TextileStories

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me about lace is how diverse it is. As a word it might seem limited to many; but as a family of techniques the scope for experimentation and creative expression is limitless. In this episode I wanted to give you a personal introduction to each of the artists/designers who will be presenting at the symposium in June. Behind each piece of work there is a story and a person who believes in the value of making lace by hand. To read more about each of the presenters and find links to their websites and social media profiles click here: https://www.doilyfreezone.net/artists-2022 To see the full 2022 workshop programme click here: https://www.doilyfreezone.net/workshops-2022 And if you would like to listen with a slideshow you can find the YouTube version here: https://youtu.be/wnbqqsSmYag Cover Image by Andrea Brewster

The last 22 months of the pandemic have had such a profound effect on the way we connect with each other and share our work with the world. In the case of TextileSupport and Doily Free Zone this has meant some HUGE (but very exciting!) changes. TextileSupport & the TextileStories podcast have been retired to allow me to devote more time and energy to the new digital version of DFZ. In this first mini-episode of the Doily Free Zone podcast I wanted to explain some of these changes and outline the changes that I have made. Looking forward to this new journey with you all!

Two weeks have passed since the first online edition of Doily Free Zone and I wanted to share 21 lessons I learned along the way... When the Covid-19 pandemic took hold in March last year many things were cancelled; workshops, exhibitions, tours...and in that overwhelming wave of uncertainty the 2021 Doily Free Zone symposium was nearly cancelled as well... BUT then I realised something; there was a general air of defeat creeping into my life and into the world that surrounded me so I decided to turn the ship around and transform the symposium and lace camp into an online event. The original plan for the 2021 edition was to do the event live in Italy and to stream the symposium for those who could not attend...so there were already digital considerations in the works, however the process of taking what would have been quite a small and intimate event online was a journey full of surprises! Join me for a chat about 21 things that I learned over the last year, I hope that this episode will be useful for others who find themselves in the position to be piviting into the online space or who would like to create a digital event :) Learn more about DFZ here: https://www.doilyfreezone.net/ Would you prefer to watch? https://youtu.be/HEsyP2K1fVI Music: Add And, by Broke For Free brokeforfree.com/

Some textiles have such a unique, magical quality that it seems inevitable that they should be shrouded in mystery; sea silk, or byssus as it is also known, is one such fibre. The extraordinary golden thread spun from the beards of giant Mediterranean mussels has been known since ancient times but has always remained one of the worlds rarest fibres due to the complex nature of its production. In recent years it has garnered quite a bit of media attention with stories of “last woman in the world” to work this precious fibre…particularly on social media. But is this really the case? In this episode I wanted to dive into the history of sea silk; what it is, where it comes from and who the women are who still spin and weave it. Below you can see the links to the papers and websites I referred to in this episode: You can read more about the Sea Silk project at the Natural History Museum in Basel here: http://muschelseide.ch/ You can also read Felicitas Maeder’s fascinating paper on the etymology of the term byssus here: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=texterm And a more general paper about byssus in the Mediterranean here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321943912_Landscape_of_Sea-Silk_Traces_of_traditional_production_around_Mediterranean_Sea The history of Sea Silk on Sant’Antioco (blog and facebook page coordinated by Antonella Senis): http://lastoriadelbisso.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/332760296881499/about The Pes sisters: https://www.facebook.com/sorellepes/ Arianna Pintus: https://www.facebook.com/filidiarianna/ Marianna Pischedda (an article about her work): https://www.ehabitat.it/2017/11/01/chiara-vigo-non-e-ultima-maestra-del-bisso/ Would you prefer to watch with images? https://youtu.be/sXz1vYOrU1o Music: Add And, by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

For any creative person there is nothing better than being in the state of flow; when you are so engaged with your work that time disappears and there is no other place you would rather be. This is a true sign of being on the right path, of having found your special creative outlet and it is a beautiful thing. This week on TextileStories it was wonderful to chat with London-based Italian designer Giacomo Bevanati about his creative journey from a background in product design and architecture to a freelance artistic career making exquisite wearable sculptures and collaborating with fashion designers, dancers, and other performers. Join us to hear about how he instinctively developed his technique, overcame self-doubt and found a way of creating art with which he is so at ease that he describes himself as a “human 3D printer”. You can find out more about Giacomo and his work on his website: http://www.giacomobevanati.com/ Would you prefer to watch with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/h-cbmU1jsxM To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog-1 Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free: www.brokeforfree.com/

Have you ever started working in a medium, transferring your approach from another only to discover that suddenly you have passed through the looking glass and into a whole new creative world? In this episode, Australian artist Paula Hart shares her journey working on large-scale public art pieces in a variety of media such as painted murals and laser cut panels to discovering Joep Verhoeven’s Lacefence which launched her into a whole new way of thinking and working. Paula explains her initial approach to working with the Lacefence team as thinking of the areas of different stitches as patterned fabrics in an applique, to gaining a deeper technical knowledge of lace structure while working on her extraordinary architectural piece "Jacaranda" in the Perth suburb of Mount Pleasant. The incredible beauty of this artwork led to it winning the Coda Worx 2020 “Commercial Art” prize and has introduced Paula to the wonderfully supportive international network of lace makers and enthusiasts with whom this work resonates profoundly. It’s a great story of where threads, or wires can lead. You can find out more about Paula and her work on her Coda Worx Profile: https://www.codaworx.com/profile/?paulalaiinet-net-au/ Or follow her on Instagram @paulalahart Would you prefer to listen with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/U7QKUBk_X9M To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog-1 Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Lace is something which for many, conjures up images of doilies or Elizabethan collars or Marie Antoinette all covered in sumptuous ruffles…but it is also a unique and very special artform which is alive and well thanks to the innovative work of artists like Veronika Irvine who joined me to discuss her explorations of the possibilities of algorithmic lace. Passionate about moving lace forward, Veronika says that “we are always associating this past history kind of thing to lace as though it’s not alive” and that in the short, 500 year history of the technique we have hardly begun to harness all of its potential. In this conversation she discusses her early encounters with lace and computers and how she has developed a unique approach to the craft of bobbin lace which embraces both the handmade and the computer generated. If you have ever been curious about the process of creating algorithmic art or how traditional crafts can evolve in unexpected directions through collaboration with scientists, engineers and mathematicians, then this episode is for you! You can find out more about Veronika and her work on her website: https://tesselace.com/ Would you prefer to listen with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/e7uJDQmoHOU Check out Veronika’s profile as well as the complete symposium programme for DFZ 2021 at: https://www.doilyfreezone.net/ To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog-1 Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Welcome to the new season of TextileStories. I have a line up of fascinating and diverse stories for you this season and am so delighted to open with this conversation with Australian sculptor Anita Larkin. Anita’s sculptures bring together an extraordinary combination of materials and sensations to explore the themes of mending, healing, memory, and our relationship to familiar objects. Her sensitivity to the energy which objects hold and how she conserves and interprets it results in unexpected juxtapositions of things and feelings, sparking conversations and evoking strong emotional reactions to the work. I personally found the exhibition “Come to me without a word” deeply moving and quite challenging; it challenged the meanings I attached to ordinary objects, the way in which they relate to my body and that melancholy – and very human – longing for a sense of wholeness. But the exhibition is also about healing and there is something very comforting about the care which Anita takes of the objects in it saying “I suspect that brokeness is actually the natural state of things. We’re probably only fleetingly whole at any one stage”. A gentle and kind thought, particularly in these unsettled times. The walk through of the exhibition “Come to me without a word” with Anita: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O_DsRn2RDw&feature=emb_logo A video with Anita discussing the work in studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83qQiBD0lFc&feature=emb_logo You can find out more about Anita and her work on her website: https://www.anitalarkin.com/ Or follow her on Instagram: @anita_larkin_sculptor Would you prefer to listen with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/fsBhodT9AeY To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog-1 Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Sydney-based artist Michele Morcos would describe herself as a mark maker. With her initial background in drawing and painting, learning the art of coil weaving some years ago from a group of indigenous weavers gave her a way to take her mark making into 3-dimensions. From a textile perspective it was fascinating to hear how Michele has absorbed weaving into her toolbox of mark making skills and she combines both traditional materials like raffia which essentially serve as a kind of canvas, with found materials from the urban environment which she uses to draw upon her woven forms. Considerations such as the accessibility of the materials and workability of the scale are interwoven with Michele’s personal journey through health challenges and are a timely reminder that making with what we have where we are can be a beautiful gift of healing in difficult times. It was such a delight to chat with Michele and I hope that you enjoy her thoughts on creativity and interconnection as much as I did. Learn more about Michele’s work at: https://www.michelemorcos.com/ or follow her BEAUTIFUL Instagram @tinytrappings Would you prefer to watch? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/VWfWcwCeOwA For more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

This week we are back with an episode outlining the changes which will be happening so that we can continue to connect during this time of social distancing. For our followers around the world we will probably be closer as the coronavirus pandemic pushes me to get over my inhibitions and really show up on social media; speaking face to face on YouTube and livestreaming on other sites. Apart from moving our classes online I have a few other ideas about how we can support our community during this challenging period…including a digital artist’s residency! Tune in to find out more about our plans for the coming months. And so that we can learn more about how we can help you through this we would be so grateful if you could fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RBDXHCF Prefer to watch? You can tune in via YouTube here: https://youtu.be/6jcEfAlzpI8

The work of South African artist Kim Lieberman takes us on a journey; seeking to investigate communication and interaction between people her work has an extraordinary global vision which dissects figuratively and at times literally the currency of connection. Through drawing, sculpture, stitching and lace, Lieberman explores responsibility, generosity and social response. Using deeply significant materials such as money, postage stamps and lace she challenges us to think differently about the meanings we attach to these materials across cultures and time. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with Kim for this episode as she shares insights into her practice as well as some of her current work which is part of the inaugural exhibition at Finkelstein Gallery in Melbourne until September 28, 2019. You can find out more about Isabel and her work on her website: https://www.kimlieberman.com Or follow her on Instagram: @kimlieberman_ You can find out more about Finkelstein Gallery via their website: https://finkelsteingallery.com/ Or on Instagram: @finkelsteingallery Would you prefer to listen with a slideshow? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/IPAF85HtXf4 To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Bringing together two of the major fields of traditional craft & design – Textiles and Wood – designer Isabel Avendaño Hazbún creates functional and nonfunctional art objects which open up new dialogues about material, dress and identity. Her innovative and often surprising use of materials offers a refreshing and unique take on both crafts which is continually evolving into a rich and complex creative language. Whether she is making objects for the home or to be worn on the body Isabel’s work pushes us to think differently about the relationship between objects and our bodies. In this episode of TextileStories Isabel joins me to discuss her creative process and her current exhibition GIANTS which is on at the Australian Design Centre in Sydney until September 25, 2019. You can find out more about Isabel and her work on her website: http://www.isabel-avendano-hazbun.com/ Or follow her on Instagram: @isabel_avendano_hazbun Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/BClY2hGWpYc To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Sometimes an artist travels far and wide to discover that in the end all roads lead home. Jordanian designer and artist Ishraq Zraikat has had an incredible professional journey so far; studying architecture in the United States, textile design in Italy, working as a designer in architecture and fashion and even as a design journalist in New York her travels and cross cultural experiences have led her to have a unique insight into the world of design in three very different cultures and industries. Now having returned to Amman, where she grew up she is digging deep into the roots of Jordanian textile culture and seeking ways to bring this tradition into a sustainable future. In this episode Ishraq shares some of her experiences of working across cultures and continents, and some of her new projects including a campaign to bring local Jordanian wool into use and to revisit the beautiful traditional Bedouin rugs of Jordan in a way that brings them into the world of contemporary design and fashion. Aside from the themes of industry and design this episode touches on the deeper themes of cultural identity and homecoming. Finding a new way to connect with one’s culture of origin and is a particularly relevant conversation for those who (myself included), have divided their lives between two countries and are seeking to reconnect and reestablish themselves in their country of origin. This episode is quite long and has an epic quality so make yourselves a pot of tea and get ready to hear some amazing stories and a very personal approach to design. You can find out more about Ishraq and her work on her website: http://ishraqzraikat.com/ Or follow her on Instagram: @ishraqzraikat There are also two short videos about Ishraq’s work here: About her textile journey and learning to weave Bedouin rugs: https://vimeo.com/118540936 From the presentation of her first handwoven prayer rug: https://vimeo.com/179542420 Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/GwM6WbFWYLY To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Love, passion, courage, triumph, transcendence…there are eternal themes which are common to art across cultures and centuries. Another eternal theme, death, has been a source of inspiration to many artists and so it should perhaps not be so surprising that an organization which arranges funerals should seek the collaboration of an artist in residence, and yet it somehow feels taboo. This week on TextileStories I had the immense pleasure of speaking with artist Michele Elliot about her role as artist in residence at Tender Funerals, a non-profit community organization that organizes funerals and support for grieving families. The role of handwork and sewing circles as a tool for helping people through difficult times and to reconnect with others, and the tender art of giving comfort to perfect strangers simply because that is part of being human. Join us as we discuss Michele’s experience, the topics of death and grief and the beautiful body of work which has come out of this creative journey. You can see more of Michele’s work on her website: https://micheleelliot.com/ Or follow her on Instagram: @michele_elliot_artist To learn more about Tender Funerals check out their website here: http://tenderfunerals.org/ Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vhm24a1y0k0 To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

It is the best feeling in the world to see a student graduate and find their true path and the joy it brings me to see Leesha Arora, founder and creative director of Prune India, finding so much success and fulfilment in her work is priceless. I first met Leesha in 2012 when she came to Milan with a group of her classmates to do Summer School. It was clear that while her classmates were working towards their graduation with the intention of designing for some of India’s major textile companies, Leesha was different. She wanted to do her own thing and was trying to find her niche. And what a beautiful niche she found! In 2013 she founded Prune India, a company which makes bespoke floral jewellery for brides, particularly for the Mehendi and Haldi (henna and turmeric) ceremonies which are a part of traditional Hindu weddings. Taking her lifelong passion for weddings and her gift for helping brides to find just the right things for their special day, Leesha has been able to found and grow a successful company (which has now become 4 shops) with it’s flagship store in Delhi’s trendy fashion district Shahpur Jat. It was wonderful to chat with Leesha about her work and how she created a space for herself within the colourful, sumptuous and quite competitive bridal fashion market. You can follow Prune’s luscious Instagram feed: @pruneindia Or find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pruneindia/ Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4nWGMwICDb4 To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Some of you know me as a teacher & researcher, others as a tour leader or as a blogger and now pod-caster, but I am also a cancer survivor and as today is international cancer survivor’s day I wanted to do a short episode that I have had in the back of my mind for a couple of years… So now that I am a whole 32cm from my chemo coiffure, I thought it was time to have a chat. About the hats. Over the last few years a number of people have asked me if there is some sort of gift that would be of comfort to friends or family members going through cancer treatment and most of them have been surprised when I have answered “anything but a hat or bandanna!”. So I thought it might be useful to explain this based on my own experience and what I learned chatting with other patients in the chemo ward. Now, to be clear, I get it, a hat seems like the most obvious thing to make…I mean there is an obvious vulnerability that we see in chemo patients, when they lose their hair it is a natural impulse to want to wrap them up and protect them and that is generally in the form of a hat. But it is a little more complicated than that. It is incredibly confronting when all of your hair falls out because you are sick. There is a sense of loss of control over you own life which can be exacerbated by others trying to dress you. The thing about hair-loss is that it is a very visible, public sign of the illness the patient is experiencing and how they choose to deal with that is extremely personal. Some patients are happy to channel their inner Yul Brunner or Sinead O’Connor while others have special wigs fitted so no one need know what they are going through…then in-between there are many types of hats, scarves and bandannas which patients can choose from depending on their personal style. The problem with gifting hats is that it takes that control out of the patients hands at a time that they need to hang on to any small choices that they can – hats also sit differently when you don’t have any hair and it is tricky to find the right one, I personally got through with my husband’s collection of plain black beanies which were discreet and perfect. The other tricky thing is that sometimes in an attempt to cheer the patient up people get a bit carried away with their hat creations or choices using bright colours, quirky patterns or giant flowers which just draw more attention to the fact that they have lost their hair and can leave them feeling that they are somewhere between being in fancy dress or maybe even a bit like a teapot. So in the interests of sparing everyone an embarrassing experience I thought it might be useful to make some suggestions of alternative handmade gifts which can show your loved one that you are there for them at this difficult time, and you can tune in to hear them or read all about it over on the blog: https://www.textilesupport.net/single-post/2019/06/02/HugsnotHats Teacosy by: Cherie Hingee Music: "Survivor" by Destiny's Child

So many textile stories, and particularly lace stories, are about women, their work and their often-unrecognized artistic contribution to their culture and their time. Thankfully some of these stories are collected and recorded by scholars allowing us a great insight into some seemingly small lives which actually had significant impact on the textile arts. One such character was Cándida García Irajudo, who is the subject of Mariña Regueiro’s latest book Candida Lace: The Lace in Seville in the first half of the 20th Century. The book traces the extraordinary career of Cándida, a woman from a modest background whose gift for designing original and fashionable laces allowed her to build a wonderful career as a lace designer and teacher for the ladies of Seville’s most elite families. In this special episode of TextileStories I am joined not only by Mariña, but also by lace maker Rocío Utray; daughter, niece and granddaughter to some of Cándida’s students and keeper of a significant part of her archive and legacy. It is a wonderful story not only of a gifted artist and teacher, but also of incredible courage, confidence and autonomy, the story of an uneducated woman who learned to write her name so that she could sign her designs and “show everyone she was an artist” and who was welcomed into the parlors of her city’s most important families because of great talent. If you would like to buy the book the best ways are as follows: In Europe it will be available through Barbara Fay http://www.barbara-fay.com/index.php/en/ In Australia I will be ordering a box or two so if you would like to have a copy just let me know – shipping will take 3-4 weeks. Everywhere else it is best to contact Mariña directly via her website. Learn more about Mariña’s work at: http://www.escueladeencajes.com or follow her on Instagram @marinaregueiro Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/L8KyphEMTCM To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: https://www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Many of you are probably already familiar with the fragile, haunting, crochet sculptures of artist Caitlin McCormack. So many images of her beautiful work have gone viral in recent years, but do you know the story behind them and where her creative journey is leading her? This week on TextileStories I had the pleasure of speaking with Caitlin about her work thus far and the brave new direction she has taken in her current exhibition “See You All in There” which is on at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia until April 13, 2019. In her new work Caitlin shifts the focus from us being the examiners of the work; the specimen-like quality her sculptures have had until now, to the concept of seeing and being seen. Raising questions about privacy and vulnerability, Caitlin has taken a brave new direction, seeking interconnection between different groups and communities and calling us all to be more aware of what is happening in the world which surrounds us. Direct, and at times quite raw, Caitlin generously shares some of her journey as an artist and this episode is a must listen for anyone who is striving to live a creative life, who has experienced feelings of hopelessness when trying to make a valid contribution to society and for anyone who has ever struggled with depression. Thank you Caitlin for your honesty and your beautiful work. see more of Caitlin's work at: https://caitlintmccormack.com/home.html or follow her on Instagram (she has a wonderfully creative feed) @mister_caitlin or see the online catalogue of her work here: https://www.paradigmarts.org/collections/caitlin-mccormack Would you prefer to listen with a slide show? Find us on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/bxvW7PM_ez4 To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free www.brokeforfree.com/

Starting out as a creative soul unsure of which path to take in life, after completing her very hands-on studies in costume design at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, an internship at the prestigious Hand & Lock embroidery workshop in 2010 led to a successful and fascinating career within the company, becoming Production Director in 2014. This week had an interesting chat about her journey into the exquisite world of fashion embroidery, some of the amazing projects she has worked on, her wonderful book which came out last year “Fashion Embroidery: Embroidery Techniques and Inspiration for Haute-Couture Clothing” and some behind-the-scenes insights into the workings of the couture embroidery industry. We also talked about Hand & Lock’s prestigious annual embroidery prize and how it really seeks to foster talent within the industry and assist embroiderers who wish to pursue a professional career with their craft. It was inspiring to hear how they are promoting excellence in the craft of embroidery in such a tangible and supportive way, and if YOU love to embroider and would be interested in entering the 2019 edition you have until the end of March to register and you can see other key dates for the prize via the link below. To read more about Jessica and Hand & Lock go to: https://handembroidery.com For a list of key dates for the Hand & Lock Embroidery Prize see: https://handembroidery.com/the-prize/dates-diary-prize-2019/ You can also follow Hand & Lock on Instagram @ handandlocklondon Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/4OBxJbqAOWc To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free brokeforfree.com/

From a child with mis-matched socks to being recognized as one of the Chicago Tribune’s 2018 Chicagoans of the year, Sky Cubacub is the founder - and heart and soul – of Rebirth Garments; a clothing line for people on the full spectrum of gender, size and ability. Rebirth Garments is more than a clothing brand, it is a movement centred around a concept which Sky calls “Radical Visibility” which really challenges the way we think about dress and what that signals to those around us. I was very lucky to have been able to catch up with Sky recently to talk about the brand, their projects and what is means to be radically visible. To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: www.textilesupport.net/blog To read more about Sky and Rebirth Garments go to: http://rebirthgarments.com You can also follow rebirth Garments (a fabulous feed!) @rebirthgarments Sky’s Radical Visibility Manifesto can be found here: http://rebirthgarments.com/radical-visibility-zine Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/GGynww9frs8 Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free brokeforfree.com/

A couple of weeks ago I posted some SEM photographs of threads taken from 17th Century needle laces on Instagram and it sparked quite a bit of discussion and many questions, so for this episode of TextileStories I wanted to tell the story of some of the research I have done looking at thread samples taken from 17th century laces. It is amazing what we can find when we set our preconceptions aside and simply look. I would love to hear from anyone else who has been looking at fibres used to make lace as I think it is definitely research worth continuing! This episode may be best watched on YouTube as the slides are quite important to follow along. You can find the version with the slides here: https://youtu.be/GbFkj5_HG34 A couple of papers on the subject can be found here: https://www.textilesupport.net/papers-to-download For more reading about the fashion for Italian lace in France during the 17th Century you can download the "Revolt of the Passements" from the University of Arizona’s digital textile archive via one of the links below: A great translation of the poem "Revolt of the Passements" can be found here published in 1935 by New York’s famous Needle and Bobbin Club, the original text in French comes first and is followed by the English Translation: https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/books/unk_pass.pdf Here instead is a copy of one of the Needle and Bobbin Club’s journals where the poem has been illustrated with examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: https://www2.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/articles/nb30_pas.pdf

The idea of lace music, or a lace album might first seem strange, but anyone who makes bobbin lace, or has been in a space where people are making bobbin lace knows that this craft has its own very special music; the sound of wooden bobbins dancing as a lace maker works is both beautiful and hypnotic, so it might not be such a huge leap after all… Over the last 2 years the collaboration between composer Paula Matthusen and artist (and lace maker) Olivia Valentine has taken this sound and reworked it into a complex process or composing, performing and recording the sounds of lace and place. Between Systems and Grounds is the name which they have given to this collaboration and to their new album which they launched on December1 in Brooklyn. I was fortunate to have been able to speak with Paula and Olivia the evening before the launch and chat about their unique project, process and their specially designed lace music box. Tune in to hear all about this fascinating story… To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To read more about Paula and Olivia’s work go to: https://betweensystemsandgrounds.com/ You can also find the album on Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon. Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEWyEEuojOfsVZdkK5KGBZqzhKYg3ztnX Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free http://brokeforfree.com/

I recently had the pleasure of catching up with Australian contemporary basket maker and sculptor Catriona Pollard who in this interview shares with us some of her personal journey coming from the world of business to rediscover a part of herself through the art of basketry. Catriona's organic sculptures offer an opportunity to reflect on our own interconnectedness with each other and the world which surrounds us, inviting us to see the beauty in ordinary objects and slow the pace of our daily lives. Join us to hear about Catriona's process of collecting and giving new life to materials, her approach to making and her current exhibition which is on until June 3 2018 at Sturt Contemporary Australian Craft and Design in Mittagong (south of Sydney) http://www.sturt.nsw.edu.au/ To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Catriona's work go to: http://theartofweaving.com.au/ Would you prefer to watch a slideshow while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEWyEEuojOfsVZdkK5KGBZqzhKYg3ztnX Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

To start off our 2018 series I caught up with the heroic English lace maker Jane Atkinson to discuss her journey into the craft, her inspiration and approach to lace design and her exciting new exhibition which will be held at Walford Mill Crafts, Dorset, in September. Jane and I have also been cooking up some lace surprises for our listeners in what will be a year of lace! Check out our new lace campaign at https://www.textilesupport.net/lace-support

It was a real pleasure to speak with with designer Ali Rauf this week on TextileStories. He recently did Australia very proud taking home second prize in the fashion section of Hand & Lock's international embroidery prize with his own over the top contemporary take on shisha embroidery. Join us as we discuss Ali's childhood travelling around the Middle East and the Sub Continent, the importance of making in traditional cultures, and the wonderful things that happen when children are exposed to rich cultural and creative realities from an early age. To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Ali's work go to: http://www.birdskin.net/ Or follow him on instagram: @birdskinau Would you prefer to watch a slideshow of Ali's work? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/7kCXyaia6no Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I was delighted to catch up with the amazingly talented embroiderer Elena Thornton who recently took home three prizes from this year's prestigious Hand & Lock Embroidery awards To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Elena's work go to: https://www.elenathornton.com/ Or follow her on instagram: @elena_thornton_embroidery Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/4E4DHJv_XVI Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I had the pleasure of chatting with mixed media artist and new lace maker Maggie Hensel-Brown about her textile journey which has led her to recently discover the art of needle lace which is taking her practise in a whimsical and meaningful new direction. To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Maggie's work go to: https://maggiehensel-brown.squarespace.com/ Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/RsO5wICsojY Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

This week on TextileStories I was joined by jeweller, enamellist and lace maker Alicia Jane Boswell. She discusses how she came to work with metal and eventually textile techniques and how working with these helped her to create a sense of connection to the women in her family and a sense of home. To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Alicia Jane’s work go to: http://aliciajaneboswell.com Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Hum1w641U&t=2s Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

A conversation with young independent fashion designer Cora Bellotto. Cora discusses her journey so far, her thoughts about slow and sustainable fashion and where she would like to take her label next... To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see more of Cora's creations go to: http://www.corabellotto.com/ Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqFmWSR7ThQ Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

An interview with the inspirational British embroidery artist Diana Springall; discussing her career, her decision to make her vast collection available online and her mission to raise the status of embroidery as a form of artistic expression. To hear more TextileStories subscribe to our channel or visit: http://www.textilesupport.net/blog To see Diana Springall's collection online go to: http://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/ Would you prefer to watch a slide show while you listen? Find us on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGUA5VNCpjw Music: "Add And" by Broke For Free http://brokeforfree.com/

This week's TextileStory is a conversation with master metal smith Cheri Dunnigan; join us as we discuss inspiration, technique, wire knitting, beauty and what it means to live as an artist. To see more of Cheri's work: http://www.cheridunniganjewelry.com/ Music: "Add And" by Broke for Free