Craft Industry Alliance

Latest Episodes:

Episode #226: Simon Hurley Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

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 line has since grown and Simon has become known for his versatile Stamping Foam and metallic Lunar Paste. Simon has continued making videos and growing his community on Youtube and you can find many inspirational videos using his products there.

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This episode is sponsored by Cedar Bay Planner Company, makers of The Quilter’s Planner and The Knitter’s Planner. At Cedar Bay, they believe it’s important to make time to do the things you love. Let them help you with their collection of beautiful organizational tools! They make customizable, craft-focused yearly planners, undated project planners, accessories, and digital products- everything you need to manage your day-to-day life and crafting all in one place!

Visit www.quiltersplanner.com and www.knittersplanner.com to see their full line of products, and use the code CIA10 at checkout for 10% off your 2023 planner.

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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. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Episode #225: Cynthia Treen Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

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 adventures into life!

For over 25 years, Cynthia has designed and taught makers everywhere, in front of and behind the camera. From Martha Stewart Living magazine and TV to her first book, Last Minute Fabric Gifts (2006), her line of threadfollower hand-stitching kits, and finally, to a growing community of maker friends on Patreon. Cynthia's ability to organize, illustrate, and distill projects makes them approachable and inspiring to all experience levels, giving makers a feeling of success and mastery.

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This episode is sponsored by Craftsy. Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn. With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more! Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.

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Episode #224: Julie Robinson Sep 05, 2022

Show notes

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 fashion designer and product developer for top brands. A life-long crafter, Julie was inspired to pursue a career in fashion to learn everything she could about making clothes. Her curiosity has led her to work on a wide variety of products including sweaters (of course), dresses, socks, and even augmented reality costumes.

Now she’s sharing what she has learned from her career in fashion with fellow fiber enthusiasts.

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Today's episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

A community of creatives, building proficient, profitable, and professional online teaching businesses. Adding online education into your business is a no-brainer for adding passive income, but what if you are tech-challenged? What equipment do you really need and how do you use it? How do you edit video? Where do you find an audience if you are a beginner? It can be overwhelming. Take a deep breath, relax, and let the Academy for Virtual Teaching walk you through every step of the process. Our Virtual Teaching Masterclass starts on September 12th. It’s a live, hands-on course with all the information you need in one place. We have a plethora of practical tutorials on HOW to use all that technology along with weekly coaching sessions at different times to accommodate international time zones. We include extra lessons on marketing, website development, and business organization and administration. There is so much there that even experienced online teachers will find lots of ways to up their virtual teaching game. Head over now to a4vt.com and see what we have to offer. That’s A, the number 4, V, T .com. Come join the most supportive community you can imagine, and start building a business teaching what you love. +++++

Episode #223: Sandra Chandler Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

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 materials for quilting are thread and fabric, however, she often employs recycled denim, yarns, dyed fabrics, and stamps to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Sandra is especially known for her repurposed denim quilts and wearable art quilted garments.

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Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.

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Episode #222: Morgan Spenla Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

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 curation and quality to makers worldwide.

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Today's episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

Every solo-preneur recognizes that feeling of exhaustion. There are limited hours in the day and only one of YOU to go around. You want to scale your income but Hermione just won’t let you borrow her time travel necklace! If you are a creative, a designer, maker, retailer, or educator, the Academy for Virtual Teaching invites you to learn how online workshops and educational videos can bring in passive income, create a loyal community of fans who are willing to support you with their dollars. +++++

Episode #221: Ana Campos Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

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

Ana is a Brazilian knitting instructor, fiber witch, and designer with over 20 years of knitting experience. She currently makes her home by the sea in Salem, Massachusetts, known as the Witch City. As a Latina and an immigrant, she values the opportunities for connection, community, and common ground that knitting creates. Ana’s love for the knitting community led her to open Circle of Stitches, the witchiest yarn shop, in 2015. Her focus is on empowering knitters to grow their skills and technical knowledge, so everyone can make pieces they love. She is passionate about teaching students how to customize patterns for the perfect fit. She also loves teaching Portuguese knitting, which reminds her of her grandma Tina back home in Rio, and hosting her monthly tarot study group. Ana is an inaugural member of the Vogue Knitting Diversity Advisory Council, and a co-creator of Latines y Lana, an ongoing project to elevate and share the work of Latine fiber artists. Ana loves helping folks find inspiration and expand their skills, and her favorite projects are sweaters and socks.

When she is not at her shop, you can find her elbows-deep in her dye pots. Growing up in the tropics gave her a lifelong passion for bright colors and bold combinations, which she brings to her line of hand-dyed yarns, Toil & Trouble. She loves dyeing colorful sock yarns, and hopes this book will help you fall in love with socks too! Find Ana online at www.circleofstitches.com, on Instagram @circleofstitches and visit her store in person at 66 Wharf Street, Salem, MA.

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This episode is sponsored by Craftsy.

Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn.

With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more!

Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.

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Special Episode: State the Industry Panel Discussion at h+h americas 2022 Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

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 crafts industry, where it’s come from, where it is now, and what the future holds. There were four speakers: Vickie Howell, Maureen Miller, Trisha Malcolm, and David Gilliver. I moderated the panel and I’m pleased to bring it to you in audio format for the podcast. So, here it is. I hope you enjoy it.

Episode #220: Stephanie Carswell of Hawthorn Handmade Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

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, weaving and felt craft kits through almost 600 stores around the world including over 250 in the US.

Stephanie lives in a rural village nearby to their business unit with her rescue lurcher Clodagh and partner Owen, who is also Hawthorn’s website developer. When she’s not busy with the business she loves playing tennis, pottering in her garden, and crashing on the sofa in front of Netflix.

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This episode is sponsored by WARP+WEFT TEXTILES, an online fabric store operating on Coast Salish land. WARP+WEFT is a plastics-free business offering woven fabrics and independent patterns. As one of the few stockists of TAUKO Magazine, WARP+WEFT shares the quarterly sewing publication’s emphasis on climate, culture, and community.

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Episode #219: Rachel Bratcher of Ritual Dyes Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

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 cares deeply about our crafting community and community at large.

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This episode is sponsored by Annie's. Annie’s Kit Clubs sends you monthly shipments full of the materials and instructions you need to make something beautiful. Choose from knitting and crocheting, to quilting, beading, cardmaking, general crafting, and even kids’ crafts. No matter your age, interest, or skill-level, Annie’s Kit Clubs has something for you. Visit Annie’s Kit Clubs now to get 50% off your first shipment. That’s Annies Kit Clubs dot com slash Kit Club 50.

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Episode #218: Nicole Snow of Darn Good Yarn Jun 06, 2022

Show notes

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 apparel while employing more than 600 global artisans. Darn Good Yarn has appeared for the last 5 years on the Inc 5000 list.

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Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.

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