
Show Notes
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a quilting business with my guest Michelle Cain. Michelle tried rather hard not to become a quilter. After growing up outside of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and having a mom who began quilting in the 1990s, this was a formidable challenge. A chance encounter with Denyse Schmidt’s work, however, introduced Michelle to the world of modern quilting and convinced her there might be a place for her in it. She made her first quilt in 2013 and hasn’t looked back.Wanting to connect with other makers, Michelle became active in the New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild and started blogging about her quilting adventures as From Bolt to Beauty in 2014. In 2020, she formally launched From Bolt to Beauty patterns. Her projects have been featured at QuiltCon and in magazines like Curated Quilts and Love Patchwork & Quilting.In a previous life, Michelle wrote marketing copy and edited books, magazines, and websites. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two teenage sons, and two naughty Golden Retrievers. Michelle lives not far from me and we were luckily able to record this interview in person in my studio. +++++ This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching. Video isn’t just a sales tool. It’s how you build a community around your brand. Teaching online lets you share your knowledge, your story, and your values - with reach that goes far beyond your local shop. Explore your options in the free LIVE workshop, Virtual Teaching 101 offered at AcademyForVirtualTeaching.com. +++++ 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.
More from Craft Industry Alliance
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.
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about sewing clothes with my guest Cornelius Quiring.
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.