Making Meaning
Making Meaning is a podcast that explores the deeper significance behind creative work. Host Ruth Singer, a textile artist with 18 years of experience, interviews artists, writers, coaches, and researchers about their motivations and creative processes. The conversations delve into how challenging and complex stories influence their creations, and what truly matters to them. Ruth also shares her own insights from mentoring creative businesses and her broad interests in creative practice.
Episodes
#66: Material Histories, Showing and Sharing Textiles
This episode is the second of the occasional mini series Material Histories with Deb McGuire. In this one we have a wonderful wide-ranging conversation starting with what we look for in quilt shows but covers far more than that. We talk about the power of connecting through making and about showing and sharing textile works. Maker Membership: Maker Membership Please join my email list for more:
#65: 21 Years
This week I reflect on 21 years working as an artist and writer. (Oops, I realised after I recorded this that I talk about it being episode 64, when in fact it's episode 65!) Tangled is available for pre-order now: Tangled: Textile Stories of Care & Connection Maker Membership: Maker Membership Please join my email list for more: Email
#64: Where Do I Get My Ideas From?
I have been asked about my ideas and where they come from more than anything else in my 21 year career (although "How long did it take to make?" must be a close second). It's really hard for me to define where each idea came from but I've given it a go in this podcast. Tangled is available for pre-order now: Tangled: Textile Stories of Care & Connection Maker Membership Maker Membership Please
#63: Introducing Material Histories with Deb McGuire
Making Histories is a new mini-series of Making Meaning Podcast with special guest co-host Deb McGuire. Deb is a brilliant historian, specialising in emotional histories of quilting, but she's incredibly knowledgable about all kinds of things. We have so many overlapping interests and things we really want to talk about in the world of textile making, textile histories and human stories. I've bee
#62: Reading & Writing
A few weeks ago someone told me that she didn't know I had written several books, so I realised I don't talk enough about my writing! The podcast is about the writing of those books; three with traditional publishers and three self-published books about my work. The third self-published book is coming very soon, it is with the designer now and I hope to have it in my hands before the end of the su
#61: Accomplishments and Imagined Mementoes
This week's episode is about the new body of work I made for Mary Linwood; Art, Stitch & Lift exhibition. Alongside researching, curating and writing the first exhibition of Mary Linwood's work in 75 year, I also created seven new artworks reflecting elements of Mary Linwood's life and legacy. These pieces fill in gaps in Mary Linwood's story, explore themes I find fascinating and allow me to e
#60: Reflections on Mary Linwood
Making Meaning is back with a new series. It's almost five years since I started making this podcast and this is series 6. In this episode I'm solo, talking about what I've learned from the Mary Linwood Rediscovered project, from studying Mary Linwood and from sharing her story with the world. Sign up for my course Embroidered Herstories: Rediscovering Mary Linwood Buy the exhibition catalogue,
#59: Making Meaning with Rachel Whitworth
In this episode I'm talking to Rachel Whitworth, the curator of Fashion and Textiles at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. Find out about the Mary Linwood project and events programme Find out more about the Stitch Weekend, 22nd - 23rd Nov, Leicester Guildhall Find out more about my Maker Membership Join Ruth's email list Visit Ruth's website
#58: Making Meaning with Emily Jo Gibbs
I'm so pleased to share this conversation with Emily Jo Gibbs, a fantastic textile maker who I have admired for many years. It won't surprise you that I love Emily's work and we had a really interesting, broad-ranging conversation about the why behind the work. Emily's website and online course Find out about the Mary Linwood project and events programme Find out more about the Stitch Weekend, 22
#57: Making Meaning with Jayne Emerson
In this episode I'm talking to the brilliant creative textile designer Jayne Emerson, known to many of you as the creator of the No Rules Textile Society - a membership group full of inspiration and creative play. Jayne is also a textile designer for fashion and interiors, she's written six craft books and creates courses and workshop both online and in person. We have a lot in common and had a gr
#56: Making Meaning with Heidi Strobel
Dr Heidi Strobel is my guest in episode 56 about Mary Linwood. Heidi joined me from The University of North Texas, USA where she is is Professor of Art History. She is also the author of Mary Linwood: Embroidery, Installation, and Entrepreneurship in Britain 1787-1845 which has been invaluable for my exhibition research. Heidi and I have been in touch throughout this project and she's been an am
#54: Making Meaning with Dr Isabella Rosner
This episode is more of the summer of stitch series, this time with the brilliant Dr Isabella Rosner, Royal School of Needlework curator, podcaster and all round historic embroidery enthusiast. She has been part of the Mary Linwood fan club for years and we had a wonderful time talking about all the complexities of Linwood's career and making practice, and reflecting on her legacy and why she's be
#54: Making Meaning with Claire-Louise Hardie / The Thrifty Stitcher
Today's episode is more in the summer of stitch series, this time with a very different kind of maker. Claire-Louise Hardie is a costumier and sewing teacher, expert in making clothes and understanding how clothes work and how they make us feel. This is a really fun conversation exploring very different things than this podcast usually covers and it was great to talk to Claire-Louise and share thi
#53: Making Meaning with Jennifer Collier
Continuing with the summer of stitch theme, in this podcast episode I am talking to the brilliant maker Jennifer Collier, who makes amazing objects in paper using textile techniques. I've known Jennifer for years and we've worked together and supported each other plenty but still needed to twist her arm to do this podcast, for which I am really grateful. We had a fantastic conversation about makin
#52: Making Meaning with Wendy Ward
Wendy Ward - researcher, maker and campaigner around clothes, sustainability and emotional connection to the things we wear. Wendy is a PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University investigating product attachment, craft and broken-ness in fashion. Prior to her PhD she taught sewing to adults and wrote five best-selling sewing books. Wendy has long had an interest in sustainability within fashio
#51: Making Meaning - Project books and sharing research
This episode is a reflection on how I chose to create Cultures of Care Gathering and the sessions, talks and workshops it involves. I also explore the idea of project books, my way of collecting inspiration and ideas into sketchbooks. I'll be sharing a number of project books at the Gathering, alongside my finished works. Find out about Cultures of Care Gathering Join Ruth's email list Find out
#50: Making Meaning - Cultures of Care Gathering
It's episode FIFTY! and the podcast's 4th birthday this week. This is just a mini solo one, sharing some of the story of the Cultures of Care project and how I've brought it all together to create Cultures of Care Gathering 19-20 July. Find out about Cultures of Care Gathering Join Ruth's email list Find out more about Maker Membership ruthsinger.com/membership Full details of the episode, incl
#49: Making Meaning with Deb McGuire - Part 2
Deb McGuire is back! We recording a long conversation and I've split it into two episodes, of which this is the second. I suggest you start with Episode 48 first, as that's where Deb introduces herself and her work. This is a continuation of our chat which focusses more on Mary Linwood and my forthcoming exhibition about her (opening 13th September at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery). Much like th
#48: Making Meaning with Deb McGuire
In this series I'm exploring textile making and the many complex meanings around textile making practice. This episode is the first of a two-parter with quilt maker and historian Deb McGuire, because we had so much to talk about that we made two episodes! There's such a lot of overlap in our interests that its not surprising that we talked for ages! We talk about her work in quilting in a frame, h
#47: Making Meaning with Jayne Childs
It's been a while, but Making Meaning is back! This series will be full of conversations about textile making and meaning. This episode is with Jayne Childs. We talk about lace and heritage and the passion to innovate and create as well as the history of materials and methods. We talk about creating artwork and wearable pieces, about the stories that old cloth can tell, about telling new stories t
#46: Making Meaning - Textiles and Care
Series Five of Making Meaning is here. A lot of this series will be focussing on textiles, although there will be some other stories, conversations and solo episodes coming up too. This week I am starting by sharing two of my talks from the Cultures of Care Group from the end of 2024. Cultures of Care Group is a free online discussion group about care in creative practice. Each month I share a tal
#45: Making Meaning - Mary Linwood and Me
This short episode is a brief introduction to my research project about 18th century embroidery artist Mary Linwood. The episode includes a very short history about her, and then details of the community projects I'm running over the next few months, that you can take part in too. You can find out about them below, as well as a bit more about Mary Linwood here. Stitching Emotions: Collaborative p
#44: Making Meaning - Productivity and care
This podcast is again from my Cultures of Care Group and in a change to the usual, it includes the group discussion as well as my talk, which is my reflections on productivity as an artist and what that means to me now as a research-based artist more than a maker of things. I talk about making and doing what you want to do is a self-care practice and that my creativity is more than my productivity
#43: Making Meaning - Nature and Care
My Cultures of Care project wasn't intentionally all about nature and landscape connection, yet that is what a lot of it has turned out to be. This podcast episode is my exploration of how nature, outdoors and landscape in its widest sense have influenced my work. I talk about projects on landscape history and community projects making in nature and with nature. This was part of my Cultures of Car
#42: Making Meaning - Co-creation
In my nearly 20 years of creative work, I've developed a real passion for creating artwork with the input of others, either in group making or through contributions of stories. This podcast explores what I mean by co-creation and what benefits it brings to me and those who contribute. Find out more and read the transcript at https://ruthsinger.com/2024/06/11/co-creation-making-meaning-podcast-ep
#41: Making Meaning - Reflective Practice
I find being reflective in my creative work incredibly useful and have done for many years. In this essay / podcast I share how I came to reflective writing or journalling and some of the other ways I am reflective about my work with others. This was part of my Cultures of Care Group in May 2024. Find out more: https://ruthsinger.com/2024/05/16/reflective-practice-making-meaning-podcast-episode-4
#40: Making Meaning - Research as a care practice
This new podcast episode, the first in a series of four, is a recording of my first Cultures of Care Group talks. For these sessions I write an essay to share on an aspect of care in creative practice. In this first session, April 2024, I chose to talk about research as a creative care practice. Find out more: https://ruthsinger.com/2024/04/23/research-as-a-care-practice/
#39: Making Meaning - Artist Support Recipes
Artist Support Recipes is a group of artists interested in artist support and development. In this podcast we reflect on our learning during a year of research and discussion about what artists need to thrive. The group members are Ruth Singer, Sharon Adams, Gillian McFarland, Collette Rayner and Liz Nilsson. Find out more https://ruthsinger.com/2024/02/17/making-meaning-podcast-episode-39-artist-
#38 - Making Meaning with Claire Morris-Wright
This week I'm talking to artist Claire Morris-Wright, an artist in neighbouring Northamptonshire, who I've known for a few years and always enjoy talking too. We talk about looking closely and thinking deeply, about slow processing of ideas and about sharing and connecting as a fundamental part of both our practices. Read more: Membership and Mentoring are all here: https://ruthsinger.podia.c
#43: Making Meaning - Nature & Care
My Cultures of Care project wasn't intentionally all about nature and landscape connection, yet that is what a lot of it has turned out to be. This podcast episode is my exploration of how nature, outdoors and landscape in its widest sense have influenced my work. I talk about projects on landscape history and community projects making in nature and with nature. This was part of my Cultures of
#37 - Making Meaning with Amy Twigger Holroyd
In this end of 2023 episode, I'm talking to Amy Twigger Holroyd, who is Associate Professor of Fashion and Sustainability at Nottingham School of Art & Design, and in her previous life was a knitwear designer and innovator. We go back quite a long way to my early days as a designer maker and the retail markets world that we both used to work in. What connected us in those early days was a belief i
#36 - Making Meaning with Bridget Harvey
Bridget is a maker and researcher who uses ideas around repair to reanimate discarded objects and to tell new stories about our relationship to everyday things. In this conversation we talk about where our interests in object histories and museums converge and about how sharing our research interests in various ways fuels our ongoing curiosity about people and the things they value. This podcast i
#35 - Making Meaning with Lisa Soloman
This time I'm talking with artist Lisa Solomon. Lisa lives in Oakland, California, where I was very lucky to visit her a couple of times pre-pandemic, after being online friends for about 15 years. Lisa works in mixed media and across genres from intimate self portraits to huge installations, often directly addressing issues around identity and personal histories. She also teaches at university le
#34 - Live Q&A with Ruth Singer
In this episode you'll hear an edited version of a live Q&A recorded last month on Zoom. The audience were invited to ask questions about my practice in general, or specific current or past projects. You'll hear me talk about topics including care practices within organisations, caring for others and its impact on practice, and working with funders. This is the first time I've tried doing a live r
#33 - Making Meaning with Barbara Burman
I'm joined today by historian and writer Barbara Burman who has just published a wonderful new book called The Point of The Needle, Why Sewing Matters which celebrates and explores the cultural and social importance of plain stitching, using historical sources and also the voices of people sewing today. I was asked to read a proof copy of the book earlier in the year and very much enjoyed it, a
#32: Making Meaning - Zoe Murphy
Episode 32 of Making Meaning is with designer and all-round creative powerhouse Zoe Murphy. Zoe works with colourful screen prints to transform old furniture into amazing, meaningful pieces. We talk about her multi-faceted creative life, about connecting and sharing creative joy and about how storytelling and research are fundamental to how she works. Find out more here: https://ruthsinger.com/2
#31: Making Meaning - Cultures of Care
This is an extra bonus episode. Rather than the usual conversation, today's episode is a recording of my recent Cultures of Care online talk, explaining my new major project, what's led to it and what I'm working on now and in the next couple of years. The images referred to can be found in the blog post linked below. Find out more here: https://ruthsinger.com/2023/10/13/making-meaning-podcast-ep
#30: Making Meaning with Jennie McCall
I'm talking today to ceramic artist Jennie McCall. I've known Jennie for quite a few years and have had the pleasure of seeing her work grow and develop as she finds her place, and supporting her through mentoring and one of my courses. We discuss reinvention, finding your place, understanding ourselves and putting emotions into our creative work. Jennie talks about finding the freedom to be herse
#29: Making Meaning with Kate Unwin, The Moon & The Furrow
For the first time, Making Meaning has been recorded outdoors! I met up with Kate Unwin of The Moon and the Furrow at her woodland in Wales. Kate is an artist, maker, grower and one of my closest friends. She moved to Wales to live a more sustainable and nature-connected life and she runs a small business that is very much aligned with her values and creative inspirations. We talk about nature, cr
#28: Making Meaning with Lucie Bea Dutton
In this episode, Ruth talks to textile artist and researcher, Lucie Bea Dutton. For the last few years, Lucie has been exploring Hilary Mantel's Cromwell Trilogy though a large-scale sewing project inspired by Mantel's work. Lucie trained as a historian and she works extensively with archival materials. In this episode, Ruth talks to Lucie about this project, as well as finding your place as an
Making Meaning is coming back!
Hello friends, Making Meaning podcast is back! Or it's almost back, if I can fundraise enough to keep it going. In this episode I'll explain where I've been and what is coming up if we can make it happen, together. You can support a new series by donating at ruthsinger.com/podcastfundraiser You can also join my email list for updates at ruthsinger.com/email Previous episodes information and im
#26: Making Meaning with Gillian Lee Smith
In this final conversation of the series, I am talking to Gillian Lee Smith, a Scottish painter based in Northumberland. Gillian and I first met as members of a designer-makers group in the English midlands but we reconnected over Zoom during the pandemic and have had some wonderful conversations about our practices, our mentoring work and our creative ideas. In this conversation we focus on mento
#25: Making Meaning with Mandeep Dhadialla
Mandeep is a printmaker and workshop leader who works under the brand The Laughing Cactus Print Studio. She's also local to me and we've been working together a lot over the last year or so on community projects and sharing thoughts on our respective creative practices. In this conversation we talk about the themes Mandeep is currently exploring around stillness and displacement, about belonging a
#24: Making Meaning Live Gathering Highlights 3 with Maker Membership and Charlotte Bilby
Making Meaning Live was a fantastic online event in July 2022 created by Ruth Singer. The event brought together creative people to talk about the meaning behind what they make with a live audience. Making Meaning Live was a fantastic online event which I created and hosted in July 2022. The event brought together creative people to talk about the meaning behind what they make with a live audienc
#23: Making Meaning Live Gathering Highlights 2 with Amy Twigger Holroyd, Claire Wellesley-Smith, Lokesh Ghai and Charlie Birtles
Making Meaning Live was a fantastic online event in July 2022 created by Ruth Singer. The event brought together creative people to talk about the meaning behind what they make with a live audience. The next three episodes of the podcast are highlights of the programme - the bits that work without images and video. This episode includes Amy Twigger Holroyd talking about Fashion Fictions with part
#22: Making Meaning Live Gathering Highlights 1 with Michaela McMillan, Wendy Ward and Kathryn Parsons
Making Meaning Live was a fantastic online event which Ruth Singer created and hosted in July 2022. The event brought together creative people to talk about the meaning behind what they make with a live audience. This episode includes Michaela McMillan, Wendy Ward and Kathryn Parsons and all involve interaction and activities which the participants really got into. You can take part in Wendy's act
#21: Making Meaning with Michaela McMillan
Michaela McMillan's wonderful work often defies categorisation. It is craft or is it assemblage? Is it sculpture or is it textiles? It is meant to be serious or is it meant to be fun? Michaela's work is full of elements of her personality and her passions. She describes it perfectly as playfully serious. In this podcast we reflect on how much of ourselves we reveal through our making practice, wha
#20: Making Meaning with Ruth Singer on Research
Research and stories are fundamental to my work. Everything I make has some kind of message or meaning which I want to express through making artwork. I talk about research a lot, both in the podcast and in my Maker Membership but I know that it isn't always clear what I mean by research and narrative textiles. The podcast episode focuses on what I understand by research, what I do and what it mea
#19: Making Meaning with Alice Fox
Alice's practice is deeply embedded in land and place. She makes with found and natural materials using textile processes and others drawn from basketry and bookmaking. Alice and I met some years ago through exhibiting in the same places and having a shared understanding of making a living as an artist and in particular, writing books about our work. Alice is well-known in textiles for her book Na
#18: Making Meaning with Textiles in Lockdown
Textiles in Lockdown was a wonderful project I worked on in 2020. Gawthorpe Textiles Collection commissioned me to research textile making practice during the 2020 lockdowns and to create a digital resource for their museum collection. I chose to make a podcast and ebook for them, sharing your stories of stitching and sewing during the first few months of the pandemic. It was such a wonderful proj
#17: Making Meaning with Maker Membership Community
I truly believe that connection and community are vital to creativity. It's hard to be making work on your own without conversations, feedback and inspiration from others. I created Maker Membership, my online community, during the pandemic to bring makers together to share, talk and be inspired. This podcast episode is based around one of our Membership Live group sessions with three long-standin
#16: Making Meaning with Claire Wellesley-Smith
Wellbeing through stitch and communal creative practice runs through Claire's practice, writing and projects. She's just completed a PhD exploring this subject in depth and we both love talking about the importance of community making practice, about textile and local heritage and about the power of textiles to change lives in all kinds of subtle ways. This conversation ranges across all these ar
#15: Making Meaning with Louise Jones-Williams
I've been enormously lucky over the last 10 years or so to work with Louise at Llantarnam Grange on both group and solo exhibitions. In this conversation we talk about how she creates and curates exhibitions, finds artists to work with and shares stories through craft. We also talk about the importance of the artist-curator relationship, about my work with her and the gallery, and how important ex
#14: Making Meaning with Sharon Adams
Sharon's work really fascinates me. Her objects tell intriguing stories of the landscape she is rooted in and allow for contemplation and imagination of the viewer too. Sharon and I have had such interesting conversations about place, belonging, boundaries and landscape containers, it was a pleasure to talk to her more about her work in this podcast. Sharon also supports artists through 1:1 coachi
#13: Making Meaning with Helen Hallows
It's great to be back with a new series of Making Meaning. In this episode I'm talking to artist Helen Hallows about living a creative life with a deep connection with nature, about the challenges and joys of being a professional artists and about what it means to be embodying her philosophy of nurturing creativity within our lives. Find out more: https://ruthsinger.com/podcast/
#12: Making Meaning Crowdfunder and mini episode
This is just a quickie, a tiny unscripted mini pod to remind you that the Crowdfunder closes this weekend Sunday 12th December and that your contribution will be very much appreciated! There's also a little bonus at the end with some reflection questions for you to ponder in relation to your own making with meaning. Links from the episode: Podcast: ruthsinger.com/podcast Crowdfunder: https://www.c
#11: Making Meaning Reflections
This end of series episode of Making Meaning is just me. I wanted to reflect on the series, to share my thoughts and feelings about the amazing conversations I've had. I also wanted to add a bit more context about my own work and share more about myself and some of the projects I have worked on in the past, present and future. The themes that come up again and again in this series are about connec
#10: Making Meaning with Emma King
In this final conversation of the series, Ruth is talking to museum consultant Emma King. Ruth & Emma were at University studying for a Masters Degree in Museum Studies. In this episode they talk about making meaning in museums, about what museums are for, about ideas and their value and about how to spark and nuture them. Find out more at ruthsinger.com/podcast We are raising money for the next s
#9: Making Meaning with Paula Briggs
This week Ruth is talking to Paula Briggs, a ceramic artist focussing on narrative in craft. This conversation grew from a previous interview for Paula's Masters Degree in ceramics where she asked Ruth about research-based work, making a living from non-commercial making and communicating the stories behind the work. In this podcast they talk about all of this and more including the importance of
#8: Making Meaning with Ekta Kaul
In this episode Ruth talks to textile artist Ekta Kaul about her soulful stitch work, about belonging and place making about about the richness of textile making to improve our lives. Ekta is a London-based artist who grew up in India. In this conversation she shares how her map-making stitch practice has helped grounding her in a new country. They share their stories of finding their place in
#7: Making Meaning with Melody Vaughan
Melody Vaughan, coach and mentor to makers started her working life in the museum sector, just like Ruth did. In this conversation, they discuss how museum training has impacted their work with and as makers. They talk about the importance of understanding how things are made, how makers have so much knowledge that museums could be tapping into better and how objects have long lives that we often
#6: Making Meaning with Cas Holmes
This conversation between textile artists Ruth Singer & Cas Holmes is full of fascinating insights into the thoughtful making processes they share. Cas and Ruth talk about migration and cultural heritage, about responding to old but meaningful cloth and other objects and about the loss of talking to other people, sparking ideas and sharing textile making in communal spaces through the pandemic. Ca
#5: Making Meaning with Kathryn Parsons
Kathryn is an artist maker specialising in miniature works celebrating nature. Kathryn's approach is research-based and multi-faceted - from a Herbarium of Stories made from leaves and sunlight, to wildflower shoes sculpted in sugar, she creates intricate artworks that weave together tales of nature, place and people. She is currently Artist in Residence at Langdyke Countryside Trust in Cambridges
#4: Making Meaning with Richard McVetis
In this episode Ruth talks to artist Richard McVetis about his meticulous embroidery work and the complexities and joys of being an artist. Richard makes work for exhibitions and commissions and shares his unique style of stitch and the meditative process behind it through workshops. In the 10 years or so since I first came across Richard's work, he's exhibited widely including the Crafts Council'
#3: Making Meaning with Caren Garfen
Artists Ruth Singer and Caren Garfen in conversation about the meanings behind their work. Both Ruth and Caren work in textiles and have a strong association with working with objects and they talk about using textiles to tell personal and challenging stories. Caren has created work about eating disorders previously and she talks at length in this episode about her work sharing historic and contem
#2: Collaboration and Connection
Ruth talks to fine artist Gillian McFarland. Ruth & Gillian have collaborated for a number of years on art-science and other conceptual projects. In this episode, Gillian talks about the meanings and thought processes behind her work and why she chooses to collaborate with other artists. For more information visit: ruthsinger.com
#1: Welcome to Making Meaning
Artist Ruth Singer introduces her new podcast Making Meaning. She explains how she loves talking to other artists and creative people about what they do and why and how important it is to her to connect and converse during these isolated times. Ruth also shares some information about who she is going to talk to through this series and about how this podcast is conversations not formal interviews.
