From conception to creation

Leading textile and fiber artists talk us through the evolution of a particular piece of work; the inspiration behind it, the preparation and research phase, the techniques and processes used to create it and its life since completion.
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TextileArtist.org
an abstract drawing of a woman's face with many colored lines and shapes on it
Ailish Henderson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Ailish Henderson, Collaged and stitched development work for Pistachio Smiles Ailish Henderson stitches sweet wrappers, tickets, collected papers and even bits of her own clothing into her collaged portraits. These personal items help to give the work greater depth and meaning.
a drawing of a young boy with short hair
Sue Stone: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Sue Stone, The Unknown Statistic (detail) Sue Stone knew her great-grandfather had died in the First World War, but little did she know how much deeper that connection would become after further research. If you’re a lover of historical fiction, you’re going to enjoy learning how one of Sue’s most treasured artworks came to life.
an embroidered piece of cloth with beading on it
Emily Jo Gibbs: Stitching the tools of the trade – TextileArtist
Emily Jo Gibbs: The Value of Making, Portrait of a jeweller (Detail) Having trouble stitching faces? Capturing an expression, let alone stitching a nose or mouth, is often an exercise in frustration. So, textile artist Emily Jo Gibbs is sharing some tips and techniques that can help. But be prepared: these are not your typical ‘portraits.’ And that’s a good thing!
an assortment of different types of thread and beads on a white surface with one string in the middle
Alice Fox: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Alice Fox: Cord samples and experiments (photo credit: Electric Egg) Working materials can be sourced anywhere, even from your garden. Alice Fox has tested all sorts of plant fibres to make her own cord, even brambles and bindweed. Her mantra is to try out techniques using whatever materials she has available, even if they might seem somewhat unconventional.
an art work is displayed on a white surface with scissors and spoons hanging from it
Emily Jo Gibbs: Stitching the tools of the trade – TextileArtist
Emily Jo Gibbs: The Value of Making, Portrait of a Metal worker Emily Jo Gibbs understands the connection artisans have with their tools. Think of your own beloved sewing supplies—your must-have tools. Then choose one of those tools to create a self-portrait. Confused? No worries. Emily is sharing her process and techniques to help you get there. We promise you’ve never seen stitched ‘portraits’ like these before.
an art piece with flowers and leaves on the bottom half of it, made out of paper
Lindsay Olson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Lindsay Olson, Smart Wetland Hydrology, King Tut’s burial collar, wetlands in the prairie, textile art and biodiversity – Lindsay Olson deftly weaves many disparate notions together, elegantly using her art to convey the restorative work of The Wetlands Initiative.
scissors, thread, and fabric laid out on a table
Lindsay Olson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Lindsay Olson, Midewin stitching process Here is a story that roams from canoeing, muskrats and marshlands, to a lesson in biodiversity and the magic of textile art. Discover the art of science communication, Lindsay Olson’s specialty, as she shares her residency project with The Wetlands Initiative, an ecology programme focused on restoring nature.
a drawing of a family standing in front of a brick wall with graffiti on it
Sue Stone: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Sue Stone, The Unknown Statistic Sue Stone had a story to tell of brave soldiers, sunken ships and families left behind. But little did she know how personal that artistic endeavour would become. If you’re wanting to explore historical storytelling in your textile art, Sue offers essential starting points for you to consider. Sneak peek: you’ll want to dust off that old family photo album.
an altered photograph of a woman's face on a piece of white paper with red, yellow and blue colors
Ailish Henderson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Ailish Henderson, Pistachio Smiles Ailish Henderson's work starts simply, by looking through photographs. Her travel selfies inspire pen and watercolour drawings, paper collages, and finally mixed media works. And she uses these stitched portrait collages to explore her past experiences and emotions.
a close up of a baseball bat on a wooden surface with some dry grass in the background
Alice Fox: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Alice Fox: Hybrid 2 (work in progress) If you want to make things with unconventional materials you'll need to take some time to experiment first. Alice Fox tests out different plant materials from her allotment to see which ones can be twisted together to make strong cord. She brings this handmade cord together with found objects, to build beautiful, tactile sculptures.
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two woven baskets with wooden handles and spoons next to each other on a white surface
Alice Fox: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Alice Fox: Found tools with constructed elements in bramble fibre, sweetcorn fibre and bindweed (photo credit Sarah Mason) Alice Fox incorporates found items into her work, in order to record a link with a particular place. And she sources many of her materials from an unusual location - her allotment. Rusty garden tools become the supporting bases for her sculptures. Hand-twisted plant fibres make up the walls of the structures. The result? Beautiful basket-like vessels.
a white plate with blue and yellow embroidered designs on the front, surrounded by butterflies
Lindsay Olson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Lindsay Olson, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge (detail) SciArt is a practice made of three parts: research, make, share. Lindsay Olson has a thirst for knowledge and uses textile art to communicate what she has learned with others. We investigate her residency project, a partnership with The Wetlands Initiative restoration programme.
a drawing of a woman's body with words written on it
Vanessa Marr: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Vanessa Marr, Feminine Niceties (Detail) Embroidering illustrations and adverts from the 1950s, Vanessa Marr connects the 'feminine' art of embroidery with the declarations of female perfection presented in the media at the time. In many ways, little has changed since those vintage adverts were first published. Her works highlight how these expectations of perfection still exist today.
a close up of a embroidery on a table with scissors and other crafting supplies
Vanessa Marr: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Vanessa Marr, Night dress (work in progress) Stitching while on the beach or on the train, Vanessa Marr makes the most of every available moment to make her embroidery works. Beautifully stitched versions of 1950s advertisements for women's beauty products having an enduring appeal but a strong message, about how those same expectations of being the 'perfect woman' still exist today.
a woman is holding up a large sheet with an image of a cow on it
Ailish Henderson: From conception to creation – TextileArtist
Ailish Henderson, Pistachio Smiles repeat pattern design printed on silk Starting with her collection of travel selfies, Ailish Henderson reflects on memories of her life experiences. She uses these images to inspire her delicate collaged and stitched portraits.