Homespun With Misty

In this episode of Homespun, host Misty Doan chats with Amber Elliott, the talented pattern and fabric designer behind Alderwood Studio. Amber shares her inspiring journey from a decade-long career as a software engineer to running her creative business full-time. Key Episode Highlights:Amber’s childhood sewing with both grandmothers—one focused on mending, the other on formalwear.Why exploring multiple creative outlets fuels her inspiration.How she transitioned from software engineering to full-time quilt and fabric design.Her philosophy that success comes from consistency, learning from mistakes, and playing the long game.Why being “bad” at something can be freeing and creatively healthy.The importance of experimentation and only developing a fraction of your ideas into finished patterns.Insights from her new book on gradients, color theory, and adapting patterns for ombre quilting.Excitement for new fabric collections, pottery exploration, and finishing her current knitting project.

Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she chats with her sister-in-law Natalie, a talented and multi-faceted creator. From her earliest sewing memories inspired by her mother and the San Francisco Ballet, to building her own creative hobbies in stained glass, painting, crochet, and clay, Natalie shares how she nurtures creativity, finds inspiration, and approaches both challenges and joy in her artistic journey. Tune in to hear practical advice for new quilters, tips for staying motivated, and the magic of turning hobbies into a creative career.Key Episode Highlights:Natalie’s first sewing memories watching her mother create ballet costumes.Early experiments with making her own clothes and buying her first sewing machine.Exploration of multiple creative hobbies: painting, stained glass, crochet, knitting, woodworking, and clay.Tips for staying inspired and motivated, including prioritization and time-blocking strategies.The importance of embracing mistakes and understanding that creativity grows through practice.Advice for new quilters: patience, good tools, and perseverance.How hobbies turned into a creative career through experimentation, sharing, and teaching.Upcoming creative projects Natalie wants to try: pottery, making clothes, and clay pin toppers.

Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Kim Christopherson, the creative force behind Kimberbell Designs, to explore an inspiring entrepreneurial journey that began with personalized pillows sold on eBay and evolved into a recognized brand in the crafting world.In this heartfelt conversation, Kim shares how a nickname from her dad became a business name, how her husband's simple suggestion changed everything, and why staying curious has been the key to her success. From her early days as a fourth-grade teacher sewing next to her baby's crib to leading a team that spans machine embroidery, quilting, and now punch needle crafts, Kim's story is a testament to trusting yourself even when you don't have all the answers.Key Episode Highlights:From selling personalized pillows on eBay to building Kimberbell brandHusband's pivotal question: "What about teaching people instead of selling finished products?""You do what you do best and hire out the rest" - scaling philosophy"Who Cares How Long Cute Takes" - company motto prioritizing joy over speedHow a half-finished quilt became the signature "bench pillow" productExpanding from machine embroidery into punch needle and handwork"Stay curious" - key advice for business and creative growthMaking instruction feel like guidance from a best friend

Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Amy Latta of Amy Latta's Creations, a remarkable creative entrepreneur whose journey spans from ballroom dance instruction to becoming a bestselling craft book author and fabric designer. Amy shares how a simple desire to stay home with her young son led to a thriving creative business built on the philosophy that "practice makes progress."Key Episode Highlights:Amy's journey from ballroom dance instructor to bestselling craft author and fabric designer"Practice makes progress" philosophy - why perfectionism kills creativityOvercoming rejection: First book rejection led to 125,000+ bestseller and 9 more booksBlessing Bears Ministry: Son's compassion sparked nationwide effort delivering 575 bears to people in needFirst fabric collection "Bloom" launching with Andover Fabrics in summer 2025Teaching quilting across three generations and breaking gender barriers in craftingCreating for others brings the most fulfillment - "we're all created to create"

In this episode of Homespun, Misty Doan sits down with designer Kristin Nicholas to explore a life overflowing with color, craft, and creativity. From a 4-H childhood and lessons from her grandmother, to decades leading the yarn industry, to running a working sheep farm in Western Massachusetts, Kristin shares how she finds inspiration everywhere—from nature to art history. She dives into the thrill of trying new crafts, embracing failure, and letting each creative experiment feed the next. Plus, hear about her books, pottery, embroidery, and why learning something new can completely transform your main craft.Key Episode Highlights:Early creative influences from family, 4-H, and Sunset craft kits in the 1960sCareer path from textile degrees to becoming a yarn company creative directorLife on a 1750s sheep farm with 400 sheep and rotational grazingInsights on trends in crochet and embroideryHow pottery and other crafts influence her knitting and crochet designPractical tips for finding color inspiration in nature and artEncouragement to try new crafts to broaden skills and perspectiveReflections on her published books and current creative newsletter

In this episode of Homespun, host Misty Doan welcomes Rena Dearden, owner and designer behind The Rustic Horseshoe, known for her charming stuffed animals and ride-on toy sewing patterns. Rena shares her inspiring leap from a career in law enforcement to building her own creative business, sparked by a beloved childhood stick horse. She opens up about the challenges of leaving a stable job, the perseverance it took to make her dream work, and how she turned an early, imperfect creation into a thriving pattern line beloved by makers worldwide.Key Episode Highlights:How Rena transitioned from police work to running a creative business from homeThe sentimental story of the stick horse that inspired The Rustic HorseshoeHow strong, skilled women in law enforcement reshaped Rena’s view of sewingLessons learned from selling early creations and refining designsRena’s hands-on, pencil-and-paper approach to designing stuffed animalsWhy sticking through financial and emotional challenges made all the differenceThe shift from product deadlines to a more flexible pattern-based businessWhy anyone can create with the right steps and mindsetHow Rena stays inspired and playful in her work

Join host Misty Doan for an intimate Birthday Bash week conversation with the incomparable Jenny Doan, founder of Missouri Star Quilt Company. In this heartfelt episode, Jenny shares the incredible 16-year journey from a simple quilt machine purchase to building a global quilting community that spans continents.Discover the story behind Missouri Star's viral first YouTube tutorial (spoiler: it involved a broken leg and heavy pain medication!), learn why Jenny believes your skills shouldn't "die with you," and get an exclusive look at the company's humble beginnings when they had just "three bolts of fabric and a quilt machine."Key Episode Highlights:How a quilt machine "too big for the house" launched Missouri Star during the 2008 crashThe story of their first YouTube tutorial—broken leg, wheelchair, and pain medication includedWhen the post office started picking up packages and a woman flew from Brazil to visitJenny's philosophy on passing creative skills to the next generation before they "die with you"How not knowing quilting "rules" became Jenny's superpower for shortcuts and innovationWhy taking creative time for yourself isn't selfish—it's essential for caregiversJenny's leap of faith into humanitarian work and stepping away from Missouri StarHow this break might transform Jenny's creative process and what it means for the company

Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with beloved pattern designer and fabric artist Minky Kim for an intimate conversation about creativity, resilience, and finding your voice in a new country.In this heartfelt episode, Minki shares her incredible journey from moving to the US from Korea with just two suitcases to building a thriving creative business with over 200 sewing patterns and her own fabric lines with Riley Blake Designs.Key Episode Highlights:How a sewing machine became Minki's "first friend in America"Starting a creative practice in a tiny space with limited resourcesThe challenges and triumphs of learning English while building a businessWhy Minki focuses on small, approachable projects that can be finished in a dayHer transition from posting wordless step-by-step photos to becoming a published authorNavigating social media as a creative entrepreneurThe importance of showing up consistently while staying true to your authentic voiceHow everyday moments with her three daughters inspire her whimsical designs

Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Vanessa Goertzon, the creative force behind Lola Boutique and fabric designer for Moda Fabrics. Vanessa shares her inspiring journey from a divorced mom working until 1 AM to becoming a recognizable name in the quilting industry. Discover how she built her signature style, overcame imposter syndrome, and learned to protect her creative energy while building a sustainable business.Key Episode Highlights:How Vanessa started her fabric design career with just five minutes a day in Photoshop while raising two young kidsGetting rejected by Moda, then coming back a year later with improved designs that landed her the dream jobWorking from her kids' bedtime until 1 AM as a single mom and learning when to finally say no to opportunitiesBuilding a signature style without using signature colors - creating recognizable designs while changing palettes every collectionHer design evolution from hand-drawing and scanning sketches to drawing directly on iPad ProWhy she won't write another book right now and how she protects her creative energy from overextensionLiving 45 minutes from Zion National Park and how nature resets inspire her fabric collections

Join host Misty Doan as she sits down with Jessica Barrera, founder of Sally Tomato, to explore her inspiring journey from working at a family quilt shop to building a successful bag pattern and hardware business. In this engaging conversation, Jessica shares how she turned her college entrepreneurship major into a thriving creative business, the challenges of scaling from her basement to a full operation, and her passion for making bag-making accessible to sewists of all levels. Discover the story behind her viral prom dress made from denim, her approach to product development, and valuable advice for aspiring creative entrepreneurs looking to turn their passion into profit.Key Episode Highlights:Growing up at Nancy's Notions quilt shop and turning college entrepreneurship major into Sally Tomato empireThe denim prom dress challenge that proved friends wrong and built her design confidenceWhen inventory overflow took over the house - the moment she knew the business needed helpHardware innovation solving customer frustration with coordinated supplies and matching componentsFirst trade show chaos with homemade brick walls and learning the industry through trial by fireBalancing workaholic tendencies with family life using habit trackers and vintage movie inspirationMaking bag-making accessible through educational tutorials and supporting sewists at every level

Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she sits down with Deb Strain, Moda Fabrics' longest-standing designer with an incredible 27-year career. In this captivating episode, Deb reveals her extraordinary creative journey from public school art teacher to greeting card entrepreneur to becoming part of the Moda family after a serendipitous trade show encounter. Discover how she creates beloved fabric collections entirely by hand using traditional pen, ink, and watercolor techniques that haven't changed in centuries. Learn about the surprising technical constraints that shape every collection, witness a live demonstration of ancient damask creation methods, and see how Christmas color trends have evolved over nearly three decades of design.Key Episode Highlights:Deb's unexpected journey from art teacher to greeting card company owner to Moda designer after a chance trade show meeting 27 years agoHer completely hand-drawn design process using pen, ink, and paint - refusing to go digital despite family pressure to modernizeThe 17-color printing limitation that constrains every collection and how she hand-mixes paint recipes for consistency across yearsLive demonstration of creating symmetrical damask patterns using the ancient mirror-and-paste techniqueHow fabric collections are designed like stories, with panels as main characters and coordinating prints as supporting castThe evolution of Christmas color trends from deep primitive '90s colors to bright neons to today's traditional paletteWorking 18 months ahead to predict future trends and the partnership with quilt designer Barb from Coach House Designs

Join host Misty Doan Homespun as she sits down with the incredibly talented Stephanie Organes, a fabric designer with Andover Fabrics based in Mexico City, Mexico. In this inspiring episode, Stephanie shares her unique creative journey that began with graphic design studies in Italy, led her through the world of professional cookie decorating, and ultimately brought her to fabric design during the pandemic. Discover how a health scare became the catalyst for pursuing her true passion, the challenges of learning quilting as a Spanish speaker, and her advice for aspiring fabric designers who aren't afraid to knock on doors.Key Episode Highlights:Stephanie's creative evolution from graphic design studies in Florence to cookie decorating competitions at Cookie ConHow becoming a new mom led to discovering quilting and making her first adorable quilted bear projectThe pandemic health scare that became her wake-up call to pursue fabric design seriouslyBuilding her portfolio with Spoonflower samples and the nerve-wracking process of pitching to Andover FabricsWhy following up after months of silence landed her the dream contract - and the vulnerability of putting creative work out thereThe unique challenges of learning quilting in English while being a native Spanish speaker (inches vs centimeters!)Her "schedule creativity like a doctor's appointment" philosophy and the truth that inspiration finds you working, not waitingThe growing need for Spanish-language quilting resources and celebrating the first Spanish-speaking retreat at Missouri StarFrom Missouri Star Quilt Co

Join Misty Doan in this inspiring episode of Homespun as she sits down with Missy Luukkonen, the creative force behind "The Little Green Bean" design company. Missy shares her journey from creative struggles to building a successful pattern and kit business in the quilting and fiber arts world. This candid conversation covers the real challenges designers face, from burnout to business roadblocks, and reveals the strategies that transformed Missy's creative passion into a thriving enterprise. Whether you're a maker looking to turn your hobby into income or simply seeking inspiration for your creative journey, Missy's story offers valuable insights into building resilience and success in the crafting industry.Key Topics Covered:Avoiding creative burnout and maintaining passion for your craftMaking a complete reset when your creative business isn't workingPlanning for future growth and expansion in the design worldOvercoming roadblocks and setbacks in the creative industryBuilding "The Little Green Bean" brand from concept to successTransitioning from hobbyist to professional pattern designerCreating multiple revenue streams through patterns, kits, and toolsBalancing creativity with business demandsLearning from failures and pivoting when necessaryThe importance of finishing projects over perfectionismFrom Missouri Star Quilt Co