Embracing Tradition - with Tara Faughnan

Embracing Tradition - with Tara Faughnan

Author: Sam Hunter October 1, 2025 Duration: 1:17:29

#060: Tara Faughnan takes us on her quilting journey, through fabric design and a passion for traditional quilting blocks. She was recently the keynote speaker at QuiltCon 2025, and the attendees got to see her exploration of her maximalist traditional quilts in a lovely solo exhibition.

Tara talks about finding the rhythm in her color palettes, which I find to be very distinctive! We talked about collaborative processes, and Tara says that while she collaborated a lot when she was designing textiles, she doesn’t look for collaboration when designing her quilts.

We talk about how she researched the data she presented in her keynote about how poorly represented women in in museums, fine arts, galleries, and collections, and that despite occasionally thinking she should be come a painter to garner more art-world respect, she always returns to the women-driven lineage of quilting - and how much she values being part of that lineage. She talks more about all the feels around creating that keynote, but I’ll let you give it a listening her own words rather than my cliff-notes!

She also talks about figuring out the right things to do, industry-wise, that make money, and appeals to us to stop working for free (motion seconded!)

Show Notes

Website - https://tarafaughnan.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tarafaughnan

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Tara-Faughnan-Quilts/100083173158162/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDinczHJgfzjlV4vqG-3c1A/featured

QuiltCon - https://www.themodernquiltguild.com/quiltcon/quiltcon-home

Tara’s Exhibit at Quiltcon 2025: https://youtu.be/3w8v9M6d-EE

Michael Miller - https://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/

Hoffman Fabrics - https://hoffmancaliforniafabrics.net/

Block Studies - https://tarafaughnan.com/pages/block-studies?srsltid=AfmBOop12ymWIjP4_mJ9gRrJGMZ__TpDPESA9s9tUtPQ0YnvV5vAIGSS

Clos Mirabel Retreat - https://tarafaughnan.com/products/clos-mirabel-deposit

Other Upcoming Events - https://tarafaughnan.com/pages/upcoming-events

Clos Mirabel - https://clos-mirabel.com/

Daisy Aschehoug - https://daisyaschehoug.com & https://warmfolk.com

Sheila Frampton Cooper - https://www.zoombaby.com/

Embroidered Journey - https://embroideredjourney.com/

How to Own a Revolutionary Craft Biz is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Where to find Sam Hunter:

How to Own a Revolutionary Craft Biz - www.revcraftbiz.com

Hunter's Design Studio - www.huntersdesignstudio.com

Embroidered Journey - www.embroideredjourney.com

Sam Hunter Art - www.samhunterart.com

The RevCraftBiz Podcast is a Quilt Talk™ product

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Sam Hunter has spent years running her own craft business, and in The Rev Craft Biz Podcast, she pulls up a chair with fellow quilters and makers to have the conversations they usually save for retreats or late-night texts. This isn't about abstract theory; it's the grounded, sometimes messy reality of turning a passion into a sustainable livelihood. Each episode feels like eavesdropping on a frank discussion between friends who understand the unique pressures of the creative marketplace. They dig into the practicalities of entrepreneurship-from pricing and production to marketing and mindset-while never losing sight of the art that started it all. You’ll hear honest stories about juggling creative work with administrative demands, strategies for avoiding burnout, and how to protect the time needed to actually make things. More than just business tips, this podcast explores how these individuals are actively working to reshape their corner of the craft industry into something more inclusive and supportive. For anyone who has ever felt alone at their sewing machine or workbench, wondering how to make it all work, Sam’s conversations offer camaraderie, actionable ideas, and a reminder that the path is always being stitched together one thread at a time. Tune in for a blend of solid business insight and genuine artistic community, all from voices who live this work every single day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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