Archive for the ‘podcasts and videos’ Category
Today, podcasts are back!
I sat down (virtually of course) with Jena Coray to discuss a few things that I think you are going to want to hear. If you have ever struggled to find balance with your business and personal life or you’ve found it difficult to pursue your passion, you’ll want to listen in on my 40 minute podcast with Jena.
For those that don’t already know Jena’s story, she is the creative soul behind Miss Modish (previously Modish blog) and also makes up half of The Maven Circle along with her biz partner Jen.
Together, Jena and Jen recently launched The Catalyst Course – which was designed to help people find more fulfillment in their lives. We’ll chat about the course in the podcast too if you’d like to hear more. Here’s a picture of the ladies of the Catalyst Course…
Here’s what Jena and I discussed in the 40 minute podcast:
-What lights your flame? The path to discovering your true passions and why exploration is so important.
-Recalibrating your mind and body – making a shift physically + mentally. And how some of the smallest shifts can make the biggest impacts.
-How self-care can make you happier in your biz + in life and tips for relieving stress.
-Time management – fitting more into your day and getting rid of the non-productive hours.
-And more.
Visit Jena Coray on Miss Modish and the recently launched Catalyst Course + The Maven Circle. And get updates from Jena on twitter @miss_modish.
Listen to the podcast now…
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Today, Grace Kang and I are unlocking the mysteries that surround getting your products into retail store and boutique shops. So, if you want to break in to the world of landing wholesale orders, you’ll want to listen in on my 40 minute podcast with Grace.
For those that don’t already know Grace’s story, she is the owner of Pink Olive (a specialty boutique in New York City), the brain behind Retail Recipes, and she was previously a buyer for stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales.
I asked Grace the questions that you want answered most, and together, we’ll de-mystify the crazy world of retail and getting buyers to notice you…
Here’s what we discussed in the 40 minute podcast:
-Common mistakes that designers make when approaching retail buyers and how they can be avoided.
-What you can do right now to grab the attention of buyers.
-The top ten things you must do before you approach a retail store.
-And more.
Get the free download we discussed at the beginning of the podcast, by opting-in at retailrecipes.com (you’ll see the box on the right hand side of the home page).
Visit Grace Kang on Retail Recipes (Grace’s consulting info here) and Pink Olive for more. And get updates from Grace on twitter @retailrecipes and facebook.
Listen to the podcast now…
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Today, I have the pleasure of being a part of Ellen Luckett Baker’s book blog tour for her book 1, 2, 3 Sew. I have known Ellen for only a couple of months now, but what I know about her already is that she is an incredibly sweet woman and an even more amazing craftswoman. I decided to interview Ellen for a fun little podcast (you know how I love podcasts these days) about something that I thought you would be dying to know about…
And that is: the how-tos for getting a book published! If you are in the craft world and have been dying to get you work published, Ellen’s going to tell you exactly how she did it (and of course, how you can do it too).
This is a must listen to podcast for anyone thinking about trying to get a (craft related) book published in the future.
Here’s more about Ellen’s new book 1, 2, 3 Sew before we jump into the interview: The book was recently released through Chronicle Books and features 33 delightful projects ranging from clothing to décor and accessories. 1, 2, 3 Sew is not only filled with beautiful photographs of each project and simple step-by-step instructions, it also comes complete with 12 patterns (tucked neatly into an enclosed envelope inside- like an added treasure). This book is a fantastic resource for sewers at any stage.
And for your reference, before I get into the podcast details, here are the last four stops on the 1, 2, 3 Sew blog tour (so you can keep following the book after today’s stop): July 21– House on Hill Road & Coquette and July 22– Bolt Neighborhood & True Up
Here’s what we discussed in the 30 minute podcast:
-The initial steps of going through a book proposal, finding a literary agent, and the how-tos of getting a book published.
-The financial side of being a published author: the shake down of a typical advance (upfront money while putting the book together), etc.
-Ellen shares a few behind the scenes stories of styling the projects for her book.
-And more.
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Reference links mentioned in the podcast: Craftypod Podcast #77: Publishing a Craft Book, with Christina Loff and Kate McKean (this was the podcast that Ellen mentions in my interview with her that got the ball rolling for her)
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You can visit Ellen at thelongthread.com, on twitter @thelongthread, on facebook at The Long Thread page, and on Flickr via the 1, 2, 3 Sew group.
And to pick up a copy of Ellen’s book 1, 2, 3 Sew…visit Chronicle Books, Amazon, or your local book store.
If you like this interview, please help Ellen and I spread the word by using the buttons below (twitter, facebook, stumbleupon).
Listen to the podcast now…
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Last week, I interviewed full-time artist, illustrator, and surface pattern designer Jessica Swift about her uber-successful rain boots project that you have seen on KickStarter recently. And today, I am sharing the podcast version of our interview. Excited!
I had watched her project take off from the very start and was really impressed with the way she was able to make it happen (and so quickly too)… At the time of our interview, Jessica had already raised more than $19,000 to fund her project (her goal was $18,000) and she still had almost two weeks left to go to raise more. Now the project is at more than $20,000 with a week left to raise additional funds before the rain boots are actually made.
If you are thinking about trying to get a project funded via KickStarter, you really need to listen to this interview with Jessica. She shared a lot.
Here’s what we discussed in the 25 minute podcast:
-How Jess started the rain boots project and what the process was like raising funds on KickStarter (I also explained what KickStarter if you are unfamiliar with the site).
-How Jess was able to navigate through the world of manufacturing to make her project a reality.
-The work that went into raising more than $18,000 in funds in a matter of weeks. And how you can do it too.
-And more.
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Reference links mentioned in the podcast:
-Mark Pound at Blosma (helped Jessica put the puzzle pieces together for get her product manufactured). Find Mark at www.blosma.com.
-Jessica’s email address: jess(at)jessicaswift(dot)com
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You can visit Jessica Swift on www.jessicaswift.com. Visit her Etsy shop: Jessica Swift Etsy shop. Or you can also follow Jessica on twitter @jessicagswift.
AND To pledge funds (pledges start at just $1) to Jessica’s KickStarter Rain Boots Project, visit this link: Rain Boots with Secret Messages.
If you like this interview, please help Jessica and I spread the word by using the buttons below (twitter, facebook, stumbleupon).
Listen to the podcast now…
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Today I am chatting with Kristen Magee of the popular niche blog, Paper Crave, for our next papernstitch podcast. I’ve been getting a lot of questions from readers lately about blogging, and I thought Kristen would be a great person to interview. She has been blogging at Paper Crave for almost five years now, and as you can imagine, has a lot to say about running a successful niche blog.
If you are thinking of starting a blog, or you already have a blog that you are hoping to take to the next level, you need to listen to this interview.
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Here’s what we discussed in the 60 minute podcast:
-The ins and outs of creating and writing a niche blog.
-Monetization options for bloggers in a niche market.
-What you need to know before you submit your work to a blog for a feature.
-And more.
You can visit Kristen Magee on Paper Crave and Invitation Crush for more paper inspiration, and Domestifluff for kitchen and crafting. You can also follow Kristen on twitter @papercrave.
If you like this interview, please help Kristen and I spread the word by using the buttons below (twitter, facebook, stumbleupon).
Listen to the podcast now…
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I am willing to bet that each and everyone of you reading this right now has an insecurity or two. It’s okay. I have ‘em too. We all have something. Right?
Maybe it’s the way your gums show when you smile or how you snort (just a little) when you laugh at something that’s REALLY funny.
Whatever it is that has you questioning how great you are, how cool you are, how down right amazing you truly are, this video is for you.
It’s time to celebrate those unique quirks that make you you. Because those small things that you dislike or even hate about yourself, are the very things that other people love about you.
So today, I am inviting you to…
Just allow yourself to be proud of who you are. For exactly what you are. And stop worrying about what you can’t control.
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Find out what my weird little quirk is in the 3 minute video above and then share yours in the comments below.
We all define “being professional” in a different way. For ourselves and for our business. This video is about a blog post I wrote a in February of 2011, where I used the F word (in a way that was intended to be lighthearted and comical).
Most people “got it”, but a few people sent me emails saying that I was unprofessional to use such language, etc. I was surprised by the email feedback I received, since the comments in the post were overwhelmingly positive and fun. Immediately, I took to twitter to get some thoughts (without giving any details). This is the question I asked: Do you think it is unprofessional to use the f* word on your blog? I got quite a few responses. Some people said yes, some people said no. But the answers were cut and dry- no in between- just varying opinions.
And at the end of the day, I was actually kind of glad that an opportunity for discussion was able to arise out of this.
It lead to a great debate on twitter and ultimately, to this post. So, it was a good thing. For sure. And of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I appreciate those opinions (whether I agree or disagree with them). If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, watch this video and then, if you wouldn’t mind, please answer this question for me…
What do you define as “being professional” when it comes to small businesses?
*If you like this video and think others would benefit from watching it, I would love for you to retweet or facebook it.
