Stash | Creative Conversations with Makers & Doers

Episode 014: Andrea Mowry Andrea Mowry is the incomparable knitwear designer behind DreaRenee Knits. Known for her drool-inducing use of color, texture, and techniques like brioche, Andrea is gaining momentum quickly in the knitting world. Andrea and I recently met at the Lantern Moon Retreat where we spent a beautiful weekend learning, knitting, and relaxing with about 20 another knitters.  It was a wonderful getaway, and I’m so thankful we were able to sit down to record a conversation for the podcast. We talked about her journey from vegan baker and hair stylist to stay at home mom and full time designer. She gets real about the feeling of losing your identity when you’re no longer working a nine to five job. And she shares her goals of leading a handmade life. We also talk tattoos, freedom in creativity, and her signature sandwich. In this episode * Find Andrea on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Ravelry, and on her website. * Check out the Great Up North Mittens and the Rocket Pop Baby Mitts. * We chat about handmade and sustainable fashion; Conscious Clothing * Andrea is knitting a Bracken Sweater in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry. * She is reading Ready Player One by Earnest Cline, Knitlandia by Clara Parkes, and At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen by Amy Chaplin Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and

EPISODE 013: Photographer Chris Becerra Chris Becerra is a professional photographer, dedicated father of 3, and all around passionate guy.  Whether he’s remodeling his home, outfitting a van into the ultimate on-the-go photography studio, or photographing a wedding or birth, Chris comes at work and life with great curiosity and enthusiasm. In this episode Chris shares his biggest regret, the details of how he made the leap from working as a teacher and shooting weddings in his spare time to becoming a full time professional photographer.   He is passionate about helping other creative entrepreneurs and this episode is loaded with his real life experiences and tips that can be applied to a variety of industries. We’ll also hear his perspective on blending work and family life. And He speaks candidly about the challenges of being a self-employed dad and the unexpected affects on his family life once he took his photography business full time. During our conversation, I couldn’t wait to ask Chris how I could take better pictures of that thing we all love: yarn!  You’ll be happy to hear that he shares his 3 tips for taking better photos, which have already helped me improve my yarn photography skills! In this Episode Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Remembrance photography What Chris is Reading: Zealot: the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth  What Chris is Watching: The Walking Dead (spoiler alert if you aren’t caught up!) Doomsday Preppers Mad Max: Fury Road The Oscars 2016 Find Chris online: Commercial clients here Wedding and family sessions  here On Social Media:  Facebook and Instagram Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook,

Episode 012: Lauren Dahl Lauren Dahl is a sewer, blogger, and mom to 3 small children living in Portland, Oregon. She started her creative journey making bags to sell at a Farmer’s Market and now runs a sewing blog and website designed to help sewing pattern designers. In this episode we talk about postpartum body images, Instagram feeds, ambition and the need to work, gym childcare (genius!) and when it’s time to let it all go.   In this Episode * Find Lauren on Instagram and at Baste and Gather and Pattern Workshop . * See her postpartum body project here. * Check out the Birkin Flares * Lauren’s Desire Map planner by Danielle LaPorte * Read all about stashing less at Craft Session. * Lauren is watching Making of a Murderer and the Bachelor and she listens to the Being Boss podcast. Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.                  

Episode 011: The Spinsters of Spincycle Yarns, Kate and Rachel Tattoos. Rap music. Bad ass van. Rachel and Kate are rock star rebels in the fiber world. From the very beginnings of their company nearly eleven years ago, they decided weren’t going to do things like everyone else. Their yarn started out as handspun and has evolved into a unique product that goes from sheep to skein entirely in the United States. Kate and Rachel dye the roving and then send it to a mother daughter mill to be spun and plied into the sexiest, slow repeats of color. Spin Cycle is like nothing else out there, so it’s not surprising that Rachel and Kate are two ladies unlike any I’ve ever met. In this episode we talk origin stories, motherhood, Southern manners, and of course, tattoos. In this Episode * Find Kate and Rachel at Spincycle Yarns and on Instagram * Check out these gorgeous patterns knit up in Spincycle: The Tilly Hat, Beyond the Pines , Tuuli Mittens, Clementine Cowl, Circular Reasoning Cowl, Pine Bough Cowl (see Rachel’s project here) and the Arrowhead Cardigan (see Rachel’s project here) * The Spinsters find inspiration everywhere, including the artwork of Jessica Bonin. They attend the Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle twice a year, which is where they met Marika Paz, who designed Rachel’s latest tattoo. * Sing along, you know you want to! Gin and Juice by Snopp Dogg and Live Fast Die Young by MIA   Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and

Episode 10: Q & A with The Stash Enhancers It’s hard to believe we’re already at Episode 10, which also happens to be our last episode for 2015!  This has been such a fun project, and we’re all thrilled that you’re enjoying it.  This episode marks our mid-season break. We’ll be taking a few weeks off and we’ll see you later in January.   In this Episode: For a fun change of pace, we asked you to submit some of your burning questions, and here are our answers! But first, Sonia lets you in on a little something big we have up our sleeves for 2016.  You can read all about the Yarn Story Collection here. Q & A with The Stash Enhancers Dream yarns: Kathy is smitten with Road to China Lace while Sydney is all about that tosh: Madelinetosh Twist Light, that is! Favorite Knits we could knit and wear over and over: Lady’s Classic Raglan pullover by Jane Richmond – Sydney’s yarnover variation here / True Friend by Veera Välimäki,  Sonia’s here / Sparrow Cardigan by Juliet Moody, Kathy’s here, Randomness that will make sense when you listen to the episode:  Stumptown Shawlette by Shannon Squire, Rose City Rollers by Mara Bryner Indie dyer Sanguine Gryphon, now Verdant Gryphon Clara Parkes, knitting hero and Sydney’s life inspiration Corvallis Eats and Drinks We love our food, coffee and cocktails!  When planning a visit to Stash, make sure to include a pit stop at one of our favorite restaurants and coffee shops. Sky High Brewing: great beer, elevated pub food incorporating local, seasonal ingredients. Laughing Planet: fresh, wholesome burritos & bowls.   Tried & True Coffee: fresh, fun coffee shop featuring their own locally roasted beans, Bespoken Coffee.  Also lots of yummy baked goods and gluten free cookies. Les Caves: European style eatery, home of Sonia’s favorite pickle plate!

Episode 009: Bristol Ivy Bristol Ivy is a freelance knitwear designer living in Portland Maine.  Her work is inspired by playing with the tension between innovation and classic design.  You can find crisp architectural lines alongside soft organic shapes in her garments and accessories.  I’m often struck by her use of texture and shaping to create movement in her pieces. Bristol used to work behind the scenes for Brooklyn Tweed, doing a variety of jobs from managing wholesale accounts to tech editing, to designing for the Wool People collections.  At the same time, she was working on releasing her own patterns for Quince & Company, Pom Pom Quarterly, Twist Collective, Knitscene, and more.   She recently embarked out on a new adventure as a full time freelance designer.  I was excited to talk with Bristol about this transition, and how she finds her creative process has shifted now that she’s working for herself.   We also chat a lot about creativity, slow fashion, the value of fair compensation in the design world, the real deal behind why cats and knitters get along so well, and her obsession with bread baking. In this Episode: * We hope your pantry is well stocked with yeast and flour! Here are the recipes for Hokkaido Milk bread and Oatmeal Honey Bread, and check out The King Arthur Flour Bakers Companion and Beard on Bread by James Beard. * The stack of books by your bed is about to grow! Check out The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, and anything and everything by Agatha Christie. * Want to watch what Bristol is watching? Tune in to The Great British Bake-off, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Voice, Project Runway,

Episode 008: Thea Colman Thea Colman is a knitwear designer living in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. After working in advertising, Thea took a break from the 9-5 life to work at home and raise her children.   Since then, Thea has become known for her design and cocktail parings, releasing her designs under the playful name Baby Cocktails.  Some of her most popular patterns are women’s garments and accessories; and with names like Dark & Stormy, Vodka Lemonade, and Irish Coffee, you can see she has fun while she works. In this episode we talk at length about Thea’s designing process and how she chooses the yarn she knits with. She tells us how she switches gears when she feels like she’s spinning her wheels creatively, and shares her choices about how she uses her voice in a noisy world.  We also chat about the fun of collaborating versus competition, how she took a hobby she loved and turned it into a career, and the story behind her very first cocktail. In this episode     * Check out Thea and BabyCocktail Design on Ravelry, Instagram, Facebook, and her blog * Thea & Sonia met at the Lantern Moon Retreat  at the Timberline Lodge. Before they knew it, drinks at the bar turned into a photoshoot for Thea’s Blackberry Bramble cowl. * Sonia and Thea talk about a lot of designs! You know you want to see pictures, so check out the , Polka Knot Hat, Buck’s Hat, Daisy’s Hat, Beekman Tavern, Stillhouse Vest, and the Gin and Tonic Sweater * Yarn is more than just the string that makes a sweater; yarn has a story to tell. Check out Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, The Uncommon Thread, Eden Cottage Yarns, O-Wool, and Green Mountain Spinnery * Clara Parkes has a lot to say about yarn, including cormo! Read her journey with Clara Yarn Cormo 2.0 at Knitter’s Review * Local yarn shops are everywhere! Check out a few that Thea visited overseas: Loop London, Yak, and

Episode 007: Brooke Sinnes In this episode Brooke Sinnes of Sincere Sheep produces naturally dyed fiber and yarn in Napa California.  I was first drawn to Brooke’s yarn because of its unique color palette. The natural dye process results in a soft yet saturated range of colors, and they all go together beautifully. In recent years we’ve been so inspired by Brooke’s efforts on sourcing breed-specific fibers for her yarns from domestic farms.  She works closely with the people who raise the fiber animals and process the wool.  And she then passes on the origin stories of these products to us. I love knowing where my yarn comes from, that it is the result of innovation and collaboration. In our conversation we dig deep as she shares a thoughtful glimpse into her life as a business owner. I enjoyed talking with Brooke about the process of running a business and setting boundaries when working from home while also maintaining her creativity and raising her son.  We touch on how we can accept and move through the discomfort that comes with learning new things, giving yourself permission to make mistakes, and that pesky little word: burnout.  She even gives us a chemistry lesson as we delve into the magic of indigo dying! * Check out Brooke’s yarn! Sincere Sheep is naturally dyed and delightful. Find her on Instagram and Facebook * Find out all about natural dyes and the bubbling cauldron of goodness, indigo vats, at Maiwa School of Textiles * Want to listen along with Brooke? Check out The Iron Druid Chronicles and the Remnant Chronicles at Audible  Join us every 2 weeks for a new interview with a creative business owner, chats with the Stash Enhancers, bonus content, and more! Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.                

Welcome to second Stash Enhancer Minisode! These fun-sized episodes will pop up in between our regularly schedule episodes. Consider them a quick chat with your knitting friends (aka the Stash Enhancers), the group of talented fiber artists who work at Stash. In this Episode As the holidays approach, we can’t help but wonder: do you make gifts for others?  What makes a handmade gift recipient “knit-worthy”?  We chat about why we do- or do not- knit for others in general, and especially at Christmastime. Sydney reveals just how many gifts she’s planning on knitting before Christmas this year.  Hint: it’s A LOT. Sonia and Kathy also weigh in on their gift knitting philosophies. Sonia’s Malabrigo Cowl (before) 5th Birthday dress Yarn Ink Welted Slouch by Stephen West 50 Yards of Fun by Rebecca Danger Rikke hat by Sarah Young We Want to Hear From You! Are you a holiday knitting fanatic like Stash Enhancer Sydney?  Will you be knitting all day on Christmas to finish up the last gifts?  We’d love to hear all about it in the comments! or Share your process and show solidarity with Sydney by sharing your photos with us on Instagram!  We’d love to see pics of your wips, FOs, and happy gift recipients.  Tag @stashlocal and use the hashtag #StashKnitmas Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

Episode 006: Cirilia Rose Cirilia Rose’s love of fashion and yarn has made her a standout knitwear designer. She has worked for Webs, Berroco, and Skacel, and currently she splits her time between the New Zealand based Zealana and Nordstrom. She is no stranger to Stash or the blog, and we are so thrilled to have her on the podcast. Join us for a conversation about more than just yarn: we talk about the sustainability of creation, the Seattle Freeze myth, and even our struggles with gray hair. Of course we also talk about our knitting — what is up with the gauge on a ball band — and where she likes to go when her inspiration is feeling trampled. In this episode  Check out Cirilia’s website, Ravelry Page, and follow her on Instagram * It’s just color! It’s not scary! We talk about the delightful Stephan West and Steven Be. Check out Sonia’s  interview with them in Episode 002 * Check out the Bozeman Jacket and  Magpies, Homebodies, and Nomads, featuring the Loro Vest  (inspired by the Aidez Cardigan) and the Gezell Coat.  * We love podcasts! Give these a try: Filmspotting, Magic Lessons, Being Boss, One Part, and Gilmore Guys * Want to watch what Cirilia is watching? Point Break, Mission Impossible 5, Trainwreck, Cabin in the Woods, and The Bachelorette * Find inspiration with North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland, the graphic novel

Stash Enhancer Minisode #1 Welcome to our first Stash Enhancer Minisode! These fun-sized episodes will pop up in between our regularly schedule episodes. We’ll chat with the Stash Enhancers, our group of talented fiber artists who work at Stash. In this Episode Stash Enhancers Sydney, Kathy and Sonia chat about what they’re knitting, including: Holiday knitting, whether an intense knitting project the cause or the cure to Crazy, to knit or not knit at stoplights, and much more. * Knitmas the moments before holidays where you knit All the Things for All the People.  Sydney takes gift knitting at the holidays to the extreme.  Stay tuned for Minisode #2 where we talk all about how and why we knit for others at the holidays. * There’s an interesting Netflix study out about how long it takes for viewers to get hooked on new shows What We’re Knitting Sydney: 1. The Graveyard Sweater, personal pattern 2. Drachenfels Shawl by Melanie Berg in Knitted Wit Victory Sock in Autumn Rainbow 3. Knitmore Girls  Vanilla Socks  Check out more of Sydney’s wips and FO’s on Ravelry  Kathy: 1. New shop sample for Stash: Ella Pullover in Swan’s Island Rambouillet 2. Elske socks from pom pom quarterly 3. Sage Throw by Marie Wallin, inspired by this incredible tunic.  Kathy is trading this for a queen-sized Kaffe Fasset quilt. Crazy or genius? Check out more of Kathy’s wips and FO’s on Ravelry  Sonia: 1. Georgetown Pullover from Home & Away by Hannah Fettig in Shepherd’s Wool in Spiced Pumpkin Check out more of Sonia’s wips and FO’s on Ravelry  What We’re Watching Crimson Peak From costumes to set styling, we’re smitten with this eerie, spooky movie. The Fall with Gillian Anderson and “that Irish guy” or “the guy from Fifty Shades of Grey”, aka Jamie Dornan (not Dorian as we say in the episode!) Foil’s War

Episode 005: Scarlet Tang In this episode: Scarlet Tang is the talented dyer behind Huckleberry Knits. In this episode she shares her origin story and her obsession with color and everything wool. We touch on the issues facing the American wool industry and how running your own business can feel like raising a child. She also reveals how she engages her brain while working alone, and her love of all things Pixar. * Find Huckleberry Knits here  * Follow Scarlet on Instagram and on Ravelry * Find Black Sheep Gathering here and Stitches West here * Sock Summit is no more, but read the story  here * Scarlet’s picks for podcasts and movies are Filmspotting and Inside-Out Join us every 2 weeks for a new interview with a creative business owner, chats with the Stash Enhancers, bonus content, and more! Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations.  You can also find the podcast on Stitcher. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

Episode 004: Liz Grant In this episode Liz Grant is a talented jewelry designer and self-proclaimed magpie.  We first met 5 years ago and bonded quickly over new motherhood and a shared love for sparkly things. I fell hard for both her smart, direct and witty style in person, and her delicate, detailed work as an artisan. In this episode Liz shares her struggles and successes as a work-from home and mom to two kiddos.  She speaks openly about The Struggle, protecting her time, handling rejection, working under pressure, managing an attention disorder and much more.  We chat at length about managing personal and business brands and what to share (and not share) on social media. Reminder: these are adults having an adult conversation.  As such, there is the occasional usage of adult language. * Check out Liz Grant’s Etsy shop here * Follow Liz on Facebook and Instagram * Find Liz’s jewelry at Irenes’ Boutique and  Zooey’s in Corvallis and at The Golden Gem in Lakeview * Want to watch what Liz is watching? Check out Catfish and Hannibal  * You can find Corvallis Fall Festival here Join us every 2 weeks for a new interview with a creative business owner, chats with the Stash Enhancers, bonus content, and more! Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

Episode 003:Lee Meredith In this episode In Episode 003 of the Stash Podcast, we chat design, inspiration, and binge-watching Netflix with knit-wear designer Lee Meredith.  She shares the challenges of editing one’s ideas, what’s it’s like living as a creative in PDX, and why she loves working from home. Lee also discusses her latest collection and shares an exciting upcoming collaboration. * Check out Lee’s designs at Leethal Knits and on Ravelry. Find her blog here. * Lee’s new collection, Triyang * Star Athena’s designs on Ravelry. * Vivian Aubrey at her photography website and her designs on Ravelry. * Shannon Squire at her website and her designs on Ravelry * Find Blue Moon Fiber Arts at their website. * Want to watch what Lee is watching? Check out Damages, Broad City, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, and Sense8 * Designs featured in the collage above are (from top left) Andrew, Zoo Adventure Rounded Cowl, Zoo Adventure Pointed Hat, and Triyang Shawl Join us every 2 weeks for a new interview with a creative business owner, chats with the Stash Enhancers, bonus content, and more! Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.

  Episode 002: Stephen West & StevenBe In this episode: Stash founder Sonia Ruyts chats with Stephen West and Steven Berg during their recent visit to Oregon.  We talk about pushing through the boundaries of what has been done before to create something altogether new and exciting.  We also dish about topics from shopping and expressing oneself through fashion to staying inspired as a knitwear designer. These guys have a powerful message about finding your voice, expressing yourself openly, and going after those big dreams. Check out Stephen West’s collection of designs at Westknits and on Ravelry. StevenBe’s yarn shop can be found here and you can check out his designs Ravelry. Don’t forget to check out the upcoming StevenBe TV reality show!  We got the inside scoop on some of the upcoming episodes, and you do not want to miss out!  Skydiving, family reunions, and more await… Join us every 2 weeks for a new interview with a creative business owner, chats with the Stash Enhancers, bonus content, and more! Until next time… Please go to iTunes and subscribe to Stash | Creative Conversations.  After listening, we’d love it if you took a moment to leave a star rating or review.  It will really help other crafty folks and creative entrepreneurs find these conversations. Stay Connected: You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Ravelry.