Collage Creative With Amy Small

I’m super exicted about today’s epsidoe with Park Williams! She is a knit wear designer and actor, which I did not even know until this episode. I love the way she’s stitched together 2 different creative careers into one full time job that she adores and can’t wait for you to hear about how it all came to be as well as the ways she overcomes her own fears. It's a great one friends! Learn more here. 

Today on the show I have Gina Bonomo, she is the creator of Skein Cocaine. Gina has done so much in the fiber world from designing her own patterns to owning a yarn shop for 18 years and now dying her own crazy beautiful yarns. Right from the beginning of the interview, we go deep - into her businesses and burnout. You know I love talking about burnout!!! I can't wait for you to hear this one. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Amanda Solomon. She is a part farmer and part fiber artist. What I love so much about this episode is the way that she radiates confidence  and happiness, it’s contagious. I love hearing where that came from and how she’s fosters this figure anything out attitude. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Carmel Snow and I’m so excited for you to hear this one! Carmel has her hands in a lot – machine knitting research centered around smart textiles and zero waste over at MIT. She also has her own line of colorful accessories and clothing. I’m excited for you to hear about her work but even more excited for you to hear the story of how she got here. Her childhood was uncoventional and completely fascinating. From growing up attending Burning Man to dancing out her stress, there are so many fresh ideas to take away with you here. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Louis Borea of Brooklyn Boy Knits and if you don’t know him already, I’m so excited for you to get to here! I especially love how he was ready to dive into why he’s doing this as well as his vulnerability about knitting in public for the first time…Oh and there’s a little bit of magic in this episode too. Show notes here.

High everyone!!! Today on the show I have Rachel Burke and to say I'm a little excited is the understatement of the year. Rachel is a fashion designer with a speciality in TINSEL and pom poms!. I am so incredibly excited to have Rachel on the show and can't wait for you to hear her story. Find the show notes here. 

Today’s episode is with Christina Fagan, the owner of Sh*t that I Knit. We became friends at our husband’s work xmas party and soon learned that we shared a deep love of knitting. I so enjoyed finally hearing her story – if you live in boston her hats are ubiquitous in the best possible way, total happiness. We cover a lot of ground here, from knitted toy bats to cold calling and how you have to be a little crazy to start you own business. I can't wait for you to hear Christina's story! Show notes here.

In this episode, I give you an overview of what's in store for our Spring Knitalong.....ALL the details! For photos of the exact styles, visit my blog here. 

Today on the show I have Shay Johnson, the designer behind Knit & Croshay. All I have to say here, is prepare to be blown away. Along with her full time job as a lawyer and working some crazy hours, she is a blossoming knitwear designer who truly knits any time she can. I think you'll love hearing about how she balances as well as the inspiration behind her designs. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Jen Duffin. I’m really fired up about this one guys! Jen is a macramé and weaving artist behind Nova Mercury. Her works are colorful, happy and the gigantic ones will knock your socks off! There is so much she shares with us here that I think you will enjoy. She tells us about how she lost with her creativity and finally came back to it just within the last few years through a daily painting and drawing challenge. The way that small practice turned into her business is so powerful. Along with all the details surrounding this, we get into following your intuition (one of my favorite topics!) and coping with failure and all the fires of running a small business with a feeling of acceptance. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Mariana Baertl, the creator of Living Fibers Art. She is a fiber artist that mixes so many techniques, like embroidery, weaving and even needle punching to create her unique pieces. It took her a lot of experimenting and time to develop this style. This is what I’m most excited for you to hear about. I hope it will inspire you to put your own spin on whatever creative endeavor you’re embracing right now. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Hannah Fetig, the designer behind Knit Bot and so many beloved patterns. We trace the steps of her career which all seemed to flow together seamlessly over time.  I especially love when she admits to her creative process as being messy and a little chaotic – it’s always so interesting to get a glimpse into how others work. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Tina Tse, she is a creative pattern designer who designs in her free time and works in the knitting machine world by day. I love this episode for a bunch of reasons – she touches on and explains what it’s like to juggle her side/night time business of designing new patterns and also cultivating a vibrant and inclusive community on Instagram. Her joy for everything she is doing will leave you wanting to knit every single one of her patterns. Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Sharrel Paul, the founder and owner of Mud & Yarn, a pottery and finished crochet goods company. Her path to pottery and this business is one that will leave you feeling all sorts of inspired. I don’t want to give too much away because this one is SO GOOD FRIENDS and you’re going to be blown away by the circumstances that set the seeds of this business in motion.    Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Angela Smith, the owner and founder of Purl and Loop a company that specializes in wood lasered weaving looms, kits and tools. I can’t wait for you to hear the incredibly brave way she quit her lucrative real estate job to start her business.   Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Bristol Ivy, pattern designer, teacher and author. We dive into her childhood in Maine and what that was like as well so many more experiences that lead her to where she is today. I especially loved hearing about the year off she took in New Zealand to work with sheep and how that experience shifted her course. Stick around for her final words of wisdom too!

Today on the show I have Britt-Marie Alm, the woman behind Love Fest Fibers. Her yarns are huge and cozy. Each skein and ball has a wonderful story about the people who made them and the materials they are made from. Her company was formed by a deep love for the place where she makes many of her yarns, Tibet. I especially loved hearing about how she embraces travel in her life. You might just want to hop on a plane to Asia after hearing this one!

Today on the show I have Candice English, the founder and creative brain behind the Farmers Daughter Fibers. We talk about her career, working crazy 60 hour weeks and how that ultimately led her to quite and begin her company. At the end, we dive into the things she’s most excited about too – supporting the Empowering Native Women Initiative.   Show notes here.

Today I am here with Megan Elizabeth, the founder of Making Things, a brand new app that gives you access to a huge library of patterns from many different designers - digitally as a monthly subscription. The features are wide ranging but one of my favorites is that it works as a stitch counter tool and will hold your place mid pattern, so you know where you are when you set your project down and come back to it. It's a whole new way of thinking about the pattern design industry. Along with hearing about her business and how it's shaking up the pattern world, I think you'll love hearing about her unwavering belief in herself and her ideas. It is powerful and I hope, will inspire you to embrace the same within yourself. Let's dive in!   Show notes here. 

Today on the show I have Julie Weisenberger, the pattern designer and creator of Cocoknits. She is, I think all of us will agree a knitting legend and we have so much fun as we dive into how she came up with her fancy Cocoknits technique and of course what lead her to create her gorgeous line of knitting related products. Lots of take aways and things to learn from this one! I think the knitters out there are really going to enjoy this one as she goes deep into the details. Let's dive in! Show notes here.