In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, we meet Melinda—a woman who walked away from housekeeping after chemical exposure caused debilitating migraines… and walked straight into her God-given calling.

What began as a health crisis became the catalyst for a complete life pivot. Melinda didn’t just start over—she built multiple businesses rooted in creativity, service, and purpose.

Her story is raw, real, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the hardest detours lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.

Inside this episode:
● How Melinda turned a painful health challenge into a creative business journey
● The courage it takes to leave behind “safe” jobs for meaningful work
● Why faith, service, and creativity go hand-in-hand for handmade entrepreneurs
● Inspiration for anyone considering a career pivot or longing to use their gifts with purpose

If you’ve ever wondered whether your creativity could become your livelihood, or if you’re in the middle of your own transition, Melinda’s story will inspire you to step forward with courage.

VISIT MELINDA's BUSINESSES

Shiplap & Sage

The Stables Marketplace

Sacred Honor

🧶 ⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠ – now on Amazon

🌐 Visit ⁠⁠⁠marcymade.co⁠⁠⁠ for crochet patterns

🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Welcome to the very first episode under our brand-new name: Creative & Called! In today’s episode, I’m sharing the heart behind the change, why I felt led to shift the direction of this podcast, and how sometimes the best thing we can do in business (and life) is pivot.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to force something to work the way you thought it was supposed to—or if you’ve started a project that ended up evolving into something entirely different—you’re not alone.

This episode is your permission slip to change direction, follow the nudge, and trust that your God-given creativity will lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Let’s talk about why this podcast name changed, what that means moving forward, and how embracing the unexpected might be the very thing that sets you free.

🧶 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠ – now on Amazon

🌐 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠marcymade.co⁠⁠⁠⁠ for crochet patterns

🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Welcome to Threads of Wisdom, my mini-episode series within Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast. In this episode, I reflect on a powerful quote from Earl Nightingale: “You become what you think about.”

Inspired by his iconic message, The Strangest Secret, I explore how our thoughts shape our actions, success, and overall quality of life. Just like in crochet—where every stitch builds something beautiful—our thoughts create the fabric of our lives.

Inside this short, uplifting episode, you’ll learn:
● How your daily thoughts influence your crochet business, creativity, and personal growth
● Practical ways to shift your mindset toward positivity and success
● Why setting clear goals and focusing on what you want can change the course of your handmade business and life

This mini-episode is a reminder that your mindset is just as important as your skill set. By choosing empowering thoughts, you can craft a creative life filled with freedom, joy, and purpose.

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

It’s the final episode of my 8-part Scaling Your Crochet Business mini-series—and today we’re talking about the most important lesson of all: mindset.

You can master every strategy—SEO, product photography, email funnels, pattern design—but if your beliefs, energy, and inner world aren’t aligned, you’ll hit a ceiling every time. In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I pull back the curtain on the internal work that’s fueled my biggest seasons of growth as a crochet designer and creative entrepreneur.

We’ll talk about:
● Why your crochet or handmade business can only grow as much as you do
● How to shift from hustle to alignment, and from fear to faith
● The mindset patterns that block success (and how to reframe them)
● Inspiring wisdom from Les Brown, Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, and Jay Shetty
● Practical encouragement to believe bigger and take your next step with confidence

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Can I really build something meaningful from my passion?”—this is your episode. Because the truth is, business is 90% mindset.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome back to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! In Part 7 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series, I’m pulling back the curtain on the tools and systems that keep my crochet business running—while juggling a full-time job, a toddler, and a bustling household.

From Canva and Trello to Shopify, Mailchimp, and even ChatGPT, I share the platforms and processes I rely on every day to stay organized, show up consistently, and grow my creative business without burning out.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
● My favorite tools for running a crochet or handmade business efficiently
● How I batch content, record on the go, and repurpose every ounce of creative energy
● Practical ways to manage product shipping, digital products, and inventory with less stress
● Time-saving hacks for working in small pockets of time and keeping things simple
● How systems create freedom and allow you to focus more on what you love—creating!

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your handmade business, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you streamline your workflow and save time.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠FREE Donkey Crochet Pattern⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠FREE Beginner's Crochet Starter Kit⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

In Part 6 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series, we’re diving into one of the most powerful tools you can add to your creative business: your email list.

Social media is fun and flashy, but it’s not always reliable—algorithms change, accounts get hacked, and posts get buried. Your email list? That’s yours. In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I’ll show you why email marketing is one of the smartest moves you can make as a crochet designer, maker, or creative entrepreneur.

You’ll learn:
● Why your email list is your most valuable business asset
● How to create a strong lead magnet (freebie your audience actually wants)
● The role of simple, trust-building sales funnels that naturally lead to purchases
● Practical strategies to nurture your subscribers and turn readers into raving fans
● How email builds connection, consistency, and long-term sales for your crochet or handmade business

If you’re ready to stop relying on social media and start building a sustainable business with a direct line to your audience, this episode will give you the roadmap.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

In Part 5 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series, we’re diving into one of the most underestimated (yet powerful) elements of building a successful handmade business: photography, graphics, and branding.

When you’re selling crochet or handmade products online, your images are everything. Before anyone clicks “buy,” they’re judging your product with their eyes—and your visual presentation can make or break the sale. In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I share the exact tools, setups, and branding strategies I use to help my products stand out and build trust with customers.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
● My go-to setup for product photography (and why I ditched the lightbox for my front porch)
● How to get started affordably with DSLR photography for handmade products
● Branding tips to help your crochet business look polished and professional across every platform
● Why Canva is a total game-changer for graphics and product visuals
● My #1 pro tip that instantly boosted sales

Whether you’re just starting your handmade business or looking to uplevel your visuals, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help your products shine and your brand stand out.

RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome back to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! In Part 4 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series, we’re diving into one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) strategies for handmade business growth: organic traffic.

Imagine waking up to sales every day—not because you ran an ad, but because people found your crochet patterns, products, or tutorials through Pinterest, Google, or YouTube. That’s the magic of organic traffic, and it’s key to creating a sustainable crochet business.

In this episode, I break down the best strategies for driving organic traffic, including:
🧶 Why Pinterest is the #1 tool for crochet designers and how to use it effectively
🧶 How blogging boosts your Google rankings and brings steady traffic over time
🧶 The trust-building power of YouTube for crochet tutorials and product visibility
🧶 Smart ways to leverage Facebook Groups for engagement without breaking rules
🧶 My go-to method for repurposing content across multiple platforms to maximize reach

Organic traffic takes time, but once it starts working, it becomes a consistent stream of potential customers—without spending a dime on ads. If you’re ready to build a crochet business that thrives long-term, this episode is for you.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome back to Part 3 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series on Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! So far, we’ve covered multiple revenue streams and SEO—today we’re talking about one of the biggest game-changers for scaling a handmade business: Products With Purpose.

Here’s the truth: people don’t just buy crochet patterns or finished plushies—they buy what those things mean to them. Once I realized this, my entire approach to marketing shifted. When you position your products with purpose, you stop selling “cute things” and start offering emotional connections, meaningful gifts, and real solutions your customers want.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✨ The mindset shift that transformed my crochet business and boosted sales
✨ How to speak directly to your customer’s needs and emotions
✨ Lessons from Ashley at A Crafty Concept, Donald Miller’s StoryBrand framework, and Seth Godin’s radical empathy approach
✨ Actionable tips to rewrite your product descriptions for stronger connection and higher conversions

🔥 Challenge of the Week: Choose one of your product descriptions and rewrite it using this framework. Instead of just describing the item, tell a story about how it fits into your customer’s life and solves a problem.

If you’re ready to sell more than just products—and instead connect deeply with your audience—this episode will give you the blueprint.

💡Ashley's Crochet Boss Academy

💡 Donald Miller's Podcast

💡 Seth Godin With Cathy Heller Podcast Episode

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

SIMPLY HOOKED RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome back to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! In Part 2 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business Mini-Series, we’re tackling one of the most powerful tools for handmade business success: SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

If you’ve ever uploaded a product to Etsy, your website, or Pinterest and wondered, “Why isn’t anyone finding this?”—this episode is for you. For years, I ignored SEO, thinking “make cute things and people will come.” Spoiler: they didn’t. Once I got serious about growing my crochet business, I dove into SEO—researching keywords, testing strategies, and revamping my listings—and the results were incredible.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
✨ How SEO actually works (and why it’s a game-changer for crochet businesses)
✨ The biggest mistakes I made early on (like naming products with adorable but unsearchable titles)
✨ Simple, actionable strategies to get started with Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and website SEO
✨ The exact tools I use to optimize my crochet product listings for traffic and sales
✨ How I grew my Etsy traffic from 1,800 visitors to over 26,000 by focusing on SEO

🚀 Challenge of the Week: Pick one of your products and optimize it using the strategies from this episode. Let’s make sure your beautiful handmade items actually get seen.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠Hooked on Growth⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠