Collage Creative With Amy Small

Today on the show I have Mandi Smethells, she is a sculptural fiber artist – in her etsy shop you’ll find just that – they are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and they are crazy cheerful. This episode is jam packed with so many take aways – like following her own curiosity and joy to create this unique art and saying goodbye to the rest. She encourages us to find inspiration outside, in odd places, that resonate with us in any way. This is what helped her create her incredible art! Find out more at the show notes here.

Today on the show I have Jewell Washington a stunning knitwear designer behind North Knits and the creator of Our maker life, a blog and movement dedicated to creating community and connection through making. Show notes here.

Today on the show my sister Jessie and I dive into transitions. We get into my big transition into this new house and how it hasn't all been rainbows along the way. We also go into the transition she went through this fall from teacher to working with me at Knit Collage, something she knew very little about. Click here for show notes. 

Today on the show I have Julia Denos, an illustrator and writer. It’s a far ranging conversation and we cover a lot from making a living as an artist to coping with life’s ups and downs through her own art. Show notes right Collage Creative Podcast. 

Today on the show I have Mary Kate Kinnane, the founder of the Local Bouquet, a florist who also teaches flower classes based in Little Compton, RI. I’m more than a little estatic to have a florist on the show – she tells us all about the field to vase movement and why locally grown flowers are so special. As a mom of 4, she has some stellar advice for diving into that new business and juggling it all. Show notes here.

Today on the show I have Sonia Rutys, of Stash Local, a yarn shop. This episode is jam packed with inspiration. She tells up about how every twist and unlikely turn in her career set up to be where she is today with her routine of taking time out, right in the mornings to take time for herself to knit and write creatively. Let's dive in!   Show notes here 

Today on the show I have Lizz Wasserman, she and I started off at Urban together, she later formed her own sustainable clothing company, closed that and has now landed at Mod Cloth in LA where she is the VP of design. I think you’ll love hearing about how her faith and confidence in her own worth helped her hold out for this dream job.    Show notes here

Today on the show, I have fiber artist Lauren Williams. I love how I found out about her and everything about this conversation. She went from staring at that first blank wall that inspired her art, to creating 50+ pieces a week. It’s an incredible story that left me wanting to listen to the conversation all over again right after we finished. Show notes here.   

Woah, we made it to 50! In this episode and every 10th episode, I like to switch things up and do a wild card episode. It's a short episode but jam packed! This week I dive into comfort zones and what came up for me on this last trip to India relating to them. After that I talk about a massive failure I had happen to me recently. I am so curious about how my guests cope with failure and I'm attempting to use some of their advice to pick myself back up!   Show notes here. 

In today's episode I bring back previous guest, Andrea Mowry of Drea Renee Knits for a deep dive on burnout and what methods she's found to help her work through it. Get ready to be inspired!

Hey there! Welcome to episode 48 of the Collage Creative Podcast, hosted by myself Amy Small. This podcast is a weekly interview show dedicated to uncovering the stories, motivations and practices of women and men who are living life on their own terms through work they love. Today on the show I have Lindsey Campbell, of Hello Hydrangea, she’s a weaver, designer and teacher. You’re going to love her advice on throwing out your to do list!  Show notes here!

Hey there! Welcome to episode 47 of the Collage Creative Podcast, hosted by myself Amy Small. This podcast is a weekly interview show dedicated to uncovering the stories, motivations and practices of women and men who are living life on their own terms through work they love. Today on the show I have Abby Glassenberg, she is a sewer, blogger, an author and so much more – we get in to all of it! Her story is an inspring one –from sqeezing in blogging while her daughter napped to creating a business she loves to work on. Show notes here

Today on the show I have Rae Hoekstra, the sewing designer of Made By Rae. She and I first connected at Squam last fall and I’ve been basically stalking her simple yet incredibly pretty sewing patterns every since. This is a fantastic episode for the moms out there – she talks about what her work time, away from the kids means to her and how it helps her be the best parent. Then she dives into the wonderful example that her parents set for her with their attitude if you see something you’d like, make it yourself. Let’s dive in!   Show notes here.

The spring knitalong is right around the corner and I so hope you'll consider joining me! My biggest hope is that this knitalong will inspire us to learn and grow in new ways. We'll do that through learning knitting skills, accountability (to stick to your knitting goal!), connection with other like minded makers AND, most importantly to me, have some meaningful conversations around creativity and pretty much all the things I talk about on the podcast. My hope is that it will add a little extra inspiration to your everyday in an easy, non preachy kind of way. I hope you'll consider joining! For more details and to watch the intro videos, follow this link. The knitalong kits go live on April 11th at 8am and will be live for one week only.

Today on the show I have Erica Cerulo, one of the founders of Of A Kind, an online retailer with a special focus on supporting emerging designers and telling their stories. This is a wonderful episode. Erica’s contagious enthusiasm and thoughtful approach to her business will leave you wanting to find out so much more about Of A Kind! Let’s dive in. Show notes here

Hey there! Welcome to episode 44 of the Collage Creative Podcast, hosted by myself Amy Small. This podcast is a weekly interview show dedicated to uncovering the stories, motivations and practices of women and men who are living life on their own terms through work they love. Today on the show I have Joji Locatelli – the designer behind countless knitting patterns that so many of us know and love - I know you’ll love hearing her unique story of growing up with one incredible mother to saying goodbye to the medical profession to embrace – KNITTING! Powerful stuff! Show notes here!

Today on the show I have Genga, the artist behind Spokewoven, a company that makes beautiful dreamcatchers. There are many pearls of wisdom woven throughout the stories she tells – about her friend from west Africa that sells her newspapers and how he helps her keep her life in perspective to the 6 rounds of IVF she went through to conceive her son and how sharing about her experiences through her business helps others cope with their own fertility struggles. It's a good one - let's dive in!   Show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/43

Today on the show I have Kate Morris, a vegan knitwear designer. She drops some knowledge on us – on what sustainable materials she uses and where to learn more about this. But what I think many of us will relate to is her story of turning her hobby into a career – she went from working at a German pub in London, complete with the authentic lederhosen costume to winning the Redress Design Award for her stunning knitwear. Prepare to be inspired!    Show notes:https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/42

Today on the show I have Kristy Glass. Kristy does a lot, she is best known as a youtuber with a focus on yarn and knitting but she does many things far beyond this – my favorite being the baby wrangler, who knew that was a job. I also think you’ll enjoy hearing about the wonderful yes attitude her parents embraced and raised her with as a child.    Show notes:https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/41

On every 10th episode I like to switch things up and dive into something different on the show – typically something I’ve been thinking about or wrestling with in my own life. Today I want to open up with you about some of the things I’ve been learning about in a deeper way, things I haven’t really shared about on the show before but that are affecting me deeply as well as the new early AM routine I swear by.    Show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/40