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On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about diversity and inclusion in the quilting community with my guest, Maddie Kertay.

Maddie Kertay is the mother of 6 children, the founder of BadAss Quilters Society, an industry consultant, and a rabble-rouser. She’s bent on setting a bigger table, not building a higher fence in the world of quilting. Her family owns Spool, a local quilt shop in Chatanooga, Tennessee. The shop is currently for sale.

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Spool in Chattanooga.

We begin the conversation by talking about how Maddie became interested in quilting. Maddie then explains the moment she realized that she needed a platform to talk about a side of the quilting industry she didn’t see covered elsewhere. That platform became the BadAss Quilters Society, a blog and Facebook page where Maddie talks about diversity and inclusion, sexuality and the broad spectrum of people and beliefs that make up the quilting community today.

We talk about the word “badass” and how Maddie feels about not appealing to everyone. Maddie isn’t afraid of controversy and we discuss the complexity of both critiquing a community and trying to build a business within it.

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Quarter-inch seam stickers from BadAss Quilters Society.

We also discuss what it’s like to own a brick-and-mortar shop, Maddie’s upcoming lecture at Fall Quilt Market about using Facebook to build community, and what issues Maddie feels the quilt world needs to face up to going forward.

And, of course, I ask Maddie to recommend great stuff she’s loving right now. Maddie recommends:

Catch up with the BadAss Quilters Society on Facebook so see what Maddie’s up to.

*Note that we recorded this interview right as the story about Kathy Nida’s quilts being removed from AQS QuiltWeek in Grand Rapids (read my piece about that incident). Nida’s quilts will be on display at Spool this month when QuiltWeek comes to Chattanooga and you can purchase a pin to support the effort from Spool’s website if you can’t make the show.

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UNANIMOUSCRAFT

This episode is sponsored by Unanimous Craft. Unanimous Craft is a website where you can find places to sell your handmade and small batch work. This online index of brick and mortar shops, online selling venues and craft shows around the country is comprehensive, up to date, and easy to use. Visit unanimouscraft.com/naps for a special offer just for While She Naps listeners.

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You can listen to the show by clicking on the arrow below or subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and listen on the go. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it. Thank you so much!

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