Diana Springall, who has just been awarded an MBE for services to arts and crafts, is one of Britain's most respected textile artists, teachers and champions of embroidery and I am delighted to have been invited to her home to look around her amazing collection of embroidered pieces and record this podcast episode with her. She has dedicated her life not only to creating extraordinary embroidery, but also to ensuring that the rich history of British stitch is preserved for generations to come.

Diana is also a collector of the work of other embroidery and textile artists. Over many decades she has assembled what is widely regarded as one of the world's finest collections of British embroidery and stitch-based textile art, a collection that began simply because she wanted inspiring examples to show her own students.

Now, that remarkable collection is destined to find a permanent home at the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery, which has ambitious plans to become a national centre for embroidery, with exhibition spaces, workshops and study facilities dedicated to celebrating this wonderful craft. Planning permission has been secured, but fundraising continues to make that vision a reality.

When I visited Diana at her beautiful home in Kent, I found someone who was incredibly welcoming and generous with her knowledge and time and whose passion for embroidery, education and community remains every bit as inspiring today as it has throughout her remarkable career.

If you've enjoyed hearing Diana's story and would like to learn more about the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery and its plans to create a permanent home for her internationally significant collection, you'll find details below. It's a project that deserves the support of everyone who cares about the future of embroidery. If you'd like to make a much needed and appreciated donation to the building fund via, then you can contact the management team directly via email at info@sunburygallery.org or by calling 01932 788101. They can provide the charity’s direct bank details for a secure BACS/bank transfer donation. Alternatively, we can also supply bank details to you directly - please drop us a line at info@sofst.org.

You can view The Diana Springall MBE collection at https://dianaspringallcollection.co.uk/

School of Stitched Textiles www.sofst.org

Whether you're new to mindfulness or have an established practice, you'll find plenty to reflect on as we explore the fascinating relationship between textile arts, creativity, well-being and mindful living.

Mary Ann shares how knitting, textile making, yoga and mindfulness have become deeply interconnected in her own creative life. Together, we discuss how the simple act of making can help us slow down, become more present, and create moments of calm in an increasingly busy world.

We also explore the role that creativity can play in supporting our mental and emotional well-being, and why so many of us are drawn to the quiet, rhythmic nature of stitching, knitting and other textile crafts. Whether you embroider, quilt, knit, crochet, weave, spin, or simply enjoy working with textiles, I think you'll find plenty of inspiration in Mary Ann's thoughtful approach to creative practice.

So, make yourself comfortable, perhaps pick up your latest project, and enjoy my conversation with Mary Ann Gebhardt.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mary_ann_gebhardt/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/maryann.lynchgebhardt/

Mary Ann is the author of Knitting Meditation: The 40-Day Journal, a reflective guide inviting makers to explore the meditative and restorative qualities of their craft.

School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/

Jan trained as a painter and since the 1960’s has been a practicing textile artist.

As an Honorary Member of the 62 group of Textile artist, a Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, she has exhibited and sold work in the UK and overseas. All forms of landscape are a constant challenge and inspiration for her work. Jan has taught drawing and textiles in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Israel and Europe. She was joint Chief Examiner for the City and Guilds Institute for Embroidery. She has written many books, including those written with her friend and colleague Jean Littlejohn. They founded Double Trouble Enterprises in 1997 to promote drawing and all aspects of textiles.

Jan will be exhibiting work in the Exhibition, ‘Stitch Unbound 2026’ at the Willow Gallery, CIC, 56 Willow Street, Oswestry SY11 1AD, 4th July – 29th August and hopefully with the SDC in London in November.

Website www.doubletroubleenterprises.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/doubletroublejanjeanofficial/

School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/

Victoria is a qualified artist and educator, holding an MA in Contemporary Fine Art and a Masters-level PGCE in Art and Creative Practice. Since 2021, she has been teaching through her own creative business, Little House of Victoria, where she shares her passion for textiles and storytelling.

You may recognise Victoria from her embroidery kit demonstrations on Sewing Street, and previously Hochanda, where her distinctive style has reached a wide audience of makers.

Her work sits within the Folk Art tradition, often inspired by vintage photography and personal narratives. Combining embroidery with mixed media, Victoria brings together printmaking, painting and drawing to create richly layered textile pieces.

Based at Woodend Mill in Mossley, a historic cotton mill nestled in the Saddleworth hills near Manchester, her practice is deeply connected to the heritage of textiles and place.

Website:

https://www.littlehouseofvictoria.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/littlehouseofvictoria/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/littlehouseofvictoria

School of Stitched Textiles

https://www.sofst.org/

Murron delves into the connection between nature, folklore and storytelling. Inspired by the hidden depths of the natural world and the narratives with it, she creates intuitive textile artworks that seamlessly blend nature and narrative into visual storytelling.

Her practice is grounded in curiosity and observation, aiming to ignite a spark of connection, glimmers and wonder in the viewer. Murron explores a diverse range of textile techniques, including machine embroidery, printmaking and hand-applied processes. Colour, texture and symbolism are central to her style.

As a qualified teacher, Murron is passionate about sharing her skills and empowering others to discover their creativity. She actively delivers community arts projects and offers her own artist-led workshops and creative experiences.

LINKS

Website - https://www.textilesbymurron.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/textiles_by_murron/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/textilesbymurron/

Newsletter - https://www.textilesbymurron.com/newsletter

SST Courses https://www.sofst.org/

Sarah was taught how to knit by her mum when she was eight and was then forever knitting jumpers, cuddly Clangers and even an outfit for her guinea pig that it sensibly refused to wear. After working as a stylist, writer and designer for many years, an idea formulated in Sarah's mind for a knitted village full of eccentric British characters - a misspent childhood watching Thunderbirds and Carry On Films may have contributed to this. At first the village was more of a traditional affair but after reading an article about free hiking (hiking in the nude) Sarah's villagers lost their clothes and nudinits was born.

Sarah then collaborated with animator Ed Hartwell to make her first film, 'Tickled Pink' which went on to win a Best Comedy and a Best Animation award and nudinits have never looked back. They've now become an online hit with further films, awards and lots of nudinit products to enjoy including books with knitting patterns for the much loved characters and their accessories.

View her work:https://www.sofst.org/from-knitting-to-stop-motion-the-playful-world-of-sarah-simi/

Together Sarah and Ed now run Woollyvision, a stop-motion animation company in London which specialises in making animation with wool, fabric and felt. Their films are multi-award winning and have been shown at film festivals around the world.

The website is www.nudinits.com

Woolly Vision is www.woollyvision.com

@nudinits on all social media.

School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/

Today Gail is joined by Holly Jackson, a mixed media textile artist based on a tiny island in the Chesapeake Bay, living and working from a fisherman’s cottage dating back to 1870.

Holly combines traditional stumpwork techniques with contemporary narratives and an interest in lost people and places. Her work has been featured on Fiber Talk, Stitchery Stories, and in All Stitched Up, and she exhibits regularly along the east coast of the United States.

Already an exhibiting artist, Holly chose to undertake Stumpwork Stage 2 with the School of Stitched Textiles and is now progressing through our Master Practitioner programme.

In this episode, we explore what structured, assessed study looks like from an American perspective — particularly given that City & Guilds qualifications are not a typical pathway for textile artists in the US.

We talk about:

• why she chose formal study when she was already exhibiting

• what assessment and tutor feedback actually feel like

• how her work evolved through the programme

• whether studying remotely from the US presents any real barriers

• and what she would say to other American textile artists who are curious but unsure.

Links

IG: @flossinginthemoonlight

Website: https://flossinginthemoonlight.com

School of Stitched Textiles https://www.sofst.org/