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We talk with designers and makers about what it really takes to build a creative business. Then we recommend great stuff we're loving right now.
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THE HOST
Find out what it takes to build a business in the crafts industry. In each episode host, and Craft Industry Alliance co-founder, Abby Glassenberg, interviews a creative entrepreneur to learn about their journey to success. Hear their stories and find out how to earn a living through a love of craft.
FEATURED EPISODES
Podcast Episode #168: Toni Lipsey
In this podcast interview, Toni Lipsey of TL Yarncrafts talks about how she’s built her crochet design business including selling finished goods at craft fairs and then selling patterns on Ravelry and collaborating with other designers via YouTube.
Podcast Episode #167: Heather Ross
In this podcast episode with illustrator Heather Ross she discusses how she’s built her business designing fabric for Windham Fabrics and illustrating children’s books and how she feels the quilting industry needs to change and adapt to better compensate women.
Podcast Episode #162: Windy Chien
In this podcast interview, installation artist Windy Chien talks about her daily practice tying knots and how it led to a book deal with Abrams as well as the opportunity to create several high profile installations including one at Apple headquarters.
BROWSE ALL EPISODES
Please note that this show was previously called the While She Naps podcast. On October 1, 2019, it was renamed the Craft Industry Alliance podcast. The name has changed, but the mission of the show, the host, and the style are the same.
Powering the Creative Economy with Spoonflower
In this limited series of the Craft Industry Alliance called Powering the Creative Economy with Spoonflower, we’re talking with five artists about how they propelled their business forward using Spoonflower’s print-on-demand capabilities. In the sixth episode, we go behind the scenes at this fast-growing business.
Podcast Episode #203: Jenny Doan
In this podcast interview, Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. discusses how she and her family built one of the largest retailers for quilting fabrics and pre-cuts in the US through the power of YouTube.
Podcast Episode #202: Wendy Ward
In this podcast episode, sewing pattern designer and teacher Wendy Ward talks about her career path from working for a fast fashion brand to learning about sustainable sewing practices to teaching and authoring sewing books.
Podcast Episode #201: Schacht Spindle
In this podcast interview, Jane Patrick and Barry Schacht of Schacht Spindle Company talk about how they created this successful, family-owned business that’s a leading supplier of looms and spindles in the US.
Podcast Episode #200: Karen Barbé
In this podcast interview, artist Karen Barbé talks about the development of her career in embroidery. Raised in Santiago, Karen’s popular blog, Instagram account, and book have inspired thousands of people to learn about color and thread.
Podcast Episode #199: Meg and Patrick McElwee of Sew Liberated
In this podcast episode, Meg and Patrick McElwee of Sew Liberated talk about their journey to build a values-based business that’s focused on sustainability and personal empowerment.
Podcast Episode #198: Ursula Morgan and Mark Hyland of Premier Needle Arts
In this podcast episode, Mark Hyland of Premier Needle Arts and Ursula Morgan of The Crafts Group talk about their strategy to grow a family of craft brands.
Podcast Episode #197: Kristi Schroeder Larson
In this podcast episode, artist Kristi Schroeder Larson talks about her career as a graphic designer and how she pivoted to become a quilter and quilting pattern designer, and then pivoted again to designing needlepoint canvases.
Podcast Episode #196: Leigh Metcalf of Topstitch Studio
In this podcast interview, Leigh Metcalf talks about how she opened her fabric and yarn shop, Topstitch Studio. After writing a book covering craft shops all over London, Leigh opened one of her own with the intent of building community and curating a beautiful selection of special goods.
Podcast Episode #195: Make Modern Magazine
In this podcast episode, the creators of Make Modern Magazine discuss how they’ve created an independent digital quilting magazine with an international following.
Podcast Episode #194: Tisa Jackson
In this podcast interview, Tisa Jackson talks about how she has secured multiple brand collaborations within the crafts industry, designing creative projects to share with her audience.
Podcast Episode #193: Christi Johnson
In this podcast episode, artist Christi Johnson talks about her journey from working in the fashion industry to starting her own clothing brand, creating embroidery patterns and classes, and writing a book with Storey Publishing.
Podcast Episode #192: Katrina Rodabaugh
In this podcast episode, Katrina Rodabaugh traces the development of her career focused on sustainable fashion, mending, and natural dyeing.
Podcast Episode #191: Cecilia Nelson-Hurt
In this podcast episode, Cecilia Neslon-Hurt talks about the development of her career working in diversity, equity, and inclusion both for national corporations and in the fiber arts community.
Episode #190: Making Stories
In this podcast episode, Hanna Lisa Haferkamp and Claire Walls explain how they create and publish Making Stories, an independent knitting magazine with a focus on sustainability.
Podcast Episode #189: Mou Saha
In this podcast episode, mixed media artist Mou Saha talks about her life as an artist first as a child growing up in India where she took a variety of art training courses, but studied psychology and then in the US where she encountered frustration with the inability to complete her PhD and, instead, pivoted her career to pursue mixed media art.
Podcast Episode #188: Tricia Brancolini-Foley of Handmade Arcade
In this podcast interview, Tricia Brancolini-Foley, the Executive Director of Handmade Arcade in Pittsburgh, talks about the evolution of that indie craft show including becoming a non-profit, working with the Pittsburgh arts community, and pivoting to a virtual show during COVID.
Podcast Episode #187: Shelley Brander
In this podcast episode, Shelley Brander talks about her career founding Loops Yarn Shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Knit Stars as well as writing her new memoir.
Podcast Episode #186: Azzari Jarrett
In this podcast episode, photographer and memory keeper Azzari Jarrett talks about how she came to develop a creative career for herself, discovering a love of film photography and scrapbooking when she became a mother and turning her talent for design into a small business.
Podcast Episode #185: Anne Butera
In this podcast episode, watercolor artist Anne Butera traces her creative journey learning to become an artist, teaching on Skillshare, blogging, and building a following through her newsletter.
Podcast Episode #184: Polly Leonard of Selvedge Magazine
In this podcast episode, Polly Leonard, the founder and publisher of Selvedge Magazine, talks about how she created this premier publication devoted to textiles, how she expanded the business to include a shop and events, and her future plans for the magazine.
Podcast Episode #183: Kathy Elkins of WEBS
In this podcast episode, Kathy Elkins, the owner of WEBS, talks about how her husband’s family founded the business and how she and her husband took it over and built it into what it is today – one of the largest online retailers of yarn in the industry.
Podcast Episode #182: Alexis Bailey
In this podcast interview, sewing blogger Alexis Bailey traces her journey learning to sew, finding her voice online, and starting a successful small business selling hand-sewing kits.
Podcast Episode #181: Anne Oliver of Lolli and Grace
In this podcast episode, Anne Oliver of Lolli and Grace talks about how she built her embroidery pattern and kit business. Anne’s English degree, experience working in a retail craft store, and love of photography all contributed to her success.
Podcast Episode #180: Louis Boria
In this podcast episode, knitwear designer Louis Boria of Brooklyn Boy Knits talks about his career in the industry including a viral photo of him knitting on the subway, his Tedx talk, and channeling the attention he’s gotten into introducing young people to the fiber arts.
Podcast Episode #179: Twinkie Chan
In this podcast episode, crochet designer Twinkie Chan talks about her career in craft including her licensing deal that led to YummyYou, her book deals, teaching with CreativeBug, and more.
Podcast Episode #178: Kathy Cano-Murillo of The Crafty Chica
In this podcast episode, Kathy Cano-Murillo of The Craft Chica traces her impressive career path in the crafts industry from making handmade goods to licensing designs, to working with major national brands, Kathy has truly done it all and has so much wisdom to share.
Podcast Episode #177: Clara Nartey
In this podcast episode, artist and creativity coach Clara Nartey talks about her life growing up in Ghana, then moving to the US, discovering quilts, and becoming a textile artist.
Episode #176: Courtney Cerruti
In this podcast episode, Courtney Cerruti, the editor-in-chief of Creativebug, talks about her career at the company as well as her life as an artist, author, and maker.
Podcast Episode #175: Gaye Glasspie
In this podcast episode, Gaye Glasspie talks about her journey to becoming a knitting celebrity. Gaye (also known as GG) explains how she discovered knitting at a particularly challenging time in her life and how it transformed her world.
Podcast Episode #174: Emily Reinhardt of The Object Enthusiast
In this podcast episode, Emily Reinhardt of The Object Enthusiast explains how she built her ceramics business right out of college including growing it very large, and then downsizing it when it felt too out of control.
Podcast Episode #173: Ellie Lum of Klum House
In this podcast episode, Ellie Lum of Klum House talks about how she built her business teaching bag making classes in person and online and offering kits and patterns for makers at all levels.
Podcast Episode #172: Stitch People
On this podcast episode, Spencer and Lizzy Bean of Stitch People talk about how they built their business creating cross stitch portraits including pivoting from custom one-of-kind products to patterns and a 100+ page book, plus offering events to the Stitch People community.
Podcast Episode #171: Amy Oxford
In this podcast interview, Amy Oxford talks about her long career in rug hooking including how she developed her signature tool, the Oxford punch needle, and how she began teaching and created a teacher certification program.
Podcast Episode #170: Allison Hoffman
In this podcast interview with amigurumi designer Allison Hoffman, we talk about how she got into crocheting life-like dolls of famous people, how she’s been able to write 5 craft books, and the controversy she ran into recently due to creating a Baby Yoda doll and crochet pattern.
Podcast Episode #169: Amy Smart
In this podcast episode, quilt designer Amy Smart talks about how she’s built her business including self-publishing patterns, writing books, teaching nationally, and writing a highly successful blog for over a decade.
Podcast Episode #168: Toni Lipsey
In this podcast interview, Toni Lipsey of TL Yarncrafts talks about how she’s built her crochet design business including selling finished goods at craft fairs and then selling patterns on Ravelry and collaborating with other designers via YouTube.
Podcast Episode #167: Heather Ross
In this podcast episode with illustrator Heather Ross she discusses how she’s built her business designing fabric for Windham Fabrics and illustrating children’s books and how she feels the quilting industry needs to change and adapt to better compensate women.
Podcast Episode #166: Holly and David Lesue of Maker Valley and Stately Type
In this podcast episode, Holly and David Lesue of Stately Type discuss their t-shirt business which caters to quilters and how they’ve found their way in a very tight niche.
Podcast Episode #165: Norma Loehr of Orange Lingerie
In this podcast episode, sewing pattern designer Norma Loehr talks about how she’s built her Orange Lingerie brand including transitioning from corporate America to working for herself and building a distinctive niche brand from the ground up.
Podcast #164: Kate Alarcon
In this podcast interview, paper flower artist Kate Alarcon explains how she’s built her business including writing books, teaching workshops, and building a large and engaged Instagram following.
Podcast Episode #163: Rose Pearlman
In this podcast episode, punch needle artist Rose Pearlman explains how she got introduced to this craft and built her reputation via Instagram which has led to a book deal as well as several incredible teaching opportunities.
Podcast Episode #162: Windy Chien
In this podcast interview, installation artist Windy Chien talks about her daily practice tying knots and how it led to a book deal with Abrams as well as the opportunity to create several high profile installations including one at Apple headquarters.
Podcast Episode #161: Liz Gipson and Angela Smith
In this podcast episode, Liz Gipson and Angela Smith discuss the ways in which they’ve collaborated in their businesses for mutual benefit with Angela manufacturing specialty looms for Liz to sell to her weaving audience.
Podcast Episode #160: Abigail McMurray of Yeiou Paper Objects
In this podcast episode, paper artist Abigail McMurray of Yeiou Paper Objects explains how she’s pivoted in her business from one product to another until she found the right product/market fit and began to be profitable.
Podcast Episode #159: The State of the Quilting Industry, Quilt Market Fall 2019
This special episode of the podcast was recorded live at Fall 2019 Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. Host Abby Glassenberg interviews a variety of quilt shop owners who were attending to trade show to find out the challenges they’re facing and what they’re looking forward to in the months to come.
Podcast Episode #158: Felicia Lo
In this podcast interview, Felicia Lo of SweetGeorgia Yarns talks about how she built her business from her kitchen table into a thriving indie yarn dyeing studio with multiple employees and an online school.
Podcast Episode #157: Elise Blaha Cripe
In this podcast interview, Elise Blaha Cripe talks about how she built her creative business and the winding road she took that eventually led her to create the Get to Work Book and to publish a book about productivity with Chronicle Books.
Podcast Episode #156: Melanie Falick
In this second podcast interview with Melanie Falick, we discuss her new book Making a Life. Melanie talks about the importance of making things by hand and how she went about interviewing makers and telling their stories for this ambitious project.
Podcast Episode #155: Social Justice Sewing Academy
In this podcast interview, Abby Glassenberg talks with Sara Trail, founder of the Social Justice Sewing Academy and Juan Tapia, a student who participated in the program.