Craft Industry Alliance

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a quilting business with my guest Michelle Cain.

Michelle tried rather hard not to become a quilter. After growing up outside of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and having a mom who began quilting in the 1990s, this was a formidable challenge. A chance encounter with Denyse Schmidt’s work, however, introduced Michelle to the world of modern quilting and convinced her there might be a place for her in it. She made her first quilt in 2013 and hasn’t looked back.

Wanting to connect with other makers, Michelle became active in the New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild and started blogging about her quilting adventures as From Bolt to Beauty in 2014. In 2020, she formally launched From Bolt to Beauty patterns. Her projects have been featured at QuiltCon and in magazines like Curated Quilts and Love Patchwork & Quilting.

In a previous life, Michelle wrote marketing copy and edited books, magazines, and websites. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two teenage sons, and two naughty Golden Retrievers.

Michelle lives not far from me and we were luckily able to record this interview in person in my studio.

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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

Video isn’t just a sales tool. It’s how you build a community around your brand. Teaching online lets you share your knowledge, your story, and your values - with reach that goes far beyond your local shop.

Explore your options in the free LIVE workshop, Virtual Teaching 101 offered at AcademyForVirtualTeaching.com. 

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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.

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about bag making with my guest Emma Brassfield.

Emma is a YouTuber, pattern designer, bag sewing teacher and entrepreneur based near London, UK. 

After over 20 years in the film industry, helping to make such iconic creatures and costumes as Iggle Piggle (In The Night Garden), The Flash (Justice League), Many goblins (Harry Potter), and Chewbacca (Star Wars), the grind of film hours + family life needed to be broken. 

So in 2020, she finally started her YouTube channel, which was so well-received that now she runs a successful subscription box and online membership for those looking to learn bag making, as well as selling her patterns all over the world. Her business is Studio7T7.

Emma believes in everyone having a go- after all, what’s the worst that can happen (the unpicker is our friend 🤭). But most importantly, what’s the best that can happen? She believes that the world of bag making should be a welcoming and wondrous place, full of support to get you into bag making and flying. 

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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

Brands that educate their audience about their crafts sell better. A short demo class or tutorial on YouTube gives customers confidence - and helps you earn beyond retail. In Virtual Teaching 101, you’ll learn how online education actually works for makers, including simple tools and formats to try. It’s free, practical, and designed for busy creative professionals like you. Sign up at A4VT.com.

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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.

In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're so pleased to be sharing the keynote speech from h+h americas 2025 presented by Larrie King.

Larrie King, better known as Mister Larrie, is an arts and crafts content creator, design professor, and creativity enthusiast based in Orlando, Florida. His projects often center on bright colors, bold patterns, and budget-friendly basics, all geared toward making crafting and self-expression through creativity truly accessible to all. 

Larrie’s professional background is centered on visual communication, teaching, and commercial design. A prolific maker and content creator, Larrie has exhibited work as a painter and illustrator at universities and galleries nationally and in his home state of Louisiana. His work as a content creator has been featured in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, Simply Sewing Magazine, and Shondaland. His most recent brand partnerships include Tulip, Glowforge, Amazon, Adobe, Starbucks, and Joann Stores. 

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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching. Brands that educate their audience about their crafts sell better. A short demo class or tutorial on YouTube gives customers confidence - and helps you earn beyond retail. In Virtual Teaching 101, you’ll learn how online education actually works for makers, including simple tools and formats to try. It’s free, practical, and designed for busy creative professionals like you. Sign up at A4VT.com.

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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.

On this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about private equity and it's impact on the crafts industry with my guest Megan Greenwell.

Megan is a journalist who has written or edited for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, WIRED, and ESPN. She is also the deputy director of the Princeton Summer Journalism Program, a workshop and college access initiative for students from low-income backgrounds. A California native, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their pug.

Megan's new book is Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream. In this conversation, we talk about the role of private equity in the downfall of Joann. 

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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.

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a cross-stitch business with my guest Zoe Frost.

Zoe is the heart, hands, and creative force behind Junebug & Darlin, a queer owned brand based in Portland, OR. When she's not crafting, you'll find her adventuring through the Pacific Northwest’s pine trees, ferns, and rivers with her partner and a dog or two. Zoe’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in her love for nature, queerness, and a fierce “f-- the system” attitude, which she channels into every cross-stitch kit she creates.

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This episode is sponsored by Valari by Crafteaze. 

Meet the Valari by Crafteaze—the original gaming pillow turned crafting game-changer. This ergonomic support pillow reduces pressure on your shoulders and neck and encourages better posture, so you can craft for hours without pain.

The Maker’s version even includes built-in storage for your hooks and needles. Try it risk-free for 90 days and get 15% off with code CIA15 at crafteaze.com. For wholesale orders, visit valari.faire.com.

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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.