Hello Atelier

A lot of people change majors in college. It's expected, right? But few life shifts are as extreme as Kim Eichler-Messmer's, who switched from a double engineering and Spanish major to art. Inspired by artists like Sonia Delaunay, Kim has pursued her passion through her work with textiles. In this episode of Hello Atelier, Kim talks to us about textiles, travel and taking time to step outside.

As a struggling freelance designer, have you ever wondered how it’s done? How did that artist come up with that popular product line, how did they get it in the stores, and why does it look so easy? Well, very few things that look easy are, and designer Tammy Smith tells us about her journey from hobby sketcher to full-time product designer.

This week on Hello Atelier, we submerge ourselves into the world of letterpress with our guest, Brady Vest of Hammerpress, as our guide. Brady was at the forefront of the resurgence of letterpress as a design and production technique. His early interest in an endangered art has led to a more than 20 year career in design.

In episode four of Hello Atelier, we sit down with designer, author, and free-motion quilter Angela Walters. Angela shares how she went from fast food manager to nationally-recognized quilter and designer. Listen in and find out why Angela says that she is the perfect example of how even a blind squirrel can find a nut.

Host Betsy Blodgett sits down with Gregory Kolsto: Artist, coffee roaster, and all-around inspirational dude. Gregory talks us through his travels, his business, his art and how he is creating a culture of blowing people's minds through coffee. When Gregory gave Oddly Correct, his roasting company, the tagline "Freaking Out Your Morning Cup", he meant it.

Host Betsy Blodgett speaks with Meredith Host, a ceramicist and full time studio potter. They discuss how Meredith’s love of horror movies has influenced her work and inspired a series she once called a playful penchant for the bizarre. Listen in to find out what is inspiring her work these days (hint: you can find it in your bathroom!) and her strategies for maintaining a thriving ceramics business.

In this episode of Hello Atelier, host Betsy Blodgett talks with Jacquie Gering, who is a leader in the modern quilting movement. Jacquie has played a pivotal role in developing the Modern Quilt Guild to be an international organization, and is a powerful ambassador for the modern quilt aesthetic. Jacquie is the author of Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts and her work has been featured in a number of other quilting books and sewing publications.

Host Betsy Blodgett previews the first season of Hello Atelier, which will include visits to the studios of sewists, ceramicists, jewelry designers, print makers, fashion designers and more.