“Fine Cell Work trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending.” I met up with Kate the Commissions Consultant and…
Author: Embellished Talk
Juju Just Do It
In all honesty I was nervous about asking Judit to be interviewed for Embellished Talk. With nearly 80,000 followers on her Instagram account that catalogues her skills, crafts and colourful textiles I was intimidated and thought she would say no. I assumed that someone so generatively creative would not have time to share their ideas…
The Zealous Creative
Gemma Blackwell is textiles designer who recently graduated from the University of Huddersfield and studied with Jordan Williams Evans. She mixes a range of materials and embroidery skills to challenge tradition and create new and ambiguous textures. How did you get into textiles? I’ve always been making stuff since I was little. I used to…
How Cotton Buds are the Next Best Thing to Bugle Beads
One of the many aspects I like about embellished textiles is its ability to draw you in close and take a moment out of your busy life to focus solely on what is in front of you. Jessica Grady’s work does just that. She creates incredibly detailed surface designs using resources that you wouldn’t really…
When In Doubt Head North
“A A K S was founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi with the goal of introducing the world to her favourite weaving techniques done by the women of Ghana while also creating and igniting sustainable jobs within Africa. Handcrafted in Ghana, A A K S creates bags in styles that maintain the spirit and durability of their ancestral…
Prints on Prints
I met Ola through our mutual friend Lynette in 2014 when I moved to Paris to teach English. I knew we’d have a lot in common before I even met her; born in London to Nigerian parents, living in Paris and loves textiles just like me. Two years later and I count her as a…
Famous Friends Embroidery
Patricia Larocque is an embroiderer living in Lyon, France originally from Vancouver. A few Sundays ago we had a nice and easy conversation about her vibrant work, where she shops for materials and her lack of FOMO. How did you get into embroidery? I’ve always been into craftwork and used to knit and bead loom,…
When Art and Textiles Collide
Ingrid Ching was born in Hong Kong and moved to Australia during middle school to later venture on to America. She has recently graduated from studying Fashion Design and a Minor in Textiles at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia. On many occasions she travels back and forth from Philly to NY because the…
In Residence
Ella Jones is the owner of homeware store In Residence, a small and cosy store located on Chatsworth Road in Hackney East London. I was really fascinated by the rugs she carries and wanted to know more about how they’re made. As well as rugs she stocks conversational pieces that would instantly add colour and…
Gold Finger
Jordan Williams Evans recently graduated in Textiles with Surface Design at the University of Huddersfield. His mixture of embroideries and self made felt fabric is the perfect combination of luxury and craft. You recently told me that you’re completing a final project. What and where did you study? I have just come to the end of…
Destiny City Threads
Mo Milligan creates embroidery designs that are a mixture of nature, quirky statements and one liners. Her hoop art is hand made in Tacoma, Washington. How did you get into embroidery? I grew up watching my Dad spend a lot of his spare time illustrating science-fiction comic book art. I’d accompany him on trips to…
Custom Made
On some occasions shopping the high street can play a tune on a broken record where colour palettes, fabric and silhouettes are all synonymous among retailers. Devonrae Jones offers a custom made service where ‘“elevated basics align with the cultured woman’s wardrobe”. Her clothes are all designed and made by herself in New York and offer…