acknowledge and address the injustices and legacies of the past in a constructive and forward-looking manner?

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community https://nook.zakfoster.com/

→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide https://gift.zakfoster.com/pzp

→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/

→ Visit Zak’s website https://www.zakfoster.com/

→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show the inner work of textiles. Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE 👇
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

By now you’ve probably heard that our good friend Heidi Parkes is the 15th Artist in Residence at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. I talk about Heidi like everyone knows her, and if you’ve been in my world for very long, I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about her.

We are both former public school educators turned professional artists and have been friends for almost a decade now. If you’re not familiar with Heidi’s work, she documents her life in her quilts, tracking days, places, and memories through applique and embroidery.

In this conversation, Heidi gives us an inside glimpse to this new residency. It’s something she’s tried out for 3 times before and never got it. She decided she’d take a break for a while, and just when she did, something unexpected happened: they reached out to her.

*WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?*
Listen to this conversation if you ever:
① applied for something and didn’t get it
② have an interest in setting up a public studio, or
③ are looking for a creative transition in your own life

*CONVERSATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS*
04:04 Heidi's Studio Practice
05:03 Transition to Public Studio
05:29 The Pfister Hotel Residency
06:55 Previous Artists in Residence
09:30 Reflections on Rejection and Persistence
15:52 The Studio Space at Pfister
22:04 Interacting with the Public
27:06 Expectations for the Residency
30:00 Preparing for the First Public Event

*REFLECTION PROMPTS*
1. *Perseverance in Art:* Reflect on a time when you faced rejection in your creative endeavors. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?
2. *Public vs Private Creative Spaces:* Consider the differences between creating in a private space versus a public one. How do you think each environment would affect your creativity and interaction with your art?
3. *Artistic Community Engagement:* How important is it for artists to embed themselves in their local community? What are some effective ways to do this?

*HELPFUL RESOURCES*
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community https://nook.zakfoster.com/
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide https://gift.zakfoster.com/pzp
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/
→ Visit Zak’s website https://www.zakfoster.com/
→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts

*ABOUT SEAMSIDE*
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show *the inner work of textiles.* Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

*DON’T MISS AN EPISODE* 👇 
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

I’m convinced that Roderick Kiracofe is one part human being and one part guardian angel. He’s been a huge support both of me and many other quilters out there, generously lending his experience and insight that only come from the decades he’s spent as an advocate for quilts.

On a recent trip to NYC, he and I caught up at Tatter’s Blue Library to immerse ourselves in Brooklyn’s beautiful textile research space and the all the shades of blueness. We cozy up on a big blue couch in the corner of the library for this conversation and we had to pass the mic back and forth, so you may notice some scuffles from time to time, but to me it all adds to the intimacy of the conversation you’re about to hear.

You can see images of quilts we discuss on the episode website

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
Dive into the captivating world of quilts and anonymous photography with quilt advocate Roderick Kiracofe. Discover the intriguing connections between these art forms and how they capture history and personal narratives.

REFLECTION PROMPTS
Reflect on the concept of anonymity in art and textiles. How does the mystery of not knowing the creator or the subjects in photographs and quilts add depth or change your perception of these pieces? Consider why anonymous art can be intriguing or emotionally resonant.

Consider the role of textiles and quilts in your personal history or your community's cultural heritage. How do these items serve as connectors to the past, and what stories or memories do they evoke for you?

Roderick Kiracofe's interest in the intersection of photography and quilting offers a unique perspective on storytelling. Reflect on how different mediums like photography and quilting can complement each other in telling a more comprehensive or nuanced story. Can you think of other artistic mediums that, when combined, offer a richer narrative?

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Free Video Tutorial: HOW TO MAKE A TINY QUILT
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak
→ Visit Zak’s website
→ Follow Zak on Instagram

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show the inner work of textiles. Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE👇
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

In this quilt talk, I share the KNIFEMAN quilt: a story-driven project shaped by an encounter I had while purchasing a foraging knife, exploring themes of identity and how each one of us living our best lives gives permission to everyone around us to the same.

You can see images of quilts we discuss on the episode website https://www.zakfoster.com/seamside/knifeman

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
There’s a rich narrative in this KNIFEMAN project that blends quilting with personal reflection and societal observations. I share with you my quilt-making process, from the conceptualization to the physical crafting, while delving into the deeper meanings and root behind the quilt. The episode is a compelling mix of artistic insight and personal introspection, helpful for anyone who wants to transform life experiences into creative expression.

REFLECTION PROMPTS
Have you ever had a creative project influenced by a personal encounter or experience? Reflect on how this interaction shaped your work.

Consider the impact of using textiles as a medium for social commentary. What are the special properties of textiles that make them such a powerful tool for addressing societal issues?

Reflect on the idea of "non-attachment" to outcomes in creative work, as mentioned by Zak. How can this concept be applied to other areas of life?

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community https://nook.zakfoster.com/

→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide https://gift.zakfoster.com/pzp

→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/

→ Visit Zak’s website https://www.zakfoster.com/

→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show the inner work of textiles. Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

To get 2024 started right, I thought I would pull together some of my favorite moments out of the last year as a way of not only reflecting, but mining it again for the wisdom, the advice, the perspective and experience that my guests have offered, and hopes of setting all of us up for a more creative, more fulfilling, more satisfying 2024.

When I sat down to begin thinking who would I pull in from the last year of SEAMSIDE, it was a lot more challenging than I thought. I tried to pick a wide variety of folks who were sharing stories that inspired, motivated, or offered some kind of insight I thought you’d find helpful. So I hope that no matter where you are on your quilty journey right now, no matter where you are in your creative practice, whether you're feeling full of inspiration or maybe a little bit unmotivated, I hope you find some good medicine here to get you started on the right foot in 2024.

In this episode, we hear from: Alice Gabb, Judy Martin, Amanda Nadig, Paolo Arao, Julian Jamal Jones, Michael Sylvan Robinson, Jennifer Mao, and Lou Gardiner

You can learn more at the episode website here

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
It's a curated mix of inspiring stories and advice from SEAMSIDE guests, providing a diverse range of viewpoints on creativity, overcoming challenges, and embracing growth, perfect for setting the tone for a fulfilling 2024.

REFLECTION PROMPTS
Embracing Diverse Perspectives: How can you cultivate relationships with people whose views differ from yours, finding common ground in unexpected places?

Navigating Disappointment: Reflect on a recent setback or rejection. How can you reframe this experience to focus on growth and resilience?

Finding Inspiration in the Unseen: Like the concept of the mycelium network, what unseen processes or thoughts contribute to your creativity, even when not actively producing work?

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community https://nook.zakfoster.com/
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide https://gift.zakfoster.com/pzp
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak https://nook.zakfoster.com/newsletter/
→ Visit Zak’s website https://www.zakfoster.com/
→ Follow Zak on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zakfoster.quilts

The Great Depression wasn’t something we talked much about in my family. I do know it’s what made my grandfather quit school in the eighth grade to go work in his father’s grocery store. When we think of this time in international history, which lasted roughly from the Stock Market crash in 1929 until the lead-up to World War 2, we often think of the photographs of Dorothea Lange and the New Deal which funded large public works proejcts like the TVA and Hoover Dam.

But quilt historian Janneken Smucker has uncovered a softer side the New Deal, one that until now, has received scant attention: the role of quilts as a of domestic stream of income.

In this conversation, Janneken and I explore:
① how the New Deal may have changed quilting for a generation
② how quilts can be containers of hope and resilience
③ how quilts were used as American propaganda

I hope you enjoy HOW TO SOFTEN HARD TIMES with my good friend, Janneken Smucker

HELPFUL RESOURCES
⤷ New Deal for Quilts by Janneken Smucker
⤷ International Quilt Museum exhibit website
⤷ Farm Security Administration Photo Archives
⤷ Soft Covers for Hard Times by Merikay Waldvogel
⤷ Always There: The African-American Presence in American Quilts by Cuesta Benberry

SEAMSIDE host Zak foster co-explores the inner work of textiles with various textile artists. In each episode, we seek to understand how working with cloth makes us more human.

⤷ Looking for a supportive textile community online? Check out the NOOK!
⤷ I also send weekly email goodies
⤷ New to SEAMSIDE? Check out THE TOP TEN FAN FAVORITE EPISODES
⤷ Here’s my website with lots of pretty quilts
⤷ And of course you can see more on Instagram
⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

I take you behind the scenes with one of my most recent finishes, a quilt I’m calling the Beach Shirt quilt. I found the shirt walking down along Brighton Beach on a cool gray morning about six weeks ago.

We walked to the far end of the beach beyond Coney Island where things turn more residential, and that’s where I found it: this clump of sand-colored fabric.

When I picked it up and shook it clean, I knew immediately that this was going to be the starring feature for my next quilt.

Click here to see more images of this quilt

⤷ Learn more about THE QUILTY NOOK here
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⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

Last week when Paolo Arao talked about our textile practices, we mentioned that one of the things that we have in common is our shared love of taro. So in this special SEAMSIDE bonus episode, you'll hear us share about our own personal tarot practice and how it plays into our creative practice. If you have a tarot practice, I hope you pick up some new nuggets. And if you don't have a tarot practice, maybe you want to give it a try?

⤷ Get your free TINY QUILT tutorial video I mention in this episode
⤷Learn more about the Radical Tarot book by Charlie Claire Burgess
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Welcome to MEMBERSTORY, a new series of bonus interviews that bring you real-life stories from the NOOK. These conversations have been a great way to get to know some of folks that make the NOOK so special. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Wendy Muir from Adelaide, Australia.

If you’d like to see how the NOOK can support you in your creative process, claim your free trial at the link below.

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK

The fact that Paolo Arao and I both showed up to the podcast studio wearing orange winter hats and navy hoodies should tell you something of the kindred connection I feel with Paolo. After years of being online friends, we met up for breakfast about a month ago before going to see his most recent show that was about to close. Over a massive (and truly delicious) breakfast sandwich, we kept discovering commonalities: the way we think about color, how we navigate creative hiccups, our shared love of tarot. I knew right away that I wanted to invite him to SEAMSIDE so you could get a chance to meet him:

In this conversation, we discuss:
① how painting, music, and textiles can all weave together in a creative practice
② how our bodies can sense the power of textiles
③ how working with textiles can increase our tolerance for the unknown

Learn more about Paolo Arao

WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?
Listen to this episode with Paolo Arao for a deep dive into the interconnected world of textiles, painting, and music, exploring how these artistic forms can blend together into one practice. This episode offers listeners not only a glimpse into Paolo's vibrant creative journey but also valuable perspectives on the broader impact of textiles in art and life.

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show *the inner work of textiles.* Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE👇 
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Free Video Tutorial: HOW TO MAKE A TINY QUILT
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak
→ Visit Zak’s website
→ Follow Zak on Instagram
→ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK

I recently spent a week in Chicago with my good friend, Amanda Nadig, making this quilt together. Since I had recently bought a small handheld recorder, we thought it'd be fun to take you behind the scenes day by day as we're making this quilt encountering creative obstacles, when things aren't turning out our way and how we navigate through this particular project together.

In part one, Amanda and I shared details about this particular commission, the kind of prep work we did to get ready for our week of sewing side by side in Chicago. We had an in-depth reflection on something that was becoming more and more fascinating to us: the way that by working with someone else, it forces us to create this kind of specialized language around the project, one that you might not even have to articulate to yourself but in the company of another artist, you have to put abstract ideas into words.

So, if you haven't heard that part of this documentary project, yet, I encourage you to go back and listen to the previous episode and then join us here again for part two.

In this part, Amanda and I strategize about quilting:
① how we choose an overall quilting design
② the important relationship between light and color
③ the body is a measuring tool

We close this conversation with reflections and tips that we hope support you in seeking out your own creative collaborations.

Click here to see images of this collaboration quilt

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In this two-part mini-documentary: Amanda Nadig and I take you behind the scenes of our latest collaboration. You’ll get to accompany us on the creative process behind a quilt built out of a client's retired collection of high-end silk neckties.

I'd recently bought a small handheld recorder, and we thought it'd be fun to give you a play-by-play as we're making this quilt, encountering creactive obstacles when things aren't turning out the way we'd hoped, and how we navigate through this particular project together.

Along the way we share some helpful tips and meaningful reflections designed to get you thinking about how you may want to incorporate artistic collaboration in your own creative practice.

In this conversation, we discuss:
① the curious parameters of this project
② things we learned about working with silk
③ how we’ve developed a special language working together

Click here to see images of this collaboration quilt

⤷ Learn more about THE QUILTY NOOK here
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In our chat last week, Sherri Lynn Wood and I took a deep dive into memory quilts, and this week we talk about what she loves best *after* quilting, namely: nature and being a divinity school dropout.

Enjoy this short chat, and if you haven’t had a chance to listen to our first conversation, check out the previous episode.

⤷ Learn more about THE QUILTY NOOK here
⤷ Get your free NOOK trial here
⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

If Sherri Lynn Wood and I were to map our lives on a venn diagram, there’d be a lot of overlap: we both spent parts of our childhood in North Carolina, we both host online communities for quilters (mine is the QUILTY NOOK, hers is BravePatch.School); we both honor elements of quilting as a spiritual practice, and in doing so, we both work a lot with grief and bereavement. The quilts may go by different names: I make memory quilts, Sherri makes passage quilts, but they both point to the stories and energy that our clothes contain even after we pass.

In this conversation, Sherri and I take a deep dive on what it means to work with clothing as a channel for processing life and loss, and we discuss:
① the emotional aspects of working with clothing in quilts
② practical ideas for collaborating on a memory quilt
③ self-care for quilters doing grief work

⤷ Learn more about THE QUILTY NOOK here
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⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

In this QUILT TALK episode, I’m joined by my good friend and collaborator, Heidi Parkes. When I went to visit her in Milwaukee over the summer, we decided we were overdue to make a collab quilt. YES MORE PLEASE was born out of a conversation about creating more space for all the good things in life (and maybe sweeping out the junk in the meantime). Towards this end of this quilt talk, we share some thoughts about what it takes to have a positive collaboration experience. I hope you enjoy and pick up something you can use in your own creative practice. XOZ

For more images and process shots of this quilt

Learn more about Heidi's work

REFLECTION PROMPTS
1. Reflect on a time when you collaborated creatively with someone. How did this partnership influence your approach and outcome?
2. Consider the themes of saying 'no' to create space for 'yes'. How can this concept be applied in your personal or professional life?
3. Recall an instance where a limitation (like the quilt's black background) pushed you to think more creatively. What was the outcome?

ABOUT SEAMSIDE
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show *the inner work of textiles.* Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

DON’T MISS AN EPISODE 👇 
Subscribe to SEAMSIDE for heartfelt stories and meaningful explorations of the human world of textiles

HELPFUL RESOURCES
→ Free Video Tutorial: HOW TO MAKE A TINY QUILT
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak
→ Visit Zak’s website
→ Follow Zak on Instagram
→ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK

I first met Rachel Meginnes at Penland School of Arts and Crafts just north of Asheville, NC. We had been in each other’s digital orbits for a good while and so when we sat together in a couple plush armchairs and warm cups of coffee by a fireplace in the dining hall, it was the most natural thing to slip into conversation.

Rachel’s current work centers on weaving old deconstructed quilt material into new pieces on her digital loom. After she’s spent days picking apart an old quilt, she often finds that the worn lace-like batting—normally hidden from our view—is what especially captivates her.

Rachel is also a dedicated and gifted creative coach. It was fascinating for me to listen how she talks about the raw materials of quilts and the raw materials of our lives in similar terms. Because we know how to make a strong and beautiful quilt, then we must inherently know how to make a strong and beautiful life. It’s all the same stardust, after all.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Rachel and I talk about:

① how time changes both quilts and humans

② how to do hard work with noble intention

③ how we can mine our creative processes to discover strategies for living

You can learn more about Rachel Meginnes here

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⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

A behind-the-scenes look at the memory quilt I made for my Uncle Jim. I got to work with my aunt on designing and sewing this quilt, and it made a really rich experience for both of us.

Towards this end of this quilt talk, I share five insights I learned about working with someone else on a memory quilt.

I hope you enjoy and pick up something you can use in your own creative practice. XOZ

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My good friend Luke Haynes joins for me for this SEAMSIDE special episode I’m calling FREE ADVICE where we answer your questions on quilting and the creative life.

In this episode, we share our thoughts on the following questions:

① How can I move away from pattern-based quilting and play more?

② How did you find time to create new work when you were working full-time jobs?

③ Where do all your quilts go when you’re done making them?

④ I’m a multimedia artists and quilts are a part of what I do. But how can I present my work online with a cohesive voice?

Thank you to everyone who called in with questions for this episode. We wish we could answer them all! A special thanks to the four folks whose questions made this conversation possible: Lilia from Bozeman, Montana; Michelle from Toronto; Anne Marie from Phoenix; and Katie from Portland, Oregon

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

⤷ Enter here for your chance to win a FREE YEAR on the NOOK!

Five international textile artists come together for two weeks in the heart of Southern Appalachian mountains at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Kianga Jinaki, Chris Dufour, Chinelo Njaka, and Jesalyn Keziah share powerful insights as we sit around the sewing circle in the quilting studio.

In this collective conversation, we discuss:

① what magic our quilts can perform

② how quilts tell stories when words fall short

③ the power of collective effort

HELPFUL RESOURCES

⤷ Learn more about the Traditional Craft Mentorships at John C. Campbell Folk School

⤷ Contact Programming at the Folk School to learn more about how community organizations can support mentorships

⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

Russell James Barratt and his wildly joyful quilts make me want to lasso the UK and bring our two countries closer together. His work is loud and colorful, his demeanor is gentle and composed, and those two sides of Russell make for an imminently enjoyable friend to chat with.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Russell and I explore:
① how he balances the tension of empty space and maximalism
② why the arc of creative exploration is longer than long
③ how we can use our quilts to say things words don’t touch

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ Claim your free copy of 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED QUILTING
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

I’ve got something a little different for you this week. I got inspired being at home and looking at my grandma's memory quilt. It made me realize I’ve got some more stories I’d like to share with you about that quilt. I hope you enjoy and pick up something you can use in your own creative practice. XOZ

⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

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The creative landscape is dotted with mountaintops and valleys. If we’re lucky, we have more moments up on the mountain where everything appears huge and expansive, full of sunshine and clarity. But it’d be naive to expect to stay there for too long. Sometimes we gotta wallow down in the valley too.

This special episode of SEAMSIDE is dedicated to those valley moments. I reached out to past guests on SEAMSIDE and asked them to describe how they deal with creative and professional disappointments. I was curious to hear not only how they responded but also what they found helpful.

In this episode we hear from Nick D’Ornellas, Christi Johnson, Michael Sylvan Robinson, Victoria Gertenbach, Clare Hu, Julian Jamal Jones, and Rachel Meginnes.

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Weaver Jennifer Mao joins us for an episode of BACKSTITCH. If you haven’t heard our first chat nearly two years ago, you can hear that on episode 2. In this BACKSTITCH conversation, Jennifer shares candidly about how it feels to be experiencing a creatively unproductive season in her practice. We discuss:

① does an artist have to make art to be an artist

② how do we move through the quiet seasons of our creative practice

③ how to be your own best friend when you need it most

You can learn more about Jennifer on Instagram

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

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As you may have heard, the embroiderer Lou Gardiner and former guest on SEAMSIDE passed way a few days ago after a recurring bout with cancer. When we talked in 2022, she spoke openly but hopefully about her diagnosis as you’ll hear in this episode.

I’d like to offer this conversation with Lou as a way of holding space for such a radiant force of creative power.

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

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Patrick T (@ptayyyyy) and I dream up a quilt that ① has been turned into a lazyboy recliner, and ② also operates as a plant stand

Want to be on the show? Call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night. Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

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Christi Johnson and I have been floating in each other’s orbits for a few years now, but you know how time passes and when I sat with her a couple weeks ago on a panel discussion, we realized it’d already been too long. Christi is a clothes-making and embroiderer with an eye constantly trained on the mysteries of the universe. She’s the author of Mystical Stitches, a book that I keep close at hand in my studio, host of the Stitchwish Radio podcast, and now a mother of a precious four-month-old human. In this conversation, we discuss: ① how raising a child is like working with fabric ② the beauty of raw silk and double gauze ③ how you can sew magic into your work

You can learn more about Christi Johnson here

⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

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Print-maker and weaver Nick Dornellas joins us for an episode of BACKSTITCH. If you haven’t heard our first chat a year prior to this one, you can hear that on episode 8.

In today’s conversation we discuss:

① his big show in Philadelphia this year

② how he’s finding balance in refinement and looseness

③ why this July is such a special month for him

You can learn more about Nick on Instagram

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

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My good friend Heidi Parkes joins for me for this SEAMSIDE special episode I’m calling FREE ADVICE where we answer YOUR questions on quilting and the creative life.

In this episode, we share our thoughts on the following questions:
① How do you prioritize which project to focus on when there’s so much to be excited about?
② How do you keep from getting overwhelmed with your stash?
③ How do you manage your time?
④ I have to travel a lot for my new job. How can I use that to my advantage in my quilting practice?

⤷ Learn more about THE QUILTY NOOK here

⤷ Get your free NOOK trial here

I grew up in Southern Baptist churches sitting through long sermons and studying the banners hung around the sanctuary. Those hours spent as young person put down roots into my creative core that would come to bear several years later as an adult meaning-maker. Alice Gabb’s work fully embraces the lineage of the banner, but from an entirely different source: the social protest movements of the last century. Her creative path is founded in years of calligraphy, and so, in many ways it was a natural and short jump to start making banners. In this conversation, Alice joins us from her new studio in East London, and we explore:

① gathering poetry in everyday life

② using color to tame hearts and minds

③ maintaining joy in the face of long and protracted struggle

You can learn more about Alice on their website and Instagram

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

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Deb (Instagram) and I dream up a quilt that ① belongs in a secret garden, and ② knows just what to do with bad hair days

Want to be on the show? Call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night

⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK

It’s been a year since Coulter Fussell and I first chatted here on SEAMSIDE. In that conversation, we talked about the South and family history, the role of community in her work, and how she maintains hope in the face of conflict. You can find that first conversation, HOW TO WORK WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT, in your feed below in March 2023.

In this new SEAMSIDE conversation, Coulter and I reconnect and explore:

① why in the world she’s making headboards

② the traditional magic of making dolls

③ why Coulter thinks the world’s first sculpture was made by busy mothers

→ Get your free trial to the QUILTY NOOK
→ Claim your free copy of 10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I STARTED QUILTING
→ See images and more at the EPISODE WEBSITE
→ Follow Zak on INSTAGRAM

My good friend Heidi Parkes joins for me for this SEAMSIDE special episode I’m calling FREE ADVICE where we answer YOUR questions on quilting and the creative life.

In this episode, we share our thoughts on the following questions:

① How do you play?

② What does ‘making progress’ mean to you?

③ What DON’T you share on social media?

④ How can we get more young people into quilting?

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There are certain artists that you remember vividly the first time you saw their work. Julian Jamaal Jones is one of those artists for me. When I saw the body of work he produced at Cranbrook, these all black quilts with bold and colorful marks, I felt like I was seeing a brand new thing in this world.

In this conversation, we discuss:

① how to create intimate inner circles with your audience through your work

② how to bring a spirit of joy and gratitude to your practice

③ and what his grandma really things about his quilts

You can learn more about Julian on Instagram.

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⤷ Theme music: Roll Jordan Roll by the Joy Drops

⤷ Subscribe to SEAMSIDE and you’ll get a note as soon as a podcast posts

In our last SEAMSIDE conversation on Episode 5, quilt historian Jess Bailey aka @publiclibraryquilts and I discussed the role of storytelling in art history and the power of visual images to convey narratives, experience of feeling seen and recognized through images, and we talked about why Jess would rather her quilts be considered sturdy rather than soft.

We catch up now a little over a year later to share our favorite quilt book recommendations, personal stories from recent quilting bees, and I share a vulnerable moment that Jess indirectly helped me understand one of my own blind spots in regards to the improv quilts of Gee’s Bend.

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SHOWNOTES OF THE GODS (thank you, Jess)

You can see the Ascott Martyrs Quilt if you visit the People's History Museum in Manchester or you can learn more about the Martyrs story and early union history through this resource. Big thanks to Fi Ashley at Gresshenhall for amplifying material culture histories of unions and first telling PLQ about the Ascott Quilt.

Zak shared his copy of the standby of any well-stocked quilt library: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories by Roland L. Freeman. Remember, if you can't find an out of print quilt history book, its always worth checking Worldcat - a search engine that aggregates the world's library collections!

Two must read quilt history books of 2023: Out this June from University of Washington Press, Professor Lisa Gail Collins' Stitching Love and Loss: the story of a Gee's Bend Quilt promises to encompass the power and role of quilts across a human life.

Professor Janneken Smucker's A New Deal for Quilts will be published by the International Quilt Museum in October. Jess has had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy and everyone needs to see the stunningly beautiful early 20th century photographs of quilts in this book. You can preorder it at the link above.

Jess & Zak are a Sharbreon fan club in this episode! If you'd like to read Dr. Sharbreon Plummer's Diasporic Threads published by Common Threads Press, you can find it here. Jess & Sharbreon have some projects up their sleeve, in the meantime explore Sharbreon's quilt work.

You can watch Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi’s lecture at the International Quilt Museum here (and maybe spot Zak in the front row!)

Oh and did Jess mention an upcoming quilt fundraiser & raffle? Stay tuned for more from Jess & her collaborator Ashley J. May (@grassrootsmorning) as they prepare for the Kin Folk Library Quilt fundraiser funding a library of children's books amplifying the rich histories of Black feminist writers and Lil' Free Bird story times at the Salt Eaters and other bookshops.

Stephanie (website, Instagram) and I dream up a quilt that ① provides financial abundance gremlin-style, and ② is made from cash money, namely Canadian loonies

Want to be on the show? Call the CRAZY QUILT HOTLINE open 24/7 at (828) 278-8211‬ and leave me a message anytime of day or night

⤷ Get your free trial to the THE QUILTY NOOK