In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Charlie Reeder aka Stitchsperation.
Charlie is a cross stitch designer with an unashamedly joyful aesthetic.
In this first part of our NeedleXChange, we talk imposter syndrome, naming the inner critic (“Brenda”), and how stitching can be a safe, meditative place to build confidence.
Charlie shares ideas around stitched affirmations and repetition, plus the beginnings of Stitchsperation: bold typographic work, painted backgrounds, and designing what they couldn’t find.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:47 - Imposter syndrome and “Brenda” (naming the inner critic)
00:06:07 - Stitching affirmations (repetition as reprogramming)
00:10:28 - Back from Canada, broke, and making a Sweden wedding gift
00:12:00 - Painting the fabric, then stitching the words
00:14:42 - Aesthetic in one phrase: “Typographic bright shit?”
00:15:41 - Positivity without going “toxic”
00:17:25 - Cross stitch as TV-time sanity (not doom scrolling)
Links:
Website: stitchsperation.com (https://stitchsperation.com?utm_source=needlexchange)
Instagram: stitchsperation (http://instagram.com/stitchsperation)
Intro music is Easy Breezy by Boogie Wheel via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/3403dx) .
About NeedleXChange
An artist interview podcast exploring contemporary embroidery and textile art. Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers.
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