On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Diane Gilleland and Haley Pierson-Cox who both have established careers as freelance craft designers. Hear how they balance their work days between pursuing new opportunities, marketing current projects, and completing work on deadline. Diane and Haley also have experience doing in-booth demonstrations for craft companies at industry trade shows. Get the an inside look at what that's like and what kinds of things they learn fr...
Aug 04, 2014•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 19
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I talk with sewing pattern makers Cal Patch and Jen Beeman about how they got their start, how their careers have developed, and where they see the future of home sewing heading. Cal, Jen, and I recommend great stuff we're loving right now including tools, books, subscriptions, apps, 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 ge...
Jul 21, 2014•59 min•Ep. 18
On today’s special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Stanford Smith. About six months ago, in an effort to learn about how to blog more effectively, I began reading Pushing Social, a blog about blogging. The author of Pushing Social, Stan Smith, is an internet marketing and social media expert. Stan shares practical exercises and tips on how to write blog posts that attract readers and deliver real value. I'm really pleased that Stan agreed to chat with me about how hand...
Jul 17, 2014•22 min•Ep. 17
On today’s special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm rebroadcasting an interview I conducted with Jonathan Marcus, CEO of Goodsie, in November of 2012. Goodsie provides anyone with easy drag-and-drop tools that allow you to create a beautiful, customizable online storefront in an easy and affordable way. Jonathan founded Goodsie in 2011 as a way of bringing ecommerce to the masses. We talk about what he feels sets Goodsie apart from other online storefront makers and who he envi...
Jul 17, 2014•23 min•Ep. 16
On today’s special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm publishing the audio version of a video interview I conducted on January 29, 2013, with Jon Crawford, the CEO of Storenvy. If you're interested in ecommerce and small business, you'll enjoy Jon's story of founding this exciting platform. Hear about: How Storenvy differs from Etsy. How the social aspect of Storenvy works. Why Storenvy is free for sellers. What the experience is like for shoppers. Why Storenvy might be the bette...
Jul 17, 2014•30 min•Ep. 15
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Cynthia Treen whose threadfollower felt animal kits are carried in over 100 shops nationwide and Alison Kaplan, the founder and owner of Kata Golda a company that creates handmade items using letterpress, ceramics, wool felt, and fabrics. We hear about Cynthia's and Alison's creative lives and then get their recommendations for great stuff they're enjoying right now. Please note that this show used to be called the While She N...
Jul 07, 2014•59 min•Ep. 14
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with artist Ann Wood. Ann works with found and salvaged materials, many of them vintage or antique garments. She’s interested in transformation, turning cardboard boxes from the fancy grocery store on her block into turreted castles and ruined old petticoats and gowns into seas for paper mache boats. She loves to give the most common materials and tired, dispirited, faded things new importance and meaning. Throughout her life Ann’s...
Jun 23, 2014•59 min•Ep. 13
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with two indie brands in the baby and children's market. My guests are Jahje Bath Ives, owner of the handmade nursery mobile company BabyJives, and Mimi Tsang, owner of the girls hairclip company, hello shiso. We talk about what it's like to start and run a successful creative business and then we 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 ch...
Jun 16, 2014•53 min•Ep. 12
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are location photographer Gale Zucker and knitwear designer Kristin Nicholas. We learn about Gale and Kristin's backgrounds and then 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 bec...
Jun 02, 2014•56 min•Ep. 11
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Rachael Gander (imaginegnats.com) and Kim Werker about our recent projects and then all three of us recommend amazing things 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 suppor...
May 19, 2014•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Kari Chapin and Blair Stocker. We discuss the new edition of Kari's book, The Handmade Marketplace, and Blair's newly released book, Wise Craft. Kari, Blair, and I recommend our favorite picks in apps, tools, websites, books, and other neat stuff. 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 epis...
May 05, 2014•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with quilter, knitter, and photographer, Caro Sheridan, and digital and social media strategist, Meighan O'Toole. 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 cr...
Apr 21, 2014•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter who is the senior account manager at Stitchcraft Marketing (formerly the Wood Wide Web). Stacey Trock is a crochet designer and owner of FreshStitches. In this episode we share our latest projects and our top picks for fun things we are enjoying right now including books, tools, apps, and more! Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content...
Apr 05, 2014•59 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Meg Freeman and Dorie Schwarz, the women behind the incredibly popular online phenomenon that is Kids Clothes Week. 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 ...
Mar 17, 2014•55 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Sonya Philip who undertook an amazing project: to sew 100 dresses in a year, all from original patterns she's drafted herself. Sonya tells us her story, from growing up in a creative household to learning to sew and be a pattern maker. We talk about body image and uniforms and why sewing your own clothes is a life skill like scrambling an egg. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name ha...
Mar 03, 2014•50 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Tara Swiger and Stacey Trock. We share our top tips for marketing your creative business. Whether you're just getting started with an Etsy shop, or you've been selling your creative products for many years, you'll pick up some new tricks to engage better with your customers. Hear about composing an excellent email, using auto responders, and why it's a good idea to assume the best. This episode is packed with ideas for creat...
Feb 17, 2014•57 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I talk with Deborah Fisher and Stacey Trock about great tools we love. Deborah is the author of Sew Fun: 20 Projects for the Whole Family. She is a doll maker and quilter who co-founded the Bright Hopes Collaborative Quilt Project and Bo Twal, a doll-making project in Haiti. Stacey Trock is a crochet designer. Her company, Fresh Stitches, provides PDF patterns for fun, easy-to-make crocheted stuffed animals. I hope you enjoy the show! Ple...
Feb 03, 2014•57 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are knitwear designer Gwen Bortner and crochet designer Stacey Trock. We talk about our current favorite things including awesome books, apps, bags, time-saving tools, and other great stuff we think you'll love. 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 whe...
Jan 20, 2014•49 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I am joined by Betz White and Claudine Hellmuth, two fantastic indie designers and all-around interesting women. We share our top picks of apps, blogs, tools, recipes, subscriptions, and other awesome things we love. 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 yo...
Jan 06, 2014•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 1
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I am joined by Wendi Gratz and Stacey Trock. In this episode we talk about our current favorites in media, apps, tools, books, and other things we're loving that we think you'll love, too. 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 becom...
Dec 23, 2013•54 min•Ep. 10
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Stacey Trock of FreshStitches and Mollie Johansen of Wild Olive about our favorite graphic designs tools, tips, and tricks that will make your blog or website look amazing, even if you're just getting started in web design. 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 Industr...
Dec 05, 2013•43 min•Ep. 9
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm pleased to present this conversation I had with Vanessa Bertozzi who has worked at Etsy since its inception. One week after the announcement Vanessa and I talk about what prompted the new policy, what it really will entail for buyers and sellers alike, and how it will shape Etsy's future. In early October (2013) Etsy announced a significant policy change: sellers will be allowed to hire staff, have someone else ship their goods, and s...
Oct 10, 2013•35 min•Ep. 8
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we are talking about one of the most challenging parts of having a niche blog: monetization. My guest is Bjork Ostrom of the food blog, Pinch of Yum. Blogging is wonderfully fun and brings all kinds of rewards in and of itself like making connections with like-minded people all over the world and getting your ideas into the public eye, but creating and maintaining a great blog is also really time consuming. Coming up with fresh content se...
Jul 19, 2013•36 min•Ep. 7
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Dawn Treacher of Treacher Creatures about the toy testing requirements in the UK that apply to handmade softies and the process she's gone through the test 14 of her sock creatures for safety. Dawn's toys are truly adorable and our talk raises a lot of important issues for all softie makers no matter where you live. Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content a...
Jul 17, 2013•33 min•Ep. 6
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast is Carol Cruise, who has had a wonderfully successful career designing stuffed animal sewing patterns for major pattern companies. She is a true veteran in this field and she has terrific advice and stories to share about her journey as a designer. Hear about Quilt Market in the 1980's! 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 f...
Jun 27, 2013•31 min•Ep. 5
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast is awesome sewing pattern designer and surface designer, BariJ. We have an informative conversation about how to get your sewing patterns printed and distributed to quilt shops and sewing centers all over the country. Bari generously shares the ins and outs of design, printing, and distribution. A lot goes into selling print patterns and Bari is an incredible resource. I hope you enjoy our talk! Please note that this show used to be calle...
Jun 27, 2013•25 min•Ep. 4
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast is Shawn Smith, the incredible creative talent behind Shawnimals and indie plush company that has had great success. Shawn talks with me about how he went about getting his plush designs manufactured overseas and distributed throughout the United States. I hope you enjoy his story! 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 s...
Jun 27, 2013•26 min•Ep. 3
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast Lauren and I chat about her experience making large scale plush toys for galleries and clients. We also talk about how to get your toy designs manufactured overseas and distributed in the United States. Lauren is the creative mind behind Sweet Meats, amazing plush meat! 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 fo...
Jun 19, 2013•49 min•Ep. 2
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast is the indie plush company founded by a group of friends, Monster Factory that has a unique business model that's led to incredible success. Their toys are adorable, their branding is admirable, and they are about to launch a set of toys that will be in stores nationwide. Tune in for a fun interview with one of the founders of this awesome company! Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has chang...
May 02, 2013•28 min•Ep. 1
