Golden Scissors Awards - Craft Industry Alliance

The craft industry is made up of both world-class corporations and thousands of visionary small business owners, whose never-ending creativity continually lifts the entire sector to new heights. The Golden Scissors Awards are an opportunity for the industry to recognize those who have offered outstanding leadership and innovation in the past year.

Recognizing outstanding leadership and innovation within the crafts industry.

Golden Scissors Awards are given annually to nominees who show exceptional:

creativity
service towards the craft community
innovation

Each nominee is considered individually and confidentially and is judged by a panel of five judges nominated by the Craft Industry Alliance Board of Advisors.

Applications for the 2026 Golden Scissors Awards will open on January 5, 2026.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION

Who can submit a nomination?

Nominate yourself, or someone else. There’s no fee to apply. Submissions are open to both US and global entries and all nominees must be 18 years of age as of the date of entry

There’s no limit on the number of people you nominate or the number of awards you nominate them for. A separate entry form must be submitted for each entry. Please note that applications must be filled out in full by the deadline, January 31, 2026, to be considered for an award.

Eligibility is open to anyone working in the crafts industry.

elizabeth okeyele teaching a child knitting

Meet our judges

The 2026 Golden Scissors Awards will be judged by this independent panel of judges selected by the Craft Industry Alliance Board of Advisors.

Arianne Foulks, Aeolidia

Arianne Foulks is a founder, speaker, and Shopify Plus Partner who has focused her career on building impactful retail businesses. She has spoken and taught for Goldman Sachs, Shopify, CreativeMornings, Alt Summit, and Growclass. At Aeolidia, her web design and development agency, she and her team create super-effective online shops for artists and designers. Aeolidia has spent over 20 years creating beautifully thoughtful projects for brands including Rifle Paper Co., Lisa Congdon, Cashmerette, and Burt’s Bees Baby.

Omkari Williams, Micro Activism

Omkari L. Williams is the Gold Nautilus award-winning and bestselling author of Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World (Without A Bullhorn). Her book helps readers identify their “activist archetype” and map a personal action plan for engaging in small, change-making activities with potentially big impacts. Omkari has worked as an actor, political consultant, and coach. Though she has an affinity for supporting activists who identify as introverted or highly sensitive, as she does, she welcomes all people into the world of micro activism, a sustainable path to change-making based upon honoring the inherent dignity of all people. Omkari lives in Western Massachusetts where she enjoys being part of a vibrant community of artists.

Julie Roehm, SewShare

Julie Roehm is Founder and COO of SewShare, a global community & marketplace for the sewing community. This is her second venture dedicated to creators, having previously founded Creativebug, the award-winning video subscription service for arts and crafts. Before diving into the entrepreneurial world, she led online banking initiatives at Wells Fargo, which shaped her approach to community-centric design. Julie is passionate about building online spaces where community and connection come first, and trust drives commerce. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling, spending time on her own sewing projects, and cheering from the sidelines at her son’s soccer games.

Brandy Maslowski

Brandy Maslowski is an art quilter, educator, and NACQJ certified quilt judge who helps quilters step into artfulness through a wide range of workshops. As author of Kristy’s Quilt and Consulting Editor of Quilting Arts and QuiltCon magazines, she brings creative vision and inspiration to the quilting community. Her own art quilts explore themes of healing and growth, reflecting her belief that quilting is self-care. As founder and host of the award-winning Quilter on Fire Podcast, Brandy shares authentic maker stories that transform how quilters see themselves—from hobbyists to artists, from isolated to connected. You can find Brandy everywhere online as the Quilter on Fire.

Brittany Garber, KnotBadBritt

Britt Garber, the creative force behind KnotBadBritt—a name that’s become synonymous with bold color, approachable crochet design, and thoughtful community-building in the fiber arts world. With over five years of experience as a designer and educator, Britt is known for patterns that are both playful and practical, helping makers grow their skills with confidence. She’s also the founder of the Makers of Color Collective, an initiative focused on amplifying diverse voices and fostering deeper inclusion across our industry.

Elizabeth Caven

Elizabeth Caven is an entrepreneur-turned-investor. She previously founded UpCraft Club, a digital sewing pattern marketplace, and was the inventor of paperless sewing. The technology she developed and patented in the crafting space includes projector sewing systems like KITE (now known as Ditto). Currently, Elizabeth is an angel investor in more than a dozen companies and is also a venture capital investor who supports passionate founders across a variety of industries including fintech.

Janine Vangool, UPPERCASE

Janine Vangool is the publisher, editor and designer of UPPERCASE. Her magazine and books celebrate the process of making, the commitment to craft and the art of living creatively. Janine got her start working as a freelance graphic designer for arts and culture clients and has also taught typography and publication design at the college level. She has been a shop owner and bookseller, gallery curator, sold a line of greeting cards wholesale, made 10,000 books by hand (with lots of help!) and has sewn her own products for retail. She has four fabric collections with Windham Fabrics. She has a particular fondness for vintage things, a passion that has inspired a book about typewriters and an entire UPPERCASE Encyclopedia of Inspiration.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION

Award Categories

one woman showing another woman something on a piece of paper

Emerging Leader

Designed to uplift promising talent, this award celebrates budding entrepreneurs working in the industry for under five years who have shown exceptional growth potential and innovation.

It recognizes those who are making a significant impact in the early stage of their career and highlights their potential as future industry leaders.

Lifetime Achievement

Dedicated to visionaries who have made a lasting impact on the industry.

This prestigious recognition honors individuals who have been pioneers in their field, driving positive change, and leaving a lasting legacy through their hard work, determination, talent, and collaboration.

Sustainability

Recognizes companies, initiatives, or campaigns demonstrating a profound commitment to sustainability. This award honors those who prioritize environmentally conscious practices and ethically sourced materials that positively impact communities and society as a whole.

The purpose of this award is to celebrate the craft industry’s willingness to engage with today’s big issues including sustainability, environmental consciousness, and wellbeing.

Social Impact

Recognizes companies, initiatives, or campaigns demonstrating a profound commitment to social responsibility and social justice. This award honors those who prioritize social responsibility in ways that positively impact communities and society as a whole.

The purpose of this award is to celebrate the craft industry’s willingness to engage with today’s big issues including diversity, access, and wellbeing.

woman looking at color swatches at a desk

Innovation

This award celebrates a groundbreaking new product, idea, or business model launched within the last two years.

Honoring creativity and forward-thinking, this award acknowledges businesses that have brought new concepts to the forefront, commending unique and original ideas that push the boundaries of design and set new trends within the industry.