Stash | Creative Conversations with Makers & Doers

EPISODE 021 – SAREMY DUFFY

Today’s guest is Saremy Duffy, founder of Chicken Boots. Chicken Boots is a company where knitting and sewing meet: thoughtfully designed and handcrafted bags and accessories made with knitters in mind.

Saremy started out her career in the apparel industry as a designer and pattern drafter. After years of working for others and then for herself as a freelancer, she decided she wanted to try her hand at making something completely different. For Saremy, the fun and the creativity of sewing is in the process. She loves figuring out how things work and fit together, making pieces that are both functional and beautiful. 

In this conversation we talk about her past in the garment industry, her struggles with that industry and her values as an environmentalist, and how she believes we can all come together through a shared love of craft.  She also gives us a fascinating peek into the operations at Chicken Boots headquarters. 

“Craft is a really great way to bring us together to have organic conversations with each other and to reveal these really honest moments of people’s lives. 

While you’re crafting and your hands are busy, you learn a lot about each other. Those kinds of stories reveal how human we all are and how all our lives are valid. ” ~ Saremy Duffy

 

In this episode

FIDM

Heather Ross

Cotton + Steel

Spoonflower

Rainbow Rowell: Fangirl, Eleanor & Park

Louise Penny Series

Ready Player One

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them

Iron Druid Chronicles

Find Saremy online:

Chicken Boots 

Instagram 

Until next time…

Head to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, take a moment to leave a star rating or review.  Leaving ratings and star reviews helps the podcast rise in the rankings, making it possible for even more people to discover these conversations. And the more crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs that find these conversations the better!

You can also find the podcast on 

EPISODE 020 – Stasia Savasuk

Today’s guest is style coach, power thrifter, and empowerment expert Stasia Savasuk. Her story is quite remarkable and takes us on a journey through her time in the peace corps to becoming a medical mother & fierce advocate for her daughter,  to her life now as a passionate supporter of women on the path to finding their style and invigorating their lives.

I wanted to bring Stasia Savasuk on the podcast because of her fresh, unconventional perspective on style.  According to Stasia, style isn’t simply about knowing your colors or what shapes and proportions work best for your body (although those are HUGE in transforming how you look and feel in your clothes).  Stasia emphasizes the value of what she calls inside-out congruency, or showing the world who you are by the clothes that you wear. 

Now I know this may trigger some thoughts like “but it’s what’s on the INSIDE that matters”, or “I can’t afford to transform my entire wardrobe”.

I hear that.

But what Stasia is here to say is that YES!  It IS what’s on the inside that matters.

When you dress fearlessly, shamelessly, and powerfully YOU, you are showing that to the world and it makes anything is possible. 

We talk about how taking risks in what you wear builds on itself and becomes this fuel into taking risks in other areas of your life. 

Stasia and I chat about all of this and LOTS more, including her tips for those of us making our own clothing. 

I know you’re going to love this conversation, and I truly hope it gets you thinking about your wardrobe (and LIFE) in and entirely new way. 

Click the play button at the top of the page to listen to Stasia Savasuk right now, or head to iTunes and subscribe.

In this episode

How to Find Your Perfect Necklace Length

Is Style Petty or Superficial? Should it matter? Raisa’s Story

A Peek Inside Stasia’s Closet

We didn’t have a chance to talk about this, but Stasia’s Styled by My Child Project is how I initially discovered her on Instagram. Can you imagine giving your child free reign in your closet and then wearing whatever they choose for you ALL DAY? Stasia and Raisa did it once a week for a full year. Check out the roundup here.

What Stasia is Watching

Justified

Miracle on 34th Street

Rudolph

Harry and the Hendersons

Pete’s Dragon

Harry Potter movies

Find Stasia online:

Thrift Me Pretty

EPISODE 019 – SHANNON COOK

Today’s guest is Shannon Cook, a knitting and sewing pattern designer, author and publisher, and the writer behind the popular blog VERYSHANNON.COM. When she’s not designing knitwear or sewing patterns or writing books, Shannon can be found guzzling coffee, reading a great book, or playing at the beach on Vancouver Island with her husband and two daughters.

I first met Shannon at a VKLive event back in 2013 and we connected instantly. Her energy is vibrant and inviting, and she clearly has great enthusiasm for all that she does. Shannon has created one of the most vibrant online communities of creatives out there. With regular knit and sew-alongs, Shannon brings our creative community together in such an inspiring and genuine way.

In this episode we chat about her journey to finding creative balance, making time for making, even when you’ve got little ones around, her long-standing love of books, and much more. 

Shannon and I got a little carried away catching up, so this episode is a bit longer than usual. But hey, I figured you wouldn’t mind.  Besides, could’t you use the excuse to walk, knit, sew, fold laundry, or just linger for just a few more minutes…?

In this episode

Mallory Cowl

Shannon’s Making & Mothering post for Stash

Feyre Shawl + coloring page

Court of Thorns and Roses book series

Beehive Yarn Shop

Hinterland Collection

Marian Rae Publishing with Jane Richmond

Within by Jane Richmond and Shannon Cook

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Lisa Lucia Knits 

* Dots & Dashes (Rory scarf)

* Eponymuff (Paris scarf)

Gilmore Girls KAL on Ravelry

Find Shannon Online:

Instagram

Facebook 

Twitter

Ravelry

This Episode is Sponsored by Stash

We recently celebrated our 5th anniversary of the Stash brick & mortar shop. To celebrate, we commissioned local graphic designer and screen printer

Episode 018 – Felicia Lo

Today in episode 18 of the Stash podcast I’m speaking with Felicia Lo, the founder and creative director of Sweet Georgia Yarns. 

In this conversation Felicia shares her journey to figuring out and accepting her passions and how that led her to pharmacy school, competitive ballroom dancing, graphic design, a burnout, and then, finally: her biggest mission yet: owning Sweet Georgia Yarns.  

She speaks to how color can transform your mood and help express emotions, and how it ultimately changed the direction of her life. Color is not just part of her hobby or her job, it’s a true calling. Felicia is on a pretty big mission, and has a message you simply have to hear. 

She says:

Colour is power. Colour changes lives. Colour has the ability to change and shape your perception and influence your thoughts. 

We also talk about how she created space in her life after having kids to make sure she had time to pursue her creative hobbies.  We all know on an intellectual level that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But this can be SO difficult to put into practice in our daily lives, and it’s never easy or perfect. Felicia has a great idea for creating space for making and reports on how it’s been working for her.

Sit back, relax and enjoy my conversation with Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Yarns.

In this episode

The Wealthy Barber

The Longest Shortest Time

Driven by Food

Taking Back Friday blog series by Felicia Lo

Felicia’s interview for November’s Yarn Story Collection yarn

Find Felicia online:

*

Sweet Georgia

*

Instagram here and here

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

Until next time…

Head to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, take a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.

You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

Episode 017: Kathy Dixon

Kathy Dixon is the dyer behind the brightly colored and tongue-in-cheek named yarn that is Despondent Dyes. With colorway names like He Kept the Dog, The Color of the Marriage Counselor’s Rug and Lipstick on His Collar, you know this yarn has a story to tell.

Her path to becoming a popular yarn dyer didn’t happen overnight, though. In fact, Kathy’s path has taken her from art school to motherhood, cake decorator and real estate investor to yarn slinger at Stash, and more.

Kathy likes to knit. A lot.

It might be an understatement to say that Kathy has had a very colorful and creative past.  Whatever she does, Kathy brings an incredible amount of passion and curiosity to the task.

She tells us about attending the dye workshop that changed her future, and the legwork that had been done before hand to help starting her own business fall into place.  We talk color way names and the inspiration behind them, and her process for developing colorways.

Kathy also tells us her secrets to “doing it all”. You might just be surprised by what is at the top of her list.

In this episode

Find Despondent Dyes at Stash in store and online, and at Despondent Dyes Etsy shop

Find Kathy on Instagram

Kathy’s knitwear designs on Ravelry 

We’d love to hear from you:

What role does creativity play in your daily life?  What does it mean to you?  Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!

Until next time…

Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, take a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

 

 

Episode 016: Kim Werker

Kim Werker is a writer, editor, instructor and all around smart, creative lady.  She is also a self-described camp counselor for grownups – a title we dive into in this episode.

In this conversation Kim shares with us her desire to show everyone that they are creative and how to have fun even when you’re afraid you’re going to fail. She talks about how her frustration with a lack of crochet websites led her to create Crochet Me and how Interweave Press snagged her to be the editor of Interweave Crochet.

Kim also lets us in on how her Year of Making changed her life and turned her into a maker of things. We also talk about whether one should/could be making a profit from a hobby.  And for fun we get into a little of this and that, like cold process soap making,  bullet journaling, and the fiction that is Pinterest.

In this episode

Kim’s Year of Making was inspired by Miriam Felton.  Lisa Congdon taught her how to doodle.

Kim is watching Game of Thrones, The Americans, Suits, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More with Feeling and Stranger Things .

Just for fun:

*

Walk Through the Fire from Once More with Feeling

*

Stranger Things Kids making Waffles

*

Stranger Things Kids on Jimmy Fallon with Silly String

Find Kim online:

*

Instagram

*

Facebook

*

Twitter

*

Website

We’d love to hear from you:

What role does creativity play in your daily life?  What does it mean to you?  Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!

Until next time…

Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, take a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

The Stash Podcast : Season 2 Preview

I wanted to pop in today to say a couple of things. First: we’re still here! Season 1 of the podcast was so fun and inspiring to create. Our guests were as varied as the yarn on our shelves: from color pop superstar Stephen West to handmade jewelry designer Liz Grant, you heard from a variety of people making their way in different creative industries.  If you’re new to the podcast, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to some of those episodes and get caught up!

In Season 2 we’re going to continue to bring you interviews with creative makers and doers. We have some incredible conversations to share with you.  Next week in the Season 2 opener, you’ll hear from Kim Werker, a self-described camp counselor for grownups and author of Make it Mighty Ugly.  Our conversation had me nodding along like a bobble-head doll.  

Enjoy this preview of Season 2. Click the media player above to listen, or go directly to iTunes to Subscribe.

And while you wait for the next episode, head on over to iTunes to leave us a star rating and review. It’s really the best way to ensure you never miss an episode and it helps other creatives find the podcast.

Talk to you next week!

Take a bit of the podcast with you wherever your day takes you.

Because we could all use a reminder to be free, take risks, and live happy.

Shop now.

 

Episode 015: Jenn Gauer

JaMpdx Ceramics is the creation of Jenn Gauer, a potter, and Meghan Radick, a former cake decorator. Their pieces combine beautiful hand thrown ceramic forms with a unique piping technique that looks like frosting on a cake. Jenn joins us on the podcast to share how she runs a business with a close friend, and the steps they’ve taken to make it viable.

Jenn also talks about what she is knitting, her appreciation for her personal stash, and how quitting her day job has influenced her creative process. She walks us through the process of making a yarn bowl, from idea conception to final drying and some thoughts on other tasty things you can serve in a bowl.

In this Episode

*

Jenn is knitting a Rocky Coast Cardigan and she attended the Rose City Yarn Crawl.

*

She is watching Once Upon a Time and Game of Thrones.

*

JaMpdx is attending TNNA East this year, and they will also be at the Oregon Potters Association Ceramic Showcase

*

Find JaMpdx on Instagram, Etsy, and their website.

Until next time…

Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

 

 

 

Episode 014: Andrea Mowry

Andrea Mowry is the incomparable knitwear designer behind DreaRenee Knits. Known for her drool-inducing use of color, texture, and techniques like brioche, Andrea is gaining momentum quickly in the knitting world.

Andrea and I recently met at the Lantern Moon Retreat where we spent a beautiful weekend learning, knitting, and relaxing with about 20 another knitters.  It was a wonderful getaway, and I’m so thankful we were able to sit down to record a conversation for the podcast.

We talked about her journey from vegan baker and hair stylist to stay at home mom and full time designer. She gets real about the feeling of losing your identity when you’re no longer working a nine to five job. And she shares her goals of leading a handmade life. We also talk tattoos, freedom in creativity, and her signature sandwich.

In this episode

*

Find Andrea on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Ravelry, and on her website.

*

Check out the Great Up North Mittens and the Rocket Pop Baby Mitts.

*

We chat about handmade and sustainable fashion; Conscious Clothing

*

Andrea is knitting a Bracken Sweater in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry.

*

She is reading Ready Player One by Earnest Cline, Knitlandia by Clara Parkes, and At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen by Amy Chaplin

Until next time…

Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and

EPISODE 013: Photographer Chris Becerra

Chris Becerra is a professional photographer, dedicated father of 3, and all around passionate guy.  Whether he’s remodeling his home, outfitting a van into the ultimate on-the-go photography studio, or photographing a wedding or birth, Chris comes at work and life with great curiosity and enthusiasm.

In this episode Chris shares his biggest regret, the details of how he made the leap from working as a teacher and shooting weddings in his spare time to becoming a full time professional photographer.  

He is passionate about helping other creative entrepreneurs and this episode is loaded with his real life experiences and tips that can be applied to a variety of industries.

We’ll also hear his perspective on blending work and family life. And He speaks candidly about the challenges of being a self-employed dad and the unexpected affects on his family life once he took his photography business full time.

During our conversation, I couldn’t wait to ask Chris how I could take better pictures of that thing we all love: yarn!  You’ll be happy to hear that he shares his 3 tips for taking better photos, which have already helped me improve my yarn photography skills!

In this Episode

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Remembrance photography

What Chris is Reading: Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth 

What Chris is Watching: The Walking Dead (spoiler alert if you aren’t caught up!)

Doomsday Preppers

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Oscars 2016

Find Chris online:

Commercial clients here

Wedding and family sessions  here

On Social Media:  Facebook and Instagram

Until next time…

Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher.

Stay Connected:

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook,