Today I’m talking with embroidery designer and soon-to-be author Melissa Galbraith of McreativeJ. We’ve loved getting to know Melissa over the past year as she was an early maker on the Making app, joined many of our online gatherings, and has shared her love of embroidery and passion for teaching others. Next spring she’s releasing her first book, How to Embroider Texture and Pattern : 20 Designs That Celebrate Pattern, Color, and Pop-Up Stitching, so make sure to keep an eye out! I love Melissa’s down to earth approach not only to embroidery and crafting in general, but also when it comes to building a business. I think you’ll feel encouraged and inspired. You can find Melissa on the Making app @melissa-mcreativej and on Instagram at @mcreativej.
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.
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 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
Episode 62: Avril Freeman – The Last Frontier, Volunteering, Motherhood, and Qiviut farming
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Knit Picks’ Podcast
ELISE GETS CRAFTY
Stash and Burn
Frankenstein
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2 Knit Lit Chicks
From Scratch with Jessica Harris