In this episode of Homespun, host Misty Doan chats with Amber Elliott, the talented pattern and fabric designer behind Alderwood Studio. Amber shares her inspiring journey from a decade-long career as a software engineer to running her creative business full-time.
Key Episode Highlights:
Amber’s childhood sewing with both grandmothers—one focused on mending, the other on formalwear.
Why exploring multiple creative outlets fuels her inspiration.
How she transitioned from software engineering to full-time quilt and fabric design.
Her philosophy that success comes from consistency, learning from mistakes, and playing the long game.
Why being “bad” at something can be freeing and creatively healthy.
The importance of experimentation and only developing a fraction of your ideas into finished patterns.
Insights from her new book on gradients, color theory, and adapting patterns for ombre quilting.
Excitement for new fabric collections, pottery exploration, and finishing her current knitting project.
In this inspiring episode of Homespun, host Misty Doan welcomes Jemima Flendt — quilt pattern designer, teacher, author, and founder of Tied with a Ribbon. From her early days as a home economics teacher in Perth, Australia, to becoming an internationally recognized quilting educator, Jamaa shares how she turned her love for textiles into a thriving creative business.
Key Episode Highlights
Shift from teaching high school students to designing patterns and books.
Why imperfect first projects are milestones worth honoring.
How her nan and mom nurtured her love of sewing, crochet, and textiles.
Designing matching quilt and crochet patterns and how it built unexpected community connections.
Encouraging creative freedom and personal methods in quilting.
Building a global quilting audience from Perth to the US.
Creating beginner-friendly patterns with detailed, supportive instructions.
Advice for anyone considering turning their craft into a business.
Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she chats with her sister-in-law Natalie, a talented and multi-faceted creator. From her earliest sewing memories inspired by her mother and the San Francisco Ballet, to building her own creative hobbies in stained glass, painting, crochet, and clay, Natalie shares how she nurtures creativity, finds inspiration, and approaches both challenges and joy in her artistic journey. Tune in to hear practical advice for new quilters, tips for staying motivated, and the magic of turning hobbies into a creative career.
Key Episode Highlights:
Natalie’s first sewing memories watching her mother create ballet costumes.
Early experiments with making her own clothes and buying her first sewing machine.
Exploration of multiple creative hobbies: painting, stained glass, crochet, knitting, woodworking, and clay.
Tips for staying inspired and motivated, including prioritization and time-blocking strategies.
The importance of embracing mistakes and understanding that creativity grows through practice.
Advice for new quilters: patience, good tools, and perseverance.
How hobbies turned into a creative career through experimentation, sharing, and teaching.
Upcoming creative projects Natalie wants to try: pottery, making clothes, and clay pin toppers.
Join host Misty Doan for an inspiring conversation with Teresa Coates, founder of Crinkle Dreams and renowned sewing educator. From making her first dirndl skirt in church class as a child to becoming the go-to expert for cuddle fabric and quilt coats, Teresa shares her remarkable journey through the sewing industry.
In this episode, Teresa opens up about her transition from English major to fabric industry insider, her eight years educating sewers at Shannon Fabrics, and her recent leap into entrepreneurship with Crinkle Dreams. Discover how she conquered her fear of new materials, traveled to 46 states teaching in an RV, and developed techniques that make intimidating projects accessible to quilters everywhere.
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Kim Christopherson, the creative force behind Kimberbell Designs, to explore an inspiring entrepreneurial journey that began with personalized pillows sold on eBay and evolved into a recognized brand in the crafting world.
In this heartfelt conversation, Kim shares how a nickname from her dad became a business name, how her husband's simple suggestion changed everything, and why staying curious has been the key to her success. From her early days as a fourth-grade teacher sewing next to her baby's crib to leading a team that spans machine embroidery, quilting, and now punch needle crafts, Kim's story is a testament to trusting yourself even when you don't have all the answers.
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Nicola Walton, the innovative mind behind Daisy and Grace and the revolutionary quilt-as-you-go templates that have transformed how quilters approach their craft. Nicola shares her fascinating journey from being a fashion designer in London to becoming a quilting innovator whose techniques have captivated makers worldwide. Named after her two beloved grandmothers—creative Daisy and glamorous Grace—her company represents the perfect blend of tradition and innovation.
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Amy Latta of Amy Latta's Creations, a remarkable creative entrepreneur whose journey spans from ballroom dance instruction to becoming a bestselling craft book author and fabric designer. Amy shares how a simple desire to stay home with her young son led to a thriving creative business built on the philosophy that "practice makes progress."
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Elizabeth Chappell, the powerhouse entrepreneur behind Quilter's Candy. Elizabeth shares her unique journey from spotting a business opportunity at Quilt Market to becoming a successful fabric designer with Art Gallery Fabrics, podcast host of "Craft to Career," and educator helping other quilters build sustainable creative businesses.
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In this episode of Homespun, Misty Doan sits down with designer Kristin Nicholas to explore a life overflowing with color, craft, and creativity. From a 4-H childhood and lessons from her grandmother, to decades leading the yarn industry, to running a working sheep farm in Western Massachusetts, Kristin shares how she finds inspiration everywhere—from nature to art history. She dives into the thrill of trying new crafts, embracing failure, and letting each creative experiment feed the next. Plus, hear about her books, pottery, embroidery, and why learning something new can completely transform your main craft.
Key Episode Highlights:
Early creative influences from family, 4-H, and Sunset craft kits in the 1960s
Career path from textile degrees to becoming a yarn company creative director
Life on a 1750s sheep farm with 400 sheep and rotational grazing
Insights on trends in crochet and embroidery
How pottery and other crafts influence her knitting and crochet design
Practical tips for finding color inspiration in nature and art
Encouragement to try new crafts to broaden skills and perspective
Reflections on her published books and current creative newsletter
In this episode of Homespun, Misty Doan sits down with Moda fabric designer Stacy Iest Hsu to talk about her journey from growing up on a farm to creating some of quilting’s most beloved fabric collections. Stacy shares how she transitioned from graphic design to quilting, the role persistence played in landing her dream job, and why storytelling is woven into every fabric she creates.
Key Episode Highlights:
Stacy’s creative journey from farm life to the world of fabric design
The persistence and patience behind breaking into the quilting industry
How a simple idea grew into a successful partnership with Moda Fabrics
The importance of storytelling in fabric collections
Stacy’s advice for aspiring designers
In this episode of Homespun, host Misty Doan welcomes Rena Dearden, owner and designer behind The Rustic Horseshoe, known for her charming stuffed animals and ride-on toy sewing patterns. Rena shares her inspiring leap from a career in law enforcement to building her own creative business, sparked by a beloved childhood stick horse. She opens up about the challenges of leaving a stable job, the perseverance it took to make her dream work, and how she turned an early, imperfect creation into a thriving pattern line beloved by makers worldwide.
Key Episode Highlights:
How Rena transitioned from police work to running a creative business from home
The sentimental story of the stick horse that inspired The Rustic Horseshoe
How strong, skilled women in law enforcement reshaped Rena’s view of sewing
Lessons learned from selling early creations and refining designs
Rena’s hands-on, pencil-and-paper approach to designing stuffed animals
Why sticking through financial and emotional challenges made all the difference
The shift from product deadlines to a more flexible pattern-based business
Why anyone can create with the right steps and mindset
How Rena stays inspired and playful in her work
Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Ashlee Elle of The Dream Crochet for an inspiring conversation about creativity, community, and finding joy in the making process. Ashlee shares her journey from family craft nights to becoming a successful crochet designer and Instagram creator, offering honest insights about overcoming introversion, managing creative blocks, and maintaining artistic passion when your hobby becomes your career. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just starting out, this episode is packed with encouragement and practical wisdom about embracing the creative process.
Key Episode Highlights:
Join host Misty Doan for an intimate Birthday Bash week conversation with the incomparable Jenny Doan, founder of Missouri Star Quilt Company. In this heartfelt episode, Jenny shares the incredible 16-year journey from a simple quilt machine purchase to building a global quilting community that spans continents.
Discover the story behind Missouri Star's viral first YouTube tutorial (spoiler: it involved a broken leg and heavy pain medication!), learn why Jenny believes your skills shouldn't "die with you," and get an exclusive look at the company's humble beginnings when they had just "three bolts of fabric and a quilt machine."
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Southern Charm star Craig Conover joins Homespun host Misty Doan to share his incredible journey from struggling law student to successful entrepreneur. After facing ridicule for his love of sewing, Craig turned his middle school home economics skills into Sewing Down South, a thriving home decor brand.
In this candid conversation, Craig opens up about overcoming perfectionism, dealing with haters, the power of charitable giving in business, and why he believes everyone should pursue their passions regardless of what others think. From his $199 Amazon sewing machine to building retail stores in Charleston and Nashville, this is a story about trusting your instincts and never giving up on what brings you joy.
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with beloved pattern designer and fabric artist Minky Kim for an intimate conversation about creativity, resilience, and finding your voice in a new country.
In this heartfelt episode, Minki shares her incredible journey from moving to the US from Korea with just two suitcases to building a thriving creative business with over 200 sewing patterns and her own fabric lines with Riley Blake Designs.
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Join Misty Doan as she sits down with artist and fabric designer Janet Wecker Frisch of Riley Blake Designs. From discovering her style through vintage illustrations to launching a thriving creative business at 40, Janet shares how her love for storytelling, faith, and art has shaped a meaningful career in fabric design.
Key Episode Highlights:
How Janet transitioned from stay-at-home mom to full-time artist at age 40
The inspiration behind her whimsical, vintage illustration style
Why her first fabric collection, Hungry Animal Alphabet, became an instant hit
The process of merging antique public domain art with digital design
Stories behind her collections like Pumpkin Patch, Old School, and Press On
The heart behind her upcoming creative space and workshops
Encouragement for anyone starting late or outside the traditional quilting world
Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Vanessa Gertson, the creative force behind Lola Boutique and fabric designer for Moda Fabrics. Vanessa shares her inspiring journey from a divorced mom working until 1 AM to becoming a recognizable name in the quilting industry. Discover how she built her signature style, overcame imposter syndrome, and learned to protect her creative energy while building a sustainable business.
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Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she sits down with the incredibly talented Kira Dulaney, a fiber arts educator and pattern designer who has transformed her lifelong love of crafting into a thriving career. In this inspiring episode, Kira shares her unique journey from theater costume design to teaching middle schoolers after-school fiber arts programs, and how working in yarn shops led to publishing her own knitting and crochet patterns. Discover the profound differences between teaching children versus adults, why "letting yourself be a beginner" is crucial for learning, and how her theater background unexpectedly prepared her for inclusive pattern design. Kira also introduces hybrid crochet (Tunisian crochet) as an accessible entry point for nervous beginners and shares her philosophy that creativity should bring joy, not frustration.
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Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Jess Barrera, founder of Sally Tomato, to explore her inspiring journey from working at a family quilt shop to building a successful bag pattern and hardware business. In this engaging conversation, Jess shares how she turned her college entrepreneurship major into a thriving creative business, the challenges of scaling from her basement to a full operation, and her passion for making bag-making accessible to sewists of all levels. Discover the story behind her viral prom dress made from denim, her approach to product development, and valuable advice for aspiring creative entrepreneurs looking to turn their passion into profit.
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Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she sits down with Tian Connaughton, a talented knitter, crocheter, designer, and tech editor who made the bold leap from corporate finance to pursuing her passion for handmade crafts. In this inspiring episode, Tian shares her fascinating journey that began with learning to crochet from a coworker in 2001, evolved through watching knitting shows during naptime with her toddler son, and ultimately led to creating her groundbreaking book "Cardigans for Everybody." Discover how a corporate layoff became the catalyst for building a fiber arts business, her mission to create wearable garments that fit every body type, and her approach to blending financial savviness with creative passion.
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