Co-hosts Tori McElwain of HeyTori and Andi Stanfield of True Blue Quilts share real talk about what it takes to grow a successful quilting business while balancing full-time work, family life, and creative energy.
Whether you're into quilt pattern design, longarm quilting, teaching workshops, or selling handmade products, you'll find practical tips and honest conversations here. We cover everything from digital marketing and course creation to time management and the mindset shifts needed to build a sustainable, fulfilling side hustle.
This show is your go-to guide for running a profitable quilting business on the side - with encouragement, strategy, and plenty of real-life stories from the stitching trenches.
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In this episode of Quilting on the Side, hosts Andi and Tori welcome Teresa, the AI Quilter, who shares her journey from the semiconductor industry to the world of quilting and artificial intelligence. Teresa discusses her passion for teaching AI concepts to various audiences, including quilters, and addresses the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated art.
She emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and how it can enhance creativity without replacing the human touch. The conversation also covers marketing strategies for solopreneurs and concludes with rapid-fire questions that reveal Teresa's inspirations and insights into the quilting community.
Don’t miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Teresa, the AI Quilter 04:42 The Journey into AI and Quilting 17:09 Ethics and Copyright in AI Art 23:55 Leveraging AI for Creative Processes 35:57 Marketing Tips for Solopreneurs 44:32 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori discuss effective holiday planning strategies for small businesses, particularly in the quilting industry. They explore the pros and cons of participating in Black Friday sales, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead to maximize profits while maintaining a balance between business and personal life. The conversation highlights the significance of community engagement, sustainable marketing practices, and the necessity of preparing for the new year to ensure ongoing success.
Chapters 00:00 Holiday Planning for Success 03:55 Pros and Cons of Black Friday Sales 10:27 Strategies for Effective Sales 17:22 Creating a Sustainable Sales System 23:57 Focusing on Community and Engagement 27:22 Planning Ahead for the New Year
Don’t miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
In this powerful episode of Quilting on the Side, Tori and Andi welcome back their favorite coach for quilters, Dara Tomasson, for a timely conversation about mindset, controversy, and emotional resilience in business. Together, they explore how to navigate emotionally charged situations, set healthy boundaries, and separate self-worth from business outcomes - especially in today’s divided social and economic climate (in the US at least!).
Dara shares why reaching a neutral emotional state leads to clearer decision-making, and how curiosity and inspiration in everyday life can fuel both personal and professional growth. This episode is especially relevant for quilt pattern designers, teachers, and longarm quilters navigating challenges like tariffs, scarcity mindset, and conflicting beliefs while growing a sustainable business.
Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Mindset in Business 04:09 Reaching a Neutral State for Better Decisions 06:35 Separating Self-Worth from Business Outcomes 11:47 Navigating Emotional Challenges in Business 18:14 Establishing Boundaries in a Divided Society 26:56 Having Difficult Conversations 31:42 Understanding Mental Health in Business 34:44 Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life
Sign up for her free Webinar: How To Work With Your Hormones Instead of Against Them September 17th @ 12pm Pacific Time CLICK HERE
Want to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks and Content?
Join our Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving!.
Put Your Expertise in Print: Self-Publishing for Creative Entrepreneurs
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori discuss the journey of self-publishing, particularly in the quilting community. They share their personal experiences, reflection questions for aspiring authors, and the realities of the publishing process, including financial aspects and marketing strategies. Tori introduces the Self-Publishing Incubator, a program designed to support individuals in their publishing journey with a team of experts.
00:00 The Journey of Self-Publishing 14:28 Deciding Between Fiction and Non-Fiction 25:00 The Self-Publishing Experience 28:42 The Journey of Self-Publishing 33:01 Understanding Book Pricing and Profitability 35:35 The Importance of Quality in Publishing40:02 The Role of Editors in the Publishing Process44:06 Exploring Low Content Publishing48:56 Launching the Self-Publishing IncubatorWant to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks and Content?
All About Fabric Design with Riley Blake Designer Jennifer Long
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori chat with Jennifer Long of Sew a Story about her journey from a hobbyist quilter to a successful fabric designer and membership founder. Jennifer shares her early experiences with quilting, how she transitioned her passion into a business, and the challenges she faced along the way, including a significant rejection that ultimately led to her growth as a designer. The conversation delves into the importance of crafting connections with children through sewing, the intricate process of fabric design, and the balance between creativity and business. Jennifer emphasizes the value of community and connection in her work, and she shares exciting new projects aimed at fostering creativity in families.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Quilting and Crafting Journey 01:53 Transitioning from Hobby to Business 05:35 Overcoming Rejection in Fabric Design 10:14 Current Business Ventures and Future Plans 19:23 The Importance of Crafting Connections 23:37 The Fabric Design Process Explained 32:13 Balancing Creativity and Business Tasks 38:38 The Circle of Security and Personal Growth 41:08 Prioritizing Opportunities and Energy Management 47:09 Finding Inspiration in Art and Storytelling 51:55 Connecting with the Community and Future Plans
Summary In this episode, Andi and Tori celebrate the launch of Season Five, reflecting on their experiences at the H & H event and discussing the importance of recognizing trends in the quilting industry. They explore the concept of 'bed rotting' and its connection to sleep trends, as well as Tori's transition to full-time entrepreneurship. The conversation delves into market research strategies, emphasizing the significance of understanding one's ideal customer and engaging with the community. They wrap up by inviting listeners to join their Patreon for deeper engagement and support.
Don’t miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
Takeaways
Season five marks a significant milestone for the podcast.
Tori's experience at H & H was more focused and goal-oriented this year.
Learning to notice trends can enhance marketing strategies.
The concept of 'bed rotting' reflects a shift in lifestyle and relaxation.
Tori has transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship, focusing on course design and digital marketing coaching.
Understanding your ideal customer is crucial for effective marketing.
Market research can be simple and quick to conduct.
Engaging with your audience helps identify trends and needs.
We offer a community on Patreon that offers deeper engagement and support.
Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Season Five 02:56 Reflections on H & H Event 04:16 Exploring Trends in Quilting 11:30 The Shift Towards Smaller Projects 13:19 Tori's Leap into Full-Time Business 18:27 Understanding Market Research 25:50 Wrapping Up and Community Engagement
In this episode, Andi and Tori celebrate the conclusion of Season Four of their podcast, reflecting on the incredible journey they've had with their guests and the insights shared throughout the season.
👉 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
Want to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks?
Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori welcome back Dara Tomasson, a life coach for quilters. They discuss the importance of emotional regulation, the shift from weight loss to mindset coaching, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with business pursuits. Dara shares insights on coping strategies, the nature of guilt, and the rewarding aspects of coaching women to improve their lives. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-acceptance, celebrating successes, and the power of choice in managing emotions.
Episode Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Digital Marketing Magic by Tori. Designed to help you create a streamlined system for your digital marketing, DMMC saves you time and energy so you can focus on what you love: being creative. Learn more at Tori’s website: https://www.thequiltpatchbytori.com/dmmc.
Connect with Dara: Visit daratomasson.com/ to explore her courses, products, and more. Follow her on Instagram @dara_tomasson for behind-the-scenes and podcast updates.
Mentioned on the Episode:
Join Dara at The Quilters Life Summit, happening virtually April 30th through May 2nd! She’ll be teaching classes on perfectionism, over-consuming, and menopause. Tackle your fears and challenges while drawing inspiration from a diverse group of quilters.
Join Dara’s Love Yourself Thin community and embark on a healthier journey alongside members, Andy and Tori!
👉 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and quilting. They discuss the basics of AI, its applications in the quilting community, and the limitations of AI-generated content. The conversation highlights the importance of human creativity in conjunction with AI tools, emphasizing the need for effective prompts to maximize AI's potential. They also touch on the role of images in AI and the future of AI in creative industries, providing insights for quilters and crafters looking to integrate technology into their work.
Episode Sponsor: Want to support the podcast and unlock some amazing perks along the way? Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! As a patron, you’ll get exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and special resources to help you grow on your quilting journey. Whether you're just starting out or you've got years under your belt, there’s something in there just for you. Best of all, your support helps keep the podcast going strong—so thank you! Check it out at: https://www.patreon.com/QuiltingontheSide
In this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi shares her experiences participating in the Quilted Summit, discussing the benefits of collaboration, presentation styles, and the importance of engaging with an audience. She highlights the lessons learned from the event, including customer service strategies and the significance of follow-up communication. The conversation emphasizes the power of networking and collaboration in the quilting community, encouraging listeners to participate in future summits and to keep their audience engaged post-event.
Episode Sponsor: A huge thank you to our episode sponsor, True Blue Quilts! True Blue Quilts has the ultimate library of modern designs that will spark joy for both the quilter and the recipient. Keep reaching your goals with daily reminders by downloading the monthly wallpaper, in a collection of Canva templates! Jump on over to the shop for your next quilting pattern at Monthly Wallpaper {DIGITAL} - True Blue Quilts.
👉 Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.
Want to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks?
Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.
Découvrez des podcasts liées à Quilting on the Side. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
If you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.
Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.
Want to Support the Podcast and Unlock Exclusive Perks and Content?
Join our Quilting on the Side Patreon community! By becoming a patron, you'll gain access to behind-the-scenes content, bonus episodes, and exclusive resources to help you grow your quilting journey. Plus, your support helps keep the podcast thriving! Click here to join.
AI, quilting, ChatGPT, creative processes, technology in crafting, quilting patterns, AI applications, instructional design, digital tools, community engagement, AI, creativity, emotional intelligence, decision-making, digital marketing, SEO, business tools, productivity, technology, innovation
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