NeedleXChange

In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Deborah Simon . Deborah is a Brooklyn-based sculptor and embroiderer known for her hauntingly beautiful bears and rabbits that blend faux fur, taxidermy and anatomy. We talk about her early influences, how she went from painting to sculpture, and why she’s so fascinated by the tension between the cuddly teddy bear and the deadly wild bear - plus how ca...

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...

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. Holl...

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 work...

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 cos...

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, h...

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, h...

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 grie...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ev...

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 – an...

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 tha...

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 (...

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...

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 storytelli...

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 unexpect...

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 accor...

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 Ro...

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 in...

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, t...

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 everythi...