Melissa English Campbell - Warping Reality Part 2 [NX105]
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Melissa English Campbell.Melissa is a textile artist known for her experimental weaving practice that pushes the boundaries of pattern, structure, and meaning.In this second half of our conversation, Melissa shares how her signature style emerged—from weaving mirrored fabrics and incorporating sticks to reflecting on cultural history and appropriation. We also explore her teaching experience, her influences, and how music and podcasts keep her company in the studio.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:30 – Embracing Artistic Freedom: Risk and Exploration00:05:20 – The Role of Education in Artistic Development00:07:06 – Disruption in Weaving: Incorporating Found Objects00:10:36 – Artistic Influences: Nature and Personal Expression00:16:42 – Weaving as a Historical and Cultural Medium00:20:03 – Exploring Gold Work Techniques00:21:32 – Musical Influences and Favorites00:24:00 – The Role of Music in Creativity00:28:58 – Podcasts and Learning00:30:53 – Literary Inspirations and Dyslexia00:34:38 – Television and Film Recommendations00:36:16 – A Glimpse into the Past: Janis JoplinLinks:Website: melissaenglishcampbell.comInstagram: me_campbellIntro music is Losing Track of Time by Gabriel Kelley via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchangeSign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNewsAnd follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers
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Melissa English Campbell - Warping Reality [NX104]
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Melissa English Campbell.Melissa is a textile artist whose weaving combines painting, double-layer structures, and found objects to create works that shift between glitch-like distortion and serene beauty.In this first half of our conversation, Melissa talks about her upbringing across Europe and the US, how dyslexia shaped her way of thinking, and how she discovered weaving as a language of memory, disruption, and resilience.Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:30 – Introduction to Melissa's Artistry00:04:14 – The Weaving Process Explained00:07:10 – Complex Dimensional Thinking00:09:43 – The Role of Dyslexia in Creativity00:12:22 – Exploring Uncertainty in Art00:15:16 – The Interplay of Painting and Weaving00:17:56 – Disruption and Recognition in Art00:20:50 – The Balance of Tension and Grace00:23:34 – Themes of Stress and Calm in Fiber Art00:26:20 – The Influence of Mood on Artistic Expression00:30:03 – Journey into Textiles: A Late Start00:34:19 – Overcoming Challenges: The Weaving ExperienceLinks:Website: melissaenglishcampbell.comInstagram: me_campbellIntro music is Losing Track of Time by Gabriel Kelley via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchangeSign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNewsAnd follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers
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Claire Voelkel-Sedlmeir - Domestic Documentary Part 2 [NX103]
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Claire Voelkel-Sedlmeir.Claire is a textile storyteller whose work transforms scraps of family life - old clothes, baby socks, even diaper cloth - into intimate quilts and stitched offerings.We explore the second phase of her practice: community, upcycling, and the emotional weight textiles can carry. Claire shares how she’s embraced memory quilting, involved her children in the process, and honoured personal history through fabric. We also talk about the online communities that have shaped her artistic journey and the joy of letting go - by giving her stitched offerings away.Links:Website: clairevoelkel.comInstagram: thread.yarn.paperIntro music is Electric Kids by Falcon Dives via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchangeFollow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers
In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Claire Voelkel-Sedlmeir.Claire is a self-taught textile artist who uses embroidery as a storytelling tool to explore memory, motherhood, and creative discipline.We discuss her two 52-week stitched story projects—how they emerged from a desire to carve out creative space amidst the chaos of parenting, and how small weekly acts of making became a powerful tool for self-discovery. Claire reflects on the freedom found in constraint, the messiness of memory, and what happens when we stitch the ordinary moments of our lives into fabric.Links:Website: clairevoelkel.comInstagram: thread.yarn.paperIntro music is Electric Kids by Falcon Dives via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchangeFollow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers
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Fuzzy Mall - Having It Large Part 2 [NX101]
In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Fuzzy Mall.Fuzzy is a visionary textile artist who transforms reclaimed fabrics into playful, large-scale works that break the mould of traditional quilting.We explore how he uses his art to resist digital doomscrolling, experiment with ‘analog AI’ and 3D forms, remix old portraits into new pieces, and why music, reclaimed chaos, and joy fuel his creative process.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:25 – How the ‘masking’ project came about00:03:05 – Turning old portraits into new stories00:05:15 – On creative freedom and joy in stitching00:07:35 – Mimicking AI aesthetics with hand-sewn collages00:09:50 – Reflections on absurdity, humour, and defiance in art00:13:55 – Managing chaos in the studio00:16:35 – Embracing systems that evolve over time00:19:55 – Music as a constant companion in his creative flowLinks:Website: quiltedportrait.netInstagram: fuzzymallartIntro music is Her Name Is Edith by OTE via Epidemic Sound.About NeedleXChange:NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.Visit the NeedleXChange website: https://www.needl.exchangeSign up for the NeedleXChange Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/NeedleXChangeNewsIf you want embroidery inspiration and regular doses of textile art, visit the Mr X Stitch site here: https://www.mrxstitch.comIf you're looking for modern cross stitch designs, then XStitch is the magazine you need!Find out more here: https://xstitchmag.comAnd follow Mr X Stitch on all the usual social media channels!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrxstitchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrxstitchPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mrxstitchLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjamiechalmers
Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers interviews needlework and textile artists to find out how they make their art, how they build their business and why they love working with a needle and thread.
México