FiberTalk

04/08/2024

Gail Stafford is our guest this week and the show is sponsored by CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org. Gail is a retired math teacher who has used her number skills to help her develop a significant talent for designing counted-canvas needlepoint. Her initial efforts were Bargello designs. Then she stepped up her game and is now creating stunning landscape designs with depth and texture that is not normally seen. Gail holds EGA Master Craftsman certificates in canvas embroidery, color, and design. She is also an EGA Seminar faculty member and a member of the ANG National Seminar faculty. Her husband is a highly skilled woodworker and, toward the end of the conversation, Beth and Gary make a discovery about Mike.–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/08/03/fiber-talk-with-gail-stafford/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/pEjKfMlBiZI

Gail Stafford is our guest this week and the show is sponsored by CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org. Gail is a retired math teacher who has used her number skills to help her develop a significant…

31/07/2024

It’s Wednesday, it’s Beth’s Birthday (21? 22? Not sure, but young), and it’s time to talk about needlework. (We were getting some background feedback during the recording and couldn’t get it to stop. Sorry.) Our topics include the Kathy Andrews conversation about textile art conservation and restoration, our reactions to the Rita Gekht tour of the New Hope Arts Center, Tour de France shows (shall we stitch during the women’s Tour de France?), the benefits of basting, Avlea designs we’re stitching, Jessica Grimm’s needle minder finishing technique, floss drops, slate frames and some beautiful printed cloth Beth is going to embellish, and Beth’s Dawn to Dusk progress. Sunday’s guest is Gail Stafford.–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/31/fiber-talk-midweek-chat-7-31-24/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/BFZpxKboMlw

It’s Wednesday, it’s Beth’s Birthday (21? 22? Not sure, but young), and it’s time to talk about needlework. (We were getting some background feedback during the recording an…

28/07/2024

Kathy Andrews of The Unbroken Thread returns for a fifth visit. The show is sponsored by the Sassy Jacks Stitchery. Kathy has just finished a textile-conservation course at Beloit College in Beloit, WI, and joins us to talk about her experience and share a few of the things she learned. Among the many topics we discussed are handling and storing textiles, effect of environmental factors on all textiles, and what a simple microscope can reveal about textiles, particularly antiques. This was a game-changing class for Kathy and when you hear our conversation, you’ll understand why. Interested in taking the Sampler Care/Conservation class? Let Kathy and Beloit College know by completing a survey at https://forms.gle/yCWNFUVTRG8tgAsE8. Learn more about related classes offered by Beloit College at the links in the show notes. Also, you might like to own the textile conservation books Kathy mentioned/uses. They’re also linked in the show notes.–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/27/fiber-talk-with-kathy-andrews-v/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/e3mukXru0Po

Kathy Andrews of The Unbroken Thread returns for a fifth visit. The show is sponsored by the Sassy Jacks Stitchery. Kathy has just finished a textile-conservation course at Beloit College in Beloit…

24/07/2024

It’s Stitch Hour week and we’ll be joined by Rita Gekht of Rita’s Dream Studio. Rita will give us a tour of the New Hope Arts Center and the current exhibit, “Structures & Constructions in Fiber.” Join us at 8:00 p.m. Eastern to see some spectacular art from Rita and other talented weavers.

21/07/2024

It’s the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France and its a challenging time trial that could change the top 10 lineup. Join us as we wrap up this year’s Tour. We’ll be stitching, too. We start at 10:30 Eastern. Bring your stitching and favorite beverage for one more day of bike racing fun.

21/07/2024

We’re weaving this week with artist Rita Gekht of Rita’s Dream Studio and the New Hope Arts Center. The show is sponsored by the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, the best thing you can add to your stash. When Rita began her studies she was focused on becoming a computer scientist. A class with Michelle Lester changed everything and she found her calling in the world of warps and wefts. In our conversation we learn how that happened and how she ended up breaking new ground in the weaving world. Rita is also an integral part of the New Hope Arts Center in New Hope, PA. She will join us live for the July 24 Fiber Talk Stitch Hour to give us a tour “Structures & Constructions in Fiber, an exhibit Rita curated for the New Hope Arts Center–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/20/fiber-talk-with-rita-gekht/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/rkcMvI9tK2U

We’re weaving this week with artist Rita Gekht of Rita’s Dream Studio and the New Hope Arts Center. The show is sponsored by the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, the best thing you…

19/07/2024

We’ve reached the penultimate stage and the final mountain stage. It’s relatively short but there is lots of climbing. Will they finish before we start? Let’s hope not. Regardless, join us at 10:30 Eastern, July 20, and we’ll have some fun stitching and watching the race.

18/07/2024

One last trip to the high mountains before the Tour ends Sunday. It’s going to be an interesting race. Join us at 10:30 a.m. Eastern for the racing and the stitching. Bring a beverage and your favorite project.

17/07/2024

We’re in the mountains for Stage 18, but they’re little mountains, so there’s a good chance for someone from the breakaway to win again. There are only three intermediate sprints left in the Tour, so here’s hoping Girmay can contest them and keep the Green Jersey. Join us for bike racing and stitching at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Thursday July 18. There’s no way those guys will rip through Stage 18 like they did Stage 17, so we should have more time to do stitching. Either way, we’ll have fun.

17/07/2024

We are three sleeps from the weekend, so Cindy and Gary gathered to talk about needlework. This week’s topics include our upcoming Sunday show with Rita Gekht, followed by next week’s Stitch Hour in which Rita will give us a tour of the textile art exhibit at the New Hope Art Center. (Note that in the discussion, Gary got warp and weft mixed up. Warp is the vertical threads and weft is the horizontal.) We also talk about our plans for a Fiber Talk live event in March 2025 (send us your thoughts), basting ground cloth, the Tour de Broderie shows, wool and wool applique from The Woolen Needle, extending your Hardwicke Manor hoop stand, State Fair tips, Jessica Grimm’s needle minder finishing (learn how at https://www.jessicagrimm.com/blog), the value of alphabet samplers, breaking conventional practices when framing, and making ornaments. Sunday’s guest: Rita Gekht–Cindy and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/16/fiber-talk-midweek-chat-7-17-24/
Also on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/4yFVapTorHI

We are three sleeps from the weekend, so Cindy and Gary gathered to talk about needlework. This week’s topics include our upcoming Sunday show with Rita Gekht, followed by next week’s S…

17/07/2024

We head to the mountains for a stage that could finally see someone from the breakaway win. It’ll certainly be more interesting than Stage 16, which set a new record for boredom. Join us at 10:30 a.m. Eastern to watch the racing and talk about stitching. No matter what the riders do, we’ll have fun.

16/07/2024

The rest day is behind us and Stage 16 is a transition stage before we tackle four stages in the Alps. The sprinters will likely be doing their thing as we stitch and spin. Join us for all of the fun at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Bring your stitching and a beverage.

14/07/2024

Sunday is Round 2 in the Pyrenees. It’s going to be much more difficult route than the racers experienced Saturday. It’ll be fun to see if Jonas fights back or if Tadej is simply too strong. Join us at 10:30 Eastern on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel for the racing, advanced reporting from Paula Lima, and a lot of stitching and spinning.

14/07/2024

Lucy Martin returns this week in her capacity as Head of Education at Hand & Lock. The show is sponsored by Sassy Jacks Stitchery. In our conversation, we learn about Hand & Lock’s origins, the role it plays in furthering textile arts, and gain some insights into how the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery program works. Most of our conversation is focused on the Hand & Lock education program that Lucy and her staff have built in a very short time. The program includes an upcoming Diploma in Contemporary Hand Embroidery program (sign up here: https://forms.gle/ULrbN9qzhmzCWb42A), online and in-person courses, open studio time, and a digital embroidery master class. Lucy is just getting warmed up when it comes to developing educational opportunities. Follow Hand & Lock so you don’t miss out when new classes and programs are introduced.–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/13/fiber-talk-with-lucy-martin-hand-lock/
Also on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/X_KBPNxxNEg

Lucy Martin returns this week in her capacity as Head of Education at Hand & Lock. The show is sponsored by Sassy Jacks Stitchery. In our conversation, we learn about Hand & Lock’s …

12/07/2024

It’s a weekend of mountain racing and we’ll see if the climbing will separate Jonas and Tadej. If Jonas cracks, keep your distance from Jenifer. ;) Join us at 10:30 Eastern on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel for the racing, advanced reporting from Paula Lima, and a lot of stitching and spinning. That spindle on Jenifer’s spinning wheel is getting quite full.

12/07/2024

Will Girmay win his 4th stage or will the breakaway succeed? Will Jenifer still be spinning that beautiful blue fluff? Will Jessica still be making needleminders? Will Gary ever finish basting that Avlea project? So many questions to be answered Friday at 10:30 a.m. Eastern when we watch Stage 13 of the Tour and stitch and spin. Join us for the fun.

11/07/2024

Stage 12 of the Tour de Broderie is Thursday , July 11. It’ll either be a day for the breakaway or the sprinters. We just hope they don’t finish before we start. Join us at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. You’ll find us on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel at wetalkfiber.com/youtube.

10/07/2024

It’s Stitch Hour night tonight. We’ll be showing all the things we bought during our visit to . It’ll be as much fun for us as for you since we don’t really know what everyone bought. The fun starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel. Bring your stitching, favorite beverage, and pen and paper. It’s highly likely you’ll be enabled.

10/07/2024

Stage 11 of the Tour de Broderie is Wednesday, July 10. Join us at 10:30 a.m. Eastern as we watch the GC contenders battle it out in the mountains while we stitch. You’ll find us on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel at wetalkfiber.com/youtube.

08/07/2024

The Tour de Broderie returns for Stage 10, Tuesday at 10:30 Eastern. Note we’re starting 30 min. earlier because professional cyclists ride too fast. Fire up your needles and join us for the fun.

03/07/2024

Wednesday has arrived and so has the needlework chatting. This week’s topics include our trip to Sassy Jacks Stitchery, spinning thread, the Tour de Broderie shows (we resume July 9 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern), stitching in the car, Gary’s Avlea pieces and stitching on the Avlea ground cloth, looking for feedback on a possible Fiber Talk stitching event, and the talented Lucy Martin. Our next guest will be Lucy Martin talking about Hand & Lock on July 14.–Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/07/02/fiber-talk-midweek-chat-7-3-24/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/fYYuQ6_fgs8

Wednesday has arrived and so has the needlework chatting. This week’s topics include our trip to Sassy Jacks Stitchery, spinning thread, the Tour de Broderie shows (we resume July 9 at 10:30 …

01/07/2024

Stage 4: It’s the first serious mountain stage of the Tour. The leaders are going to change again as the attacks happen in the big mountains, particularly the Col du Galibier, one of the Tour’s most famous climbs. Join us at 11:00 a.m. Eastern as we stitch and watch the racing.

30/06/2024

The sprinter teams will likely dominate in Stage 3. Will Cavendish finally break the record or succumb to the heat again? Join us at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel to find out. Jessica Grimm will be with us again, this time with some photos of embroidery from the Stage 3 start city.

30/06/2024

This week's guest, Lucy Martin, has packed an entire needle-art career into just a few years, and she's just getting started. We're sponsored this week by Sassy Jacks Stitchery. Lucy's business is Lucy Martin Embroidery and she is head of education at Hand & Lock. A graduate of the Royal School of Needlework, she's a designer and teacher who has been involved in a variety of needlework areas in her short career, including the fashion and entertainment worlds, creating pieces for the coronation of King Charles, and designing large outdoor banners. Lucy specializes in stump work and goldwork designs. In addition to teaching embroidery, she provides industry mentoring sessions to help others succeed in the needlework world. On June 14, Lucy will return to talk to us about Hand & Lock and the work she does at that prestigious institution.--Beth and Gary
https://wetalkfiber.com/2024/06/29/fiber-talk-with-lucy-martin/
Also on FlossTube at: https://youtu.be/0YEsqZ9LeW8

This week’s guest, Lucy Martin, has packed an entire needle-art career into just a few years, and she’s just getting started. We’re sponsored this week by Sassy Jacks Stitchery. L…

29/06/2024

Stage 2, June 30 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. Tour de France racing and stitching, spinning, quilting, or knitting, make a great combination. Join us on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel at wetalkfiber.com/youtube.

29/06/2024

We’re watching the Tour de France and stitching, spinning, weaving, or quilting every race day except July 3-6. Join us at 11:00 a.m. on the Fiber Talk YouTube channel. We’ll watch the final 1-2 hr. of the race, cheer for our favorites, criticize strategy and tactics as if we have a clue, and make progress on our needlework projects.

28/06/2024

There is now a playlist of the 14 videos the Fiber Talk team made when we visited Sassy Jacks Stitchery to help celebrate the grand opening.

This playlist consists of the 14 videos the Fiber Talk team made when we traveled to North Carolina to help Kim celebrate the grand opening of her new Sassy ...

28/06/2024

Beth Ellicott did a lot of shopping while we were at Sassy Jacks. Along the way she found several squirrel oriented projects. Here's a few of them.

During her shopping forays at Sassy Jacks, Beth came across several squirrel designs that would make excellent mementos of your trip to the store. Here's wha...

28/06/2024

Sweat equity converted the Baird House into a beautiful needlework store. We take a tour of the exterior with Everette Ponder, Kim's husband, to learn a bit about what they did with the historical building.

The Baird House would not be the beautiful needlework store it is without the tremendous sweat equity put into the building by Kim and her husband, Everette ...

28/06/2024

Stitch enhancement with a purpose is the subject of this video with Robin Rossignol. It all happens in the Sassy Jacks thread room.

When Robin does thread stash enhancement, she doesn't simply grab a bunch of skeins that catch her eye. In this video, she takes us through her process of se...