Today on the Sew & So Podcast, we welcome Ingrid Alteneder, founder and CEO of Joe, June and Mae an online quilt pattern shop who is joining us from Frankfurt Germany.

Born and raised in Germany, she has travelled most of the world with her jobs and kids. Starting out in the fashion industry receiving her training through a combination of schooling and working at Peek & Cloppenburg. After learning to sew garments she began to quilt and achieved a great deal of notoriety for her work. 

She is the author of the book Adorable Animal Quilting. In her spare time, she loves to bike, walk, travel and shop. She lives in Germany with her husband and three children.

(1:40) Ingrid tells us the story of how she learned to sew and who inspired her.

(2:15) Who else inspired her?

(2:58) What were some of her favorite sewing projects?

(3:50) Ingrid reuses fabric and repurposes it. How does she use it?

(4:45) She explains her training Peek & Cloppenburg) and how it’s different from training in the United States.

(5:55) How did her schooling in retail, marketing and sales help her with her business?

(6:55) Learn about a few of the patterns she’s designed and what inspired them…she’s always on the lookout for patterns wherever she goes!

(7:55) She started her company Joe, June and Mae when she was in her 50’s…hear this story and how

(9:55) She wants young people to know that it’s never too late to start a company…Ingrid shares her philosophy of this and why it can be harder for women to do.

(11:55) Did she run into ageism as she started her company?

(11:38) Her love/hate relationship with social media is prevalent in her life. She explains why.

(12:40) What changes has she seen in social media since she started working with it? There are a lot!

(13:47) She and her online community interact quite a bit. Learn what this looks like!

(14:25) A prolific traveler, Ingrid shares a few of her favorite adventures…the pyramids in Egypt in 1993 leads this list.

(15:40) Where is that special place she has yet to travel and how do her travels inspire her work?

(16:57) Vancouver Canada is a favorite destination of Ingrid and her family. She still visits there on a regular basis…learn about her love for this special place.

(18:22) To Ingrid community is everything and she attributes her accomplishments to this community. She explains why.

(19:31) There are special stories of those she’s met in this community – she shares a few of them.

(21:18) It’s important to take sewing out of the craft closet and into the mainstream of business. She walks us through her reasoning

(23:40) What would it look like in the future if the image of sewing were to evolve as Ingrid hopes?

(25:06) What’s Ingrid working on now? Well…where should she start?! Be sure to check out the We All Sew Blog!

(26:35)Learn about her book Adorable Animal Quilting

(27:55) What’s next for Ingrid and what’s her dream?

(29:15) Is there any question we didn’t ask that she wishes we had?

(29:40) How can you contact Ingrid? [email protected].

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