Craft Industry Alliance

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about making and selling handcrafted products with my guest Arounna Khounnoraj of Bookhou. Arounna Khounnoraj started Bookhou with her husband, John Booth, in 2002 as a place to combine and market their work. Both Arounna and John started out as artists - Arounna as a sculptor and John as a painter - but as time passed their endeavors grew to include ceramics, fiber arts, architecture and furniture making to name only a few. nNeedless to say Bookhou defines itself as a multidisciplinary studio where the husband and wife team explore a variety of mediums both individually and collectively. Most people, however, would probably know Arounna as a printmaker and surface designer through her work in creating fabric bags, personal and home items which showcase her unique pattern designs. In keeping with their art studio roots, Arounna's work emphasizes the handmade and the hand drawn utilizing references to both natural, botanical forms as well as abstract patterns with simplicity of form uniting everything she creates. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Teresa Ascone Art Tutorials. Have you ever wanted to try watercolor? Teresa Ascone's Etsy tutorials for absolute beginners age 10 and older are PDF downloads with easy-to-understand instructions, supply list, definitions, a full color framable image of the art, and line drawing. The paintings can be completed in less than 60 minutes. Check out all of Teresa's work on her website. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking with Annabel Wrigley. Annabel Wrigley is an Australian mom, author, and designer living in rural Virginia. She owns Little Pincushion Studio, a space where she teaches children everything they need to know in order to go forth and conquer the world of sewing and creating. When she’s not teaching, she’s working on her “We Love to Sew” series of books published by C&T publishing. She also teaches classes on Creativebug and designs fabric for Windham Fabrics. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Art Street Collective. Coloring is a great way to decompress and de-stress. Art Street Collective artists have several coloring books available from whimsical and cartoonish to Celtic knots and kaleidoscopes. Visit the art street collective website to see all the books available. Visit artstreetcollective.com to find books and DVDs on surface design, art quilting, bead embellishment and more by some of today's top fiber and quilt artists. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about craft book publishing with my guest, Amy Marson. Amy is the publisher at C&T publishing which also includes the Stash Books and FunStitch Studio imprints. We discuss how to pitch a craft book, how C&T markets new titles, Amy's position on advances and how a book can fit into an author's larger goals. And, of course, I ask Amy to recommend great stuff she's enjoying right now. Check out C&T online at http://www.ctpub.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ctpublishing/ +++++ This episode is sponsored by QuiltWoman. QuiltWoman.com is your source for quilting and sewing patterns offering over 10,000 items by over 270 designers to retail and wholesale customers. Wholesale customers enjoy no minimum order and free U.S. shipping with a $60 order. Use the code ABBY at checkout to receive 10% off your order. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about illustration and self-publishing today with my guest, Jenean Morrison. Jenean is a surface/textile designer, painter, and the artist/publisher behind a popular series of coloring books for adults, first published in 2012. She's an Amazon CreateSpace success story who has sold over 91,000 copies of her self-published coloring books, earning her more than a half million dollars. Jenean designed fabric for Free Spirit for many years and her designs have been printed on rugs, stationary, scrapbook kits and more. We discuss the value of having an agent, how to pitch, handling extreme successes and inevitable failures and rejections, and what Jenean would like to do next in her career. Check out Jenean Morrison online at http://jeneanmorrison.net/. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by The Merriweather Council's Etsy Training Course - a video training series that teaches Etsy sellers the exact steps to a more visible, profitable, and enjoyable Etsy experience. For more information visit merriweathercouncil.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about embroidery as illustration with my guest, Sarah K. Benning. Sarah K. Benning is an American fiber artist with a nomadic studio practice. Originally from Baltimore, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her BFA in Fiber and Material Studies in 2013. Shortly after graduating, Sarah discovered her love for embroidery, started her own business and has never looked back. +++++ Today’s episode is sponsored by The Merriweather Council where makers learn that gainful self employment through craft can be a reality and how to make it happen in their own lives. Visit merriweathercouncil.com for more information. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s mini episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast Kristin Link and I talking about Craft Industry Alliance, a trade organization for craft professionals that we co-founded eight months ago. We're not at 800+ members, we're about to publish the 18th issue of our digital journal, we've held six webinars, and we have active discussions going on every day in our community forums. In this conversation we talk about what membership offers and who it's best for, we review some highlights (and a few frustrations) we've encountered along the way, and we tell you about some of our current members who are doing incredible work. Membership is open now and the rates are affordable. Invest in yourself and your business this year and join the CIA! http://www.craftindustryalliance.org Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about online learning with my guests, Celeste Olds and Megan Auman. Celeste Olds joined CreativeLive in 2010 and is now the Executive Producer of Production Operations. Megan Auman is a designer, educator and entrepreneur. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the U.S. and online. She's also the founder of Designing an MBA. Megan has taught many classes on CreativeLive. We talk about CreativeLive's unique model of broadcasting classes live with a studio audience and the rewards that offers as well as the challenges it presents. Megan shares her perspective on what works as a teacher and Celeste explains how CreativeLive selects teachers and classes for the platform. +++++ This episode is sponsored by The Merriweather Council - a resource for handmade shop owners who want to learn about how to effectively market their business online from someone who has actually done it. For more information, visit merriweathercouncil.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about creativity and drawing and making art with my guest Alisa Burke. If she’s not making art in her Oregon Coast studio, you can find freelance painter and mixed media artist Alisa Burke blogging, teaching art workshops or crafting her handmade accessories. Whether it's running her creative business, being a mom or adventuring outdoors, she is always looking for inspiration. From drawing, painting, cooking and even the way she raises her daughter, Alisa seeks to infuse creativity into every part of her life. We talk about Alisa's creative upbringing, the start of her career and how she built a long term plan to quit her day job which she successfully did in 2009. Alisa talks about her open-minded approach to an art career and about how motherhood enriches her daily practice. We talk about rejection, licensing, writing books and creating online classes. Alisa also explains her approach to blogging and using Instagram to build a devoted audience of fans and customers. Visit Alisa Burke online at http://alisaburke.blogspot.com/. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Spoonflower. Do you want to learn to design, print and sell your own fabric, wallpaper and gift wrap? Try the Spoonflower Intro to Custom Fabric Design ebook. It's a free download you can read in about 10 minutes and it takes you through every step from uploading your design and creating a repeat pattern to searching the Spoonflower marketplace. Visit try.spoonflower.com/abby and save 15% off your first order by using the code abby15 at checkout. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about dyeing fabrics and yarns with natural dyes. My guest is Kristine Vejar, owner of A Verb for Keeping Warm and author of The Modern Natural Dyer (STC/Melanie Falick Books). Kristine tells the story of how she became interested in studying textiles. We discuss the challenges of running a business based on naturally dyed fabrics and what it's like to write a book about your passion. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Textillia, the online sewing community. Check them out at http://www.textillia.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about fabric and fabric design with my guest, Kathy Phillips, the Creative Director at Springs Creative. Have you walked into Joann Fabric and seen prints with entertainment brands such as Hello Kitty, My Little Pony, Dr. Who, or Batman? If so, you've seen Springs Creative's fabrics. Springs Creative is a textile company based in South Carolina that creates over the counter fabric by the yard for quilters and sewists. They license dominant global brands, but they're also so much more. Springs Creative owns the Baxter Mill fabric archive, a incredible resource of vintage prints dating back over 100 years. And Springs offers small run digital printing and design services for independent companies. If you're interested in fabric and quilting, don't miss this interview. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by The Quilt Group. Stop missing out on quilt groups because of your busy life. Learn, create, and share on your schedule. Similar to your local quilt group, the online Quilt Group provides yo0u with access to a community as well as monthly exclusive patterns, sew alongs, swaps, guest designers and more. Get access any time, anywhere. Join today at http://www.quilt-group.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guest is Linda Permann, the sewing and embroidery Acquisitions Editor at Craftsy.com. Learn what Craftsy is looking for in an instructor and in a class and find out what you can do to develop your skills and following if you'd like to become a Craftsy instructor in the future. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Amy Barickman. Check out http://www.amybarickman.com to see all of what Indygo Junction offers including sewing and embroidery patterns, fabrics, threads, downloads, and now her new Vintage Notions Monthly magazine. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about print magazines with my guest, Janine Vangool. Janine is the publisher, editor and designer of UPPERCASE, a quarterly print magazine for the creative and curious. UPPERCASE publishes content inspired by design, typography, illustration and craft. Her magazine and books celebrate the process of making, the commitment to craft and the art of living creatively. Janine tells us that anyone can be featured in UPPERCASE - learn how. Visit UPPERCASE at http://www.uppercasemagazine.com. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by The Precut Store. The Precut Store carries fat quarters, jelly rolls, charm packs, and layer cakes from your favorite fabric manufacturers like Moda, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman and more. They also carry a wide selection of Aurifil thread. Amazon Prime members receive free shipping and many items can be shipped worldwide. Visit them at http://www.theprecutstore.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about sewing your own clothes with my guest, Heather Lou of Closet Case Files. Heather is a Montreal-based sewing pattern designer and blogger. Once a shopaholic Vogue-reading fashion obsessive, Heather made a deal with herself that the only "new" things that could come into her closet would be things she made. Sewing quickly took over her life. We talk about Heather's background and transition from full-time employment as a commercial graphic designer to becoming self-employed. Heather explains how she named her blog and talks about her own name online (which is different from her real name). We discuss how she funded her print patterns without a Kickstarter campaign and we talk about the success of two of Heather's patterns: the Bombshell swimsuit and the Ginger jeans. We also think out loud about the future of the Big 4 pattern companies. I ask Heather to recommend great stuff she's enjoying right now. ++++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Amy Barickman, founder of Indygo Junction sewing patterns and books. Visit AmyBarickman.com to find vintage imagery, sewing and craft books, and her new Vintage Notions Monthly magazine. Issues 1 and 2 are now available for purchase individually and soon there will be a monthly subscription option. Check it out at AmyBarickman.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about Etsy Wholesale with Dana Mauriello, the Director of Seller Growth at Etsy, and Rachel Greenwald, the Seller Growth Lead at Etsy. Dana is responsible for managing Etsy's wholesale business and Rachel manages programs that provide seller education to help creative entrepreneurs start and grow their wholesale businesses. Learn what wholesale really means and figure out if it might be right for your business. Find out what exactly Etsy Wholesale has to offer and how the program works. And, of course, I ask Dana and Rachel to recommend great stuff they're enjoying right now. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Spoonflower. Get your designs printed on fabric, gift wrap and wallpaper. Not sure how? Download the free Intro to Custom Fabric Design ebook to get started. Visit try.spoonflower.com/abby to check it out and use the coupon code abby15 for 15% off your first order. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about craft publishing with Jennifer Keltner, the publisher and chief visionary officer at Martingale. A 30-year veteran of the publishing industry, Jennifer Keltner brings to Martingale vast experience in editorial, management, and marketing. In her previous position as Crafts Group Content Chief at Meredith Corporation, Jennifer oversaw an expansive quilting and crafting media group, including magazines American Patchwork & Quilting, Quilt Sampler, and Quilts and More, and websites AllPeopleQuilt.com and HowToSew.com. As publisher and chief visionary officer at Martingale, Jennifer oversees content, direction, sales, and marketing of all Martingale products. Her passion for creating compelling content for makers is at the heart of her work every day. Connect with Martingale online at: http://www.martingale-pub.com/ +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Larissa Davis Creative. Larissa Davis, former art director of Quilting Arts, Stitch, Cloth Paper Scissors, and Modern Patchwork magazines, loves collaborating with crafters to present their art in unique and thoughtful ways. Whether you need help with a website, logo, email newsletter, ebook, or photo shoot, Larissa will bring your creative vision to life so you can keep crafting! Learn more at: LarissaDavis.com +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about illustration with my guest, Phoebe Wahl. Phoebe Wahl is an illustrator whose vibrant work focuses on themes of comfort, nostalgia and connection to nature and one another. A kindergarten dropout, Phoebe complained that there "wasn't enough time to draw" in school. She spent the majority of her childhood running wild in Pacific Northwest backyards, before attending Rhode Island School of Design and graduating with a BFA in Illustration in 2913. Phoebe works in a variety of mediums, from watercolor and collage to fabric sculpture. An obsession with detail, pattern and texture is present throughout. Check out Phoebe's work on her website: http://www.phoebewahl.com +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Spoonflower, the print-on-demand fabric company.Upload your own designs or peruse the Spoonflower Marketplace (including Phoebe's Spoonflower shop!). Get 15% off every item in your next order when you use the code abby15 at checkout. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about creative retreats and event planning with my guest, Ali DeJohn, the founder of the Makerie. Ali DeJohn is constantly inspired by anything handmade, homemade and everything cozy. The smallest, most meaningful moments in life are the most magical to her and she feels really lucky to live in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two young children. She started a creative retreat filled with a fabulous, changing variety of modern creative workshops called the Makerie to give people the gift of uninterrupted creative time shared with a loving community that is often hard to carve out of our everyday lives. Visit the Makerie online to find out about upcoming retreats and to learn more at themakerie.com. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Mielke's Fiber Arts. Mielke's Fiber Arts has tools for weavers, spinners, felters, and lacemakers. From looms to spindles, and shuttles to fiber, view their offerings 24/7 on their extensive website where they offer world-wide shipping at mielkesfiberarts.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about starting an indie sewing pattern company from scratch with my guest, Jenny Rushmore. Jenny is a body positive sewing blogger and she recently also became a sewing pattern designer when she launched her company Cashmerette Patterns which creates curve-friendly patterns in sizes 12-28 and cup sizes C-H. Originally from the UK but now living in Boston, Jenny learned to sew at 30 and it transformed her life, leading not only to a new found body confidence but a change in career. Jenny is passionate about helping curvy and plus size women feel fantastic by learning to sew clothes that fit well and look great. We recorded this episode at Grey's Fabrics in Boston's South End. Thank you to Sarah Grey for hosting us! +++++ This episode is sponsored by Spoonflower. Design, print and sell your own designs on fabric, wallpaper, and gift wrap at Spoonflower or shop the Spoonflower Marketplace for millions of designs by indie designers. While She Naps listeners can get 15% off your next Spoonflower purchase with the cody abby15 through December 28, 2015. Visit try.spoonflower.com/abby for more details! Thank you so much for supporting the show. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm visiting the offices of F+W Media here in Sudbury, Massachusetts, to talk with Vivika Hansen DeNegre and Cate Coulacos Prato. Vivika is the Editorial Director and Editor of Quilting Arts Magazine, Modern Patchwork Magazine, and related titles. Cate is the Senior eCommerce Online Editor for F+W catalog brands, having spent more than a decade writing and editing for Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper Scissors, and Quilting Daily. We discuss craft magazine publishing present and future. +++++ This episode is sponsored by WordCraft, communication services for creators. Get in touch with Lauren Lang for a free quote at wordcraft-editorial.com. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about quilts as fine art with my guest, Luke Haynes. Visit Luke online at LukeHaynes.com. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about creative conferences with my guests Grace Dobush, an organizer of Midwest Craft Con, and Joy Uyeno, an organizer of The Hello Sessions. Grace is a freelance journalist and the author of the Crafty Superstar business guides. She's also the co-organizer of Crafty Supermarket, an indie show that is celebrating its sixth birthday in Cincinnati on November 28, 2015. Midwest Craft Con is a retreat for mid-career makers coming in February 2016. Joy Uyeno authors the blog Frock Files and is the social media manager at Bentley University. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband their corgi, Kona. The Hello Sessions is a workshop based conference for lifestyle bloggers and businesses that took place for the first time in October 2015 in Portland, Oregon. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcastI chat with Malka Dubrawsky. Malka is a fabric designer and quilter who is best known for her hand dyed and pattern fabrics. She has a degree in studio art from the University of Texas in Austin and trained to be a printmaker, but finding herself home with young children and without a press she began to work in fiber art. After several years exploring art quilts, Malka became interested in connecting with people more directly by creating functional items out of her own hand dyed and patterned fabrics. Today she designs and sews quilts and pillows and creates hand dyed yardage, all of which she sells in her online shop, A Stitch in Dye. Malka is the author of two craft books, is an instructor on Craftsy, designs fabrics for Moda, and will soon be opening a maker space in Austin, Texas where she lives. Today's episode is sponsored by Okan Arts, a fabric shop in Seattle, Washington specializing in vintage Japanese yukata cottons. Visit Okan Arts online to check out what the offer: okanarts.com. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about teaching quilting online with my guest, Rob Appell. Rob is the host of Man Sewing, a YouTube channel of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. He is a quilter and national quilting instructor who travels and teaches at many premier quilting shows and retreats. We talk about overcoming life obstacles in order to focus on pursuing a creative life. Hear about how Rob first became acquainted with Jenny Doan and what it's like to prepare for and tape videos for Missouri Star. Rob gives us tips on staying organized and continuing to pursue art even when making art is your job. Today's episode is sponsored by Pattern Workshop. Hundreds of students - both aspiring and well-established designers - have used Lauren's step-by-step method to create their first PDF sewing patterns or improve upon their current processes. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/1V5zUXP Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Heather Jassy, Senior Vice President of Members and Community at Etsy, and Stephanie Schacht, the Head of Responsible Seller Growth at Etsy. There's an ongoing tension as an Etsy seller between the individual and the marketplace. What do we give up and what do we gain by being part of Etsy? Over the last few years a significant portion of the seller community has really come to question some of Etsy's decisions including allowing sellers to work with manufacturing partners and handling intellectual property violations, among other issues. There have been mistakes. There have been misunderstandings. To me, one way to work on resolving some of the mistrust that now exists is to sit down together and talk and that is my goal with this podcast. I've been an Etsy seller for 10 years. I opened my shop in July of 2005 when Etsy was still in its infancy. I've ridden each wave of change to the site. For this podcast I also solicited questions from Etsy sellers and Etsy customers to help me as I drafted questions for Stephanie and Heather. This episode is sponsored by ImagineGnats, modern sewing patterns with clever details and practical techniques, fabrics for your garment sewing needs, and creative inspiration on a daily basis. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about making art and craft with my guest, Geninne Zlatkis. Geninne is an artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband Manolo, their two sons and a rescue puppy named Zorro. She was born in New York, but shortly after her parents began traveling around South America, where she lived in seven different countries and went to several English speaking schools. She studied architecture in Chile for a couple of years before graduating as a graphic artist in Mexico. Geninne works in a variety of media, including watercolor, ink, and pencil. She also sews, embroiders, and loves to hand carve rubber stamps. She loves birds, flowers, and has been taking photos since she was 15 years old. Connect with Geninne online on Instagram and Facebook. This episode is sponsored by Brindille and Twig, modern sewing patterns for children ages newborn to 6T. Check them out at http://www.brindilletwig.com/. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about running an online fabric shop with my guest, Lindsay Prezzano. Lindsay and her husband, Charlie, are the founders and co-owners of Hawthorne Threads. Hawthorne Threads is an online fabric shop offering a vast selection of curated contemporary fabric collections, patterns, and thread for the modern sewer. Lindsay and Charlie are also digitally printing their own fabric line, sold exclusively on the site. What began as an Etsy business is now a thriving company with 30 employees and a warehouse. Lindsay's story is truly inspirational. Visit Hawthorne Threads online. This episode is sponsored by Porter and Hazel leather accessories. Visit them on Etsy and get a custom-made leather wrap bracelet, wallet, pet collar, and more. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about crafting in community with my guests Kaari and Molly Meng. Kaari Meng is the founder and owner of French General, a shop and workshop space in Los Angeles that she's had for 18 years. Kaari and her husband, JZ, have written, photographed, and styled six books over the past ten years including French Inspired Home, Treasured Notions, Home-Sewn, Handmade Soirees, and their latest book due out this fall, A Year of Jewelry. Kaari also design fabric for Moda and Fabricut, steel-rule dies for Sizzix, and embroidery floss palettes and samplers for Cosmo Floss. Molly is an artist, teacher, and story teller. She is the designer and owner of the greeting card company, 8mm. Her cards can be found in shops around the world. Molly also has an art studio and workshop space in downtown L.A., together with Robert Mahar, called Meng & Mahar. Check out French General online. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we are talking about improvisational quilting with my guest, Sherri Lynn Wood. Sherri is an artist working in Oakland, California. She has been making and improvising quilts as a creative life practice for 25 years and is the author of the new book published by Abrams/ STC Craft, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters - A Guide to Creating, Quilting, and Living Courageously. Sherri teaches all over the country including at the Penland School of Craft, QuiltCon, and numerous modern and traditional guilds. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about running an independent publishing company with my guest, Amy Barickman. Founder and owner of Indygo Junction, Amy Barickman is a creative leader in the fabric arts industry. In 1990, Amy founded Indygo Junction, a sewing pattern and book publishing company which has published over twelve hundred pattern titles and 80 books. We talk about the maker scene in Kansas City, the unique business model that Amy has developed for Indygo Junction, trade shows past, present, and future, self-publishing and more. And, of course, Amy and I recommend great stuff we're enjoying right now. Thank you for listening! Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking with Christine Haynes who is a Los Angeles-based sewing author, teacher, and pattern designer with her own line of self-published vintage-inspired sewing patterns. She has written four books, How to Speak Fluent Sewing, Skirts & Dresses for First Time Sewers, The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction, and Chic & Simple Sewing, and has written extensively for sewing magazines and blogs. Christine teaches sewing both in-person in Los Angeles and at conferences, as well as online. I spoke with Christine from Paris where she is spending a summer holiday. Connect with Christine Haynes on her website. Thanks for listening! Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about stitching and doll making with my guests, Salley Mavor and Mimi Kirchner. Salley Mavor uses sculptural needlework to illustrate stories. Her 3-dimensional works of art incorporate highly detailed stitching and found objects. She embroiders, wraps, embellishes, and paints to create tableaus in bas-relief. Mimi Kirchner is a fine art fabric toy maker. Inspired by classic children's tales and the Americana style embodied by sailors, lumberjacks, and circus performers, her work is meticulously crafted with hand-embroidery and applique details. She's licensed designs to Land of Nod and West Elm as well. This episode is sponsored by Creativebug. Use the code NAPS at checkout to get a free month-long subscription and try out some wonderful online classes. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

Today's episode is sponsored by Creativebug. Use the code NAPS at checkout and get a free 1-month subscription. On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about ceramics with my guest, Diana Fayt. Diana is a modern day scrimshander whose chosen medium is clay rather than whalebone. Drawing on her background as a painter, sculptor, printmaker, and clayer, Diana's clay surfaces are alive with strange and exotic stories, part folklore and part personal narrative. Her work can be found in a myriad of public and private art collections. She teaches workshops online and in person. We talk extensively about how to self-produce an ecourse that includes video, weekly assignments, and chat rooms in this episode. Visit Diana online to see her work. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm visiting Durham, North Carolina and I stopped in at the headquarters of Spoonflower, the world's largest marketplace of independent surface designs, to talk with co-founder Stephen Fraser. Stephen traces the history of Spoonflower from it's early days with just two employees in an old sock factory building to today with over 100 employees, industrial printers working 24 hours a day 7 days a week to print custom fabrics, wrapping papers, and wall paper for customers all over the world. Visit Spoonflower online to shop for fabric or upload your own design. Thank you to Cody from Lu and Ed who talks about her email newsletter at the start of the show. Grab my new ebook, How to Create a Powerful Email Newsletter: A Comprehensive Guide for Creatives, and get started with your own newsletter today. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking with Deborah Balmuth, the publisher at Storey. We recorded this podcast at Craftcation 2015 in Ventura, California. In this conversation we talk about what makes a great how-to book and how Storey selects authors, including what Deborah is looking for in a book proposal. We also talk about how craft publishing can create something that sets it apart from all of the free content available online now and we discuss the future of publishing, including an in-depth discussion on ebooks and digital marketing. And, of course, I ask Deborah to recommend great stuff she's enjoying right now. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about embroidery as an art form with my guest, Rebecca Ringquist. Rebecca is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and designer. Approaching the technique of embroidery as a way of drawing, Rebecca has taught hundreds of people new ways of making marks on fabric with thread. Her popular Dropcloth samplers have designs pre-printed on them ready for you to hoop and stitch. Rebecca has nine workshops on CreativeBug and her new book, Rebecca Ringquist's Embroidery Workshop: A Bend the Rules Primer, will be published by STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books in April 2015. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about how an indie designer can create a worldwide wholesale textile business while keeping production small scale and local with my guest, Heather Moore of Skinny LaMinx. When Heather started experimenting with screenprinting in her spare time in 2007 she had no idea that just a few years later she'd have a shop in Cape Town, nine employees, and a wholesale business sending her fabrics, cushions, housewares, and more all around the world. Heather also recommends some great stuff she's enjoying right now. Check out Skinny LaMinx online. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about organic fabric today with my guests Michelle Engel Bencsko, the co-founder and creative director of Cloud9 Fabrics, and Gina Pantastico, the co-founder and director of operations of Cloud9. Michelle and Gina each bring over a decade of experience in the fabric manufacturing business to Cloud9 where their vision of producing organic fabric in socially compliant mills with great design has come to life. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about art retreats with my guest, Elizabeth Duvivier. Elizabeth is the founder and director of Squam Art Workshops. Elizabeth founded Squam in 2008 as a way to bring a similar experience to the one she had at Artfest to the East Coast. Attendees of Squam Art Workshop describe it as a magical experience in which they can let go, connect, learn, and rejuvenate. Elizabeth explains how she works to create that feeling at Squam. We also talk about the business side of running an art workshop including choosing instructors and hiring staff. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about what it takes to run a successful brick-and-mortar crafts shop with my guests Jaime Jennings and Amber Corcoran of Fancy Tiger Crafts in Denver, Colorado, and Virginia Johnson of Gather Here in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about building a handmade doll business with Christina Platt, the owner of Bamboletta Dolls. Christina is a wife and mother of two little boys. Her company makes one-of-a-kind handcrafted dolls using all natural materials. With a team of 48 women and her husband, who makes the heads, they create over 80 dolls per week that find homes all over the world. Dedicated to working within her community and employing stay-at-home moms to work for her, she believes she's found the 'secret sauce' to keeping the magic in her product - and that's love. Her dolls put a modern spin on a traditional doll making them fun, colorful, and childlike. Christina has been making dolls for over 12 years and still is an integral part of how they are brought to life. She lives in Vancouver Island on the west coast of British Columbia in Canada. Visit Bamboletta online: http://www.bamboletta.com Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I talk with Kelly Wilkinson, Editorial Director at Creativbug, and Liana Allday, Senior Editor at Creativebug, about online learning. Hear the story of how this innovative online learning platform got it's start and learn about what the Creativebug team looks for in a new class or teacher. Is video the new frontier in craft publishing? We explore this question including thinking about the nimbleness to follow trends and the heightened story-telling ability that video offers. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about craft publishing with my guest, Melanie Falick. Melanie has the been the publishing director of STC Craft, an imprint of Abrams, for nearly 12 years. She is proud to be publishing the works of many wonderfully creative authors, including Heather Ross, Denyse Schmidt, Clara Parkes, Natalie Goldberg, Kaffe Fasset, Lotta Yansdotter, Lena Corwin, and Livia Chetti. She is also the author of several books, including Knitting in America, Kids Knitting, and Weekend Knitting. We talk about what Melanie looks for in a proposal, what sets her books apart, and how important an author's audience is now to the success of a book. Melanie explains how she works with each author to develop their idea and to produce a beautifully crafted, informative, and high quality finished book. Melanie and I try to look into the future of craft publishing and figure out what we see there. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about producing craft conferences and shows with my guests, Nicole Stevenson and Delilah Snell. Nicole and Delilah are the co-founders of Patchwork Show, a series of indie craft fairs in California, and Craftcation, a yearly craft and business conference. In this conversation we talk about how these two shows came about and what lessons Nicole and Delilah have learned about producing excellent events for the indie craft community. And, of course, we recommend great stuff we're enjoying right now. Visit Crafcation online to register for this year's conference (March 26-29, 2015, in Ventura, CA): http://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking about YouTube with Vanessa Vargas Wilson. Vanessa is best known as The Crafty Gemini. She makes weekly instructional videos about sewing, quilting, organic gardening, woodworking, and more. Her YouTube channel has 162,000+ subscribers and over 15 million views. Vanessa and her husband are raising their two young children on a five acre organic farm in Florida. A few years ago Vanessa won the YouTube NextUp contest, which included special training by YouTube, new equipment, and a $35,000 cash prize. Hear how that win helped to propel her career forward. We also talk about Vanessa's Latina heritage and the untapped market of Latina sewing videos and blogs. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about having a polished web presence for your blog and online store with my guests, Alicia Paulson and Arianne Foulkes. Alicia Paulson's blog, Posy Gets Cozy, has a large and devoted following. After eight years using a Typepad template and PayPal buttons to run her blog and business, Alicia hired Aeolidia to do a complete redesign of her online presence. She has a new logo, new colors, a new blog design, and a fresh Shopify site. Arianne explains at what stage a creative business should invest in a new website and professional branding, what the process looks like, and how much it costs. And, of course, we recommend great stuff we're loving right now. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm chatting with Robert Mahar. Robert teaches imaginative do-it-yourself projects through high-quality video tutorials on YouTube, CreativeLive and in-person workshops. The crafty content he develops and presents is often rooted in nostalgia, and his talent for reinventing old-school crafts with a decidedly modern twist has gained him a loyal following. Robert first became known in the world of craft and design as the proprietor of Mahar Drygoods which he owned from 2005 – 2010. Mahar Drygoods was an online emporium of vintage and artisan crafted curiosities for children. He appeared on the Martha Stewart Show in 2009. Robert and I talk about creating instructional video for the web and curating art and craft. And Robert recommends great stuff he's enjoying right now. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guest, Deepika Prakash, founded PatternReview.com in 2000 because she loved to sew, but didn't have any friends who did. Today 375,000 people use the site to review sewing patterns, sewing machines, and notions, take online classes, and chat with fellow sewists all over the world. Deepika explains the story of the site and it's growth over time, including the three years she spent redesigning it and what she hopes for the future. If you're interested in sewing and online culture, this episode is for you. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Jess Brown. Jess has been making dolls for 16 years. She’s carefully developed a line of signature handmade ragdolls. Each doll is cut to order in her Northern California studio and always made using the finest materials. Jess also collaborates with several designers, creating limited edition dolls for each season. Although originally created for children, the dolls have a simple sophistication that has moved them into the women & lifestyle markets as well. I chat with Jess about how she came up with her rag doll design and how it's evolved over the years. We discuss the Martha Stewart Living article that was a turning point in her career and how she is now able to produce 400 handmade dolls a month (with the help of six employees) while staying true to her values. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking with two leaders in the online sewing world: Kathy Mack and Kristin Link. Kathy Mack is the owner of Pink Chalk Fabrics. She designs and publishes sewing patterns as Pink Chalk Studio and she's recently made a sharp right turn in her creative business journey. We hear more about that during our chat. Kristin Link is the owner of Sew Mama Sew, a blog founded in 2005 which currently hosts nearly 500 sewing tutorials and she also has two online classes on Craftsy. Learn how Kristin shifted Sew Mama Sew's vision over time until it grew into the site we know today. Kristin, Kathy, and I also recommend great stuff we're enjoying right now. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking about designing and sewing and creativity with two long-time bloggers, Amy Karol and Ellen Luckett Baker. Amy is the author of Bend-the-Rules Sewing and Bend the Rules with Fabric, both from Potter Craft. She teaches video classes on CreativeBug and sells artwork and a natural skincare line in her Etsy shop. Amy's blog is http://www.angrychicken.typepad.com. Ellen is the author of 1, 2, 3 Sew and 1, 2, 3, Quilt, both from Chronicle Books. She's a fabric designer for the Japanese company Kokka and blogs at http://www.thelongthread.com. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. 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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.