This last Monday (05/25/2020) my guest was Charan Sachar from Creative with Clay. Charan joined me from his home studio in Federal Way, Washington.
If you’ve been to a #STITCHESWest in the past couple of years, you might have met him and seen his wonderful work first hand. This show lasted just about and hour and a half. Charan is true artist when it comes to pottery. But he also knits, spins, weaves, and does hand-dying. He can't keep away from techniques and color. We talked about the influence his mother's dress making and embroider show (in India) had on his work. He admitted that a lot of the motifs and colors continue to influence his work. Charan was a computer engineer. When he came to the United States he continued his education and got a Masters in computer science. Education was always important in his family. Around 2000 he took his first pottery class. It changed him forever. He did Fine Art Shows for 15 years. In his 7th year of doing those shows, he quit his full time job and worked in his studio full time. The reason that I know Charan is that in 2018 he did his first #STITCHESWest. His work, with knit textures as part of his pottery, was received with a lot of enthusiasm almost immediately. We talked about his process and his love for color. We talked about his inspirations. And we talked about his experiences in the fiber arts industry. He was a delight to talk with. I hope you'll listen to the show and check it out for yourself. Charan Sachar's Biography: Charan Sachar (from Creative with Clay) lived in India for a significant part of his life where his mother ran a boutique, designing clothes for brides and bridesmaids. The designs, colors, fabrics and embroidery he came across then have a strong impact on his work now. In 2014, Charan took up knitting as a hobby and very soon the knit patterns started making an appearance into his work. Very soon, he purchased a floor loom and a spinning wheel. Now he obsesses over dyeing fiber and is fascinated about color mixing and different spinning techniques which change the appearance of the final yarn. The transformation of fiber to yarn and yarn to fabric inspires him further regarding the textures and colors in his pottery. He uses a combination of techniques such as wheel throwing, extrusions, slab constructions, and alterations to create his forms. Each piece is then further decorated with textures he creates to give it the feel of embroidered and knitted fabric. These are further enhanced with underglazes, slip, and glazes that he formulates to add beauty and functionality to the pieces. In 2011, Charan quit his full-time job of 12 years as a software engineer to pursue his passion in clay. Pottery has given him the much-needed respite from the monotony of everyday life. His story and work have been featured in the New York Times, HGTV, several knitting magazines such as Vogue, Noro, Tiny Fiber studio. His goal is to continue to work with this medium to create artwork which can be cherished for life. ------------------------------------------------------------------ During the show we talked about a lot of things. Here are the resource links to some of those things...
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This last Monday (05/18/2020) my guest was author Debbie Macomber. Debbie joined me from Hood Canal, Washington.
This show lasted just over an hour. Debbie is an old friend of mine. She was also the first and last guest on the original Fiber Hooligan show. You can check those episodes out on the archived episodes page. Debbie shared the story of how, as a young girl, her dyslexia moved her into knitting. It was a sweet story and you should listen to the podcast if for no other reason than that. We talked about her husband, her kids, and her grandkids. We talked about the 5 year time span it took her to get a book published... and the very personal, professional, and economic trials in her life during that time. Debbie told us that when she combined her two passions, knitting and story telling, her career as an author really took off. She talked about some of those successes; in some cases vindicating some of the earlier rejections she had gotten. Debbie and I talked about her connection to the fiber arts industry. She had actually been going to STITCHES for several year before I met her. We finally met when we served on the board of Warm Up America! together. Debbie talked about her series, Cedar Cove becoming a series on the Hallmark Channel. She also talked about her Mrs. Miricle books becoming movies and some of my Christmas favorites. Debbie talked about her two upcoming books... A Walk Along the Beach (to be released in July 2020) and Jingle All the Way (to be released in October 2020). We talked about her slowing down a bit and only writing maybe one book a year while helping with her new online magazine, Welcome Home Magazine. It was great to catch up with Debbie after so many years. She really is a delight and she knows how to tell a story. I hope you'll listen to the show and check it out for yourself. Debbie Macomber's Biography: Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Thirteen of these books hit the number 1 spot. In 2020, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include A Walk Along the Beach (July) and Jingle All the Way (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, an adult coloring book, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books. Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons. She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series. ------------------------------------------------------------------ During the show we talked about a lot of things. Here are the resource links to some of those things...
This last Monday (05/5/2020) my guest was Gaye Glasspie (aka GGMadeit or GG). Gaye joined me from her home in Clifton, New Jersey.
This show lasted almost about an hour and 20 minutes. It was a comfortable conversation with someone that I admire. Gaye talked about her personal history and her family. She talked about how she came to knitting during a very hard time in her life which was full of loss. She talked about how she used knitting a form a therapy for her sadness, crying into her knitting. We talked about her thoughts on racism and the call for diversity within the fiber arts community. And she talked about her own experiences, both positive and negative, surrounding the fiber arts industry as well as in the world. We talk about her love of orange, of course. And she told an interesting story about that (please tune in and listen to hear it). She talked about the rise in her social media following... particularly on Instagram. She told us that she is uncomfortable with moniker, 'influencer'. You can hear more about why on the show. And I challenged all of you to send me another word that she can use to describe herself. We talked about STITCHES Events and some of the other shows she's done. We talked about Knit Stars and the fact that she will be among the teachers in that roster. The back and forth in this show was engaging and Gaye's story is compelling. I hope you'll listen to the show and check it out for yourself. Gaye Glasspie's Biography: Gaye Glasspie a.k.a. GGmadeit or GG is a 50-something-year-old who fell in love with knitting late in life—in just the last 9 or 10 years. a.k.a. Gaye is self-taught via YouTube, some wonderfully friendly yarn stores... and she is obsessed with all things orange. Gaye discovered knitting during a very challenging time in her life. She says that knitting is her ride or die, her BFF, and her kind of therapy. Knitting has also become a beautiful bridge into a world of wonderful people and a way to universally connect with others. ------------------------------------------------------------------ During the show we talked about a lot of things. Here are the resource links to some of those things...
This last Monday (05/04/2020) my guests were Shannon & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby (aka The Shibaguyz). Shannon & Jason joined me on the show from their home in Seattle, WA.
This show lasted almost 2 hours with one small technical glitch. We're friends... and I had a pretty good idea that the show would get away from us. We laughed a lot. And there was some good natured kidding in both directions. We talked about their history's We talked about their introduction into the fiber arts world and their evolution from makers to designers to instructors. We talked about STITCHES Events and some of the other shows the Shibaguyz taught at. We discussed their concerns as activists and members of the LGBTQIA community. And we talked about the future of the industry. The back and forth in this show was fun. And Shannon & Jason were a delight to hear from. I hope you'll check out the show. Shannon & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby's Biography: Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby, the dynamic DIY duo known as the Shibaguyz… and the inspired creators of Shibaguyz Designz Studio. Jason’s pronouns are he and him. Shannon’s pronouns are he and him as well as them and they. Their award winning crochet, knit, and sewing designs have been featured in and on the covers of dozens of domestic and international publications. Together, the Shibaguyz team has over 300 published patterns and 11 books credited to their name since their first design was featured on a magazine cover in 2010. Currently, they are finishing work on a new book with C&T Publishing scheduled for release December 2020. In addition to their design work, the Shibaguyz are sought-after freelance book-packaging designers having crafted books and photography for major publishing companies like Sterling Publishing, Leisure Arts, and Creative Publishing. The Shibaguyz have been teaching adults for 30+ years. Their enthusiasm, quirky sense of humor, and relatable teaching style have made them sought after teachers in both local and national venues like STITCHES Events, Sew Expo, and Houston Quilt Market. In addition to their live classes, the Shibaguyz also have a wide range of online classes available from Blueprint and Interweave. Shannon and Jason are proud ambassadors for Aurifil, Clover, BERNINA, Horn of America, the Daylight Company, and are members of the Justice League (yes, they have capes to prove it). Shannon and Jason live in Seattle, Washington with their three Shiba Inu who, more or less, support their ventures in sewing, stitching, and crafting… so long as enough time is taken for walks and treats. ------------------------------------------------------------------ During the show we talked about a lot of things. Here are the resource links to some of those things...
This last Monday (04/27/2020) my guest was Cecilia Nelson-Hurt. Both Cecilia and her husband are just now recovering from the Coronavirus. And we were lucky to have her on the show.
We talked about Cecilia's grandmother and mother... and their influences on her. We talked about her career in Diversity & Inclusion training at L'Oréal USA. She gave us her thoughts on the inequity of care based on race and socioeconomic conditions that we are seeing with the COVID-19 virus. We talked about the work that she is doing with the LGBTQIA community inside and outside of her work. And we talked about the additional training that she is doing since the rise of hostility and violence toward Asians in our country. The show did have a pretty significant technical glitch. The host, mr, was dropped from the show for several minutes. Cecilia recognized the problem and just kept talking to the listeners about the things that were important to her. I did manage to rejoin the show, with my apologies. And we carried on. Cecilia did share a quote with the listeners that I think is not only optimistic but a real opportunity... "We will not go back to normal. Normal never was. Our pre-corona existence was never normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate and lack. We should not long to return, My friends. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature." ~Sonya Renee Taylor Cecilia Nelson-Hurt's Biography: As a Diversity & Inclusion practitioner, Cecilia Nelson-Hurt has over 15 years of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion experience. Currently, Cecilia serves as the Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at L'Oréal USA where she is responsible for shaping diversity efforts through innovative initiatives that underscore the company’s commitment to creating an equal opportunity workplace. In addition to leading the company's affinity groups for the LGBTQIA and Women of Color employees, Cecilia is also responsible for the curriculum development and facilitation of all L’Oréal USA Diversity and Inclusion trainings, having trained over 15,000 employees to date. Her maternal grandmother first introduced Cecilia to the fiber arts, she learned to crochet when she was very young. Cecilia later taught herself to knit and has been an avid knitter for over 20 years. At the intersection of passion and purpose, Cecilia combines her love for knitting and advancing diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging with a goal to affect and create a more inclusive fiber community. A self-proclaimed citizen of the world, Cecilia loves to travel. She makes sure to visit a yarn shop wherever she goes. To date, Cecilia has visited over 130 shops in the United States and abroad. She chronicles her travels on her "CeciKnitsTheWorld" YouTube channel. Cecilia is married to an adventurous and supportive "Yarn Husband" Jerome, is the mother to an incredible daughter Atrice and a fabulous four-legged furry daughter, Dallas Jade. ------------------------------------------------------------------ During the show we talked about a lot of things. Here are the resource links to some of those things...
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