If you are a creative entrepreneur, I really really hope you'll listen to this episode, because I think it's so important for all of us to be reminded of this over and over and over and over again!

This episode is a continuation of my series of diving into inspiration from other creative entrepreneurs and sharing their stories, wisdom, motivation, and work with you.

Today we are diving into Dan Pearce's Donkey Mud Pottery Studio. I've really enjoyed following his Instagram account for a few years, in part because of the way he showcases the value of his work.

First of all, we discuss Kintsugi, a Japanese method of repairing broken pottery pieces... and how it actually increases their value instead of decreasing it!

Then, we dive into a discussion of pricing and perceived value of any and all creative work. It's not just about the materials, expertise, and time that goes into a piece. Curious what some of the other components are? Definitely tune in!

I truly hope you find this episode to be an inspiring reminder of the value of your work, and perhaps it'll even result in some action, whether it's changing your prices, adjusting the way you talk about your work, or making tweaks to your audience base.

Whatever the case, keep seeking examples of what's possible and proof of your value as a creative, as well as the value of your work.

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The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

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Sometimes our businesses take unexpected turns that we never would've imagined... but that turn out even better than we might have planned! Last year, an opportunity arose for Jessie Rayot of Jessie at Home to purchase Crochet Foundry, and she jumped right on it!

In this podcast episode, Jessie shares all about her (unexpected) experience taking over an existing publication, including the ups and downs, and everything between! Plus, she shares her insider tips and opportunities for knit and crochet pattern designers looking to work with publications, and specifically Crochet Foundry!

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Connect with Crochet Foundry online

crochetfoundry.com

• Sign up for the newsletter
• Become an affiliate
• Sell your patterns on Crochet Foundry
• Submit your patterns for Crochet Foundry magazine

Use coupon code BEAUTIFULCROCHET for 10% off one entire magazine order

Email Jessie: admin@crochetfoundry.com

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

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I'd love to hear from you!

Send a Fan Mail Message!

In this episode, I answer all of the questions (a bit rapid-fire style) that you submitted on the podcast survey in April. We cover picking a business name to starting a business legally, feeling aimless in your business, revenue streams, mindset, systems, and more.

There are two reasons that I chose to approach these questions this way:

1. The podcast episodes are pretty much ready to go through October, since I'll be away for a few months on maternity leave.
2. Several of the topics are a bit out of the scope of what we tend to focus on here on the podcast.

Looking to dive a bit deeper?

Book a 1:1 Coaching Call

Join the Pattern Design Circle membership

Purchase the Complete Marketing Course

Purchase just the Branding Your Business Course (coming soon) from the Marketing Course

Listen to the podcast episode on Affiliate Marketing

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I'd love to hear from you!

Send a Fan Mail Message!

Are the measures you're taking to be more "productive" actually just causing you more headache and wasting you more time? Or are your productivity habits actually moving you toward your goals?

In a world of hustle culture and a huge emphasis on being efficient and productive, it seems we've sometimes lost sight of what our real goals are and what productivity actually means and looks like.

Inspired by an episode on Mark Manson's YouTube channel, where he interviews Cal Newport about one of his books on productivity, in this podcast episode I talk about:

• different methods of measuring productivity
• how taking breaks and going on vacation can be productive
• how slowing down will come naturally when you obsess over the quality of your work

I can't wait for you to dive in! And don't forget to let me know your thoughts by sending some Fan Mail!

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

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When I approached Kim McBrien Evans of Indigo Dragonfly about being a guest on the Pattern Design Circle Podcast, she said, "Let's talk size inclusivity and what TRUE size inclusivity looks like!"

Kim wears many hats, as a knitwear designer, yarn dyer, teacher, and passionate advocate for inclusive sizing.

She shares, "I believe that size inclusivity and good fit work best as a partnership between the maker and the designer. The designer's role is to understand how body proportions work and how they interact with clothing. The maker's role is to understand how their body is unique, and how their proportions may not match the pattern they wish to make. As designers we can start by observing bodies in clothing, and using that visual information to teach us how clothes and bodies interact at any size. As makers, the more we learn about our bodies and how we like our clothing to fit, the stronger our partnership with our favourite designers becomes."

I can't wait for you to dive into this episode, where we start from the basics of what inclusive sizing even means and dig into the practical applications for knit and crochet pattern designers like you and me.

Want to learn more about Inclusive Sizing? Join the Pattern Design Circle membership, and learn from 50+ experts, including Kim!

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Designer Resources from Kim

Connect with Kim/Indigo Dragonfly online!
Patreon
Kim's Ravelry Designer page
Indigo Dragonfly Website

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

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I won't lie... I've been dragging my feet about recording (and sharing) this episode. At first, I had a sense of relief having spoken the words into existence... and then all the fears and imposter syndrome came creeping back in again.

Why have I been procrastinating on this episode? Three main things:

• fear of folks thinking I'm a failure
• sadness and guilt that I didn't give the past change enough time
• perfectionism - wishing all of the new things were in place and perfect before sharing

But once I'd recorded the episode and thought about sharing the episode, I knew it also had to do with my own vulnerability. Would you think that I was too negative? Or that I was sharing too much from my personal life? Would you find it boring? And if any of those were true, would it mean I'm a bad podcaster?

From the recent survey, I know you're looking for just straight-up tips and you aren't as interested in the way I talk about business - looking at all of the places for nuance, taking into account our whole life picture, paying attention to authenticity and passion, and discussing the reality of the ups and downs. But it's still a core part of my brand and who I am. And I still believe our deepest connection comes when we're willing to be open and vulnerable with each other.

Even though I guess it's been a while since I've really been vulnerable in my business. Sometimes there are experiences that knock you down and cause you to retreat a bit. They confirm some of your greatest fears and make you question things. And I've had several of those over the last few years. Experiences that have made me want to just give up on everything and move to a different industry entirely.

But obviously I haven't. There's still a fire and a passion in me, and a sense of work that hasn't been completed.

And as hard as it is to share this episode, I know I'll regret it if I don't.

In this podcast episode, I share a brief recap of what's happened over the past year (plus), both in my business and my personal life, to lead to some more changes here for Pattern Design Circle. And, don't worry, it's not all stories and gloom! There are new and exciting things on the horizon.

Start checking them out here:

New Pattern Design Circle website
Pattern Design Circle membership is now open 24/7
Find the podcast via the website
Send a FanMail message using the link at the bottom of any podcast episode description!

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

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Creative entrepreneurs are a special kind of entrepreneur, and as a creative entrepreneur, I say that in the most positive and loving way. Our mission, our fuel, and our inspiration are different than others. We have a passion for creating, and sometimes that can make entrepreneurship difficult. Sometimes we feel like it's a constant pulling between creativity and entrepreneurship. Where's the balance? Is it possible to be "successful" financially and to be fulfilled creatively? Is it better to be focused on the passion and creativity or to be focused on the business?

This podcast episode is inspired by an interview I watched on the Colin & Samir show with Max Fosh, a well-known YouTube creative entrepreneur known for the extensive lengths he will go to for the sake of humor. One of my favorite gems from the interview was discussing two different metrics of success that we as creative entrepreneurs have - one metric relating to our passion and creativity, and the other relating to financial success. So, of course, we dive all into a conversation on that, plus other gems from the interview, including a quick path to a short career, constraints as creatives, and failing as a creative.

I hope that these perspective shifts are as inspiring, motivational, and impactful for you as they were for me!

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
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Pattern Design Circle Membership

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Rather than asking what Carolyn has done, perhaps we should be asking, "what hasn't she done?!" From pattern designing to teaching classes in the local yarn shop she co-owned to working with creatives on Patreon (and so much more), Carolyn of Coulee Crafts truly has dabbled in so many areas of the fiber arts industry (and beyond)! I believe she truly deserves to be called a multi-passionate creator!

In this episode, I introduce you to Carolyn and we talk about her passion for crochet design, what makes her designs so fun and unique, how teaching classes has influenced her work as a pattern designer, and her love for cultivating community.

Currently, Carolyn is living on a hobby farm that she's working to turn into a fiber farm, hosting a YouTube channel, designing, and working outside her business. Plus, Carolyn focuses on designing "the most smile-inducing weird stuff I can" so what's not to love about that?!

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Connect with Carolyn online:
YouTube
Patreon
Coulee Craft Club Discord

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Looking for support? I've got you!

The Complete Marketing Course
1:1 Coaching
Pattern Design Circle Membership

Send a Fan Mail Message!