Stitchery Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

Dr. Jack Roberts, also known as JPR Stitch, is a fine artist specializing in freehand machine embroidery, creating stunning abstract shapes from dense, intricate webs of stitches.

His art reflects the calmness and tranquility he experiences while stitching, making sewing his form of meditation. Jack shares insights into his artistic journey, current projects, and unique approaches to displaying his work.

A key topic is Jack's 'quest'... seeking balance between simplicity and complexity, in his art, his practice, and in his life. Plenty of illuminating yet refreshing ideas, particularly around removing our own self-inflicted barriers to creativity, and indeed, everything else we do when apparently we are chasing our dreams!

In this episode of Stitchery Stories embroidery and textile art podcast, host Susan Weeks chats with Jack about:

Daily Stitch Drawings: Jack's innovative practice of creating small stitch artworks daily since November last year as a counterbalance to his larger, time-consuming pieces.

Project Evolution: How his daily stitch drawings evolved to include more space and organic shapes as he became more comfortable with the process.

Display Challenges: The creative solutions Jack developed for displaying his daily stitch drawings, including a calendar mechanism and "towers of stitch" to represent the passage of time.

Artistic Inspiration: Flipping the influence of Jack's extensive immersion in the art world on his embroidery practice.

Creative Journey: The challenges and rewards of maintaining a daily art practice and how it contributes to Jack's overall artistic growth.

Personal Reflection: How Jack’s artworks serve as a reflection of his emotional state on any given day, showcasing the importance of balance in his life and art.

Travel Adaptations: Jack's strategies for continuing his daily stitch practice while traveling

Sewing as Meditation: The meditative and calming effects of sewing on Jack, and how this mindfulness is expressed through his intricate and organic stitching patterns.

Removing barriers and saying No: How to make it as easy as possible to get started...

For this episode... 

View Links, information & Examples of Jack's work at https://stitcherystories.com/jackroberts

Visit: https://www.jprstitch.com/

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

Stitchery Courses

Discover and book courses with textile and embroidery experts at stitcherycourses.com 

GET LISTED as an expert teacher on Stitchery Courses and attract more customers into your business!

Support Stitchery Stories:

Share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show.

Buy Me A Coffee

If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going?

Other Episodes You Might Like:

 Susan Hensel : Communicating Ideas Through Digital Machine Embroidery

 https://stitcherystories.com/susanhensel/

David Morrish : Disruptive Digital Embroidery

https://stitcherystories.com/davidmorrish/

Hayley Mills-Styles: Thread Artist Who Loves Digital Embroidery

 https://stitcherystories.com/hayleymillsstyles/

Alison Holt is a contemporary textile artist, teacher and author who combines silk painting and freehand machine embroidery to create beautiful landscapes and glimpses of the natural world.

 Alison shares how her career and art continues to evolve, as she looks for new challenges. Following new opportunities as well as ongoing marketing and visibiity of one's art are also very important, and Alison shares her experience and wisdom with us.

 Susan Weeks chats with Alison Holt about:

A current focus on the sea, a rich source of inspiration Her current success in finding new exhibiting venues and opportunities Developing her artistic style Capturing the atmosphere and sense of a place Scaling back her activities to develop her art practice Organising the "Stitch By Stitch" textile art exhibition Promoting your art and yourself Perspective of a long-standing professional artist

For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Alison's work at

 https://stitcherystories.com/alisonholt

Visit: https://www.alisonholt.com/

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

STITCHERY COURSES is an exciting new place to discover and connect with experts who teach their art, craft & skills with thread, fabric & yarn.

Pop over to search through the experts and see what courses & classes they have available.

Or pop over and GET LISTED as an expert on Stitchery Courses and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new 'eyes' onto your business!

https://www.stitcherycourses.com/

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

Women & Domesticity - What's Your Perspective?

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

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

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

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

Susan Weeks chats with Vanessa Marr.

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

https://stitcherystories.com/domesticdusters

Visit: https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com

Visit: https://marrvanessa.wordpress.com

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

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

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

Other places & people we mentioned: 

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Dinner Party by Judy Chicago

The Subversive Stitch by Rosita Parker

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

Profanity Embroidery Group (Whitstable)

 https://pegwhitstable.co.uk/

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy: 

https://stitcherystories.com/profanityembroiderygroup/

https://stitcherystories.com/thereddress/

https://stitcherystories.com/karenruane/

Georgina Bellamy: 3D Goldwork & Beaded Animals

Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Georgina Bellamy shares her life as a hand embroidery artist who specialises in creating truly gorgeous 3D goldwork and beaded animals.

Listen as Georgina shares her embroidery journey from working at a Dry Cleaners, through City & Guilds, a degree and then stepping out on her own and developing her embroidery brand and business.

Georgina shares stories that highlight the battle between creativity and commercial necessity and the challenges of teaching workshops around Europe. We also chat about being brave and being engaging on social media, particularly using live streaming and videos.

Susan Weeks chats with Georgina about:

• Teaching in various locations across Europe and getting very good at miming!
• The benefits of working in themes
• Doing live stream video to demonstrate techniques and build important engagement with followers
• Following City & Guilds before University degree and learning from so many talented older ladies
• Winning the Embroiderer's Guild annual scholarship as a springboard for further opportunities to exhibit and grow her business
• Struggling to settle with the lack of acknowledgement for her art and skill working within fashion studios
• Taking brave steps to do her own thing and see what happened
• The realisation that art needs a commercial aspect to it
• The ideas and evolution behind the 3D goldwork beaded animals
• Her love of working with the metal wires (purls) and pushing the limits of stumpwork
• Creating work that makes you happy but in the context of a viable business
• Proudly promoting traditional techniques and making them attractive to today's market
• International travel is not always a glamorous experience
• The challenge of the human form .... and zombies!

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/georginabellamy

Follow the Stitchery Stories Instagram channel at: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/

Visit: https://thatembroiderygirl.com/

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

Buy: https://thatembroiderygirl.com/shops/

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

For more about the annual Embroiderer's Guild Scholarship scheme: Embroiderers Guild Scholarship Scheme

Hattie McGill: Hand Embroidery Artist

Today on the Stitchery Stories embroidery podcast, Hattie McGill shares her life as a hand embroidery artist and freelance embroiderer working in fashion, costume and film.

Listen as Hattie shares her embroidery journey and how she balances her own art for sale and commission, with the typically unpredictable world of being a freelance embroiderer. Hattie also shares some very interesting insights into doing embroidery for films and fashion designers. And by total contrast, her own work is heavily influenced by the natural world and objects around us.

Susan Weeks chats with Hattie about:

• The fairs she is busy making for at the moment including the London Artisans fair 31 March and 1st April (links below)
• Embroidering clothes and items for the recent Kenneth Branagh film 'Murder On The Orient Express'
• Creating crustaceans with amusing names
• Making an embroidery for Mother's Day aged 3
• A creative path that led to the Royal School Of Needlework
• Collecting things and being inspired by the natural world
• Hoarding furniture...
• Working with fashion house Alexander McQueen
• The demand for haute couture embroidery
• Valueing the skills and traditions we have in the UK around embroidery
• Can Hattie pick a favourite technique?
• Working on elements in a Dolls House for the V&A Museum Of Childhood
• Why sewing by candlelight is no longer advised!
• The annoyance of sewing your embroidery to your clothes by mistake... grrr
• The doomed skeleton that only consists of ONE ARM so far
• Feeling guilty at doing embroidery 'just' for herself
• The challenges of combining freelance work and making your own work for sale and commission

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/hattiemcgill

Visit: https://www.hattiemcgillembroidery.com/

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

Buy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/HattieMcGill

The London Artisan http://www.thelondonartisan.com/

Yvonne Fuchs: Relax With Slow Stitching

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Yvonne Fuchs shares her relaxing approach to slow stitch and creating mindful and contemplative textile art. Listen as Yvonne shares her textile journey and her world journeys and their influence on her work.

We are focusing on Slow Stitch today. Yvonne has combined her 2 worlds of Zen and mindfulness with her love of teaching textile art to create unique classes in Slow Stitch. Yvonne explains the backstory that led to the creation of this approach and the many benefits that combat our stressful and busy lives, including creating beautiful and very personal pieces of work.

Susan Weeks chats with Yvonne about:

• The inspirations from our travels
• Embroidery in different places and cultures
• Stitching as a core aspects of life
• Relaxing with stitch and mindfulness
• Why our lives resemble the back of an embroidery - knots and all!
• Meditation and slow stitching as a way of being calm
• So what is Slow Stitching
• The influence from Japanese boro
• Stitching in silence... is this really possible?
• Reflections on life and passions bound together by stitch
• Appreciating our skills and uniqueness as we journey through life
• Brewing up natural dyes
• The delights of 'mono-tasking'

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/yvonnefuchs

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

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

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

Book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/slow-stitch-course-april-2018-tickets-39699552430

Whitstable Textile Society

https://www.facebook.com/Whitstable-Textile-Society-892031767584622/

Other places & people mentioned:

Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art

by Claire Wellesley Smith

http://www.clairewellesleysmith.co.uk/

THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE®

by Stephen R Covey

https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits.php

Saima Kaur: Inspired By Indian Folk Art And Colourful Textiles

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Saima Kaur shares her colourful hand embroidery inspired by her Indian heritage and Indian Folk art.

Listen as Saima shares her embroidery journey and begins her adventure into creating a sustainable business through her textile art. Saima has an interesting story and brings Indian textiles alive through her own textile collection and research.

Susan Weeks chats with Saima about:

• Starting the journey towards developing a sustainable textile arts based business
• Using mini-embroideries to develop ideas in colour, technique and design
• NOT being taught sewing and embroidery by her talented mother and explaining the Indian cultural reasons why
• Developing a project to express her journey as the mother of her autistic daughter
• Being always inspired by Indian Folk art embroidery and textiles
• Celebrating the women who have come before us with their embroidery made in difficult life circumstances
• Her love of, and research into, Punjabi Phulkaris
• Building up a variety of stitches with traditional threads and and hand woven cotton fabric
• Basing work on traditional stylised icons and designs
• Everyone started with their first talk and feeling brave
• Knowing when to stop!
• Her personal collection of Indian textiles and embroidery
• Using art and language together to create inclusion and community

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/saimakaur

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

Other places & people mentioned:

Jessica Grady https://www.stitcherystories.com/jessicagrady/

Lindy Richardson https://www.stitcherystories.com/lindyrichardson/

Deborah Mullins https://www.stitcherystories.com/deborahmullins/

Adam Pritchett: Intricate Insects & Antique Frames

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, embroidery artist Adam Pritchett shares his intricate embroidered spiders and pieces inspired by antique frames, antiquarian themes... and a sprinkling of magic and creepiness!

Listen as Adam shares his relatively recent embroidery journey through his inspirations and techniques. And of course, he gets a Gold Star for being our first male embroidery artist on Stitchery Stories.

Susan Weeks chats with Adam about:

• Loving Instagram for getting discovered and connecting with other artists
• Using antique frames to inspire textile art
• After an unplanned Fine Art degree, developing an interest in embroidery
• Teaching himself embroidery via YouTube and old books
• Being inspired by nature and books
• Using versatile woollen fabric and recycled velvet as a contrast to the insects and spooky subjects
• Building up textures with knots and beads
• Opportunities to exhibit with the Light Grey Art Lab in Minneapolis, USA
• Appearing on Kirsty Allsop's Handmade Christmas TV programme
• Being featured on Martha Stewart's Blog
• What do Adam's mates think to all these embroidery antics?
• Virtual communities making it easier to share our work and inspirations
• Spiders in the coffee shop?
• Collaboration with fashion designer Hogan McLaughlin

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/adampritchett

Visit: www.apritchett.co.uk

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

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

Tweet: https://www.twitter.com/aj_pritchett

Read: https://www.marthastewart.com/1522303/adam-pritchett-stitchtober-needlework-series

Other places & people mentioned:

Light Grey Arts Lab, Minneapolis, USA

http://lightgreyartlab.com/

Hogan McLaughlin

http://hogan-mclaughlin.com/

Jane Sanders: Textile Portraits Of Iconic Pop Stars

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Jane Sanders shares her vibrant and exciting textile portraits of very iconic pop stars. The stars Jane chooses for her portraits are famous across a range of genres, eras and styles, so there is always something fresh about her work. And even if you don't like all of their music - you will love the artistry and stitching that Jane creates... in her kitchen!

Listen as Jane shares her inspirations, techniques, and how everything always comes in useful eventually.

Susan Weeks chats with Jane about:

• Instagram is brilliant for textile artists and growing our audience
• Textile art as a legitimate art form
• Rock n roll applique!
• Adding features to make portraits realistic
• Keeping a tin of glass eyes in the kitchen
• Learning handicrafts as a child and developing those skills into 'something else' that can be viewed on a gallery wall
• What to do with wadding and black enamel spray paint
• Using stuff lying about the house and collecting more
• Working towards her latest exhibition
• Seeing 41 pieces of her work all together at her exhibition at Arts Centre Washington in late 2017
• Making the most of our time
• What happened to Iggy Pop?
• Would you like a scorpion as a free gift?

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at https://www.stitcherystories.com/janesanders

Like: https://www.facebook.com/stitchininthekitchen73/

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

Read: https://www.mrxstitch.com/jane-sanders/

Email: [email protected]

Other places mentioned: Arts Centre Washington http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/

The People's Theatre, Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne https://www.peoplestheatre.co.uk/

Ann Small: Layered Cloth and Quirky Characters

Today on the Stitchery Stories textile art podcast, Ann Small shares her techniques, inspiration and current excitement. Describing herself as a typical Pisces swimming in opposite directions...

Ann does indeed have 2 very different aspects to her work and creativity. There are her colourful reverse applique based, large hangings which she describes as her serious textile art work. Then there are her very individual character dolls which she makes to look very old. These are her 'fun' outlets for her creativity.

Listen as Ann explains how the serious and the fun aspects of her work have evolved.

Susan Weeks chats with Ann about:

• Being taken over by making character dolls
• Using bones to make other characters
• Always making something in a creative household
• From sparkly tap dance costumes for daughters into a fancy dress costume business
• From book idea to book publication
• Fancy dress to historical costume and workshops
• Does anyone love the M25?
• Inspirations all around including the patterns on your cat!
• Reverse applique as a strong foundation to 'serious work'
• Fun vs serious work
• The story of Mowgli's toys
• Being visible so prospective buyers find your art
• When art goes up in flames
• Planning for exhibitions
• Planning how to hang your exhibition space at large shows
• Winged cats... wings off, wings on.. what's next?

For this episode... View Show Notes, Links & Photographs at http://www.stitcherystories.com/annsmall

Visit: http://www.asmalldesign.co.uk

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

Read: Layered Cloth published by Search Press