Stitch Wish Radio

Send a text In this episode, I wanted to expand upon something Haley said in the last episode, making art that doesn't get seen by others. Maybe not never, but at least giving your creative practice the space to exist without external input. I share a few ways that I like to explore this theme of creative intimacy in my own artistic practice! Mentioned in this episode: My Winter 2021 Workshop...

Send a text "...not everything you make needs to be shared; having privacy with your work is kinda sexy!" One of my favorite take-aways from my conversation with Haley, ceramicist / dirt queen and the maker behind @studio.hecha!   We talk about many things, among them:  - how Haley discovered her personal style - recommendations for discovering your own style, and the art of authenticity...

Send a text What an honor to be able to interview one of my idols for this episode of Stitch Wish Radio! Alexandra Hart is the author of the cult classic Native Funk and Flash, one of the original founders of Folkwear Patterns, as well as a counter-culture textile artist in her own right, located in Northern California. This episode is a slower pace, so please enjoy the contrast from our modern so...

Send a text No matter how hard we fight against it... winter is coming. Even if you live in a temperate climate, the seasons are shifting, even if you're in a different hemisphere than I am - the seasons are shifting (and winter will, eventually, return).  With this turn to the next quarter of the year, it's time to look at the coming few months and dream up how they look, and make decis...

Send a text I had the pleasure of talking about re-useing and recycling textiles for both art and business this week with Used Clothing Alchemist Crispina ffrench! She is an environmental textile artist, teacher, and coach working with textile waste to build environmental awareness, create a healthy lifestyle, teach by example, and provide the marketplace with lovely home furnishings, clothing, an...

Send a text Long before written language, our species learned to communicate through symbols. As children, we learn to identify images before we can speak. And when we reach for knowledge beyond our own culture, symbols allow us to transcend the limitations of language. This episode scratches the surface on the idea of working with symbols and archetypes, both in our artwork and in our personal tr...

Send a text Despite the fact that I don't really relate to any specific religious scripture, this connection between artistic expression and divine dedication is one that I feel deeply drawn to. So this episode is a little bit about the spiritual nature of creative acts.  I also want to leave you with some actual tools, so I'm sharing a few light suggestions for approaching your creative...

Send a text Let's talk about one of the most powerful tools in the artists studio - creating in our minds that which does not already exist in the world! In this episode, I talk about what VISUALIZATION is to me, how it helps us access non-ordinary consciousness, and work towards creating what we do want. I also share some techniques for enhancing your ability to visualize, and some fun ways...

Send a text So excited to have had the opportunity to interview Tessa Perlow , a textile artist based in New Jersey who makes work themed around magic, nature, mythology & love . She works on repurposed fabrics & garments with a focus on embroidery and beading. We talk about... - Tessa's creative practice and the evolution of her embroidery skills - Upcycling, and Tessa's relatio...

Send a text A little about the process of making my recent book, Mystical Stitches! I also shared a bit about the process in this IGTV post but this episode goes a little more into detail about the emotional journey and all of the epiphanies along the way!  Making a book epiphanies - the short list: - Listen to your creative urges; don't wait until they "make sense" - Send the email...

Send a text I love learning about other people's creative evolution and artistic process, so I shared a bit of my own, as well as some ideas to consider if you're looking for new ways to think of your own artistic process. In this episode: - my personal creative process - the journey of how my art and spirituality merged - some ideas for opening up creatively - the Sufi story of Fatima t...

Send a text Let's talk about how clothes are designed (and why) and how we can make more sustainable choices. In this episode, I talk about: - the difference between modern and ancient clothing construction - my lifelong love affair with clothing design - the problem with the $40 dress - 5 tips for making more sustainable choices when shopping - my online course, Soft Work Links mentioned: Si...

Send a text The thing about inspiration is, its hard to pinpoint, hard to guide others to, hard to explain... but having studied the creative process for quite a while, I've picked up some ideas about inspiration that I'm sharing in this episode. I discuss:    - not sharing your magic beans with the skeptic - reverence and focused attention - allowing intuition to lead the way even thoug...

Send a text In conversation with Lise Silva, we talk about: Finding inspiration through internal dream lands Making time for meditative thought (no matter what)  the world of wovenutopia: dreaming up new possibilities the weird world of sharing our art in an internet culture that prefers homogeny and predictability Rehumanizing our relationship with social media The Mariah Fantasy Portal (doesn&ap...

Send a text This episode ties together the past two episodes - reuse and play - by exploring the value of textiles. How we use textiles as a form of play and expression, and how we can bring value back to this artform by honoring the forms of cloth we already have in our lives through the act of mending. Mentioned in this episode: Mending E-Zine   Soft Work Course (opens again in August) White Coa...

Send a text Let's talk about how play and rest are integral to our sense of well being  - and our ability to adapt to stress and solve problems. Basically, they're the free at-home doctor available to us all, if we can figure out how to stop working long enough to let them happen.  After a heavy month of work, I hit a wall... and PLAY and REST were there to save me! These unquantifiable...

Send a text This episode is a little bit about re-use, in many different catagories - a little bit about textiles, a little bit about food, and a little bit about gardening... this is about how all of the choices we make within these arenas influence not only the environment but also the health and wellness of communities around the globe. I've provided some suggestions, some statistics, and...

Send a text So excited for this weeks episode where I got to interview my good friend and roommate from college, Mekenzie Kay ! Besides being a sparkling ball of delight and wisdom and sarcasm, Mekenzie is an artist and a children's art teacher.  In this episode, we talk about: - learning new art forms - fear of failure (and fear of sewing machines) - stitching as a meditation - dealing with...

Send a text One of my FAVORITE topics - talisman! I discuss what a talisman is, ways you can make a talisman and where in your life you can use your talisman - as well as some historical examples and my own personal favorites. Mentioned in this episode: Planetary Archetypes (cosmologist Richard Tarnas explains these wonderfully)  Phsychologist Carl Jung   My Embroidered Talisman course, Magic Thre...

Send a text I had the pleasure of speaking with Zak Foster, textile artist and memory quilt maker, about: - the power of improvisation - finding inspiration through repurposed materials - building creative communities - time management and organization (from a Virgo!) - tiny quilts as talisman Mentioned in this episode: Zak's Patreon Zak's Newsletter, "Motivation for the Maker"...

Send a text It occurred to me that some folks might have ended up here and not have any idea who I am... So this episode I introduce myself, Christi Johnson, and share a little about where I came from, what kind of work I do in the world, and why I started this podcast! Mentioned in this episode: Mixed Color website Magic Threads course Zak Foster is next week's interview! 

Send a text How to move through a creative project (or learning process) when fear has you stuck. I'll share my tips for how to deal with the fear of starting something new, and how to deal with the fear of FINISHING something (which often looks like procrastination)! Mentioned in this episode: Mixed Color Journal UNSTUCK Zine with Zak Foster Sign up for The Embroidery Portal if you want to g...