CRAFTCAST the Podcast #231
CRAFTCAST
Have you ever wondered why taking a break isn't always enough? In this episode of CRAFTCAST ~ Where Soul Meets Craft, Patrik and I have a heartfelt conversation about what it really means to do a hard reset after life's challenges leave you feeling creatively depleted. Over the past several months, I've personally walked through some difficult life challenges that made it almost impossible to feel motivated to create. That experience led me to realize there's a big difference between taking a break, going on vacation, and truly recovering. Recovery is about more than resting. It’s having...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #230
CRAFTCAST
Remember the feeling of the last day of school? The final bell rang, summer stretched out in front of you, and suddenly the world felt full of possibility. No schedules. No homework. Just endless days to ride your bike, build forts, make art, explore the woods, catch fireflies, or simply let your imagination lead the way. In this episode of CRAFTCAST ~ Where Soul Meets Craft, Alison and Patrik take a joyful trip back to those carefree summers and ask an important question: Where did that feeling go? Together they explore the freedom, curiosity, and creative play that came so naturally as...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #229
CRAFTCAST
We all go through those times where we feel creatively exhausted. The ideas stop. Everything feels harder than it should be, and we start to convince ourselves we’re failing because we’re tired. We are good at being hard on ourselves. In this episode, Patrik and I talk honestly about burnout, losing your creative mojo, and why being hard on yourself usually makes everything worse. We share some of the things that help us get through those stuck periods, from giving ourselves permission to make bad art, to stepping away for a bit, to remembering that creativity doesn’t completely...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #228
CRAFTCAST
Me: Be honest. If I walked into your studio right now, would I see: A) a clear, inspiring workspace… or B) twelve half-finished projects, three mystery tools, and something sticky? Patrik: First of all, the sticky thing is probably important. LOL Me: Of course it is. LOL Patrik: Look, people, love to say they’re “creatively stuck,” but sometimes, you just can’t find your pliers. Me: Never happened to me. LOL Patrik: I’m just saying, if your studio is fighting you, you’re going to lose. Me: And if your studio is too clean, where’s the personality? Patrik: Personality is not the...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #227
CRAFTCAST
Silver prices are up. Is your creativity up as well, or feeling the pinch? In this episode, Patrik and I sit down with the smart and resourceful Pam East to talk about what’s on every metal clay artist’s mind right now and how to keep creating when silver clay feels like a luxury item. Pam shares clever, real-world ways to stretch your materials (without sacrificing design), smart substitutions you may not have considered, and how constraints can actually push your work in exciting new directions. We also dive into inspiration. Where does it actually come from, and how to find it...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #226
CRAFTCAST
What really goes on behind the scenes of the craft world? This week on CRAFTCAST, we’re hanging out with Abby Glassenberg, co-founder and president of Craft Industry Alliance, and talking about the creative world from a whole different angle. Abby has her finger on the pulse of what makers are creating, teaching, selling, worrying about, and celebrating, so this conversation wanders into the real stuff like what’s changing, what’s surprising, what people in the craft world are quietly figuring out, and what still makes us laugh along the way. Expect honest insights, practical ideas, and...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #225
CRAFTCAST
Creative block is rude. One minute you’re full of ideas, the next you’re staring at your worktable like it personally betrayed you. In this episode, Patrik Kusek and I share favorite quotes sent in by listeners. It’s those lines people return to when creativity goes missing, confidence dips, or starting feels strangely difficult. Some quotes are brilliant. Some are comforting. Some sound simple until they hit exactly the right nerve. And of course, with Patrik involved, one quote quickly turns into stories, side roads, unexpected honesty, and quite a bit of laughter. If your inspiration...
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #224
CRAFTCAST
In this Craftcast podcast episode, Patrik and I are joined by CRAFTCAST instructors Mags Bonham and Wizz Stearne for a lively conversation about the quotes that inspire us, guide us, and sometimes make us laugh out loud. We shared favorite words and sayings that have sparked creativity, helped us through challenges, and stayed with us over the years, along with plenty of humor, laughter, and unexpected stories. A fun, thoughtful episode filled with creative sparks, friendship, and a few memorable lines you may want to borrow for yourself
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #223
CRAFTCAST
Today I’m talking with Janine Vangool, founder and editor of a magazine that celebrates creativity in all its forms. We talk about building an independent print publication, curating inspiring content, supporting artists, and why print still matters in a scroll-happy world. Janine shares how UPPERCASE began, how it evolved into books, compendiums, and creative projects, and what she looks for when featuring artists and makers. It’s thoughtful. It’s honest. It’s inspiring.
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CRAFTCAST the Podcast #222
CRAFTCAST
Patrik and I had the absolute honor of talking with Harriete Estel Berman, artist, activist, and one of the most fearless voices in contemporary jewelry. We dive into recycled materials, social commentary, creative courage, and how to build a body of work that truly stands for something. But this episode isn’t just about jewelry. It’s about voice. It’s about courage. It’s about deciding what you want your work to stand for and having the conviction to stand behind it. If you’re a maker, whether you work in polymer clay, metal clay, fiber, paint, paper, or anything in between,...
info_outlineHave you ever wondered why taking a break isn't always enough?
In this episode of CRAFTCAST ~ Where Soul Meets Craft, Patrik and I have a heartfelt conversation about what it really means to do a hard reset after life's challenges leave you feeling creatively depleted.
Over the past several months, I've personally walked through some difficult life challenges that made it almost impossible to feel motivated to create. That experience led me to realize there's a big difference between taking a break, going on vacation, and truly recovering. Recovery is about more than resting. It’s having patience to let the nerve endings reconnect.
If your creative spark feels out of reach, this episode is a reminder that you don't have to force inspiration. Sometimes the first step isn't making something; it’s allowing yourself the space to recover. Trusting the process is different than procrastinating.
Join us as we share our experiences, what we've learned, and gentle encouragement for anyone finding their way back to the joy of creating.