Episode #300: Maria Shell

Episode #300: Maria Shell

Author: Abby Glassenberg November 17, 2025 Duration: 1:03:18
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting with my guest Maria Shell.   Maria’s work is grounded in the tradition and craft of American quilt making. She strives to take the classical components of a traditional bedquilt and manipulate them with the hope of creating surprising combinations of pattern, repetition, and color for the viewer. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Quarry Books.    Check out Crochet Your Celebrity Crush with Lee Sartori! This book provides 15 amigurumi patterns to create adorable, crocheted versions of famous actors, musicians, and athletes. You can stitch your very own Harry Styles, Pedro Pascal, and more with Lee’sstep-by-step instructions, suitable for crocheters of all skill levels.   Crochet Your Celebrity Crush is available now from Quarry. +++++ 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 #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…
Episode #235: Cheryl Ham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:45
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a subscription box with Cheryl Ham. Cheryl Ham is a self-taught knitter who learned the craft with a bit of help from YouTube and a…
Episode #234: Jenn McMillan of Sew Fine Thread Gloss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:55
In today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re discussing developing a specialty notion with my guest Jenn McMillan of Sew Fine Thread Gloss. Jenn is a graphic designer, quilter, and fabric-obsessed sew…
Episode #233: Porfiria Gomez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
Today on the show we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Porfiria Gomez. Porfiria is a sewing enthusiast, self-proclaimed designer, and blogger. A native New Yorker, Porfiria learned to sew from her mother and…
Episode #232: Meghan Fernandes of Pom Pom Quarterly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:17
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a craft magazine with my guest Meghan Fernandes, a co-founder of the independent knitting magazine Pom Pom. Meghan Fernandes is a kn…
Episode #231: Samantha Hoyt of A Gathering of Stitches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:24
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about slow stitching with my guest Samantha Hoyt. Samantha Hoyt is the owner and creative director of A Gathering of Stitches, a series of small-sc…
Episode #230: Jonathan Lincoln from Goimagine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:14
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about handmade marketplaces with my guest Jon Lincoln. Jon is the founder of Goimagine. He earned many accolades with his prior technology venture…
Episode #229: Brittany Jepsen of The House that Lars Built [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about creating a lifestyle blog and brand with my guest Brittany Watson Jepsen. Brittany is the founder and creative director of The House That Lars…