Hannah Austin is a kinusaiga and fabric collage embroidery artist who specializes in landscapes. She finds inspiration in nature and she stitches to feel a connection with her ancestors and her community. Hannah developed her skills in hand sewing and embroidery through her grandmother, who was an avid maker herself.

Kinusaiga is a Japanese art form, founded and created by Setsu Maeno, that uses pieces of scrap fabric to create collage-style images. Hannah recently made a kinusaiga mini quilt to honour her grandmother’s memory, based on the design of a full-size quilt her grandmother made for her. That project was a major hit on her social media channels, inspiring others to make their own projects in honour of loved ones.

Hannah is an active member of the fibre arts community and shares her love of making fibre art through workshops as well as by teaching classes at the University of Oregon's Craft Center.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Hannah about why fibre arts are so close to her heart, how nature and sustainability are areas of focus in her work, the way she developed her kinusaiga skills, and how teaching fuels even more creativity in her life.

Say hi to Hannah:
  Website: needleorthread.com
  Instagram: @needle_or_thread
  TikTok: @needle_or_thread
  Facebook: /needleorthread
  Threads: @needle_or_thread
  YouTube: @needle_or_thread

Show mentions and the people who inspire Hannah:
    - Kinusaiga mini quilt in honour of Grandma Marlys - Instagram reel
    - Setsu Maeno - @kinusaiga (Instagram) 
    - Hayley Williams - @yelyahwilliams (Instagram) 
    - Vika Prokofjeva - @vikasspace (Instagram) 

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com 

Hello friends! I’m your host Angela de Burger, and today I want to take the opportunity to look back on a great year of creativity-filled conversations as well as look forward to a new year of creative exploration.

I also want to ask you the question I pose to guests on every episode:
What are your tips for starting up, or keeping up, the creative energy in your life?
To share a tip, you can:

• record a short voicemail from your phone or computer at speakpipe.com/CreativePulse
• or you can send me a message or tag me in a post on Instagram @creativepulsepodcast 

I’ll share your tips on future episodes of the podcast and on social media so that your ideas can help other people who are looking for some creative inspiration.

Thank you for being here in 2025! I can’t wait to bring you even more conversations with incredible, creative people in 2026.

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Lara Kluczynski is a self-taught multimedia artist who hand sculpts whimsical, wearable hats and headpieces that blend fashion and sculpture. She combines decorative frieze-style elements with fantastical animals, balancing tradition and kitsch in her creations.

Lara explores innovative materials and techniques in her pieces, probing the boundaries between different art forms. Her style is theatrical, surreal and playful, with hints of antiquity and comedy sprinkled throughout. Lara’s work is currently featured in an online group exhibition at the Poetic Tiger Gallery entitled “Fables of Time” and in March 2026 she will have a solo show at that same gallery.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Lara about how she brings her creative visions to life, how her style has developed over time, and where she finds inspiration for her designs.

Say hi to Lara:
  Website - craftglamour.com
  Instagram - @craft.glamour
  TikTok - @craftglamour
  Poetic Tiger Gallery - Fables of Time group exhibition

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Amanda Witucki is living her dream after finding artistic inspiration through the medium of paper, making origami-based paper sculptures. She uses origami folding techniques and specially chosen thick paper to create paper “paintings”, experiential works and site-specific art installations. In her artworks, Amanda combines precision and repetition with whimsy and colour.

She’s also the creative mind behind the Secret Prezzie Project, an initiative to inspire hope, spread joy and connect strangers by hiding treasure-filled presents in plain sight.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Amanda about how her creative community helped her realize she is an artist, why paper is her creative medium of choice, how she fuels her insatiable creative curiosity, and what the Secret Prezzie Project looks like in action.

Say hi to Amanda:
  Websites:
    - The Paper Committee - papercommittee.com
    - Secret Prezzie Project - /secretprezzieproject
  Instagram - @thepapercommittee

Show mentions - the people who inspire Amanda:
    - El Anatsui - elanatsui.art (web) and @elanatsui.art (Instagram)
    - Bekah Worley - bekahworleyco.com (web) and @bekahworleyco (Instagram) 
    - Conny Gölz Schmitt - connygoelzschmitt.com (web) and @connygoelzschmitt (Instagram) 
    - Aunty Beast - archenemyarts.comauntybeast (web) and @aunty_beast (Instagram) 

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com 

Laura June Ness is a Canadian dancer, actor, aerialist and singer who decided to make a big leap and chase her dream of performing in a West End show in London. And she made her dream come true! Laura is now a cast member of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and recently made her debut performance in London’s West End.

She’s sharing this creative adventure with her growing social media community, showing the work that goes into pursuing a dream like this, including all of the highs and lows she’s experiencing along the way.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Laura about her journey to being cast in a Harry Potter stage show, what it’s like to perform on a West End stage, her creative process for creating a character, and why she decided to share her creative life on social media.

Say hi to Laura:
  Instagram - @laura.june.ness
  TikTok - @laura.june.ness
  YouTube - @LauraJuneNess

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Nadja Nikko is a prop maker who dreamed of making props for the film industry and she’s made her dream come true! After being inspired by the prop makers from the Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter series, she’s now making props for lots of productions, including Hollywood films.

Nadja regularly shares behind-the-scenes insights into the world of prop making, techniques and materials, tutorials, creative tips, and personal stories from working in the film industry around the world. She says it’s not just the craft of prop making she loves, it’s the creative journey.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Nadja about what fuels her passion for making props, the types of projects that get her creative energy flowing, and why she believes that anything is possible.

Say hi to Nadja:
  Instagram - @nadjanikko
  TikTok - @nadjanikko
  YouTube - @NadjaNikko 

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Kelly Lyles infuses creativity into every part of her life. She’s designed five art cars, organizes an annual art car festival and is a fine art painter specializing in portraits. Kelly is also an artistic community builder, attending openings and events most days of the week and supporting her wide network of creative friends in every way possible.

Her art cars are vividly decorated and have creative names such as Leopard Bernstein and Excessories Odd-yssey. The Seattle Art Car Blowout she organizes is a gathering for art car makers and lovers, welcoming an amazing array of art cars that are creatively designed according to the unique visions of their owners.

Kelly is also a fine art painter who specializes in portraits and visual puns involving animals. Rumour has it she knows everybody in the Seattle art scene and she has curated her home like an art museum, decorated from the floor to the ceiling with the artworks of hundreds of other artists she loves. Her creative passion also extends to her fashion and accessory choices.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Kelly about her love of art cars, her punny series of animal portraits, the strong creative community she’s developed, and how she welcomes creativity into every aspect of her life.

Say hi to Kelly:
  Website - kellyspot.com and Seattle Art Car Blowout
  Instagram - @lkellylyles
  Facebook - /L.kellylyles

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Rachael Harms Mahlandt is passionate about creating Sidewalk Joy - adding bright spots of whimsy to her city through creative art installations. Sidewalk Joy spots are free, curated public galleries, exchanges and displays, often installed in front yards, along a sidewalk fence, or on the side of a building. Her first project was creating a dinosaur-themed diorama (a ‘Dinorama’), which then led to a dino exchange, a micro book swap, an Air Bee N Bee, micro parks, a mug exchange, and more.

Building on the success of the Portland Sidewalk Joy map she co-created, Rachael recently launched a Worldwide Sidewalk Joy map, highlighting hundreds of projects (and growing!). She loves the community connections that happen through Sidewalk Joy spots and openly shares her own knowledge to help other people get started.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Rachael about what sparked her love of sidewalk art installations, how she comes up with new ideas, how these projects bring people together and build community, and what you can find on the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy map.

Say hi to Rachael:
  Websites:
    - Sidewalk Joy - sidewalkjoy.com
    - PDX Sidewalk Joy - pdxsidewalkjoy.com
    - Worldwide Sidewalk Joy - worldwidesidewalkjoy.com
  Instagram - @pdxdinorama
  TikTok - @pdxdinorama
  Facebook - /pdxdinorama
  YouTube - @PDXDinorama/shorts
  Bluesky - /pdxdinorama.bsky.social

Show mentions:
  Awesome Foundation Portland - awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/portland

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

John Avilla joined his family’s band at only 8 years of age and the experience ignited a lifelong passion for music. Building on his expertise in branding and marketing for global companies, he is now a co-founder of Sound Union, a first-of-its-kind social club and creative studio in Redwood City, California.

The space welcomes people who make music a central part of their lives—not necessarily as a career, but as a passion. It’s a cultural hub where music fuels well-being, creativity and connection.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with John about what being a musician has brought to his life, how he fosters collaboration and connection at Sound Union, and how music can be an energizing force in daily life.

Say hi to John:
  Website - soundunion.com
  Instagram - @joinsoundunion
  Facebook - /JoinSoundUnion
  LinkedIn - /johngavilla

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

David Gilliver is multi-talented, sharing his creativity as a light painter and miniature artist. His works are both entertaining and thought-provoking in both their composition and subject matter.

To create light paintings, he uses long-exposure photography techniques under the darkness of night. And his ‘Little People’ and ‘Toys’ macro photography series depict captivating scenes using miniature people and items to tell stories and offer social commentaries.

He has been recognized with awards at the British Photography Awards and earned a degree in Fine Art Photography from the Glasgow School of Art. He also shares his knowledge through workshops and e-books so other people can join in the fun too.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with David about his techniques for creating amazing designs in his light paintings, why he loves small scale storytelling, whether his creative process begins with a visual concept or a message he wants to share, and how he balances being so active in two different creative specialties.

Say hi to David:
  Website - davidgilliver.com
  Instagram - @dgilliver
  Facebook - /davidgilliverphoto
  LinkedIn - /david-gilliver-photography
  500 px - /light-painter

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast

Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com