Episode #286: Mary Engelbreit

Episode #286: Mary Engelbreit

Author: Abby Glassenberg April 7, 2025 Duration: 59:18
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about creating a best-selling art and illustration company with my guest, Mary Engelbreit. Over 40 years ago, Mary Engelbreit launched her own company with a strong desire for creative freedom and a line of 12 greeting cards. The head of a highly successful business bearing her name, Mary is one of the country’s premier designers and artists. She is known throughout the world for her distinctive illustration style and design sensibility, modestly referred to as “eclectic traditional”. Mary’s signature art, imbued with spirited wit and warmth, appears on thousands of products, including greeting cards, books (design, gift, children’s, cooking, home, and art), calendars, stationery, fabric, crafts, kitchen accessories, dinnerware, and other home décor items. +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Eucalan. “Looking for the best way to care for your handmade and delicate items? Eucalan Delicate Wash is a no-rinse, eco-friendly laundry solution designed for knitwear, quilts, embellished garments, and more. With five gentle scents and a formula that extends the life of your fabrics, Eucalan is a must-have for knitters and crafters alike. Learn more at Eucalan.com +++++ To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today. .

Abby Glassenberg hosts Craft Industry Alliance, a space where the practical realities of running a creative business meet the deep personal satisfaction of making things by hand. This isn't just about inspiration; it's a grounded conversation for anyone who has turned a craft into a career or dreams of doing so. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a fellow maker, where Abby and her guests pull back the curtain on their processes, discuss the tools and materials they truly rely on, and navigate the unique challenges of entrepreneurship in the creative sphere. You'll hear specific, actionable recommendations-from sourcing sustainable materials and mastering a new technique to marketing your work and managing a studio's finances. The discussions are rooted in the real world, covering everything from the joys of the creative process to the logistics of wholesale trade shows and online sales. Tune into this podcast for an honest blend of education and community, designed to support your journey whether you're knitting, painting, pottery throwing, or designing textiles. It’s a resource that acknowledges creativity as both a passion and a profession, offering the kind of nuanced advice you’d normally only get from a trusted mentor within the tight-knit world of crafts.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Craft Industry Alliance
Podcast Episodes
Episode #244: Victoria Findlay Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:04
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting with my guest Victoria Findlay Wolfe. Victoria’s work balances between art quilting, traditional & modern quilting styles, and refle…
Episode #243: Mary Grabenstatter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:55
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a subscription with my guest Mary Granbenstatter. Mary is the owner of Needle Sharp, a monthly subscription sewing box service she f…
Episode #242: Diana Baird N’Diaye [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:33
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about folklore with my guest Diana Baird N’Diaye. Diana is a senior curator and cultural heritage specialist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife…
Episode #241: Elizabeth Silver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:39
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about surface pattern design with my guest Elizabeth Silver. Elizabeth is a professional surface pattern designer with 20 years in the industry. He…
Episode #240: Cadence Kidwell of Fuzy Goat Yarns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:01
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about owning a yarn shop with my guest Cadence Kidwell. Before Cadence opened her yarn shop, Fuzzy Goat, she was at Florida State University – wher…
Episode #239: Stephanie Rohr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:52
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about cross stitch with my guest Stephanie Rohr. Stephanie Rohr is a cross-stitch designer, artist, and author. She is known as StephXstitch in the…
Episode #238: Gretchen Hirsch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:35
Today on the show we’re talking about sewing glamor with my guest Gretchen Hirsch. Specializing in vintage glamour, Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch is a designer who infuses her passion for sewing into glamorous creations that…
Episode #237: Libs Elliott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:42
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Libs Elliott. Elizabeth (Libs) Elliott is a textile artist exploring the intersection of technology and traditi…
Episode #236: Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:03
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about knitting cute things with my guest Anna Hrachovec. Anna is a Chicago-based designer and artist who loves to knit little creatures. Just about…