I did a new thing! Today I’m on the RevCraftBiz Podcast! My friend, Sam Hunter, has a great podcast that she has been doing for a little while now. It features conversations with industry insiders, and is so cool. I enjoy listening to different quilters talk about their creative process, business philosophy, and life.
Sam and I chatted about a bunch of things, but my favorite thing to chat about right now is how interested I am in slowing down and enjoying the process. Process over productivity is where my heart is right now. I’m pretty much over trying to make gift quilts in a hurry. Actually, my quilt gifts are few and far between these days. After 25 years of quilting, most of my friends and family are wrapped in quilty gifts. (Hmm. Some of my newer friends haven’t received quilty gifts. That’s an exciting thought.)
So – for some behind the scenes info, which I adore.
Sam reached out about a month ago, and invited me to the Pod. (I had reached out before that, and let her know I was interested. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.) I filled out a little questionnaire, then had an anxiety attack for a couple of weeks. Not too bad, because I knew if I was total garbage, Sam just wouldn’t release it.
We connected via some recording service Sam uses, much like Zoom. It felt very comfortable to me. We logged on, chatted for a little bit to warm up and connect, and plan what we were going to discuss. It was very fun, and chatting with Sam is so comfortable.
Sam is pretty active in a pattern designer group I’m in, and acts as a mentor to everyone who is open. She helps remind me that while I’m not running a serious business, other people are. She reinforces the point that if I decide to give my services away, then it makes it harder for others to earn a living in this industry, which some people do. By giving my services away, I’m not talking about volunteering for a quilt guild. I’m talking about doing lectures or teaching for very cheap, or working with fabric companies for free.
That last bit, working for free is always hard. When someone reaches out with FREE FABRIC, I still am inclined to jump through hoops. I tend to keep in mind how much that free fabric costs the person sending it to me, versus how I value my time. Manufacturers are paying less than wholesale, so probably 25%-30% of retail. I’m not making a super detailed quilt for a $100 bundle of fabric. I can get into all of that later. I’m way off track.
Clearly, I can’t remember everything we talked about, and I don’t know if I want to listen to my own episode. It was exciting, fun, and I love doing new things.
Head over to RevCraftBiz Podcast and give a listen.