Collage Creative With Amy Small

Hi everyone, today on the show I have Ashley Mitchell! Ashley has all the super powers – she’s a fitness instructor, an anti-racism and equity advocate and trainer, a blogger through her brand Black Girl Magic Mama and non-profit co-founder. I can’t wait for you to hear about how she how she crafted a life where she gets to do all the things she cares about most. Prepare to be inspired!

Today on the show I have Reshma Alfus! Reshma is the founder and creator of Hello Lavender, a company where she designs and makes polymer clay stitch markers and jewelry. In this episode, you’ll hear the long winding and super creative road she took to build her business. As I re-listened what struck and inspired me most is Reshma’s willingness to not settle for a path that didn’t fill her up and fit with what she wanted long term. She kept learning and experimenting until she found the thing that made her heart leap! Let's dive in!

Today on the show I have Emma Janet of Bloom and Create. She is a therapist, knitwear designers and soon to be mindfulness collaborator for our upcoming knitalong. She tells us the story behind how she came to knitting and impact it’s had on her – get ready to be inspired. Stick around for the end where I’ll share some detail into what she’ll be diving into as part of our upcoming KAL - it's all new and I can't wait to begin. 

It's been a while since I got on here for a solo episode. Way back when I was more regular about releasing this podcast, I'd get on every 10th episode. My plan is to bring that back! In this episode you'll hear about why it's been tricky for me to release these every week or every other week and why life is pretty darn messy right now!

Today on the show I have Keith Leonard. Keith is the yarn designer and teacher behind Yarn Snob, his own hand dyed line of yarn. Keith tells us the story behind his yarns – how working at a yarn shop organically led into his business. He kept listening to what knitters wanted! I can’t wait for you to hear his top tip for maintaining his sanity throughout a long work day. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Suzan Colon. Suzan is a creativity lover just like I know many of you are - she's an author, creator of meditation (which while dive into), yoga teacher and an artist! I'm excited for you to hear about how she's woven all of her interests into a career and life that brings so much joy. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Rebecca Whitaker, a creative who dove head first into a weaving career after becoming a mom. She takes us behind the scenes into her journey, book recs and of course her advice on living a creativity life and moving through failure! Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have James N Watts, musician and knitwear designer extraordinaire. From growing up in a creative household, becoming a musician (and playing recorder!), to finding knitting and embracing that absolutely perfect haircut – we cover it all. I can’t wait for you to hear all about this creative journey and maybe most excitingly, James’s plans for the future, which involve all of us knitters!

Today on the show I have Anne LaFollette! After years working in the corporate work and an unexpected layoff, Anne turned to the art supplies that had been collecting dust in her basement. She is now a surface pattern designer and teacher with a thriving business. AND if you're wondering just what surface pattern design is - we are going to get into it in all the details - because it turns out, it's a really big thing! Let's dive in. 

Today on the show I have Kelly Brooks, the owner and founder of Knitbrooks. She is a woodworker, and along with her partner they create gorgeous hand carved crochet hooks and knitting needles. She is also a crochet and knitting designer.  Kelly takes us behind the scenes into the many evolutions of her business throughout the years to where she is now – creating unique, hand crafted hooks and needles. From her take on failure to her morning routine and beyond. There is much to inspire you! Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Jake Kenyon, the owner and founder of kenyarn where he dyes all the gorgeous handspun yarns and gets inspiration from wherever his imagination takes him. What I think might resonate with you most is what he’s learned about staying true to himself and finding that unique voice through his craft!    Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Becky Kevelson, the owner and founder of Clinton Hill Cashmere! Becky shares her story of growing up with creative parents, to diving into yarn full time at a very young age and then starting and building her own yarn line. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Shala Jones of Black Purl Magic for Part 2! In this deeper dive into Shala’s story, we’ll talk about how the name of her company came to be, her morning routines and why she believes asking for help is so darn important. Let's dive in! Show notes here. 

Today on the show meet Shala Jones! Shala is the founder of Black Purl Magic, where she designs and sells all the knitting accessories like project bags, stitch markers, enamel pins and more! Shala takes us through her story, from having kids early to finding her tribe in the knitting community- and so much more! Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Kristine Rodriguez, the designer behind the knitwear brand, Declarative, the label. As we go back in time and dive into her story, I think you’ll be inspired by her brave decisions that pushed her design company along. She says that she looks back on that first collection and cringes, just a little. I think what we can all take away from that is that maybe you have to do that stinky first creative draft of something to continue to improve and evolve. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Safiyyah Talley aka the Drunk Knitter. There is a beautiful recurring theme that runs throughout her story and it’s a theme of creativity – coming out of the womb designing, needing to create – it never feels like work. It’s so beautiful and inspiring to see how she’s prioritized this within her own life despite the mom juggle she’s living in full force! Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Chirstine Chitnis. Christine is an author and photographer with a passion for all things floral and India. Her latest book Patterns of India is just a feast of color and beauty for your eyes! In this conversation Christine and I go far and wide, we talk about her creative roots and getting started as a writer as well as how she moved through a tough, at-first, book launch to create her best year career- wise yet. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Marceline Smith of Hey BrownBerry. Marceline is a content creator, designer, event host and so much more. We talk about her creative roots, vulnerability, daily rituals and small business. After the show ended she summed up this conversation to me in an email as nourishing. I could not agree more and cannot wait for you hear it all! Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Anushka of the Crimson Stitchery. Anushka is a knitter, designer, youtuber, musician and writer.  We travel all over the place in this conversation – in the best possible way – from growing up with a family of creative dabblers, to lifelong learning, sock knitting, stream of consciousness writing…the list goes on. Anushka is equal parts fascinating and inspiring. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Joji Locatelli – the designer behind countless knitting patterns that so many of us know and love - I know you’ll love hearing her unique story of growing up with one incredible mother to saying goodbye to the medical profession to embrace – KNITTING! Powerful stuff! Show notes here.