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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.
LATEST EPISODE
Special Episode: State of the Industry 2024
We’re so pleased to bring you this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast. This is a recording of the State of the Industry panel discussion which took place live on stage on May 1 at h+h americas 2024 in Chicago. With about 800 people in the audience, our panelists dove into the biggest issues and ideas the crafts industry is wrestling with right now. It was an exciting conversation among four industry professionals each of whom has a unique vantage point and perspective.
Our panelists included Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts, Gina Pantastico of Cloud9 Fabrics, Virginia Johnson of Gather Here, and Scott Stone of Gemporia Craft. We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation and we invite you to join us at h+h americas 2025 which will be held May 7-9 in Chicago.
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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
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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.
Podcast Episode #23: Ann Wood
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guest is the artist Ann Wood. Ann works with found and salvaged materials, many of them vintage or antique garments. She’s interested in transformation, turning cardboard boxes from the fancy grocery store...
Podcast Episode #22: Mimi Tsang of Hello Shiso and Jahje Bath Ives of BabyJives
Today on the podcast I’m talking with two incredible women with creative businesses. My first guest is Mimi Tsang. Mimi is the designer and owner of hello shiso, a company making fun and modern accessories for girls. She is based in Berkeley, CA. Thanks to a mom who...
Podcast Episode #21: Gale Zucker and Kristin Nicholas
Gale Zucker and Kristin Nicholas. Photo of Kristin Nicholas by Rikki Snyder. In this episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Gale Zucker and Kristin Nicholas. Kristin is a knitwear and stitchery designer. She worked as the Creative Director for...
Podcast Episode #20: Rachael Gander and Kim Werker
In episode #20 of the podcast, my guests are Rachael Gander and Kim Werker. Rachael is a sewist, mom, wife, designer, blogger, and fabric enthusiast who learned to sew alongside her mom, but lost interest in the craft until her early twenties. She has spent the last...
Podcast Episode #19: Kari Chapin and Blair Stocker
In episode #19 of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, my guests are two incredible women: Kari Chapin and Blair Stocker. Kari is the author of four books, most notably The Handmade Marketplace. She is a creative business consultant and helps all sorts of creative...
Podcast Episode #18: Meighan O’Toole and Caro Sheridan
In episode #18 of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, I talk with Meighan O'Toole and Caro Sheridan. I've hung out with both Meighan and Caro here in Boston this year, but they haven't met in person. It was great to introduce them through the show! Meighan and Caro...
Podcast Episode #17: Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter of Stitchcraft Marketing and Stacey Trock
In this episode of the podcast I talk with Stacey Trock and Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter. Stacey Trock is my frequent guest on the show. She designs crochet patterns for adorable and huggable stuffed animals. Her patterns are easy to follow and take the mystery out of...
Podcast Episode #16: Meg Freeman and Dorie Schwarz of Kids Clothes Week
In this episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Meg Freeman and Dorie Schwarz. Meg and Dorie are sewists and bloggers in their own right, and together they are the women behind Kids Clothes Week, the popular online challenge to sew clothes for...
Podcast Episode #15: Sonya Philip and 100 Acts of Sewing
In this episode of the podcast, I chat one-on-one with artist and maker Sonya Philip. Sonya lives in San Francisco where she knits, felts, and sews. She's a self-taught artist who often works in series. I am really drawn to her most recent project, 100 Acts of Sewing,...
Podcast Episode #14: Tara Swiger and Stacey Trock
My new microphone makes a debut in this episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast (hooray for improved sound quality!). I chat with Tara Swiger and Stacey Trock about marketing tools and strategies for small creative businesses. I met Tara a few months ago when...
Podcast Episode #13: Deborah Fisher and Stacey Trock
In this episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, I have a conversation Deborah Fisher and Stacey Trock about our favorite tools, books, websites, and other fun stuff we love that we think you might like, too. Deborah Fisher is the director and quilt designer...
Podcast Episode #12: Gwen Bortner and Stacey Trock
In this episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Gwen Bortner and Stacey Trock. Gwen and Stacey are both yarn people – Gwen designs knitwear and Stacey designs crocheted stuffed animals. But they are also much more than that. They are teachers, and...
Podcast Episode #11: Claudine Hellmuth and Betz White
My guests on today's episode are Claudine Hellmuth and Betz White, two fantastic indie designers with successful art businesses. We have a really fun conversation about our current favorite apps, blogs, tools, videos, recipes, subscriptions and more. Claudine Hellmuth...
Podcast Episode #10: Wendi Gratz and Stacey Trock
Interesting people find interesting stuff. That's my theory, anyway. The Craft Industry Alliance podcast is developing into conversations with designers and crafters in the industry about the things they love, work-related and otherwise. I've got amazing guests lined...
Podcast Episode #9: Stacey Trock and Mollie Johanson
When you have an online business you end up using graphic design tools all day long. You're editing photos, creating graphic elements for blog posts, sprucing up your Facebook banner, designing a new logo, laying out ebook pages...the list goes on. If you could sit...
Podcast Episode #8: Etsy’s New Definition of Handmade with Vanessa Bertozzi, Program Manager at Etsy
Etsy made a pretty groundbreaking announcement last week. Beginning in January of 2014 sellers on the site will be allowed to hire staff, have someone else ship their goods, and sell items they produce with manufacturing partners. After watching the press conference I...
Podcast Episode #7: How to Monetize Your Blog with Bjork Ostrom of Pinch of Yum
Before we begin today's post, take a minute to think of the name of a craft blogger whom you would identify as being financially successful. Okay, got one in mind? Imagine if that person wrote a blog post once a month in which they reported to their readers how much...
Podcast Episode #6: Are Handmade Toys Safe with Dawn Treacher
Ever made a gift for a child and worried that maybe it wasn't as sturdy as it could've been? Maybe you've woken up at night wondering, "Were those seams really sewing tightly enough?" "Did I remember to double knot the embroidery floss when I stitched the eyes?" "Is...
Podcast Episode #2: Toy Designer Lauren Venell
The post is part of an occasional series called "Awesome Handmade Toys." These posts feature toy makers whose work I think is particularly fresh and inventive. You can see previous posts in the series here. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular...
Podcast Episode #1: Monster Factory
The post is part of an occasional series called "Awesome Handmade Toys." These posts feature toy makers whose work I think is particularly fresh and inventive. You can see previous posts in the series here. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular...
Podcast Special Episode: Social E-Commerce for Small Businesses with Jon Crawford, CEO of Storenvy
What's the best way to sell your handmade goods online? Open your own storefront and you're on an island. If you can’t bring in the traffic yourself you aren’t likely to make enough sales for it to pay off. Open a store on Etsy and you’ll get lots of traffic, but...
Podcast Special Episode: Creating a Customized Online Storefront with Jonathan Marcus, CEO of Goodsie
Today I spoke with Jonathan Marcus, the founder and CEO of Goodsie. Jonathan got in touch with me after I wrote this post about whether handmade businesses should have their own online storefronts or are better off sticking with Etsy. I've had my eye on Goodsie for...
Podcast Special Episode: Effective Blogging with Stan Smith
Everyone tells you that writing a blog is a good way to promote your handmade business. Write about what you're making, show your works in progress, tell the story behind the creation of your products and you'll build an audience. Those readers will develop a...
Podcast Episode #3: Shawn Smith of Shawnimals
Shawnimals website. All images by Shawnimals and used with permission. Today I'm very excited to bring you an interview with Shawn Smith, the creator of Shawnimals. I contacted Shawn because he has a thriving plush business that includes both handmade toys and...
Podcast Episode #4: Selling Printed Patterns with BariJ
For today's installment of my series on how to turn your love of sewing softies into a career that actually earns you an income, I want to explore selling printed patterns through wholesale distributors. Okay, what does that mean exactly? Have you ever walked into...
Podcast Episode #5: Veteran Softie Pattern Designer, Carol Cruise
I'm excited to share with you today my first foray into creating a recorded interview. In my efforts to learn more about ways to make money from sewing softies I wanted to talk with an industry veteran. I figured there must be a lot I could learn from someone who...