Episode 70 - Philippa Naylor - Gobsmacked
(3:00) Her thirteenth birthday was a watershed event as she received her very first sewing machine – it was second hand. Sewing by necessity she hand sewed up until this time.
(4:18) Who’s the equivalent of Barbie in the UK…Philippa tells us about these dolls.
(5:19) Philippa shares the training regimen people who want to learn to sew must follow.
(6:43) She went to work with Courtaulds Lingerie in the UK in the mid 1980’s. Learn how she got this job and what working there was like.
(9:00) After 5 years at Courtaulds, Philippa and her husband moved to Dhahran Saudi Arabia. She shares her stories of the move and living in Saudia Arabia. Her motto was wherever you are in the world, there are both positives and negatives. Also, real life is where we are today.
(11:48) She talks about the birth of her two sons Daniel and Benjamin and their “idyllic 1950’s like childhood”. She was also called “the funky mom”! Oh, and her boys were using power tools at the age of three!
(14:59) While in Saudi Arabia, she started a business creating bespoke dresses…she tells us why it was so very successful. And she explains how the process of creating bespoke pieces is so different.
(16:25) Here she shares the story of the chance meeting that changed her life and what it was about quilting that pulled her in.
(19:09) What’s her very favorite quilt? Well, she dropped her kids off at her mom’s and flew to New York to a quilt retreat. This is where Gobsmacked came in! Better than her honeymoon she says!!! And that phone call from Meredeth Schroeder…. Well just listen!
(24:30) Philippa tells us of the contents of her two books. The autobiography “Quilting in the Limelight” and Applique Mastery. Hear about her 10,000-mile drive back to England from Saudi Arabia. “Whatever you do informs what else you do.”
(28:00) And that 10k journey…Philippa shares some of her adventures.
(29:10) Philippa explains why her famous quilt was named after Anne Lamott’s book Bird by Bird.
(33:29) David Tongeman and Philippa met in 2019 at a party and became fast friends – this led to a wonderful business partnership. She tells us the story of their meeting and the evolution of their partnership. In fact,…they were already prepared for the Covid-19 lockdown when it came about! She also takes us through the genesis of Quilter’s Question Time and the community it’s created.
(40:06) Philippa talks about persistence and why it’s so very important to stick with something to get good at it. She also doesn’t believe in talent…it’s more about doing, and doing, and doing! And anything is possible if you really want to do it!
(42:25) A prolific gardener, she talks about her deep need to be outside…and even to care for her ducks and chickens. She also described the custom-made greenhouse her husband built for her based-on Bird by Bird.
(44:55) Philippa talks openly about her family and why the environmental issues are a big reason for her not travelling.
(45:50) What’s her dream…? A LOT of homebody projects!
(47:40) Was there a question we didn’t ask that she wishes we had asked?!
(48:25) To reach out to Philippa go to Garment Maker’s Question Time or Quilters’ Question Time. Her personal website on PhilippaNaylor.com has a link to contact her directly.
Finally…ever heard of Desert Island Discs? She likens her experience on Sew & So to this classic BBC radio Program!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.