Episode #89: Thomas Knauer

Episode #89: Thomas Knauer

Author: Abby Glassenberg January 16, 2017 Duration: 1:04:58

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I've asked quilter Thomas Knauer to talk about the state of the quilting industry right now. Knauer is an academic as well as an award winning quilter and he views the industry in a way that I feel is unusual and thought-provoking. He talks about the relationship between the quest for perfectionism and quilting and how that leads to consumerism. Thomas also feels that "the quilting industry has nothing to do with quilts," a statement I ask him to unpack for us. Finally, Thomas shares a new model for local quilt shops going forward - one that I've never heard before and that definitley made me think. I hope this interview prompts some new ideas to circulate as the business of quilting changes.

+++++

This episode is sponsored by Craftcation. If you’re maker, blogger or creative business owner Craftcation Conference is the perfect place for you to get all the tools and resources you need to start the business of your dreams, take your existing business to the next-level, make life-long friends and build your community, and discover or rediscover your inner artist and crafter. Come to Craftcation: Business and Makers Conference on April 27-30 2017 in Ventura, California for four life-changing days of 80+ hands-on DIY craft workshops and business classes as well as special events like happy hour, keynote dinner, morning yoga, a dance party and more. Craftcation sells out every year, so don’t miss this chance. Go to dearhandmadelife.com and use the code: whileshenaps to get $20 off and register for four days you’ll never forget.

+++++

Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same.

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. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.


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: 332

Craft Industry Alliance
Podcast Episodes
Episode #58: Rob Appell of Man Sewing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about teaching quilting online with my guest, Rob Appell. Rob is the host of Man Sewing, a YouTube channel of the Missouri Star Quilt Company. He is…
Episode #57: Etsy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guests are Heather Jassy, Senior Vice President of Members and Community at Etsy, and Stephanie Schacht, the Head of Responsible Seller Growth at Etsy. There's…
Episode #56: Geninne Zlatkis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:05
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about making art and craft with my guest, Geninne Zlatkis. Geninne is an artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband Manolo, their two so…
Episode #55 Hawthorne Threads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:32
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about running an online fabric shop with my guest, Lindsay Prezzano. Lindsay and her husband, Charlie, are the founders and co-owners of Hawthorne T…
Episode #54: French General wtih Kaari and Molly Meng [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:15
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about crafting in community with my guests Kaari and Molly Meng. Kaari Meng is the founder and owner of French General, a shop and workshop space in…
Episode #53: Sherri Lynn Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:01
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we are talking about improvisational quilting with my guest, Sherri Lynn Wood. Sherri is an artist working in Oakland, California. She has been making and improvi…
Episode #52: Amy Barickman of Indygo Junction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:12
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about running an independent publishing company with my guest, Amy Barickman. Founder and owner of Indygo Junction, Amy Barickman is a creative lead…
Episode #51: Christine Haynes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:02
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking with Christine Haynes who is a Los Angeles-based sewing author, teacher, and pattern designer with her own line of self-published vintage-inspired s…
Episode #50: Salley Mavor and Mimi Kirchner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:14
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about stitching and doll making with my guests, Salley Mavor and Mimi Kirchner. Salley Mavor uses sculptural needlework to illustrate stories. Her 3…
Episode #49: Diana Fayt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:04
Today's episode is sponsored by Creativebug. Use the code NAPS at checkout and get a free 1-month subscription. On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about ceramics with my guest, Diana…