Craft to Career

What Pattern Writers Should Know About Selling with QBPN, with Ruth Erdei

If you sell digital quilt patterns, you've probably wondered whether a marketplace is worth it, and what actually goes on behind the scenes to make one work. Ruth Erdei joins the podcast to talk about Quilting Books Patterns & Notions (QBPN), the family business she co-owns, and why she believes so strongly in transparency as a business model. Ruth is a serial entrepreneur, designer, and creative business strategist with more than 20 years of experience building businesses across the craft, creative, and e-commerce industries. Her background spans custom cosplay, crochet, digital products, fashion, quilting, and cross-stitch, which gives her a wide view of both the creative and business sides of the industry. She's the co-owner of QBPN and co-founder of Craft Hatchery, two marketplaces supporting hundreds of independent designers and connecting makers with customers around the world. In this episode, Ruth shares: How she got started with QBPN and how the company has grown How the QBPN business model works and what makes it different from other marketplaces Why pattern writers might consider selling their patterns through QBPN The different revenue streams the company offers designers We also talk about something that doesn't always get discussed: what it actually costs to distribute digital patterns. It's easy to assume digital products have no overhead since there's no shipping or warehousing involved. But platform fees, protecting designers' intellectual property, keeping listings current, customer support, marketing, and ongoing file management all take real time and resources. Ruth talks through what that investment looks like at QBPN and why supporting and protecting designers is central to how the company operates. If you're a pattern designer weighing where to sell, or just curious how a marketplace like this runs behind the scenes, this episode is worth a listen.

Eli McCann on Writing "Stitched": Quilting, Comedy, and the Drama of a Sewing Circle

Eli McCann on Writing "Stitched": Quilting, Comedy, and the Drama of a Sewing Circle What happens when a group of older women who quilt together also happen to be full of secrets, rivalries, and sharp opinions? Author Eli McCann joins the podcast to talk about his debut novel, Stitched, a comedic look at a fictional quilting group and all the drama that unfolds within it. Eli is a lawyer by profession and writes a humor column for the Salt Lake Tribune. Stitched is his first novel, and the idea came straight from his own family. His mom has quilted for years and been part of the same quilting group for most of that time. Eli grew up playing under the quilts she and her friends made together, long before he had any idea how much material was sitting right there in that sewing room. The book took shape after one dinner conversation, when his mom told him, "You won't believe all the drama in the quilting world," and spent the next few hours proving it. His husband was the one who suggested he turn it into a novel. In this episode, Eli talks about: The real conversation that sparked the idea for Stitched Why he pushed back when publishers wanted a younger main character and a romance subplot Writing older women as complex, funny, and entertaining without needing a love story to carry the book What it's been like watching quilters respond to a book that hasn't even released yet Stitched isn't out yet, but it's already generating buzz in the quilting community. Tune in to hear how a lifetime spent around quilters became the foundation for Eli's first novel. LINKS:  Order the book: https://www.torreyhouse.org/stitched-mccann Eli's website: https://www.itjustgetsstranger.com/

Building a Self-Sustaining Quilting Business with Jamie Bright

This week I'm joined by Jamie Bright of Craft a Dream, and what a treat this conversation is. Jamie is a sharp businesswoman with a real gift for marketing, and her path into quilting is not the one you might expect. Jamie did not start out in the quilting world at all. She built her business knowledge in a completely different field first, and then quilting found its way to her. With that foundation already in place, she grew a vibrant, self-sustaining business in the quilting industry, and she's generous about sharing how she did it. In our chat, Jamie opens up about growing her email list, the summits she has run so successfully, and some smart, practical ways to earn more money from every quilt pattern you create and sell. What I love most is that her advice reaches beyond quilting. Because so much of her experience comes from outside the industry, the skills she shares apply to almost any creative business. If you have ever wanted to turn your quilting passion into something steady and sustainable, this one is for you. In this episode: How Jamie came into quilting after building her business skills elsewhere The strategies she used to grow her email list What makes her summits work, and how you might run one of your own Practical ways to earn more from each pattern you sell Why her business lessons apply far beyond the quilting world Connect with Jamie:   Website: craftadream.com Links from this episode: Collab Interest Contact Form: craftadream.com/collab?utm_source=quilterscandypodcast&utm_medium=podcast Quilters Paradise Summit Speaker Application/Sign Up: https://masteryroute.com/speakers Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamiembright?sub_confirmation=1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiebrightquilts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiebrightquilts The dance video of my daughter with almost 3M views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3PjHc5oAZ8

Joshua Dunn on Memory Quilts, Space, and a Quiltmaker Magazine Feature

About Joshua Joshua Dunn is the quilter and designer behind Lifting and Stitching. Based in North Carolina, he creates modern quilts inspired by the cosmos, where memory, color, and story meet. His first pattern, A Trip Around the Universe, drew on the James Webb Telescope's Cosmic Cliffs image, and his work has been featured in quilt shows. His pattern Snapshot, a memory quilt, appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine alongside a designer spotlight. In this episode The memory quilt in Quiltmaker Magazine, and the story behind it How quilting keeps Joshua connected to his mother, who was a quilter herself The way he uses quilting to explore his love of outer space His path as a newer pattern designer, from quilt shows to a magazine feature Why quilting stays a creative outlet rather than a full time job, and what that gives him A look at his life beyond the sewing machine, including weightlifting and his approach to healthy eating A few takeaways A quilt can hold memory and connection, not just fabric and thread You do not have to quilt full time for it to be a meaningful part of your life Designing from what you love, whether that is family or the stars, gives your work its voice Sharing your designs can inspire others to start creating too Connect with Joshua Website: https://www.liftingandstitching.com/ A Trip Around the Universe pattern: https://www.liftingandstitching.com/atatu Snapshot in Quiltmaker Magazine, Summer 2026 (digital available now, print on newsstands June 16): https://www.quiltingdaily.com/product/quiltmaker-summer-2026-digital-edition/ Etsy shop: https://liftingandstitching.etsy.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftingandstitching/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@liftingandstitching Patreon: https://patreon.com/liftingandstitching

How Mim Jenkinson Built a Million Dollar Sticker Business

Mim Jenkinson sells stickers, and she has grown that into a business earning over $1 million a year. In this episode of Craft To Career, Mim opens up about what she sells, how her business has grown year after year, and the choices that made the biggest difference. She talks about the role her courses and membership play in her success, and how learning from people who are a few steps ahead of her has shaped her growth. Mim also shares a recent shift in how she builds her email list. For years she relied on seminars, and she has since moved to a new model that has worked better for sales. If you want to grow your own creative business, Mim's story is full of lessons you can apply. Come get to know Mim, her sticker business, and the thinking behind how she keeps it growing. About Mim Mim Jenkinson is a sticker making educator who has taught more than 20,000 crafters to make stickers using Cricut, Silhouette, and Canva. She started making stickers at home in 2016, built a five star shop, and now runs a creative education business that earns over $1 million a year. In this episode What Mim sells, and how the pieces of her business fit together How her courses and membership became central to her success Why learning from people ahead of her has been a driver of her growth The pivot from seminars to a new model for building her email list, and why it has worked better for sales The habits and decisions that keep her business growing year after year A few takeaways for your own business Growth often comes from learning openly from others, not figuring everything out alone Courses and memberships can create steady income and deepen your relationship with your audience When a list building strategy stops serving your sales, it is worth testing a new approach Connect with Mim Website: https://www.mimjenkinson.com/ Free Sticker Making Starter Kit: https://www.mimjenkinson.com/guide Free Sticker Starter Class: https://www.mimjenkinson.com/freeclass Secret Sticker Society (membership): https://www.mimjenkinson.com/sss Business coaching: https://www.askmim.com/unstuck/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimjenkinson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mimjenkinson