Meet the Maker - Jessica Grady
How did it all start?
I started in commercial embroidery and print design alongside making my own work after completing a textiles degree in 2014. I now run my small business full time and still complete some textile design work on a freelance basis. I greatly enjoy the teaching and skill sharing that is part of my role and get to meet so many people.
Where are you based?
I’m an embroidery artist and workshop tutor based in West Yorks but I travel to exhibit and teach across the UK and beyond!
What inspires you?
I’m greatly inspired by colour, texture and materials. My work is always bright and exuberant and is a celebration of the joy of stitch.
What is your creation process?
I work with recycled and waste materials which I turn into embellishments to stitch onto fabric. Each piece I make is hand stitched and each embellishment is handmade so a long process of transforming my raw materials then creating embellishments and then stitching it altogether.
What makes you, your brand or products unique?
All my creations are complete one offs, due to being made from essentially waste! This means each artwork piece or sample cannot be made twice.
What is your next project?
I’m in the midst of a studio renovation that should be finished soon so I am excited to get in the studio and start work on a new collection of pieces. I am also designing a new set of online workshops that I hope to take live in 2023 too.
What are your plans for the next 12 months?
I work with lots of schools, universities, festivals and charities across the UK which means my projects are often varied and that makes it exciting! I will be making for the next exhibition I have with my group Art Textiles: Made in Britain, which is a good chance to get stuck into a project and testing some new ideas.
What is your biggest achievement?
I got the opportunity to visit and exhibit my work with Art Textiles: Made in Britain, in Japan in 2020 at the Tokyo international Great Quilt Festival. This was an incredible experience and a fantastic way to see the culture of a Japanese textile show as well as meet so many visitors! I went to the show with my fellow group members Cas Holmes and Sandra Meech, so it was also lovely to have such a great experience with other artist colleagues and friends.
What is your best-selling product/line?
The offcuts from my larger stitch pieces of work I started selling in small packs so that you can make your own embellished artwork, these have proven popular and its great to see what amazing pieces people create using them!
Your experience of your first Knitting & Stitching Show (year, exhibiting or visiting)
I have been visiting the Knit and Stitch since I was a teenager, and remember how amazing I found the exhibitions with so much talent from the textile world all under one roof. Exhibiting myself for the first time in 2018 was incredible to chat to so many people about my work – I actually lost my voice by the end of the show. I have been coming back every year since as a workshop tutor and love it!
What do you love about the Knitting & Stitching Shows?
I always see and meet so many of my fellow artists and people I have worked with, there is a general togetherness having so many visitors all with an appreciation of the hard work that goes into creating a stitched piece of artwork.
Your three top tips for crafters and makers…
- Don’t be afraid to do try something different – serendipity is amazing!
- Try not to plan ideas and let them come to you, this is great for starting as you just make without any expectations
- Simple techniques and ideas give the most for changing them to your own.
Any advice for fledgling businesses…
Starting is the hard bit! You have to keep going and constantly evolve and grow, looking at multiple avenue streams and markets in order to be the most successful.
Website: www.jessicagrady.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_rosestitch/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicagradyembroideryartist