Show Notes
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about weaving with my guest Jen Duffin.
Jen is the designer and teacher behind Nova Mercury Design. Jen has been creating fiber art full-time since 2016, specializing in frame loom weaving. Inspired by color and whimsy, Jen loves creating art that brings joy to people's lives and homes. She aims to create beautiful heirloom artworks and to inspire a love of creating in others. She has taught many sold-out workshops in Montreal and Toronto, hosted online workshops for students from all over the world, and also created a course with the online platform Domestika. Her signature rainbow art was selected as a finalist for the 2019 Etsy Awards, and she took home the Canadian People's Choice Award. Jen's first instructional weaving book, The Joy of Weaving: Modern Frame Loom Projects for Beginners, was published in September with Page Street Publishing. She lives with her partner, two children, and a dog in Montréal, Canada. +++++
Today’s episode is brought to you by h+h americas 2025. Dive into creativity from May 7-9 in Rosemont Illinois at the crafts industry’s premier trade show. Connect with industry leaders, discover trends, and ignite your passion. And join us the day before the show opens for h+h University, a daylong conference with outstanding education and networking! See you at the show. +++++ 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. Join today.
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On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about owning a fabric shop with my guest Tawnee Kinnebrew.
Today, we are re-airing an interview from March 2017 with the founders of Electric Quilt, Dean Neumann and Penny McMorris. Dean Neumann passed away this week on September 10, 2026. Dean was the visionary behind EQ software. A mathematician who taught himself to program on a hand-me-down computer from his son, he became known to quilters worldwide through his work on Electric Quilt software. He put his heart into every version. Dean and his wife, Penny, have both been retired from the daily operations of the company for many years now. In keeping with Dean’s wishes, the new team of programmers at Electric Quilt is committed to carrying his legacy forward.
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On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about wholesale with my guest Emily Kerr-Finell. Emily is a mission-driven entrepreneur and the founder at Wholesale In a Box and Making Faire Work. A seasoned wholesale strategist, she has helped 2,000+ people start and grow small businesses. Her approach to business has been featured by The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, The Makers Summit, and Entrepreneur Magazine. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Hobbs Bonded Fibers. What’s the best batting for my project? That has to be the question Hobbs Bonded Fibers is asked most often, and there’s so much to consider!
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about illustrations and textiles with my guest Kristen Balouch, founder of Little House Cottons, an organic quilting cotton company that produces fabric based on her original illustrations. Kristen is a children's book author, illustrator, and textile designer who has written and illustrated more than a dozen books for children. Her work has been recognized by organizations including the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and the Society of Illustrators. She founded Little House Cottons, a boutique organic cotton brand featuring her whimsical designs in 2022. She is a graduate of Pratt Institute; her career has spanned more than thirty years, inspired by the universal themes in folk art and color play. She divides her time between a tiny apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and her studio in New York's Adirondacks. +++++ This episode is sponsored by Quilting.com. Right now, quilters across the country are searching online for shops just like yours. The question is — will they find you? Quilting.com is building the go-to directory for the quilting community, and registration is open now. It's free, it's fast, and it puts your business in front of customers actively looking to buy. Visit Quilting.com and register today. Quilting.com is offering a free month's business upgrade to Craft Industry Alliance listeners using Coupon Code: CRAFT2026. +++++ 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. Join today.