In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Holly Searle. Holly is a visual artist who transforms vintage tea towels into striking, subversive works of textile art, In this second part of our NeedleXChange, the conversation turns fully to Holly Searle’s Tea Towel Project - a growing collection of over 180 vintage textiles transformed into bold, felt-lettered artworks. Holly discusses the power of protest through domestic materials, how she balances sharp commentary with playfulness, and why she...
Jul 07, 2025•47 min•Ep. 97
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Holly Searle. Holly is a visual artist who transforms vintage tea towels into striking, subversive works of textile art, In the first part of the NeedleXChange, Jamie speaks with visual artist Holly Searle about the origins of her creativity - from childhood memories and charity shop treasures to her fascination with nostalgic and domestic objects. Holly shares how personal history, humour, and a love of the overlooked inform her practice, and we begi...
Jun 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 96
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Hattie McGill . Hattie is an embroidery artist and costume specialist whose goldwork has graced screens from Doctor Strange to Bridgerton. In this second part, Hattie talks about pivoting her practice during the pandemic by launching a series of goldwork embroidery kits, balancing studio life with film commissions, and the joys — and realities — of working in the embroidery industry today. She also shares what fuels her creativity, from gothic novels ...
Jun 23, 2025•24 min•Ep. 95
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Hattie McGill . Hattie is an embroidery artist and costume specialist whose goldwork has graced screens from Doctor Strange to Bridgerton. In this first part, we explore Hattie’s training at the Royal School of Needlework, her unexpected leap from furniture restoration into embroidery, and the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship that goes into cinematic costume design. For another artist whose embroidery skills are Royal School of Needlework approved, che...
Jun 16, 2025•39 min•Ep. 94
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Niamh Wimperis , an embroidery artist and craft entrepreneur known for blending personal experience with traditional needlework techniques. We trace her evolution — from early frustrations with artistic gatekeeping to discovering embroidery as both a personal refuge and a political statement. Niamh shares how lived experience, including chronic pain, has shaped her work, and reflects on projects like This Is Art and her collaborative blanket fort ins...
Jun 09, 2025•59 min•Ep. 93
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Niamh Wimperis , an embroidery artist and craft entrepreneur known for blending personal experience with traditional needlework techniques. We trace her evolution — from early frustrations with artistic gatekeeping to discovering embroidery as both a personal refuge and a political statement. Niamh shares how lived experience, including chronic pain, has shaped her work, and reflects on projects like This Is Art and her collaborative blanket fort ins...
Jun 02, 2025•29 min•Ep. 92
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Bren Ahearn . Bren Ahearn is a needlework artist using traditional samplers to unpack masculinity, memory and social conditioning. In the second half of my conversation with Bren Ahearn, we delve into the politics of craft, the evolution of his large-scale samplers, and the emotional realities behind making art that speaks to violence, identity and grief. If you were fascinated by my conversation with Kate Kretz in which we explore ways in which needl...
May 26, 2025•45 min•Ep. 91
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Bren Ahearn . Bren Ahearn is a needlework artist using traditional samplers to unpack masculinity, memory and social conditioning. In this first part of our conversation. we discuss the concept of magnified moments, early experiences of gender policing, and how these formative events shape identity and artistic voice. Bren also shares how his shift from weaving to embroidery became a way to challenge the gendered expectations of craft itself. If you e...
May 19, 2025•38 min•Ep. 90
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Owen Kelly. Owen is a fifth-generation embroiderer whose vivid, hand-stitched works blend folk art, cultural symbolism, and personal narrative — all anchored by a lifelong love of textiles and storytelling. In this first part of our conversation, Owen shares his early love of stitching, memories stitched into denim, and how his family history shaped his lifelong relationship with embroidery. It's a journey through punk rock, biker jackets, and the mov...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 89
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Owen Kelly. Owen is a fifth-generation embroiderer whose vivid, hand-stitched works blend folk art, cultural symbolism, and personal narrative — all anchored by a lifelong love of textiles and storytelling. In this first part of our conversation, Owen shares his early love of stitching, memories stitched into denim, and how his family history shaped his lifelong relationship with embroidery. It's a journey through punk rock, biker jackets, and the mov...
May 05, 2025•39 min•Ep. 88
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Stephanie Kelly Clark. Stephanie is a contemporary embroidery artist whose work transforms humble homes and everyday moments into rich visual stories stitched with painterly precision. In this first part of our conversation, we explore her creative upbringing, the role of art in parenting, and her evolving relationship with embroidery as a medium. From homemade Halloween costumes to thread-based storytelling, Stephanie shares how her domestic life and...
Apr 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 87
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Stephanie Kelly Clark. Stephanie is a contemporary embroidery artist whose work transforms humble homes and everyday moments into rich visual stories stitched with painterly precision. In this first part of our conversation, we explore her creative upbringing, the role of art in parenting, and her evolving relationship with embroidery as a medium. From homemade Halloween costumes to thread-based storytelling, Stephanie shares how her domestic life and...
Apr 21, 2025•33 min•Ep. 86
Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Neil Twist. In this half, we go deeper into Neil’s research on historic Australian samplers and the stories they hold – from 18th-century orphanages to the hidden histories of everyday stitching. We talk about the moral messages embedded in needlework, the lack of textiles in traditional art history education, and how Neil’s thesis is starting to evolve as he uncovers more. There’s also a good bit of chat about samplers as meditative practice, tec...
Apr 14, 2025•38 min•Ep. 85
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Neil Twist, an academic and self-confessed beginner stitcher based in Melbourne. Neil’s just a year into his embroidery journey, but already he’s exploring big questions about masculinity, perception, and what it means to stitch as a man. We talk about the courage it takes to embroider in public, the reactions you get – both expected and surprising – and how those quiet moments with needle and thread can spark real social reflection. Neil’s experience...
Apr 07, 2025•37 min•Ep. 84
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Sarah Corbett. Sarah Corbett is founder of the Craftivist Collective and an advocate for change via gentle activism. This is a recording of a half-hour interview that I did with Sarah at the Stitch Festival in London on Saturday 22nd March 2025. We talk about craftivism, how Sarah become an advocate for change making and explore how to make a change that has an impact in your world. Links: Website: craftivist-collective.com Instagram: sarahpcorbett In...
Mar 31, 2025•28 min•Ep. 83
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview CARO . CARO is a multidisciplinary artist who intertwines metalwork and embroidery to explore themes of time, devotion, and material storytelling. This is the second half of my conversation with CARO and we move beyond materials and making to dive into the philosophical and social layers of Caro’s work. We discuss the history of textiles in capitalism (!), the emotional weight of long-term projects, and the balance between artistic ambition and creati...
Mar 24, 2025•46 min•Ep. 82
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview CARO. CARO is a multidisciplinary artist who intertwines metalwork and embroidery to explore themes of time, devotion, and material storytelling. In this first part of our conversation, CARO shares her journey - from early explorations in jewellery-making to discovering the expressive potential of embroidery. We discuss the contrasts between working in metal and textiles, the influence of haute couture techniques, and the patience required to craft de...
Mar 17, 2025•41 min•Ep. 81
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Vanessa Marr , an artist, researcher, and lecturer whose work explores the invisible labour of women through textiles. In this half of our conversation, we dive into the challenges people face when learning embroidery, including how gender and past experiences shape their confidence with stitching. We explore how embroidery can be a tool for storytelling and activism, and Vanessa shares insights from her PhD research on the connection between textile...
Mar 10, 2025•30 min•Ep. 80
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Vanessa Marr , an artist, researcher, and lecturer whose work explores the invisible labour of women through textiles. Her long-running project, Domestic Dusters , invites people to embroider their personal experiences onto the humble yellow duster, transforming it into a powerful storytelling medium. We discuss the origins of the project, the unexpected history of dusters, and how embroidery can reclaim narratives of domesticity and gender roles. Ti...
Mar 03, 2025•36 min•Ep. 79
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I continue my conversation with Rosie James , a machine embroidery artist who stitches everyday moments into intricate textile pieces. In Part 2, we dive into her technical process, from working with transparent fabrics to engineering large-scale embroidery. Rosie also shares insights into her evolving artistic practice—and her unexpected love of playing the accordion! Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:00:45 – Engineering large-scale embroidery: hoops, tension, an...
Feb 24, 2025•40 min•Ep. 78
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Rosie James , a textile artist renowned for her free-motion embroidery that captures fleeting human moments. Rosie’s work explores movement, liminality, and the unseen narratives of crowds, often stitching figures frozen in time from photographs she takes in public spaces. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro 00:01:46 – Absurdism, liminality, and waiting in Rosie’s work 00:10:27 – Documenting movement through stitch 00:19:35 – The role of loose threads in ca...
Feb 17, 2025•41 min•Ep. 77
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Alison Carpenter-Hughes. In part two of our conversation, Alison dives deeper into the emotional and symbolic aspects of her work. We discuss her connection to Leicester’s textile heritage, her ventures into community art, and how she plans to push the boundaries of her practice with bold colours, symbolism, and new materials. Plus, we get a glimpse into her personal world - her love of rock music, film favourites, and the books that inspire her crea...
Feb 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 76
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Alison Carpenter-Hughes. Alison is a machine embroidery artist known for her intricate, emotionally resonant portraits. Her work explores texture, layering, and the interplay of colour to bring stitched images to life. In this episode, she shares her journey from discovering free-motion embroidery to refining her craft, discussing the creative risks, technical challenges, and personal stories woven into her work. If you like free motion embroidery, t...
Feb 03, 2025•49 min•Ep. 75
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Harriet Riddell . Harriet is a globally celebrated free-motion embroidery artist who brings her sewing machine to life in unexpected places, capturing the essence of people, places, and stories through her unique art. Known for her adventurous spirit, Harriet has travelled the world—embroidering bustling Indian markets, serene UK woodlands, and everything in between. This is the first part of our NeedleXChange, and if you enjoy Harriet's work then lis...
Jan 27, 2025•42 min•Ep. 74
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Harriet Riddell . Harriet is a globally celebrated free-motion embroidery artist who brings her sewing machine to life in unexpected places, capturing the essence of people, places, and stories through her unique art. Known for her adventurous spirit, Harriet has travelled the world—embroidering bustling Indian markets, serene UK woodlands, and everything in between. This is the first part of our NeedleXChange, and if you enjoy Harriet's work then lis...
Jan 20, 2025•43 min•Ep. 73
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Betsy Greer . Betsy Greer is a writer, speaker and advocate for the benefits of craft as a tool for change. In this episode, Betsy shares how she came to be a craft legend, the value of Joy as a crafting direction and we touch on Betsy's cultural favourites. If you like this use of needlework, my NeedleXChange with Liz Kueneke might also give you food for thought. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:30 - The Birth of Craftivism 00:07:53 - Exploring Per...
Jan 13, 2025•42 min•Ep. 72
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Betsy Greer . Betsy Greer is a writer, speaker and advocate for the benefits of craft as a tool for change. In this episode, Betsy shares how this idea came to life, how crafting can be a tool for empowerment, and why it’s such a powerful form of storytelling. This conversation goes pretty deep pretty fast but it was a great opportunity to dive into the topic that I couldn't miss. If you like this use of needlework, my NeedleXChange with Kate Kretz mi...
Jan 06, 2025•45 min•Ep. 71
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Andrew Crummy .. Andrew Crummy is the designer and project manager of the Great Tapestry of Scotland. This is the second part of our NeedleXChange and we talk about some of the other Tapestry projects that Andrew has been involved with, including the Dundee Tapestry, the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry and the Cancer Tapestry. It's a great chat that really reinforces the value in communal stitching projects and visual storytelling. For a similar conversati...
Dec 16, 2024•46 min•Ep. 70
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Andrew Crummy .. Andrew Crummy is the designer and project manager of the Great Tapestry of Scotland and in this first part of our NeedleXChange we dive into the story of the Tapestry, from inception to completion. The Tapestry is a fantastic project that illustrates the history of Scotland over 160 hand-embroidered panels. It was created between Spring 2012 and September 2013 and was hand sewn by 1000 stitchers. This is a fascinating insight into a p...
Dec 09, 2024•39 min•Ep. 69
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Salley Mavor. Salley Mavor is a mixed media artist whose folk-art inspired vignettes tell stories of light and dark. This is the second part of our NeedleXChange and we discuss how Salley's more political work taught her the power of social media for better or worse, We also find out more about the world of miniatures and we find out about Salley's favourite music, books and all that good stuff! If you like creative world-builders, you will love our e...
Dec 02, 2024•39 min•Ep. 68
