Stay Connected….and other life and business lessons learned from quilting. Makers have stories! And crafters have skills!
In these casual chats and interviews, I (often with a guest) talk honestly about creativity. The joy, and hope, and even healing it can bring, and the businesses we can build doing the things we love.
Copyright: © 2022 Stitched By Susan
#machinequilting #artquilting #grafitti
Over 10 years ago Karlee Porter invented and made wildly popular her signature style of quilting - Grafitti Quilting. Machine quilting has never looked so gorgeous!
Basically, it's a mashup of all kinds of unexpected designs in the same quilted area. But that's not all. Oh no! It also involves breaking lots of quilting "rules" to achieve a very unique, and extremely personalized look.
In the first edition of her book "Grafitti Quilting", first published in 2017, Karlee broke down her system into a step by step process that even non-doodlers like myself could learn to quilt.
In her upcoming 3rd edition, she has MASSIVELY enlarged on the printed content of the book, plus added tons of QR codes, linking to all kinds of in-depth video training.
Listen in as we chat about the new book, traveling the world, the marvels of digital learning, and much, much more.
If you can't wait to take Karlee's class, here's a sweet $25 off for you! Use the code SBS25
class registration: https://bit.ly/3v1ZD0u
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Amy Freyn is one of only TWO longarm quilters in the entire country of Equador! She's a professor by day, and an avid quilter by night.
She credits quilting with saving her life - twice! Her story of change and pivot and taking chances is truly remarkable.
Amy's also the #dancingquilter. Take up her challenge and post your own videos with the hashtag. Let your happiness show ❤️
You can find Amy and her dancing REELs on Instagram as @quitoquilts.
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Carly Brush and Lydia Kao are representing WHATNOT, which is a community marketplace all wrapped up in an app.
They are both so excited to be building the Quilting and Sewing category of WHATNOT, and it is growing at a tremendous rate. It has been designed to serve small business owners, with simplicity and convenience and, really, it's a virtual store front for small businesses and individuals. You'll hear some really creative ways that crafters are getting involved.
Carly and Lydia weren't able to join at the same time, so this conversation is in two parts, and you'll get to hear both of their stories and perspectives. They have lots of examples of ways crafters are using the platform to not only buy and sell, but to support charitable goals, and to promote community.
Check out the app for yourself - listen in on some live presentations....see what other crafters are doing...and see if this might be a good fit for you and your particular niche.
FOR A $15 CREDIT on your first purchase, head to whatnot.info/stitchedbysusan
Instagram - WHATNOT main profile
Instagram - WHATNOT Handcrafted
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Adria Good has been quilting for a very long time! She's quilted through getting married...kids...homeshooling...basketball coaching...all the things.
Her story is one of learning and growing.
New idea? Research and learn.
New upgrade? Practice, and expand capabilities.
New challenge? Take it one step at a time. You CAN do the hard things.
Listen to hear all these stories and more. Adria has grown from sewing simple plush toys with her first sewing machine to working at an industrial longarm quilting machine. She now produces YouTube video and online courses, teaching women all over the world the art of free motion quilting.
Adria can be found in all these places:
Facebook
Quilting school
Instagram
YouTube
Tiktok
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Today I'm talking about a slightly uncomfortable topic - what to do when everything’s just going wrong.
Just last week, I received a schooling in this! I regularly live stream quilting a project on YouTube and Facebook. I’ve dubbed it Live & Unscripted, and sometimes Quilting’s First Reality Show because it’s just that - real time process without any edits or “cleaning up”. I’ve always included the rough bits, like thread or needle breaks, or second-guessing design decisions, because my goal is to help viewers see what a quilting studio really looks like. See how long things really take. See if I really do quilt in bare feet and manual mode!
Well, this particular live stream started off with a lurch. About 8 minutes before going LIVE, I discovered that the backing of the quilt was about 2” shorter than the front. That’s a problem. A big problem.
It kind of went downhill from there….re-doing while loading…tension problems…camera problems…a loose seam catching the hopper foot and stitching it in…and so it went, until finally I just called a halt.
So this is some candid talk about how that feels....and what I learned from YOU, the viewers.
And spoiler - it's all good❤️
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Sam Alberts was one of my very first podcast guests - see Episode #4. Now she's back to give us an update on her Quilting Curve Studio.
Sam's been (of course!) quilting, lo, these many months. But also, she's made significant pivots in her business. She was finding that
a) there are only so many hours a body can quilt, and that translates into a ceiling on income
b) she has a wealth of experience to share with other quilters who are earlier in their journey
c) she missed the companionship of other quilters
So! Sam's quilting has entered the digital world. She's launched a YouTube channel, as well as several on-demand courses, and also been traveling to local and national quilt shows.
Listen in as Sam lets us see behind the shiny bits - the new skills that have to be learned (video editing!)...the prioritizing that takes place (fewer customer quilts)...and ultimately the reward of seeing her quilting business grow, and her students flourish.
You can find Sam in all these places:
YouTube
Tiktok
Instagram
Website
FLODESK 50% off your first year
https://flodesk.com/c/FLODESKISAWESOME
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Dixie Thue (pronounced too-ee) is a fellow Canadian, and a quilter with broad experience, and stories to match! Listen in as we chat about her ranch life in northern Canada, raising St. Bernard puppies, and her collection of sewing machines.
Quilters seem to be multi-talented people, and Dixie is no exception. Skim through her feed on Instagram and you'll find sourdough bread, garden abundance, those ADORABLE St. Bernard puppies, grandkids, and so much more.
You can find Dixie right here:
Instagram
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Leah Nixon and Grace Nixon Peterson are a powerful duo - two sisters that create greeting cards rich with meaning. The word "card" seems too simple - their artwork, the thoughtfulness of every word, their passion about writing to each other by hand - all these come together to create one-of-a-kind snail mail.
We chat about the themes behind their annual collections, their personal stories that play hugely into their lives today, and the remarkable power of the written word.
Plus, we dip into creating a business around your passion, and how interests, mission, and joy all intersect to form the perfect business.
Grace and Leah can be found in these places:
Website
Instagram
And....sign up for their newsletter (written by Leah) to receive 20% off your first purchase!
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
In Dara's own words - "If you can make a quilt, you can do anything.
That includes taking control of your life and losing weight that has been holding you back."
Dara Thomasson is a longarm quilter and a quiltmaker. She teaches all these skills, but also coaches and teaches women to love themselves thin. Her approach is positive, holistic, and REAL!
Dara is based in Canada, and travels and teaches at many quilting guilds. She also has a podcast dedicated to helping women in their weight loss journey.
You can find Dara in all these places:
website: quilting information
website: weight loss coaching
Podcast: Love Yourself Thin
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
Jenn Geisbrecht lives in central Alberta, Canada, which means she know allll about long, cold winters.
Jenn also knows a lot about building a machine quilting business. In this episode we chat about growing a clientele, building a brand and visibility, using social media to aid in growth, and - gasp - doing new things outside your comfort zone that make you relatable, and in fact, attract new and long-term clients.
Jenn can be found in these places:
Website: jenngquiltco.com
Instagram: jenng.quiltco
Want to try free motion quilting but don't know where to start? Here's 3 simple steps to get going.
Are you looking to ADVANCE your machine quilting skills?
Machine quilting can be very solitary, especially on a longarm. It's just not that easy to pack up your machine and head to a friend's house for the day, right? But it's important to have that community - that sharing of ideas and tips, encouragement and motivation.
For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
------------------------
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review here.
Resources:
ADVANCE, my monthly subscription membership
FREEHAND QUILTING MASTERCLASS, an on-demand comprehensive course
ALL-OVER FEATHER, sign-up for a FREE quilting class
And here's where you can find more of my work:
YouTube - LIVE & UNSCRIPTED episodes
Website - for more information on classes and quilting services
Facebook - current projects and photos
Instagram - current projects and photos
Pinterest - photo galleries and tutorials
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