I’m your host Ashley Yousling and today I’m talking with someone whom I’ve known for many years, all the way back to when I first began this podcast and she purchased some yarn from my little online shop. Françoise Danoy whom you may also know as Frenchie, is the creator behind Aroha Knits, Swatch Studio Circle, and other fun ventures like the Yarn Alchemist. But we don’t spend much time talking about knitting or making, and just like with every episode, we go where the conversation leads and sometimes that means we go deep, to vulnerable and tender parts of our lives and stories. I’m so grateful for Françoise’s openness, for sharing this part of her story, heritage and heart, and for her permission to share that with you. I hope you take a moment to really hear Françoise’s story and all the richness and beauty of it, while also gaining more insight through the lived experience she so graciously takes time to share with us.
You can connect with Françoise on the Making app and Instagram @arohaknits
We believe that the simple act of making can transform your life and in turn change our world. This is why Making exists. It all starts with inspiration. We’re inspired by people, by places, by experiences—a beautiful photo, a soft wool, a kind heart. These are the things that motivate us to make.
Making is here to disrupt systems—systems of oppression, systems that only benefit certain groups of people, and systems that extract. We’re here to challenge the narrative of profit over people. We believe a company can be founded for the purpose of good and change the world for better, while also creating opportunity at scale. Makers are tired of the monoliths. The few companies that comprise our only choices of how we connect, how we transact, and how we learn.
Makers are ready for a better alternative and that is what we are building.
Becoming a BRIGHT Collective member helps us accomplish this. Visit makingzine.com to learn more.
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The biggest of thanks to everyone involved in this weeks episode. I hope you’ll join me each week as we talk and learn from more fascinating makers. For podcast notes and transcriptions, visit our blog at makingzine.com. Have a wonderful week!
Music by Despatches. 💖
Download the Making app and join our amazing community of makers by visiting themakingapp.com
If you'd like to give a shout-out, have a question that you'd like us to answer on the podcast, or are interested in sponsoring Making Conversation, email us at hq@makingco.com.
See you in the Making app!
ps- We talk about our values a lot. Just in case you're curious, take a peek.
Episode 82: Rebecca Burgess – Natural dyeing, Regional fiber systems, conscious consuming and Fibershed
Episode 81: Melanie Berg – A career in IT, Germany, Yarn Weights and Self Publishing
Episode 80: Beatrice Perron Dahlen – Making a creative living, teaching, making a book and Thread and Ladle
Episode 79: Jessica Lewis Stevens – Librarianship, Natural Dyeing, Homesteading, and Sugarhouse Workshop
Episode 78: Emily Chamelin-Hickman – Shearing life, Wool business, Controversy and Targeted grazing
Episode 77: Maura Grace Ambrose – Grandma’s attic, Americana, Family and Folk Fibers
Episode 76: Matthew Cox & Christina Miller – Arts, Food Justice, Icelandic sheep, and Greenbow Farm
Episode 75: Sylvia McFadden – Vancouver, Mentorship, Analytics and Shawls
Episode 74: Shannon Hayes – Professorship, Genetic Legacy, Multigenerational farming, and the Radical Homemaker
Episode 73: Erika Barratt – Grandmothers, Cirque du Soleil, West Elm and Heirloom dolls
Episode 72: Whitney Hayward – Small town roots, Japanese, Photojournalism, and Stone Wool
Episode 71: Deborah Robson – Weaving, Editing, Heritage Conservation and the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook
Episode 70: Paola Vanzo – Rural Italian heritage, Tibet, Family and mYak
Episode 69: Veronika Jobe, Danny Burda & Family – Czech roots, road trips, family and Yarn On The House
Episode 68: Tanis Lavallee – Leaps, married operation, motherhood and Tanis Fiber Arts
Episode 67: Astrid Troland and Caroline Skadhauge – Scandinavian roots, partnership, au naturel and Biches & Bûches
Episode 66: Amy Small – Free People, Hong Kong, the kitchen sink and Knit Collage
Episode 65: Susan Anderson – Wisconsin homegrown, teaching, learning to write a book and knit toys
Episode 64: Takako Ueki – Japanese childhood, Catholic boarding school, discovering in America, fiber fascination, and Habu
Episode 63: Marta Bahillo – A grandmothers legacy, Spanish linen and artisans, entrepreneurism alongside motherhood and babaà
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