Month: December 2022

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Fiber Talk with Sharon Wells

Landscape created by Sharon Wells.
This is one of Sharon’s beautiful textile art landscapes.

Needle felting and textile landscape art are our topics this week when we meet with Irish artist Sharon Wells. This episode of Fiber Talk is sponsored by Sassy Jacks Stitchery. In our conversation with Sharon, we learn about the whole process of needle and wet felting from collecting the wool fleece to processing, dyeing, and selecting the wool and wool textures she uses to create her landscape art. We also learn about the various embroidery techniques and materials, such as bamboo, silk fibers and wire, Sharon employs to create the definition and details that make her landscapes come to life. Sharon is a multi-faceted, talented artist who puts textile art on a new level while helping us enjoy Ireland’s scenery.–Beth and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

This show is also available on YouTube. Click here to view it.

This week’s sponsor is Sassy Jacks Stitchery at sassyjacksstitchery.com.

You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Here are some Sharon Wells links:

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Sharon Wells. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.
 

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Fiber Talk Midweek Chat, 12-14-22

Design by Hillary Waters Fayle on a ginkgo leaf.
Embroidery and beadwork by Nichole Vogelsinger.

It’s our final Midweek Chat of the year and all four of us gathered to talk about the many great things we’ve experienced and heard about needlework in 2022. We name our favorite guests, favorite designs, new books we like, things we’ve accomplished, and discuss our 2023 plans. Also, a huge thanks to our sponsors: Sassy Jacks Stitchery, Avlea Folk Embroidery, EGA, CyberPointers, and Needle in a Haystack. Without them, we couldn’t provide interviews with all of the amazing designers we’ve met in 2022, along with the live shows and Midweek Chats. Please support our sponsors. They make the difference. This is our final Midweek Chat for 2022 and the Sunday show with Sharon Wells will be our final podcast for the year. We’ll return with a new schedule January 8. Also, join us January 1 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel when we kick off the new year with a celebration of Jenifer’s birthday and some stitching fun. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone in the Fiber Talk audience and thanks to all for listening.–Beth, Jenifer, Cindy, and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

This show is also available on FlossTube. Click here to view it.

La Grande Arche by Marie Renee Otis.

You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Here are some links:

We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.

To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.


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Fiber Talk with Orna Willis IV

Gage by Orna Willis, offered as a class through the Shining Needle Society.

Nomi’s Dragons, one of Orna’s newest designs.
Orna Willis makes her fourth visit this week in a show sponsored by CyberPointers. The focus of our conversation is Orna’s new Gage design and the suicide and mental-illness stories behind it. Gage is a collaboration Orna did with Cecelia Stricklin of The Thread Gatherer in honor of the life of her son Gage. Our awareness of mental health is growing significantly these days and needlework can play a role in helping people who are struggling. The Gage project is being offered as a class through the Shining Needle Society and there is still room left in the class. You must act quickly. The extended deadline is Dec. 16, 2022 and the class starts Feb. 1, 2023. Learn more in the Cyber Classes section of Orna’s website. We also talk about avoiding getting into a design rut, explore Orna’s design process, and how she views older designs. It’s always enlightening and fun to talk with Orna and this week’s conversation is no different. After you listen to the show, visit Orna’s website to explore her catalog of designs and consider participating in the Gage class.–Beth and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

This show is also available on YouTube. Click here to view it.

You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Join CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org.

Here are some Orna links:

We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Orna Willis. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.
 

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Fiber Talk Midweek Chat, 12-7-22

Beth’s lizard painted-canvas piece is nearing a finish.

The day in the middle has arrived and we have, once again, gathered to talk about our favorite subject. This week we discuss our holiday schedule, a notable schedule change in 2023, the return of Adjust-a-Frames ([email protected]), Beth’s fleece dyeing plans, Beth’s painted canvas progress and what’s she’s learned, our Jan. 1 Jenifer birthday celebration, 2023 stitching plans, and the question of whether needlework is art, hobby, or craft. No Stitch Hour tonight. Stitch Hour returns Dec. 14 with guest Natalie Dupuis. Sunday’s guest is Orna Willis and it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss.–Beth and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

This show is also available on FlossTube. Click here to view it.

A finish is in sight for Gary’s banding sampler.

You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Here are some links:

We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.

To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.


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Fiber Talk with Helen Stevens

Flowers of the Sea by Helen Stevens
Sunbird by Helen Stevens

Embroidery artist Helen M. Stevens joins us this week in a show that is sponsored by Sassy Jacks Stitchery and the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. Helen is, without doubt, one of the best, most creative, embroidery artists we have in the hobby today. The realism that she incorporates in her nature-oriented designs is rarely equalled. Her understanding of how thread interacts with light and how to use that to advantage makes her artwork visually stunning at all angles. She also is an accomplished author and recently released her first novel, “The Saxon Twins: The Needle and the Sword.” In addition, Helen is celebrating 20 years of contributions to “Inspirations” magazine We had a terrific conversation with Helen (with additional input from her parrot), learning what goes into creating outstanding needle art. Be sure to visit her website to purchase your copy of her 2023 calendar.–Beth and Gary

Listen to the podcast:

This show is also available on YouTube. Click here to view it.

Support our sponsor, Sassy Jacks Stitchery at sassyjacksstitchery.com.
Visit the EGA website at egausa.org and consider joining.

You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.

Here are some Anna McDowell links: