Craft Industry Alliance

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about fabric design with my guest Kim Kight.

Kim Kight started in the craft blogging world in the 2000s, first with a personal sewing and knitting blog then her fabric news blog, True Up. She is the author of the book "A Field Guide to Fabric Design" in 2011 with Stash Books, which is still in print. She started designing with Cotton + Steel Fabrics in 2013, now Ruby Star Society since 2018. She lives outside of Austin, TX with her family and pets.

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To...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about crochet design with my guest, Brittany Garber.

Britt is 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...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting with my guest Maria Shell.

Maria’s work is grounded in the tradition and craft of American quilt making. She strives to take the classical components of a traditional bedquilt and manipulate them with the hope of creating surprising combinations of pattern, repetition, and color for the viewer.

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This episode is sponsored by Quarry Books. 

Check out Crochet Your Celebrity Crush with Lee Sartori! This book provides 15 amigurumi patterns to create adorable, crocheted version...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about hand sewing with my guest Louisa Soenstrom.

Louisa considers garment-making skills to be deeply empowering. Louisa writes and teaches about patternmaking and hand stitching clothing. For most of a decade, she worked in technical design and patternmaking, most recently for Macy's and Eileen Fisher. Previous works have included a self-published book called Hand Sewing Clothing: A Guide, as well as two seasons of “Patternmaking in Public Places,” an outreach project she started to democratize access to patternmaking skills. This year, Louisa is celebra...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast,  we’re talking about building a crochet business with Amy Ting.

Amy Ting is a Korean-Taiwanese crochet designer based in the Bay Area, California. She is the author of Amigurumi Critters and creator of Curious Papaya. Amy’s amigurumi creations have resonated with a wide audience but especially so with the Asian-American population.

Her designs have been featured in notable publications such as Simply Crochet Magazine and Crochet Society, and she has also collaborated with popular brands in the fiber arts community such as Michael’s Arts and Crafts...

Welcome to this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast.

Today, we’re excited to share with you an interview with Abbie Small. Abbie served as executive vice president and general manager of Simplicity Creative Group, owner of the Big 4 pattern companies. Just last week, Rubelmann Capital, in partnership with Abbie, acquired the company from the bankruptcy auction that was held after Design Group in the UK sold Design Group Americas to Hilco Capital for $1. Now, Abbie is at the helm. We ask her how her this sale came to about and find out wha...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about living the life of a quilter and writer with my guest Marianne Fons.

Marianne Fons co-hosted “Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting” on public television nationwide for many years, first with Liz Porter and later with daughter Mary Fons.

With Liz, she co-authored Quilter’s Complete Guide, one of the best selling quilting books of all time. Marianne Fons and Liz Porter were the 2019 inductees into the Quilters Hall of Fame.

Marianne served on the board of...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a quilting business with my guest Michelle Cain.

Michelle tried rather hard not to become a quilter. After growing up outside of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and having a mom who began quilting in the 1990s, this was a formidable challenge. A chance encounter with Denyse Schmidt’s work, however, introduced Michelle to the world of modern quilting and convinced her there might be a place for her in it. She made her first quilt in 2013 and hasn’t looked back.

Wanting to con...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about bag making with my guest Emma Brassfield.

Emma is a YouTuber, pattern designer, bag sewing teacher and entrepreneur based near London, UK. 

After over 20 years in the film industry, helping to make such iconic creatures and costumes as Iggle Piggle (In The Night Garden), The Flash (Justice League), Many goblins (Harry Potter), and Chewbacca (Star Wars), the grind of film hours + family life needed to be broken. 

So in 2020, she finally started her YouTube channel, which was so well-received that now...

In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're so pleased to be sharing the keynote speech from h+h americas 2025 presented by Larrie King.

Larrie King, better known as Mister Larrie, is an arts and crafts content creator, design professor, and creativity enthusiast based in Orlando, Florida. His projects often center on bright colors, bold patterns, and budget-friendly basics, all geared toward making crafting and self-expression through creativity truly accessible to all. 

Larrie’s professional background is centered on visual communication, teaching, and commercial design. A prolific maker and content crea...

On this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about private equity and it's impact on the crafts industry with my guest Megan Greenwell.

Megan is a journalist who has written or edited for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, WIRED, and ESPN. She is also the deputy director of the Princeton Summer Journalism Program, a workshop and college access initiative for students from low-income backgrounds. A California native, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their pug.

Megan's new book is Bad Compan...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a cross-stitch business with my guest Zoe Frost.

Zoe is the heart, hands, and creative force behind Junebug & Darlin, a queer owned brand based in Portland, OR. When she's not crafting, you'll find her adventuring through the Pacific Northwest’s pine trees, ferns, and rivers with her partner and a dog or two. Zoe’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in her love for nature, queerness, and a fierce “f-- the system” attitude, which she channels into every cross-stitch kit she creates.

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On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about ecommerce with my guest Claudia Martinez.

Claudia is the owner of Snuggly Monkey, a craft supply store specializing in hand embroidery, Sashiko, and unique threads and notions from around the world. With over 13 years of experience, she has built a thoughtfully curated collection that reflects her passion for hand stitching and global textile traditions. She brings her passion for stitching, color, and creative tools to a global community of makers. A multilingual connector and lifelong crafter, Claudia is dedicated to sharing the joy, self-expression, an...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a fabric company with my guest Arvin Pairavi.

Arvin is a visionary entrepreneur and the driving force behind Shannon Fabrics, a leading name in the textile industry known for its luxurious, high-quality Cuddle fabrics. Under his leadership, the company has redefined the market, setting new standards for innovation, craftsmanship, and customer satisfaction.

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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Str...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about punch needle with my guest Micah Clasper-Torch.

Micah Clasper-Torch is a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, and educator helping to lead the modern revival of punch needle rug hooking. With a background in fashion design from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Polytechnic Institute in Milan, Micah blends fine art, heritage craft, and wearable design to create one-of-a-kind textile pieces that range from coats and accessories to wall hangings and soft sculpture. 

In 2019 Micah was formally trai...

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 7 at h+h americas 2025 in Chicago. With over 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 Jakob Lang of Lang Yarns, Anna Maria Parry, Adam Blumenthal of...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about museum exhibitions with my guests Nora Palermo and Pam Weeks of the New England Quilt Museum.

Nora has served as Executive Director of the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts since 2013. Her broad experience in development for museums, cultural organizations and teaching hospitals brought a strategic approach to improving the NEQM’s finances and expanding its audience. With support from the Board of Directors and a committed group of volunteers, Nora has led a small professional team to overhaul its exhibitions and public programs, su...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about quilt kits with my guest Michael O'Dell. 

Mike is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist who administers anesthesia in a pediatric hospital, but his passion has always been art.  He has worked with every material he’s ever had a chance to get his hands on, and quilting came to the fore in 2018 when his wife took up the hobby.  As his wife worked on a 9-patch quilt as her first project, Mike saw each square as a pixel, which brought him back to his yo...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about creating a best-selling art and illustration company with my guest, Mary Engelbreit.

Over 40 years ago, Mary Engelbreit launched her own company with a strong desire for creative freedom and a line of 12 greeting cards. The head of a highly successful business bearing her name, Mary is one of the country’s premier designers and artists. She is known throughout the world for her distinctive illustration style and design sensibility, modestly referred to as “eclectic traditional”. Mary’s signature art, imbued with spirited wit and warmth, ap...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about running a brick-and-mortar yarn shop with my guest, Annissa Essaibi-George.

Annissa is the owner of Stitch House. She taught at East Boston High School for 13 years before being elected to the Boston City Council. In 2021 she ran for Mayor of Boston.

Annissa recently served as CEO and president of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston and now is the Partnership Advisor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. Annissa is a mom to 4 great boys 20-year-old Douglas and 18-year-old triplets Charlie, K...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about product and surface design with my guest Hollei Hayes.

Hollei is the owner of Hollei Anne Design Co. After honing her craft for over ten years in the design industry, she made the leap from working in Fortune 500 corporations collaborating with esteemed brands such as Toys R Us and Skip Hop. Now, she's fully immersed in her passion as a Surface and Product designer and has had her art seen in big box retailers like Target, TJ Maxx, Hallmark and more!

Today, sh...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about activism with my guest Omakri Williams.

Omkari Williams is the Gold Nautilus award-winning 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.

She has worked as an actor, political consultant, and coach. Now she welcomes all people into the world of micro activism, a sustainable path to change-making based upon honoring the i...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about embroidery with my guest Melissa Galbraith.

Melissa is the fiber artist behind MCreativeJ. She was born and raised in the desert of Washington state where her mother instilled a love of making things by hand at an early age. Melissa shares her love of nature through whimsical and modern hand embroidery kits, hands-on workshops, and her books, How to Embroider Texture and Pattern and DIY Embroidered Shoes.

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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

You know...

In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we are talking with a variety of industry players about the second bankruptcy of JOANN Fabrics including:

We start with Grace giving us an overview of the current situation at JOANN (January 2025), go through 10-15 minute interviews with each guest, and wrap up with Grace as we look towards...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about sewing machines with my guest Jason Zielke.

Jason Zielke is the Chief Product Officer for SVP Worldwide, where he leads global brand marketing, new product development, and industrial design for iconic sewing machine brands Singer, Viking, and Pfaff. A seasoned executive with expertise in strategic planning and engineering leadership, he has successfully launched innovative products and driven significant market growth throughout his career.

Previously, Jason held leadership roles at Stanley Black & Decker and MTD Products, managing initiatives ranging from corporate tur...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about starting a fabric company with my guest Tracy Krauter.

Tracy is the founder of Splash Fabric. Raising three boys, Tracy knew there had to be a better solution to everyday messes. When she couldn't find the perfect fabric—one that was soft yet waterproof, durable yet sewable—she didn't just settle. She innovated. 

Today, her signature laminated cotton transforms ordinary items into spill-proof shields, creating beautiful, practical solutions that protect your tables, reduce your laundry, and add a splash of joy to d...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about craftivism with my guest Shannon Downey.

Shannon is an artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, and general instigator. Her work moves people from passive consumers of art into engaged creators and leverages craft-based art forms to bring people together, present opportunities to transition from makers to change makers, and inspire radical hope for what is possible.

She’s the founder of Badass Cross Stitch and her new book Let's Move the Needle provides a roadmap and accessible toolkit for burgeoning art activists with self-re...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about weaving with my guest Jen Duffin.

Jen is the designer and teacher behind Nova Mercury Design. Jen has been creating fiber art full-time since 2016, specializing in frame loom weaving. Inspired by color and whimsy, Jen loves creating art that brings joy to people's lives and homes. She aims to create beautiful heirloom artworks and to inspire a love of creating in others. She has taught many sold-out workshops in Montreal and Toronto, hosted online workshops for students from all over the world, and...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about designing fabric with my guest Anna Maria Parry.

Having grown up in a creative home, Anna Maria Parry earned an honors BFA in drawing from the University of Tennessee in 1995 before opening a small clothing shop with her mother the same year. Designing and sewing a clothing label while managing a shop primed her for a career in textiles and small business. Since her first fabric collection debuted in 2005, she has designed hundreds of illustrative fabric prints that have inspired crafters and quilters around th...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about owning a yarn store with my guest Sara Ingle.

Sara founded Boston Fiber Company, a local yarn store in Boston’s South End neighborhood, in 2022. Now finishing its second year, the store focuses on indie-dyed yarn, supporting local crafters, and fostering a strong community through numerous low-cost and free events and groups. The Boston Fiber Company team, currently consisting of three people, is dedicated to making fiber arts accessible to all. Looking ahead, Sara and her team are working on organizing a fiber fest...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about publishing books with my guest Deborah Balmuth.

Deborah retired from Storey Publishing on September 30 after 31 years with the company. She began as an editor, become editorial director in 2003, and publisher in 2013. She especially enjoyed expanding Storey's library of craft and herbal titles, working with authors including Helen Hiebert, Saffiyah Talley, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Kari Chapin, Thomas Knauer, Megumi Inyoue, Rosemary Gladstar, and Shannon Downey, to name a few. In her retirement, she's looking forward to becoming a consumer of Storey books, with days filled with cr...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about making and teaching art with my guest Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.

Based outside of Boston, Julie is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look.  Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed.

Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include h...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about documentary filmmaking with my guest Jenifer McShane.

Jenifer McShane is an independent filmmaker committed to using film to bridge understanding in situations where structural or cultural divisions typically keep people apart. Jenifer's current film The Quilters, a documentary short about a quilting group in a men's prison in Missouri recently premiered at the DC/Dox Film Festival in Washington DC and will be traveling to other film festivals this summer. Her previous film, Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, won an Emmy for Outstanding Editing and the Jury A...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about the art of quilting with my guest Andrea Tsang Jackson.

Andrea is a textile artist, quilt designer, author, and educator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. After working in various design fields and settings ranging from architecture to museums, the quilting medium called to her as a way to explore place, belonging, and agency.

Andrea pushes the limits of quilting and textiles by exploring scale and dimension and moving traditionally domestic objects into the public realm. Her work often celebrates community a...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about the art of wrapping gifts with my guest Megumi Inouye.

Megumi is a gift-wrapping and packaging artist. Known for her sustainable wrap-ping designs and creative innovations, she encourages repurposing, utilizing everyday things around us, and using organic and recyclable items. She attributes her passion for gift wrapping to her Japanese heritage and the cultural values that underlie the meaning behind the art of giving.

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This episode is sponsored by Linda's.

At Linda’s, you’ll find an extensive collec...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking with two more of the winners of the Golden Scissors Awards. These new awards recognize excellence in the crafts industry and are given out annually at h+h americas. Nominations were open to everyone and the winners were determined by an independent panel of judges made up of craft industry professionals. 

In this second episode, we'll hear the stories of our Innovation Award, Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic of The Loose Ends Project. These two co-founders have come up with an organization that eases grief, creates c...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking with two of the winners of the Golden Scissors Awards. These new awards recognize excellence in the crafts industry and are given out annually at h+h americas. Nominations were open to everyone and the winners were determined by an independent panel of judges made up of craft industry professionals. 

In this first episode, we'll hear the stories of our Emerging Leader Award, Elizabeth Okeyele. Elizabeth works to spread the love of knitting and crochet to children throughout her home country of Nigeria, and in neighboring c...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building an audience with my guest Amber Kemp-Gersel of Damask Love. Amber was the keynote speaker at h+h americas 2024 in Chicago and this is a recording of her presentation. It was inspiring, smart, and funny and I think you’re going to love it.

Amber Kemp-Gerstel is a television host and founder and creative director of Damask Love, a creative lifestyle blog all about doable DIY. Amber has partnered with brands like Martha Stewart, Home Depot, The Container Store, Coca-Cola, and Canon and is t...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about folk embroidery with my guest Krista West.

Krista delights in bringing ancient beauty to the modern world with embroidery designs inspired by traditional Mediterranean folk textiles. Introduced to traditional folk embroidery in Greece, she fell in love with the vibrant colors and historic motifs and began stitching textiles for her own home. She quickly realized there was still much interest in this historic craft and opened Avlea Folk Embroidery to share the beauty of folk embroidery with others.

She happily spends her da...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a craft tool company with my guest Kelly Brooks.

Kelly and her husband, Scott Gardiner, are the team behind knitbrooks, where they create unique wooden crochet hooks.

Kelly started knitbrooks in 2013 while she was working as a reporter/photographer at a small community newspaper in Alberta, Canada. She opened an Etsy shop to sell online, and participated in local handmade markets over the next few years. In 2017 she tried carving her very first crochet hook out of a branch she fo...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about growing a sewing pattern business with my guest Heather Lou.

Heather has been passionately making her own clothes since 2010, and discovered she loved sewing so much she left a career in interior design to start Closet Core Patterns. Over the years, the company has grown and evolved and now offers standalone sewing patterns, online sewing classes, and an inspiring pattern membership and private community called Crew, where new sewing patterns and tutorials are released each month based on a changing annual design concept. This year...

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 Fa...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about marketing, retail, and stationery with my guest Lauren Tilden.

 Lauren is a marketing coach for small business owners struggling to consistently market their businesses. Also a maker, retail shop owner, and podcast host, she’s on a mission to help small businesses do better marketing so they can make a bigger impact on the world. An ex-corporate marketer, Lauren fell in love with small business through her first small business, the plant-inspired stationery business Good Sheila. A couple of years after starting Good Sheila, she too...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about embroidery and illustration with my guest Sara Barnes.

Sara is an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, an embroidery studio stitching pet portraits and other beloved creatures. Her work has been recognized in American Illustration, Embroidery Magazine, and Uppercase. Sara chronicles the creativity of others through her blog Brown Paper Bag and weekly newsletter, Orts.  Her newest book is Threads of Treasure: How to make, mend, and find meaning through thread. When she’s not stitching or writ...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about buttons with my guest Beau McCall.

Proclaimed by American Craft magazine as “The Button Man,” Beau McCall creates wearable and visual art by applying clothing buttons onto mostly upcycled fabrics, materials, and objects. His artworks offer commentary on topics such as pop culture and social justice. On March 30th his first-ever retrospective exhibition debuts at Fuller Craft Museum titled, Beau McCall: Buttons On! 

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Calling all crafters! Are you ready to dive deep into your favorite crafting projects and learn new technique...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about hand-dyed fabrics with my guest Karla Overland.

Karla is the owner of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics in Baxter, Minnesota. She is the “colorist” who creates all the dye formulas and gradations of the gorgeous trademark bundles. Karla has been sewing since she was a little girl and holds a degree in Graphic Design. She applies her combined passions to all aspects of Cherrywood; web and print design, color theory, marketing, pattern design, and The Cherrywood Challenge. She has self-published nine exhibit books and ove...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about creating a sewing business with my guest Jess Barrera of Sallie Tomato.

Jessica is an author, designer, educator, and entrepreneur who has been creatively sewing and crafting since the age of five. She studied entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and now operates her own sewing pattern and supply company, Sallie Tomato. Her innovative designs and products aim to attract the next generations of sewing enthusiasts while appealing to current makers. Aside from running a business, she’s a mom of two boys, loves coffee, ho...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about collage and mixed media with my guest Drew Steinbrecher.

Drew has enjoyed working with his hands and being creative from a young age. He has a university degree in graphic design. Along with being a full-time artist he is also freelance graphic designer. He's an avid knitter, photographer, and traveler. He currently lives in Cincinnati with his partner Greg and their Schnauzer Fred. 

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Today's episode is sponsored by Craftsy. Calling all crafters! Are you ready to dive deep into your fav...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a knitting business with my guest Willie Smith.

Willie Smith discovered knitting in 2007. He believes he’s been given a gift to entertain while teaching and his purpose is to spend his life enriching other people’s lives. Knitting is the vehicle he is using to achieve that end. Willie’s vision is for makers to get closer to making exactly what they want through the acquisition of a skill set. Willis is the owner of WNK and he aims for that bran...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about writing technical instructions with my guests Sarah Walworth and Kristina McGrath.

Kristina and Sarah are yarn pattern technical editors, consultants, and coaches in the fiber industry. They have edited over 1000 knitting patterns between them. Since 2020, they have hosted Tech Tip Talk, a monthly broadcast about pattern writing and knitting design, and have written a handbook for knitting designers. They are committed to improving access to industry knowledge, helping designers create patterns that fit every size body well, to fully deliver on the promise to th...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about paint-by-numbers with my guest Rachel Austen.

Rachel has a background in graphic and web design. She founded her paint-by-number kit company - Elle Crée - in 2017 out of her desire to create a nostalgic product from her illustrations that customers could interact with and that would spur their own creativity. 

Rachel’s company seeks to reduce its impact on the environment by carefully sourcing eco-friendly components that are locally- and USA-made whenever possible. Elle Crée’s custom paint colors are mixed fro...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about bargello with my guest, Brett Bara.

Brett is the founder of Hello Bargello, a brand dedicated to reviving the vintage craft of bargello for modern makers. Brett is a crafts expert and creative entrepreneur who has been working in the crafts industry for over 20 years. Over the years, she's been a magazine Editor-in-Chief, a book author, a TV host, a video instructor, a brand spokesperson, a social media maven, a designer, a blogger--and more. Her entrepreneurial spirit has inspired her to start businesses that connect...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about craft parties and events with my guest Christie Troxell.

Christie is a master maker and creative professional specializing in the craft and party industries. In 2012, she founded Ritzy Parties, and grew a five-star business creating immersive, over the top celebrations for luxury and corporate clients nationwide. Christie also works closely with dozens of major global creative brands, retailers, and manufacturers as a strategist, designer, trend forecaster, and social media partner. 

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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virt...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about serving the LGBTQ+ community through craft with my guest Austin Rivers.

Austin is a nonprofit founder; diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant; activist; and professional actor. He received his double bachelor's degree in politics and musical theatre from NYU, his master of public administration (MPA) from the University of Central Florida, and is starting his PhD in change leadership for equity and inclusion from the University of Central Arkansas this Fall.

Austin has worked on several progressive political campaigns and in the offices of...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about growing a weaving yarn company with my guest, Sarah Resnick.

Sarah is the founder of the weaving yarn company Gist Yarn, and their newly launched sister brand Zollie. Since 2017, their small, creative team has been making yarn, patterns, and projects that weavers and makers are proud to bring into their homes. Sarah started her career as a community and union organizer, and made the switch to small business when she helped to launch a sewing factory in 2016.

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Today's episode is sponsored...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about owning a local yarn shop with my guest Sally Moore.

Sally is the owner of Parker Avenue Knits, a local yarn shop in Detroit, Michigan. She opened the shop in December 2021. Sally is also a litigation attorney and has been practicing law since 1986.

To Sally, litigation is an advanced selling exercise. Evaluating facts and assessing circumstances leads to the meaningful attainment of goals whether you’re in the courtroom or selling yarn.

Sally began knitting when she was 10 years old and ha...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about product development with my guest Jamie Trinier and Jessica Drain of SewTites.

An oil and gas engineer for most of her career, Jamie discovered the love of quilting after watching her mom sew many Halloween costumes, Christmas PJs, and quilts as a child. She started sewing when she made a king-size log cabin quilt for her husband over a decade ago.

In April 2021, Jamie made her lifelong dream of owning a quilt shop come true when she purchased a long-standing Calgary quilt an...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about the quilting industry with my guest Jaren Gibson.

Jaren joined Grace Company as its first manager in 1998, soon after graduating from Weber State University with a degree in Communication.  At the time the company had approximately 15 employees.

As President of Grace Company, now with 25 years of industry experience, Jaren has helped transform Grace Company from its beginnings as a woodworking firm in the quilting industry, to a manufacturer of quilting and sewing machines, computerized quilting systems, and other related products.

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On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about craft fairs and plush taxidermy with my guest, Jen Gubicza.

Jen is the designer and maker behind the handmade brand Zooguu. She graduated with a BFA in graphic design from Massachusetts Institute College of Art in 2001 and worked as a graphic designer and creative director at Big Blue Dot and the Boston Children’s Museum. In 2004, Jen started designing and sewing her own creatures as a hobby to get back to the enjoyment she feels when making things by hand vs. mainly on a computer. Wi...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about yarn and media with my guest Dana Williams-Johnson.

Dana Williams-Johnson is a knitter, newbie crocheter and college professor. She holds a PhD in Communications, Culture, and Media Studies and researches issues with online communities, feminism and the impacts and use of social media by minority women. She also writes about her love of all things yarn on her blog, Yards of Happiness. 

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Today's episode is sponsored by The AI Driven Maker. Attention, makers, creatives, and crafters of all types! Wo...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about sewing, quilting, and embroidery with my guest Bianca Springer.

Bianca Springer is a garment sewist, pattern designer, sewing instructor and experimental quilter. She is the creator of unique sewing pattern weights to improve sewing efficiency and speed. Bianca is a contributing writer for Sew News magazine, Creative Machine Embroidery magazine, and is a fiber artist. Bianca shares her talents as a Brand Ambassador for Shannon Fabrics, Nature’s Fabric and is an Arrow Creator. Bianca is the author of the newly released book...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about YouTube with my guest Laura Coia.

Laura is the host and creator of the YouTube channel Sew Very Easy. The channel has 454,000 subscribers and 976 videos that she’s produced over the last nine years, all focused on sewing and quilting. Laura has over 45 years of sewing experience. She’s written for several sewing and quilting magazines, written two books with C&T publishing, and was awarded the Silver YouTube Award from YouTube. 

Laura’s teaching style is relaxed and encouraging to novices and exper...

We're so pleased to bring you this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast recorded at h+h americas 2023 on June 21 in Chicago. The trade show opened with this State of the Industry panel discussion with over 500 people in the audience. Our four panelists are: Hedi Ehlen, Kamaca Champion, Steve Jeffery, and Jan Hurwitz. We discuss where we are as an industry right now, what challenges and opportunities we're facing, and where we need to go in the year to come. We hope you enjoy this conversation. 

Join us at h+h americas 2024 May 1-3 in C...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting with my guest Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

Victoria’s work balances between art quilting, traditional & modern quilting styles, and reflects her passion for exploring the fine art of quilting in the modern age.  A farm girl raised in Minnesota, her influences are heavily based on her grandmother’s scrappy colorful double knit polyester quilts. Victoria considers her process as an artist/storyteller by incorporating memories of life, travels and nature to all that she does. 

Victoria is an international award-winning artist and quilter...

In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we are very excited to bring you a recording of our Day 3 keynote at h+h americas 2023, a fireside chat with Justine Tiu, co-founder of The Woobles. 

The Woobles is a company that makes learn-to-crochet kits for complete beginners. Through The Woobles, Justine has taught over 200,000 people how to crochet. Before starting The Woobles, Justine was a User Experience Designer at Google. Drawing on her background in user research and product design, she creates easy-to-follow and aesthetically pleasing experiences for the beginner crocheter.

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a subscription with my guest Mary Granbenstatter.

Mary is the owner of Needle Sharp, a monthly subscription sewing box service she founded in 2017 that offers curated garment projects as well as fabric and patterns.  The company is a culmination of Mary’s love of crafting in her youth, her knowledge of computers and design from her editing experience, and her invaluable experience in retail from Barnes and Noble. Every day, she feels like she's learning and improving as a sewist.

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Thi...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about folklore with my guest Diana Baird N’Diaye.

Diana is a senior curator and cultural heritage specialist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. She previously held positions as folk arts program analyst at the New York State Council on the Arts and curator-in-chief at the Muse Community Museum of Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. N’Diaye is also a maker, creating quilts, necklaces, clothing, bags, and everything in between. As a maker, her focus is to provoke conversations and contemplations around iden...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about surface pattern design with my guest Elizabeth Silver.

Elizabeth is a professional surface pattern designer with 20 years in the industry. Her colorful patterns and illustrations are regularly featured in major retailers like Target, Michaels, and Walmart and she licenses with over 30 partners. She uses her experience in numerous product categories to teach beginner surface pattern designers how to move past overwhelm and obstacles to create a profitable creative business through courses, YouTube, and blog content.

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To get the full show no...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about owning a yarn shop with my guest Cadence Kidwell.

Before Cadence opened her yarn shop, Fuzzy Goat, she was at Florida State University – where she taught Creative Writing, Multicultural Literature and designed a certificate program for students to develop cultural competencies. University life instilled a strong core of service to people seeking to improve their lives.

One of her favorite pieces in her yarn shop is a SERVICE sign over the counter, announcing that the team is there to serve. In her mid 5...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about cross stitch with my guest Stephanie Rohr.

Stephanie Rohr is a cross-stitch designer, artist, and author. She is known as StephXstitch in the craft world, after giving that name to her Etsy shop in 2010. Stephanie's work fits into the subversive cross-stitch movement, with a focus on traditional design elements paired with humor, pop-culture references, and feminist and political themes. Stephanie created cross-stitch designs for Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign merch in 2020. Her work has also appeared in TV ads for the Chicago Blackhawks, and on the...

Today on the show we’re talking about sewing glamor with my guest Gretchen Hirsch.

Specializing in vintage glamour, Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch is a designer who infuses her passion for sewing into glamorous creations that can be customized for anyone. She got her start as a blogger with the popular Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing, and has collaborated with Butterick and Simplicity on the “Patterns by Gertie” line of sewing patterns, and designed fabrics for Joann Fabrics, Spotlight Stores and Michael Miller. A sought-after instructor, Gertie has traveled the world to lead sewing workshops highlighting her techniqu...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Libs Elliott.

Elizabeth (Libs) Elliott is a textile artist exploring the intersection of technology and traditional craft by using generative code to design and make handmade quilts. A deep appreciation for craftsmanship, design history and future-focused applications are all reflected in her work. She studied Material Art & Design at OCAD University and lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Libs has been making quilts since 2009 and designing fabric collections since 2015. Her commissions include work for individuals and corporate cli...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about knitting cute things with my guest Anna Hrachovec.

Anna is a Chicago-based designer and artist who loves to knit little creatures. Just about everything is more fun in tiny knitted form, so she’s inspired by everything! Under her designer brand, Mochimochi Land, Anna has created hundreds (and hundreds!) of knitting patterns that can be found in books and on her website (mochimochiland.com) and Ravelry. When she’s not making cute stuff out of yarn, Anna is busy making stop-motion animations with her...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a subscription box with Cheryl Ham.

Cheryl Ham is a self-taught knitter who learned the craft with a bit of help from YouTube and a pair of her mother’s long-forgotten and slightly bent, size 9 needles. Cheryl is also the owner of Hypnotic Yarn, which came to life in 2017 after discovering the existence of hand-dyed yarn while watching knitting podcasts. Later, Cheryl founded Yarnable, a monthly hand-dyed yarn subscription that encourages self-care through the joy of knitting. When she's not playing with color in he...

In today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re discussing developing a specialty notion with my guest Jenn McMillan of Sew Fine Thread Gloss.

Sewing since she can remember, Jenn was taught to sew on an old Singer Featherweight and has dabbled in various forms of textile arts her entire life. Growing up around family members who sewed, Jenn was always curious about the various trinkets and notions that were used and co...

Today on the show we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Porfiria Gomez.

Porfiria is a sewing enthusiast, self-proclaimed designer, and blogger. A native New Yorker, Porfiria learned to sew from her mother and how is a modern quilter, teacher, and author. 

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This episode is sponsored by Sublime Grafx.

Sublime Grafx is the printer of choice for your pdf sewing patterns, digital artwork, personalized mugs and graphic tees. We offer a variety of paper choices and fast turnaround. Check us out at www.sublimegrafx.com/CIA. Podcast listeners get a $...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a craft magazine with my guest Meghan Fernandes, a co-founder of the independent knitting magazine Pom Pom.

Meghan Fernandes is a knitting designer and instructor, as well as creative director at Pom Pom. After 10 years in London, she is now based in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her husband and young daughters. She revels in the challenge of making and enjoying knitwear for a hot climate.

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Today's episode is sponsored by Craftsy.

Whether you’re new to...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about slow stitching with my guest Samantha Hoyt.

Samantha Hoyt is the owner and creative director of A Gathering of Stitches, a series of small-scale immersive retreats in Maine for quilters and garment sewists. She has been running the Slow Stitching and Slow Fashion retreats since 2015. The business began as a Maker Space in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood in 2013.  Before A Gathering of Stitches, Samantha was a partner with her ex-husband in Rabelais, Fine Books on Food & Wine, a culinary book store also in Por...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about handmade marketplaces with my guest Jon Lincoln.

Jon is the founder of Goimagine. He earned many accolades with his prior technology venture within InsurTech including “Insurance Innovation of the Year” and “Top 10 InsurTech Leaders of 2017” which led to a company exit valued at over $44 Million.

Never a stranger to new ventures in 2020 Jon entered the world of ecommerce with the launch of goimagine.com; a new online marketplace that is the world’s first to donate 100% profits to charity.

As a handmade m...

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about creating a lifestyle blog and brand with my guest Brittany Watson Jepsen.

Brittany is the founder and creative director of The House That Lars Built, an award-winning website focused on artful living and making. She is the author of Craft the Rainbow and her work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Vogue, Martha Stewart and more! She is the mother of Jasper and Felix and lives with her family in Provo, Utah.

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This episode is sponsored by June...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about knitwear design with my guest Andrea Mowry.

Andrea is was lucky enough to learn how to knit as a child from her Grandma Ginny. By her late teens, guided by the wisdom of the great Elizabeth Zimmerman and her many books, she began trying to work out her own patterns. After leaving her life as a pastry chef to start a family with her husband, her hands found the necessary freedom to begin creating with fiber instead of flour.

Andrea focuses on de...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a yarn business with my guest Amy Small.

Amy is a business owner, hand spinner, yarn lover, obsessive knitter, and podcaster. Along with making things, she’s passionate about creative small businesses and yoga! At the heart of her business, Knit Collage is the idea that making things makes us better. This might look like more creativity and confidence or patience and peace in your daily life. In a nutshell, it's not just about the yarn - it's about finding something that helps you...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about card making with my guest Simon Hurley.

Simon Hurley started cardmaking when he was 12 and loved that each card was a unique canvas to work on. After sharing his work on YouTube, he slowly grew a loyal community of crafters who watched his videos. This led to him filming a cardmaking class at Scrapbook.com when he was 14 and several more thereafter. At age 16, Simon partnered with Ranger to launch a line of inks, stamps, and stencils that are perfect for cardmaking. The product li...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about kits and craft books with my guest Cynthia Treen.

Cynthia Treen's charming felt animal designs are classics in the making, with their own stories waiting to be imagined. Explore her threadfollower kits and patterns or her new book, Wind in the Willows Felt Friends. Her passion for teaching and drafting comes through on every page, with detailed instructions and illustrations perfect for guiding beginners and advanced makers alike. Time will slow down as you ramble through her projects, letting your imagination wander while stitching new adventur...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about knitwear design with my guest, Julie Robinson.

A more inclusive fiber industry isn’t just possible, it’s a necessity. 

Designer and educator Julie Robinson is leading through example. Julie is known for publishing fashion-forward knitting patterns in an inclusive size range. And her courses on the creative and technical aspects of knitwear design are training a new generation of technical editors and knitwear designers how to do the same.

Julie spent over a decade in New York City as a fashi...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting and teaching with my guest, Sandra Lee Chandler.

Sandra embarked on her teaching career 38 years ago at Santa Ana Community College. She now teaches at many national shows including Quilt Canada, Stitches West, QuiltCon, Festival of Quilts, and Squam, as well as teaching a weekly virtual quilting class through Saddleback Community College. Sandra’s work has been published in numerous magazines and she has made several television appearances as well that have helped to launch her career to new heights.

Sandra’s core...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about creating a craft kit and workshop business with my guest Morgan Spenla.

Morgan is the founder & CEO of Crafter and The Crafter's Box. Crafter.com is an online home for makers offering educational videos, kits, patterns and community, The Crafter's Box is a monthly subscription exploring new crafting mediums such as printmaking, fiber arts, woodworking -- even a series of workshops in basket weaving. Today, Crafter supports artisans full circle by partnering with small business suppliers, legacy manufacturers & accomplished teachers to bring curat...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about owning a local yarn shop with my guest, Ana Campos.

Today we’re excited to bring you the State of the Industry Panel discussion that took place at h+h americas, a new trade show for crafts industry that took place in Chicago June 22-24, 2022. h+h americas is presented by Koelnmesse Inc., one of the world’s largest trade show organizations, as you’ll hear me mention in the opening remarks. For the first time, this show came to North America and Craft Industry Alliance was the strategic partner.

What you’re about to listen to was the kickoff event, a panel discussion focusing on the cr...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a craft kit business with my guest Stephanie Carswell.

Stephanie is the Founder and Creative Director of Hawthorn Handmade, a textile craft kit design company based in Dorset in Southern England. Hawthorn Handmade began in 2013 with a small range of needle felting kits, and over the last 9 years has developed from a small side business started in the back room of Stephanie’s previous business, a gallery and haberdashery/workshop space, to a well-known creative company selling their embroidery, cross stitch, needle felting, weav...

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about owning a local yarn shop with my guest Rachel Bratcher, owner of Ritual Dyes.

Ritual Dyes was created in 2017, by Rachel Bratcher an avid maker and true Libra. Ritual Dyes was born in Rachel’s kitchen out of a love (obsession) with knitting and creative control over all the things. Later Rachel and team moved out of the kitchen and established a neighborhood LYS and dye studio in Southeast Portland.  Drawing inspiration from nature, the great Pacific Northwest, nostalgia, and the occult. Ritual Dyes car...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a yarn company with my guest Nicole Snow of Darn Good Yarn.

United States Air Force Veteran, Entrepreneur,  Mom to a five-year-old, Wife, Founder & CEO, Nicole Snow is the ‘Jane of all trades. In 2008, out of the desire to create a business focused on social consciousness through crafting and design, Nicole founded Darn Good Yarn. Over the past 13 years, Darn Good Yarn has saved over 2,000,000 pounds of manufacturing remnant material from ending up in landfills or rivers, upcycling it into handmade craft supplies and a...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about running a brick-and-mortar stationery store with my guest Kristina Burkey of Calliope Paperie in Natick, Massachusetts.

Kristina owns Calliope, a fun and quirky stationery and gift shop in Natick, MA. Calliope started as an online shop in 2014, opened as a brick-and-mortar location in 2016, and just recently moved into a new and bigger location in downtown Natick. Kristina has loved paper and pens and stickers for about as long as she can remember and her 8-year-old self would be freaking out right now if she knew...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about fashion design with my guest Whitney Manney.

A Kansas City, Missouri native, Whitney Manney graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2012 with a BFA in Fibers. With a desire to create art in a wearable format, Manney creates garments and textile designs under her independent label WHITNEYMANNEY. Manney's work has been featured in major press outlets and numerous art and fashion blogs. She is featured in the PBS show Make48 & My World Too and has work featured in the new Peacock series Bel-Air.

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about yarn bombing with my guest London Kaye.

Born in Los Angeles, California, London received her BFA in dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduating London realized that her love for crochet, and unexpected joy, came together harmoniously when she began using crochet to interact with the environment and surrounding community. She began installing art daily on the streets of Brooklyn and New York City.

Through her time leading workshops and teaching crochet, London came to realize the be...

In this special episode of the podcast, we are focusing on the Etsy strike. I sit down with Kristi Cassidy, one of the organizers, in order to learn how it came to be and the impact it might have.

If you haven’t heard about the Etsy strike yet, it’s a petition created by a group of Etsy sellers with a list of demands they want Etsy to meet. These include canceling the latest fee increase which brought transaction fees from 5% to 6.5%. Other demands include cracking down on resellers, improving seller support, ending the Star Seller prog...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about creating craft media with my guest Anne Merrow.

Anne Merrow started off as a book editor but has turned a series of hobbies—knitting, spinning, and weaving—into a beloved career. She is a founder and partner of Long Thread Media, which publishes Handwoven, Spin Off, PieceWork, Little Looms, and other content related to fiber arts. She serves as the company’s editorial director and host of the Long Thread Podcast. Anne lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and naughty cats.

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Thi...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a community through knitting with my guest Jewell Washington.

Jewell Washington is the Chicago-based maker and entrepreneurial designer of Northknits. She learned to knit in college and launched Northknits in 2014. Jewell pursues simple living through her passion for DIY, pattern design, stacking her yarn shelf, and providing business and entrepreneurial advice to fellow crafters. As the founder of Our Maker Life, a global maker movement, she has connected more than 120,000 fellow fiber creatives in the knit, crochet, and yarn industry via mak...

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about online learning with my guest Craig Swanson.

At the age of 18, Craig founded Swanson Tech Support and worked as a tech consultant for 6 years before founding CreativeTechs which lead to over a million dollars in sales.

Soon after Craig co-founded the creative online learning platform CreativeLive, an idea that was birthed from a failed video training program for his IT business. CreativeLive would grow from a small start-up team to 70+ employees offering workshops with top industry leaders like Tim Ferriss and Brené Brown. Duration: 00:59:53

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about blurring the lines between art, craft, design, and poetry with my guest e Bond.

e makes digital spaces by day, handmade books by night, hangs out with trees on weekends, and writes something close to poems in the spaces between. Under the studio name roughdrAftbooks—created in 2003—she makes one-of-a-kind artist books, printed pieces, and abstract drawings that merge and blur the boundaries of art, craft, design, and poetry. e holds a BFA in graphic design and art history from Moore College of Art & Design and...