Collage Creative With Amy Small

Hey there! Welcome to episode 19 of the Collage Creative Podcast. z. Today on the show I have Jaime Jennings, the founder of Fancy Tiger Crafts, a gorgeous Colorado shop full of yarn, fabric and craft supplies. She and her partner have been in business for 11 years, quite a feat! We have a great conversation about getting outdoors and the effect that has on her work, as well as the good stuff that can come out of hard things and how her mom set one amazing biz lady example. I think you’re gonna enjoy this, so let’s get to it!   For show notes visit: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/19

Today on the show I have Toni Lipsey, the crochet designer and creator behind TL Yarn Crafts. If you don’t know Toni well yet, this interview will make fall in love with her. Her warmth, openness and authenticity have left me wishing she was my best friend…there's so much to learn from her experiences and attitude. Stick around for the end where I’ll recap a few take aways. For more info on Toni and to see photos of her and her work, visit the show notes right here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/18

Today on the show I have Maryanne Moodie the weaver, who really needs no introduction beyond that because truly she is the Mick Jagger of the weaving world. She shares about how following her curiosity led her on this path and my favorite, how taking the time to look inward and work through all the emotions she feels has impacted her art and life. It’s so darn good! Stick around for the end where I’ll dive into my take always and announce a little giveaway I’m hosting this week over at Knit Collage. Show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/17

Today on the show I have Zinzi Edmundson, the co-founder and editor of Knit Wit magazine. She tells us about her journey from bon apetite magazine, to touring worldwide with her band, to finally focusing whole heartendly on Knit Wit. I think the moms and aspisirng creative business owners out there are going to love this talk. Stick around for the end when I’ll talk about my main take aways and shed a little light into what’s happening in my world this week. To find out more about Zinzi, including how to find her as well as photos of her family and work, visit my show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/16

Today on the show i have Nancy Queen, the founder and owner of Noble Knits an online knitting shop with a focus on quick and simple knits or as she calls no thinking, no fear knits. Nancy was one of the very first shops to pick up our yarns and has been so free with helping me out with guidance along my journey, so I'm thrilled she is here with us today! Find out more in the show notes at:  https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/15  

Today on the show I have Amy Voloshin. Amy is the founder and owner of Printfresh, a textile design company and stationary company. On top of that, she and her husband Leo bought a warehouse in the Fishtown area of Philadelhia and turned it into an amazing office space. Lastly, she’s launching her own clothing line so soon called Voloshin. Amy and I started working at Free People together right out of college in 2003 – SO we have been friends a super long time. Amy started her textile print business just a little before I did and I’ve now seen it evolve into an empire with so many moving parts. The way she balances her life with work, health, date nights will inspire you! She also gives us a few great producitivy hacks and tips to staying calm in the face of any storm. Stick around for the end where I’ll talk about my main take aways and let you know what’s going on in my world right now, because it’s been a little bit of a nutty week here.    For show notes: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/14  

Today on the show I have Meghan Fernadez, the co-founder and editor of Pom Pom magazine, the stunning knitting magazine that so many of us love so dearly. She is also a knitting designer with the most gorgeous knits up on Ravelry. She has such an interesting story full of adventure and new beginnings. I can’t wait for you to get to know her a little better. Head on over to my blog for the show notes:  https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/13  

Today's episode was such a good one! I have Andrea Mowry of all the knitting fame. She left me feeling so inspired by the life that she and her family have crafted just as they want it. There were 2 powerful themes that ran through this interview and left me even more in awe of Andrea than I was when I went into our call. Stick around for the end when I dive into these in a little more detail. I loved getting to know Andrea on a deeper level from what I see on social media and I know you will too!    Visit my site for the show notes and a few pics of Andrea and her family. https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/12

Today I have a very special guest, Genevieve Day, the owner of JP Knit & Stitch a fanastic LYS here in Boston and New England Farm to Fiber a shop at Boston’s Public Market that specializes in farm yarn. She’s been a long time friend, supporter and incredible inspiration into what running a business and juggling a family looks like. Best part, she is right here in person with me!   Find out more about Genevieve in the show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/11

Every 10th episode, I’m going to do a wildcard episode just to mix things up and keep it a little kooky around here. Today I thought it would be fun to talk about the things I’ve learned from the guests and some of the unexpected things that have happened in my life since I launched. At the end I’ll dive into what I’ve been working on at Knit Collage and give you a little sneak peek into who to expect next on the show.   See the show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/10 

Today we chat with Shelley Brander, the mastermind behind so many things. She owns a fantastic yarn shop in Tulsa, OK called Loops, she runs Loops Club, a monthly yarn subscription box and she’s the creator behind Knit Stars. Just saying it all, I have no idea how she manages to get them all done and so beautifully.Through them all she has touched so many. I find her path fascinating. There’s a ton to learn from her. Stick around for the end when I talk about a few of my favorite take aways. To find out more about Shelley, visit the show notes here. https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/9

Today I have a very special guest, Jessica Carey, the genius behind Hook Nook and so many gorgeous crochet patterns. She takes us behind the scenes of her business and tells us about what brought her to crochet, how she juggles life with kids and why she likes to tune out social media from time to time. My favorite part comes at the end when she delves into how crochet has made her more confident and lead her to feel an amazing sense of self worth. Stay tuned for the end for my take aways, when I dive into this idea in a little more detail. Visit my site here for the show notes! https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/8 

In this episode I dive into a wonderfully juicy conversation with Stephen West, the insanely talented designer behind West Knits. We get into how he became a designer, what influenced him to live such an unapologetically creative life and what his life on the road looks like now.  Hint, it involves a lot of knitting in every way and in every place imaginable!   Find out more about Stephen in my show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/7

In today’s episode I interview Vickie Howell, TV host, author, podcaster, the list goes on! She tells us so much – like how her first businesses unknowingly led to a great opportunity in TV. You’ll definitely want to stick around to the end when she fills us in on the biggest thing she learned hosting a Kickstarter campaign, the kooky way she unwinds as a serial multi-tasker, and my favorite why leaning into your oddities might just be the best option for all of us.   Find out more about Vickie in the show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/6

Here we go with part 2 of my interview with Sasha Rives. We did this part in person while we were at the TNNA, a big yarn tradeshow for wholesale buyers last weekend.  After a year and half apart it was a blast getting to catch up again. She is a true renaissance soul with a voracious interest in so many things. We go into how we started working together, the flower garden she’s cultivating and her morning knitting routine. We also get into how the best (and least selfish!) thing you can do is to never stop getting to know yourself better. Amen to that!   Find out more in the show notes right here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/4

Today’s episode is a little different. I introduce you to Sasha Rives, my colleague who I now work with closely. She has a super interesting background! She’s done a ton and been through a lot, so we decided to break the interview into 2 parts. In the first part, she tells us about opening her own yarn shop and how she picked herself up and rebuilt after a fire unexpectedly ruined her space. You’ll be surprised to hear what she decides to do in the end. Expect to be wowed by her resilience and grit.   Find out more in the show notes right her: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/4

In this episode I interview Elsie Goodwin of Reform Fibers. She delves into what motivated her to start her business after having her first daughter – and how authenticity and connection have helped her grow her business AND get through rough patches. I love Elsie so much and know you will enjoy this chat.    Find out more about Elsie in the show notes here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/3     

In this episode I interview Beata Jezek of Hedgehog Fibers. She opens up about how losing her job during the recession jumpstarted her yarn business and how her mother’s strong work ethic shaped who she is today. We get into her Elizabeth Zimmerman tattoo, the magic garden she recently purchased and (thank god!) how she works with knitting genius Stephen West. Find out more about Beata in the show notes right here: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/2

In Collage Creative's first episode, Amy Small, owner of Knit Collage, discusses her inspiration and motivation behind starting a podcast. To give you a preview of what to expect with future guests, she interviews herself sharing personal stories, habits, fears, failures and motivations for living life on her own terms as well as running her business!    Check out the show notes right here for more info: https://knitcollage.com/blogs/podcast/the-podcast-is-here