Splitting Seams

In this final episode of Season 1 of Splitting Seams, I sit down with Lindsay Scicluna from Linds Handmade Designs. We chat about her journey to designing, what her designing process looks like, and some of the challenges she has overcome in the various ways she has expanded her business.

Lindsay's Links:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DXPK9VGAw/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• IG: @Lindshandmade
• YT: @Lindshandmadedesigns
• Website: https://l...

In this penultimate episode of Season 1, I sit down with Ravon Clark from Luv, Lola. Throughout the conversation, we discuss her ever-evolving business and her designing process now that she has added patterns to her offerings. We also explore the challenges of balancing mental health with customer expectations, representation within the community, and touch on some sewing technical bits here and there. Come for the chat, stay for ...

For this 13th episode, I chat with Erica-Lee Helgerson of Lavender & Twine Patterns. Erica has established herself as an extremely respected bag designer and maker in our community, so I was so excited for the chance to pick her brain. She shares all about her design process, the intention and sentiment behind some aspects of her business, and some of her own personal struggles she's had over the last couple of years.

Trigger w...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, I sit down with Jess VanDenBurgh of Sew Many Creations. We had a great time chatting about Jess's journey and evolution of her business over the last two decades, the various dynamics of operating her business in our sewing community, and talk about the importance of authenticity both online and "irl". And, of course, I got to pick her brain about her designing process and what her time was like ...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, I chat with Georgia Nelson of Fierce Kitten about her journey in sewing, tech integration, pattern design, and navigating both male and female dominated fields and the intricacies found within. We also talk about her creative process, her beloved dwarf hamster, Potat, and our mutual love of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

• Georgia's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fiercekittenz
• If you'd like to d...

This week I’m joined by Chanova. She is a good friend, fellow striker, and one of my past testers. We talk about authenticity, originality, and what it looks like to support other sewists in the community instead of competing with them. We also get into the reality of staying creative while dealing with our own limitations… both the ones in our heads and the ones life throws at us.

Nova's Links:

• Facebook: https://ww...

In this episode, I chat with fellow pattern designer Jenny from Sincerely Jen Patterns for the first time. We explore the intricacies of pattern designing, running a small business, and balancing full-time work with creative passions. We get into the technical behind-the-scenes processes of designing, finding inspiration in the midst of market saturation, and the humbling testing process. This is full on shop talk between two desig...

In this episode, I chat with Elizabeth Meraz - a hobby bag maker, badass lawyer, and content creator. She has been a tester for me, as well as many others, and has garnered a following for her soothing live sewing sessions on the clock app. We chat about how she balances a demanding career, family life, and making time for things that bring her joy, plus the realities of social media, community engagement, and what it's like trying...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, I sit down with my tax lady, Ket, to talk about small business taxes in a way that’s actually understandable and not terrifying. We break down common misconceptions, decode the jargon and acronyms you see everywhere, and translate it all into bite-sized, practical info—specifically through the lens of a very small bag-making business like mine.

If you aren't "legit" this is a great ano...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, I'm joined by my good friend Brittany of The Empurrium, who is celebrating 15 years in business. We talk honestly about what that actually looks like — the highs, the chaos, the burnout, and the reality of staying in business for that long when life keeps happening around it. We also discuss Brittany's recent shift from full-time self employment to a more traditional job, and all the emotio...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, I sit down for a long, honest, and sometimes technical bag-making chat with Jess of Wish Upon a Rainbow. We talk about bag making differences across the US and UK, the importance of support networks, meeting people where they’re at, and what it’s been like for Jess running a high-demand handmade business. We discuss self expression, talent vs skill, and some upcoming changes to her bu...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, Olivia's and I discuss her journey from cosplay to owning a business in our sewing community, her passion for creating fandom art that translates into custom hardware and fabrics, and the challenges of running a small business. Olivia shares insights into her creative process, the importance of community, and the lessons learned from collaborations. We also touch on the significance of mental hea...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, longtime friend, tester, and admin Niki of Niki Makes joins me to talk about the realities of bagmaking, testing, striking, healthy boundaries, and discovering our worth in this community. From sewing her first bag, to encouraging others to teach and create, to overcoming loss and choosing “what matters,” Niki reminds us that most things in sewing, and life, are "figure-out-able".

Niki...

In this episode of Splitting Seams, host Shannon Timchula welcomes Niko from Sewgnar, a PDF pattern and handmade goods business that almost exclusively uses cork. They discuss the importance of authenticity in business, the challenges and joys of using cork, and the significance of being open to change and learning from failure. The conversation highlights personal growth, community, and the creative process in the sewing industry.

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In this conversation, Lauren and Shannon discuss the challenges of running a growing business, the importance of authenticity in content creation, and the impact of financial pressures on creativity. They explore the balance between work and life, especially as parents, and the significance of community support in overcoming struggles.

Lauren's Info: https://linktr.ee/moremeknow.com

Support the show here for bonus content!: https://...