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
Courtney Kimball first learned to sew in special some one-on-one time with her grandmother, and she's been "making" ever since.
In 2017 she and her husband and family moved to Honduras to develop their existing business. And over time, Courtney became acquainted with the desperate needs in the slums right next to their apartment complex. It began by meeting and learning to know one woman, Jocelyn, and exploring her circumstances, her dwelling, and her struggles. Then came sisters...aunts...daughters...and the common threads were found. Courtney found herself in a place where she could use help prepping a hand-sewing project, and she was able to employ a young woman to do just that. That planted a seed of an idea for expanding this possibility to help MANY women earn for their families.
Courtney and her state-side sister set out to change the trajectory of the lives of these women and girls by providing a way for them to make a living - prepping quilt kits.
The story is ongoing...but if you'd like to meet some of the women of One Common Thread, check out Courtney's website. You'll be introduced to individuals, and see where they live and work. And of course you'll be able to see the beautiful hexie quilt kits they offer.
One of the simplest ways to help is to LIKE and FOLLOW and INTERACT on social media pages. This help raise visibility and awareness of the One Common Thread project.
Website
Instagram
Facebook
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
Courtney Kimball first learned to sew in special some one-on-one time with her grandmother, and she's been "making" ever since.
In 2017 she and her husband and family moved to Honduras to develop their existing business. And over time, Courtney became acquainted with the desperate needs in the slums right next to their apartment complex. It began by meeting and learning to know one woman, Jocelyn, and exploring her circumstances, her dwelling, and her struggles. Then came sisters...aunts...daughters...and the common threads were found. Courtney found herself in a place where she could use help prepping a hand-sewing project, and she was able to employ a young woman to do just that. That planted a seed of an idea for expanding this possibility to help MANY women earn for their families.
Courtney and her state-side sister set out to change the trajectory of the lives of these women and girls by providing a way for them to make a living - prepping quilt kits.
The story is ongoing...but if you'd like to meet some of the women of One Common Thread, check out Courtney's website. You'll be introduced to individuals, and see where they live and work. And of course you'll be able to see the beautiful hexie quilt kits they offer.
One of the simplest ways to help is to LIKE and FOLLOW and INTERACT on social media pages. This help raise visibility and awareness of the One Common Thread project.
Website
Instagram
Facebook
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
Pat Sloan - designer, author, and YouTuber truly has a deep passion for making quilting fun for herself and everyone around her. She's made over 800 quilts!! Pat has a vast experience of all aspects of quilt making and design, from patterns and sewalongs, to fabric design and teaching online.
We chat about some of her most favorite things about creating, and some of the less-favorite. Pat gives some tips for contributing designs to magazines, and also great encouragement for makers who are struggling with new or complex skills.
Pat has an enormous online community and many ways to connect. Daily youtube videos, quiltalongs, Facbook group, and Ukrainian fundraiser are just a few of the ways you can join her to be inspired to make quilts that you love!
website https://www.patsloan.com/
Blog http://patsloan.typepad.com
Sew along website http://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/PatSloan
Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithPatSloan/
Instagram http://instagram.com/quilterpatsloan
Ukrainian Fundraiser https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/free-quilters-stand-for-ukraine-quilt-drive-fundraiser-for-ukraines-children-.html
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
Darlene Girton has been making pretty things from fabric for a lot of years, but these days she has fallen in love with Singer Featherweight sewing machines. They have some unique qualities that make them beloved by quilters all over North America and beyond. Truly they are time capsules that we get to use and appreciate nearly 90 years later.
Darlene does some surprising things on her Featherweights, like freehand quilting, and even sewing light weight leather! She's a born teacher, and so she gives a sampling of her vast knowledge and collection of stories, and be sure to check out her links below to connect and learn more.
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
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
Leisha Farnsworth has been machine quilting for over 17 years! Many, many quilts were done completely freehand, but she now shares her skills and creativity by creating digital quilting designs. She's also developed a set of rulers, born directly from a need she saw, as well as an online course and on-demand classes.
Leisha has some excellent tips to share regarding building a business and brand, and setting yourself up for long term success. If you're interested in making quilting your business, this is an episode you won't want to miss!
You can find Leisha in all these places:
Website
Blog
Instagram
Facebook
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
Bethanne Nemesh is a classically trained artist with degrees in art and art therapy. She's been mastering the art of machine quilting and creating for over 23 years. She has extensively shown her quilts and won many major awards at national and international levels. Her deepest love, though, is teaching. Bethanne has taught quilters all over the world to love quilting, and to find their own voice of creative expression through the stitched line.
Listen as she tells some stories of her creative life, and inspires you to find your own artistic voice.
You can find Bethanne in all these places:
the class we mentioned in the show: https://whitearborquilting.com/product/freehand-feather-fiesta-20-hour-online-class/
home page: https://whitearborquilting.com
portfolio of personal works:https://whitearborquilting.com/portfolio/
IG @Bethanne.Whitearbor
FB @White Arbor Quilting, Bethanne Nemesh
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 Ann's words - "For 40 years I have been making original quilts that use color, fabric and tradition to create abstract landscapes of the imagination."
Ann's creations are made one strip of fabric at a time, and are so evocative of wide open outdoor spaces. They range from eyeglass cases to a 140-ft series. She gives us a little tour through her studio (open to the public!) and even her village in Massachusetts, which supports artisans of all kinds.
We chat about creator's block and how to get around it, fabric choices and storage, and even good reasons to have works-in-progress at your fingertips.
Here's where you can find Ann:
http://www.annbrauer.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/annbrauer
http://www.instagram.com/annbrauerquilt
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
Karlee Porter is an artist! In her own words: "I excelled in the clay pencil holders of elementary school; I dominated the 10 minute drawing warm ups of my inner city middle school art class; and, against my mother’s most polite wishes, I skipped most of my high school core classes to escape to the art studio on the 3rd floor of my art-deco-from-the-great-depression high school."
Happily for us, these days she considers fabric and thread her medium. We chat about her first entry at Houston Quilt Festival (1st place ribbon winner, woot, woot!), her signature graffiti quilting, the art and business of digital quilting designs, plus the roses and thorns of being an entrepreneur.
Karlee has built a unique business that prints full-size quilt tops. These gorgeous "panels" are a wonderful stepping stone for quilters that is low-risk, and still beautiful.
I know you'll appreciate Karlee's thoughts about where our validation comes from. Solid life lesson in that one.
You can find Karlee in all these places:
karleeporter.com
honestfabric.com
IG: @karleeporterdesign
FB: Karlee Porter Design
FB Group: Quilting with Karlee
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
Jenny Kae Parks came to this (audio only) interview in clothes coordinating with the quilt behind her. That's how passionate she is about color and its appeal!
Jenny Kae home-schooled for many years, and has honed those teaching skills to now teach quilters to develop their own eye for color and style. In Jenny Kae's words: "Don't stop until the combination is something you LOVE."
We chat about the difference between an OK quilt and one you LOVE, rhubarb pie and chutney, mountain retreats, and lots of things in between.
You can find Jenny Kae in all these places:
Website: here you'll find classes (Quilters' Color Course, Color Courage, stash goodies, and more
YouTube
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
Tiffany Groff's words about herself: "Insomniac Quilter, Random Conversations, Disabled living with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and still LOVE & LIVE Life!"
Tiffany knows all about the therapeutic qualities of quilting. She has MS, and at one point was wheelchair bound. Quilting became her passion, her motivation, and her joy, and these days she shares all of these on her YouTube channel, Tiffany's Quilting Life. Like Tiffany herself, it's casual, often impromptu, and a bit scrappy. I know you'll be encouraged by her stories.
Tiffany can be found in all these places:
YouTube: Tiffany's Quilting Life
Etsy for premade quilts: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GroffQuilting
Instagram: @tiffanysquiltinglife
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
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
