Indigenous Makers Meld Culture and Craft
Indigenous makers welcome the burgeoning interest in their craft and culture. Here are just a few of their stories.
Avlea Brings Greek Folk Embroidery to the US Market
Through her business, Avlea Folk Embroidery, Krista West is bringing Greek folk embroidery designs to the US market through kits and patterns.
Miss Purl Chicago: A Yarn Shop and Craft Community
Kamaca Champion had a dream. She wanted to open a yarn store that would serve Chicago’s South Side and enhance a sense of community there. But it would take her years to realize the dream that would become Miss Purl.
How the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program Can Propel Your Craft Business Forward
Learn how Christy Nelson applied for and participated in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) program, and how that changed the way she operated her business, Makit Takit.
Ephemera Paducah: Creating an Art Retreat in Kentucky
Learn about Kristen Williams’ journey in building Ephemera Paducah, an art retreat and retail space in Paducah, Kentucky, where classes range from mixed media and art journaling to fiber arts, and where chocolate is considered an art supply.
Bee’s Knees Knee Pads is an Unconventional Business with a Big Learning Curve
Sara Bryant started her business, Bee’s Knees Knee Pads, to solve a problem for a small, but specific, group of people — pole dancers. Her goal was simple: make a better knee pad.
Flint Handmade Celebrates 15 Years of Craft in Flint, Michigan
Crystal Pepperdine founded Flint Handmade, a non-profit organization that creates inclusive pop-up art and craft events for local residents. This year Flint Handmade is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Nomad Makers Take Their Shows on the Road
Learn about makers who have hit the roads, fueled by an adventurous spirit, a pursuit of fresh experiences, and a yen to see the country. They found artistic inspiration, interesting people, and ways to satisfy their wanderlust and support their businesses.
Artful Angles Make a Good Business: Profile of Kelli Nyman
Kelli Nyman’s modern take on origami encompasses clean, seemingly simple geometric forms that are dimensional, textural and offer a varying viewing experience depending on lighting, time of day, and viewing vantage.
Nature and Color Inspire Amanda Anderson’s Mosaic Art
Mosaic artist Amanda Anderson is inspired by nature and wildlife, but it is color that drives her work.
Go Imagine a Marketplace that Helps Charities: Jon Lincoln Did
When it comes to businesses, Jon Lincoln is a wide-ranging maker. The Boston-area entrepreneur has launched a comedy club, as well as a document manager for insurance companies. But his latest product, Goimagine, is a maker marketplace with a difference.
Alessandra Hayden Sets World Record in Crochet
Crochet designer Alessandra Hayden has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest marathon crochet session. On May 30, 2021, Hayden, a resident of Gig Harbor, Washington, crocheted for 34 hours and 7 minutes, beating the previous record of 28 hours and five minutes set by two women in 2020.
Stitching Stolen Lives Focuses on Quilts as a Catalyst for Social Change
A new book by Sara Trail and Teresa Duryea Wong documents the work of the Social Justice Sewing Academy including the Remembrance Project, Memory Quilts, and workshops with young people.
The Grocery Girls Share Their Love of Yarn with the World
Jodi Brown and Tracie Millar—known in the knitting world as the Grocery Girls—have one piece of advice for businesses: be yourself. The sisters have been podcasting on YouTube since 2016, sharing what they’re knitting, yarns they love, and glimpses into their personal lives.
7 LGBTQ+ Makers to Celebrate
We’re celebrating Pride Month by highlighting seven incredible LGBTQ+ makers and their work. From growing their own skills to building crafting communities that make new faces and fresh perspectives feel welcome, we can’t wait to see what these makers do next.
Quiller Cecelia Louie Bends Paper to Her Will
Cecilia Louie manipulates long, skinny strands of paper into dragonflies, flowers, letters, and other fanciful quilled art.
Battenkill Fibers Connects Makers and Fiber Businesses in the Hudson Valley
Battenkill Fibers founder and owner Mary Jeanne Packer and her team know how to spin a beautiful yarn, sure, but Battenkill is also part of a hub that brings together local farms, fiber businesses, and makers in the Hudson Valley.
3 Inspiring Black Jewelry Designers to Elevate Your Style
There are so many talented Black jewelers doing work they love to help you decorate and declare yourself. To tell a small piece of this sprawling story, we pulled on a single thread offered by Omonivie Okhade. It’s a glimpse into her work, the work of her idol, and that of a bold designer who does some of her casting.
Meet Moorit: A New Independent Crochet Magazine with Modern Style
Alyson Chu launched a Kickstarter campaign for Moorit, a biannual, print-and-online crochet magazine dedicated to showcasing the dazzling possibilities of the craft many see as marginalized in yarn shops and the handwork media.
At Black Girls Sew, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Flourish
Through the non-profit Black Girls Sew, fashion designer Hekima Hapa is teaching young people in her neighborhood in New York City sewing and entrepreneurship skills.