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February 10, 2025

Alison Carpenter-Hughes - Free-Motion, Free Spirit Part 2 [NX076]

Alison Carpenter-Hughes is a machine embroidery artist stitching emotion, texture, and storytelling into every piece.

Alison Carpenter-Hughes is a machine embroidery artist stitching emotion, texture, and storytelling into every piece.

In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Alison Carpenter-Hughes.

In part two of our conversation, Alison dives deeper into the emotional and symbolic aspects of her work. We discuss her connection to Leicester’s textile heritage, her ventures into community art, and how she plans to push the boundaries of her practice with bold colours, symbolism, and new materials. Plus, we get a glimpse into her personal world - her love of rock music, film favourites, and the books that inspire her creativity.


Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:10 - The emotional impact of Alison’s work and historical research

00:10:45 - Leicester’s textile heritage and community art projects

00:22:30 - Exploring risk, experimentation, and storytelling in embroidery

00:35:00 - The challenge of stitching on unconventional materials, including money

00:45:40 - Moving beyond realism: symbolism, colour, and embracing her darker side

00:56:20 - Music, film, and books that inspire Alison

01:05:10 - What’s next? Big changes and new creative directions


Links:

Website: ajcgallery.com

Instagram: pootlesmoon


Intro music is The Juggler by Ch@ntarelle 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.


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