About this episode
Our guest today is Maddy Ballard, sewist, journalist, author. Born in Syracuse, NY, to a Texan father and a Chinese-New Zealander mother, she grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where she lived until she was 22. She then moved to England to pursue a postgraduate degree in English literature at the University of Oxford. Working in England as a journalist after her degree ended, she returned home during Covid, which is when she learned to sew. After a couple of years working in Auckland, Maddy moved to Wellington to pursue a master’s in creative writing, which is when she wrote her book "Patchwork". She now lives in Melbourne Australia and still works as a journalist -splitting most of her spare timebetween writing and sewing but also loving to sing and cook. (2:00) Born in the US, Maddy’s family moved back to New Zealand when she was 4 years old. Why did they make this move? (3:00) who in her family sewed and how did that influence her love for the craft? It started with her grandmother…and a great friend! (3:40) While Maddy was exposed to sewing quite young, she didn’t take it up in earnest until she was in her 20’s. What was the impetus for this? (5:23) What was her very first sewing project and what are her memories of its creation? (6:20) Maddy is self-taught…how did this work out? (6:40) Maddy calls sewing “magical”. How did sewing provide comfort and stability during the major transitions in her life? (7:52) Maddy talks about her mixed heritage and how it influences her creation choices. (9:37) Maddy talks about her book. How it came together and what started it all. (12:15) Maddy talks about sewing be a way to accept your body. She explains… (14:00) Why does Maddy say that Sewing is an act that helps you believe in the future? (14:47) While researching for her book she found out that sewing was really important to her family. She tells us what she learned and how it touched her. (16:45) Remaking is important to Maddy…she tells a specific story of how this worked for her. (18:52) An advocate for zero waste she talks about sustainability and its challenges. (21:25) Maddy tells us about her work as a journalist. She’s focused on food, restaurants and hospitality. Now she’s in the bicycle industry! (22:20) Maddy writes, sings, cooks and sews. Is it hard to balance it all? (23:13) Maddy talks about sewing as a form of self-expression and how it’s influenced her own projects. (24:23) What’s she working on now? (25:14) What’s next and what are her dreams? There could be a novel…and a quilt in her future! (27:36) Is there a question we didn’t ask? (27:55) Where can you find her book Patchwork - A Sewist’s Diary? (28:20) How can you reach Maddy? Instagram @MaddyBallard 27 Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.