Stitch Wish Radio

Send a text
This week on Stitch Wish Radio, I’m joined by Anna Hultin—artist, teacher, and the founder of Olander Co. In this quiet and grounding conversation, we talk about the power of doing something just because it feels good, the meditative nature of repetition, and the intentional choice to build a creative life that honors your limits.

Anna opens up about how motherhood shaped her boundaries, how she built a thriving embroidery business without burning out, and how she continues to stay connected to her why—even in seasons of fatigue and uncertainty.

Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just picking up a needle for the first time, this episode is your reminder that your pace is enough—and your art doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthy.
In this episode, we talk about:
The importance of boredom and margin in creativity
How embroidery became Anna’s daily anchor
Letting go of perfectionism and finding freedom in limitations
Building a business that honors your rhythms instead of burning you out
Find Anna at @olandercoembroidery and explore her work, courses, and patterns at olandercoembroidery.com
My latest book, The Art of Embroidery Design: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/christi-johnson/the-art-of-embroidery-design/9781635867664/
Anna's Website: https://www.olandercoembroidery.com/
Anna's new book, The Stitched Landscape, available for pre-order: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/anna-hultin/the-stitched-landscape/9781635868456/
(00:01:50) Transformative Embroidery Art: Colorado Nature Inspiration
(00:11:24) Transforming the Ordinary: Artist Inspired by Wyeth
(00:15:08) Embracing Profound Beauty in Everyday Moments
(00:16:31) Embroidering Nature's Ever-Changing Patterns in Art
(00:21:06) Sanctuary for Creative Evolution in Art
(00:29:31) Embroidery Book Focusing on Mindful Nature
(00:35:13) Transformative Influence of Everyday Beauty
(00:39:05) Substack Platform for Artistic Expression and Connection

Send a text
This was originally a YouTube video - watch here!
Welcome to Fallen Empires—a collection of handmade garments inspired by the rise and fall of power, stitched slowly from reclaimed fabrics and ancient stories. 
In this video, I take you behind the scenes of the first half of the collection: from Cleopatra to Caesar, from Marie Antoinette to imagined goddess eras.

Mentioned in this episode:
Embroidery Course Sale! 20% off ends FRIDAY May 30th at 11:59pm EST
The Fallen Empires collection
My YouTube
The FREE Rectangle Tee Mini-Course

Also Mentioned:
My Spring Journal YouTube
Roman Tiles Skirt MIWM (make it with me)
Interview with designer Pamela Mayer
Fabscrap - Textile Recycler
Stone Mountain & Daughter Deadstock Fabrics

Send a text
Today on Stitch Wish Radio, I’m sitting down with the incredible Gabriela Martínez Ortiz—textile artist, embroidery visionary, and the creator of Ofelia & Antelmo. Gabriela’s work is this beautiful meeting point between repetition, nature, and intuitive process. We talk about how embroidery became her way of slowing down, finding healing, and reclaiming her artistic voice after leaving the fast-paced world of fashion. Her story is deeply inspiring—woven with themes of lineage, inner knowing, and the slow evolution of craft into purpose.
Whether you’re an artist, a dreamer, or just feeling your way toward a slower, more intentional life—this conversation is for you.
Gabriela's Website: https://ofeliayantelmo.com/en/
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofeliayantelmo

My New Book, The Art of Embroidery Design https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-art-of-embroidery-design-expand-your-creativity-an[…]l-stitching-designs-christi-johnson/21470337?ean=9781635867664
The new pocket altar workshop I mentioned https://mixed-color-school.teachable.com/p/pocket-altar-workshop

(00:04:08) Transforming Embroidery into Versatile Textile Art
(00:05:52) Intricate Stitch Creations in Embroidery Workshops
(00:13:56) Gabriela's Therapeutic Journey Through Embroidery
(00:17:44) Embroidery: A Journey to Creative Fulfillment
(00:23:43) Embroidery: Connecting through Infinite Stitching Journeys
(00:32:01) Organic Patterns: Nature's Influence in Design
(00:35:47) Cultural Textile Traditions in Contemporary Embroidery
(00:36:44) Organic Patterns: A Visual Exploration

Send a text
(psst - don't forget, SOFT WORK Intuitive Garment Design course price goes up on April 1st! Sign up now and you'll get lifetime access at the lowest price!)
In honor of the yearly *spring cleaning* I'm avoiding in my own studio - I share some of my favorite methods for getting organized, both with materials and inspiration! These tips will help both your physical and digital spaces, and if you've got a traveling studio (or... a studio that moonlights as a dining room table or living room floor?) I've got some ideas for you as well. 
I hope this supports your artistic practice!

Send a text
Next up in the artists featured in my new book, The Art of Embroidery Design, Beth Hoyes, an artist and art therapist from the UK whose work centers around nature, exploring themes of animal symbolism, folklore and interconnectivity. 
Beth discusses her journey from dabbling in embroidery to making it the cornerstone of her art practice, the meditative process behind her creations, and how her background as an art therapist influences her work. The discussion also touches on balancing artistic passion with parenting, infusing folklore into artwork, and how moving countries, and the changing studio spaces that accompany these moves, has impacted her work and her process.
Explore Beth's Work:
@rabbithatdesigns on Instagram
rabbithatdesigns.com
bethhoyes.weebly.com
Order the Art of Embroidery Design
bookshop.org
thriftbooks.com