Maker Mom Podcast

About Kayden: I'm Kayden! I'm a coffee-fueled and dad-joke-filled creative. I'm a fan of spreadsheets, climbing the occasional mountain, iced coffee (year round!), anything wood-related, and don't even get me STARTED on sushi. ​ I graduated from the nationally accredited Graphic Design program at the College of Saint Rose with a BFA. Throughout my career as a Graphic Designer, I worked in an agency, a newsroom, and on marketing teams for global companies, which gives me a strong sense of designing for a wide variety of industries.   Throughout my career as a craftsman, I have worked in flooring production, construction, a cabinet shop, and a countertop/table production shop. These experiences give me the skills and problem-solving capabilities that allow me to bring your vision to life with tangible materials. ​ My wide breadth of experience has given me the foundation to methodically apply what I have learned to my design, woodworking and signmaking processes. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and considering how people will interact with the final product are a few things I take into account when working on projects.​   Follow along with Kayden on his Website  or Instagram.

About Leah Houghtaling My woodworking and art have always grown out of functional needs combined with my desire to be in motion. Each piece I create explores the natural lines and contours of the wood, allowing it to come alive with textures, lines, colors, and shadows.  I use sustainably harvested local wood and non-toxic finishes to make art and custom furniture for homes and businesses. You may find her on her Website and on Instagram.

About Joy: I am honored to participate in the long history of creativity in the community of Santa Ana, California. From my shop downtown, I make commissioned pieces for my clients and forge objects that are entirely my own. While blacksmithing is my foundational practice, I also incorporate other mediums. Film photography, cinefilm, and stained glass, are all mediums I have explored to complement and support my work at the forge. I am also a teacher and consider that part of my work as an artist as well. I am a Certified Instructor with the California Blacksmith Association, a Certified Welder with the American Welding Society, a Community Education Instructor in blacksmithing and bronze casting, and a Welding Instructor at Orange Coast College. Also, I am also on the Governance Committee for the nonprofit Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths which provides opportunities, visibility, and economic support for marginalized communities in the field of blacksmithing. You can follow along with Joy on Instagram.

Laura Kishimoto is a designer/maker living in Denver and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. She was initially drawn to furniture design because it occupies a unique position between the fields of fine art and design. Furniture can both exist as a product, addressing a specific need, or as a stand alone sculptural object. And in both cases, a user/viewer is necessary to complete the piece of furniture: whether to give it function by physically engaging with it or to give it meaning by imbuing it with their emotional narrative. Laura's creative process is defined by a constant balancing act between her intentions as a designer and the will of the material. With each piece, Laura strives to create a spatially complex, cohesive object that appears to have formed organically without human intervention. You can see her Yumi chair at the Denver Art Museum. You can follow along with her on Instagram. 

TINA TANG, CO-FOUNDER & CEO Tina is a systems engineer with graduate training in machine learning and computer vision from the University of Virginia. Prior to graduate school, she was an associate manager at Accenture focused on software product design and delivery. She has a background in art and generally loves visualization - from data viz to design to drawing and painting.  ABOUT US   Bristles, Inc. is a startup based in Durham, North Carolina. Our mission is to build creativity-enabling products that harness the insight of artificial intelligence to deliver powerful functionality as delightful, easy-to-use tools for visualizing ideas. Because sometimes, words aren't enough. We're inspired by a classic creative tool: the paintbrush. It enables the artist to focus on illustrating their creative vision. All the while, thousands of tiny bristles are working to apply paint evenly and smoothly. In our products, we pack the power into the bristles, so you can focus on the rewarding, creative bits of your work.  Our first product is a mobile app for designing home DIY & upcycling projects. These transformations are massive creative undertakings, so we're empowering DIYers and Upcyclers to visualize, build on, and share their ideas.    You can find Bristles AI in the Apple store and Google Play store, or directly HERE. Become a patron of the podcast HERE.

Born and raised in Tennessee, Elizabeth showed great promise in both the arts and mathematics. She first specialized in engineering, earning an M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and working in several engineering jobs. In 2012, she moved to Seattle, WA, and in 2015 decided to nurture her artistic side through woodworking. Her first creations included several pieces of furniture in the Arts & Crafts style, but she eventually turned to smaller objects and now specializes in bowls, spoons, and boxes. Her skills range from natural finish and simple forms to highly carved and painted forms that emulate natural motifs. She is the AAW's 2023 POP Artist Showcase recipient, and teaches woodturning at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, WA and the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She serves as program director and Women in Turning liaison for the Seattle Woodturners Club. You can follow along with Elizabeth on Instagram.  Become a patron of the podcast HERE.

Tanya Nixon-Silberg (she/her) is a Black mother, native Bostonian, educator, puppeteer and founder of Little Uprisings- an organization focused on centering artivism, racial justice, and liberation with kids. Her primary artistic identities lie in puppetry and storytelling and her work moves through the lens of liberation in Black identities focusing on body remembrances of childhood and joy. Her puppetry productions and creative research have been funded by The Jim Henson Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts,Puppet Showplace Theater, Boston Cultural Council and The Boston Foundation. Tanya's large-scale community-driven artistry has been exhibited at many Greater Boston institutions including the ICA, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Peabody Essex Museum, and Fuller Craft Museum. She is currently in a multi-year partnership with Boston and Brookline Public Schools leading anti-bias/anti-racism professional learning and curriculum development. Tanya is also the co-leader of the Un-ADULT-erated Black Joy Collective with other Black mothers in Boston, and co-producer of Play for Change with the Gottabees. You will mostly find Tanya playing and learning from her 10-year-old, groaning from her husband's puns and imagining how we all get free together. You may find information on Tanya's upcoming public art installation here. You can follow along with Tanya on Instagram.

Katrice Kelly is an interdisciplinary artist, MFA Painting and Drawing student attending the University of Iowa. She has been making art her entire life. Katrice's more realistic works have been influenced by dream studies and rest ministries. Fibers are the main materials used to create tactile and comforting paintings. Her goal is to create work that feels familiar for everyone. You can follow Katrice and her work on Instagram.  You can follow along with the podcast on Instagram.

Olivia Jade Juarez is a multi-disciplinary artist, designer, and fabricator located in Chicago. She recently managed the Metalworking and Forging Department at Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center in Rogers Park, with past experience at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado and Vivian Beer Studio Works in New Hampshire. Juarez attended high school at the Waldorf School in Rogers Park, and earned her BFA from Alfred University in New York. Her current studio practice ranges from digital design, sewing, felting, forging and metal fabrication. You can follow along with Olivia and her work on Instagram. You can follow along with the podcast on Instagram.

Gabs Conway is a sculptural ceramic artist based in Missoula Montana. Having grown up in Missoula, she was excited to return - as she relentlessly considers it home - after earning her BFA at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Her work stems from the playful, mundane experiences of living. She explores relationships, such as that of siblings, friends, and lovers. Interested in creating forms for the reflection of human experience; asking the viewer to consider their appreciation of life, and to humble the adornment of our physicality. She remains curious of the inherent biological responses of living, and what it means to exist together in an ever changing world. You can follow Gabs and her work on Instagram and her Website. Follow along with the podcast on Instagram.

Ellie Richards is a furniture designer and sculptor interested in the role the furniture and domestic objects play in creating opportunities for a deeper connection between people and their sense of place. Ellie looks to the tradition of both woodworking and the readymade to create eclectic assemblage, installation, and objects exploring intersections of labor, leisure, community, and culture. She has traveled extensively to investigate the role play and improvisation have on the artistic process. Her work, both furniture and sculpture, has been included in exhibitions at the Mint Museum; Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design; SOFA Chicago; and the Society of Contemporary Craft. Most recently Richards was awarded Windgate residencies at the Center for Art in Wood, and in the wood/furniture design programs at San Diego State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Additionally, she maintains an active teaching schedule sharing the fundamentals of woodworking and artistic practice with a breadth of audience including appointments at Yestermorrow Design/Build School, Appalachian Center for Craft, and Haystack Mountain School of Craft.  She is currently a resident artist at Penland School of Craft 2020-2023. You may follow along with Ellie on Instagram and her website. Follow along with the Podcast on Instagram.

Chelsea Van Voorhis is a woodworker, designer, and veneer artist focused on creating fashion forward pieces with social and political commentary. She uses traditional woodworking materials and techniques to make non-traditional pieces. You can follow along with Chelsea on her Instagram and her website. Follow along with the podcast on Instagram. 

Ashley is the furniture maker behind Shallow Creek Woodcraft, based in Southern PA. Ashley is a wife and Mom of four, balancing a passionate pursuit of the craft with family time. A self-professed woodworking book nerd, lover of laughter, and deep appreciator of her maker/woodworking/artist peers. She is currently enrolled in the Northwest Woodworking Studio Online Mastery program and takes private commissions. You can follow her growth into the fine side of woodworking on Instagram.

Erin Irber and Hanneke Lourens of Coast Collective join co-host Katie Thompson for a chat about their new business, their experiences as individual artists and business owners, and much more. Coast launched in July 2022, representing 12 Artisans with a collection of finely crafted furniture. Ready to ship at the click of a button. Collection No2 launched October 5, 2022 with an additional 12 new pieces.  Be sure to follow Coast Collective on Instagram at @coastcollective.us and their website, coastcollective.us. Image credit - Hubbard M. Jones

Estrapala Woodworking is owned by wife and wife team, Sara & Marika. Sara has a position as a research faculty at Mizzou and Marika currently stays at home with their toddler. When they are not occupied with life they love to spend their time in the woodshop. While they both have separate interests in different types of woodworking their styles compliment each other when they chose to work together on projects. Sara is fascinated with the beauty of natural wood specifically burls. Sara also has a love for ornate boxes. Marika is sharpening her skills on the lathe and also enjoys making cutting boards and scroll saw projects.  Most of the pieces made are custom orders but they do have a small inventory on hand from time to time.  You can follow along with Sara and Marika on Instagram and their Website.

Based in Canada, Pooja Pawaskar is the Indian-born artist behind Whirl & Whittle. Crafting wooden and ceramic pieces which celebrate the inherent beauty in each object's peculiarities, Pooja chooses to embrace blemish in her works and herself in a world which relies heavily on flawlessness and statics. Her work is grounded in the belief that the world around us and the things within it are unique rather than imperfect. Growing up in a multigenerational home in Mumbai, India, Pawaskar was introduced to woodworking at a young age by her grandfather, a formally trained carpenter and model maker. She spent many of her days observing him make furniture and hand-carved pieces. His love for design and grasp of technique captivated her and bled into her own practice. Driven by a fascination with design and art, Pooja studied architecture at Mumbai University; however, it wasn't until her final year her passion for building furniture was unearthed. This realization inspired her to shift gears and apply for a furniture design program at the Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2014, she relocated to Savannah, Georgia, USA, to pursue her passion for woodworking and furniture. After the initial cultural shock, Pawaskar recognized that this was what she was waiting for. Surrounded by avant-garde technology and excellent collaborators, she used the following two years learning and exploring her passion for the handmade. Upon graduating in 2016, Pawaskar began her career as a furniture designer at Stylex Seating in New Jersey—an opportunity that brought her incredible growth but left her craving for handmade pieces. On weekends she would work on honing her woodworking skill at a communal workshop in New York City. In 2019, Pawaskar relocated to Canada and decided to pursue her passion of becoming an artist. In late 2019, she registered her business, and Whirl & Whittle was born. You can follow along with Pooja on Instagram and her Website.

Des is a wife, Mom of two, and sports masseuse as well as woodworker. She was introduced to woodworking by her father at a young age. She learned the value of being able to make something you needed or wanted with your own hands and that was carried into adulthood. Now she makes a wide variety of things from signs to furniture. Follow Des on Instagram. Follow guest host Bonnie on Instagram.

Andrea Gordon, MFA is a categorical career leaping nerd that has gone from aspiring musician, to sound design, to kitchen work, and settled on woodworking and art in the last 3 years.  She has been wood turning for the last year and started a tiny business in April 2022 selling pens and other little wood trinkets.  She is 1st generation USA born Colombian on one side and 3rd generation Jewish from Brooklyn on the other.  She married Carla, a Puerto Rican zaddy two years ago and they have Stella, a sassy mini-schnauzer.  Together, they bought a 70 year old house (in this economy!?) last year and have been slowly bringing it, and her new garage into the 21st century. You can follow along with Andrea on Instagram and Etsy.

Monique Livingston is a wife, mom, and artist creating works of art and food from her home in Utica, New York. Monique has a degree in fine art and is using what she learned in school to create her own art business. As she creates and builds up skills she also ventures into new crafts, such as woodworking.  You can follow along with Monique on Instagram.

Soo Joo is an artist and designer currently based out of Seoul, Korea. She is a bright, emerging voice in craft and works in a variety of mediums from wood to ceramics. Her strong, minimalist forms honor Korean aesthetics and evoke a sense of calm and purposeful movement. She is a graduate of RISD and has completed residencies at Anderson Ranch and Penland, and recently had her work featured in the RISD Korea Alumni Exhibition. You can follow Soo on Instagram at @soo_joo_studio and visit her website at http://www.soojoo-studio.com/

Tyler Hill started crafting her first project in 2010 when she was pregnant with her daughter. A few paints, brushes and wooden letters later she was home crafting a sign for her nursery. It was after completing the sign to match her Hello Kitty nursery that she decided she loved it and wanted to do more. Friends who came over to her home and saw her handmade sign wanted to know where they could get one, so she started making signs for their babies as well.    In 2013, Tyler decided to create an online website, Facebook and Instagram and share her work with others. Crafting signs, crosses, painting, lettering and even learning to re-decorate furniture has brought her a bigger love than she ever imagined. It is her peace, bringing her calm and releases after a tough day. Creating something from scratch is a humble feeling and sharing it with others is even more comforting than anything.  Tyler looks forward to sharing her tips, tricks, videos, laughs and more during DIY journeys and crafting fun.    You can follow along with Tyler on Instagram.

Boun Loun is a Cambodian woodworker based out of San Diego, who has been woodworking since 2021. She specializes in epoxy & live edge projects, and looking forward to growing & learning all skills related to woodworking, especially joinery and CNC fabrication. Boun enjoys working on a variety of projects that allows her to gain knowledge & skills, especially with tools. Boun is also looking to learn and add welding to her resume. You can follow along with Boun on Instagram.

One thing that Rebecca De Groot loves about life is having limitless opportunities to create. She works with many different materials including graphite, colored pencil, paint, metal, ceramic, paper, plastic, cloth, and wood. And while she believes that all of these materials are wonderful in their own respect, it is working with the natural beauty of wood, which gives her the creative outlet that she thrives on. Rebecca's recent wooden pieces primarily consist of lathe work and box making, but she has been known to make different items like decorative wall pieces and craft items such as hairpieces and broaches. She is well practiced in most ways of woodworking, but still enjoys branching out and experimenting with many new and different processes and techniques. She try's to incorporate life into her work, whether it is through the natural form and highly refined surface of the wood grain, or through alterations to the natural order of the domestic object. Rebecca loves what she does and has no plans on stopping. You can follow along with Rebecca on Instagram.

Laura Mays has a degree in Architecture from University College Dublin and a Higher Certificate in Furniture Design and Manufacture from GMIT Letterfrack. She followed that with two years on the Fine Woodworking program in College of the Redwoods in California. Laura completed an MA in Industrial Design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 2010. Since 2011 Laura has been the Program Director of the Fine Woodworking program at The Krenov School in northern California. She is the founding President of The Krenov Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the craft of fine woodworking in northern California, by conducting educational programs and providing material and financial support to individuals and institutions in that field. You can follow along with Laura on Instagram and her Website.

Chelsea Cates is an upholsterer and furniture maker in Austin, TX. Chelsea was an upholsterer first, then found a love for woodworking when she became interested in constructing the pieces she was upholstering. In this episode Chelsea shares perspectives on access and experiences as a minority in the field, and also as a maker on a sort of personal “pit stop” on her journey, and why those moments are so important to the process. For more from Chelsea you can follow her on Instagram at @ladygarage512.

Mia Anika is a visual artist, cartographer, and mental health advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Art in Visual Arts from Agnes Scott College in 2014.   Her work centers around discovering and exploring inner worlds, the intersections of color theory and mindfulness, drawing inspiration from Julie Mehretu, Mary Lovelace O'Neal, Michi Meko, Radcliffe Bailey and Sam Gilliam.    She advocates for holistic approaches to mental health and wellness and invites others to facilitate their healing by participating in the creative process, through journaling and workshops. She recently led a workshop at the 2019 Yale Black Solidarity Conference on fine arts and resilience. Her work has appeared at Decatur Arts Alliance, HOBI Studios, TILA Studios, and currently at Art of Touch Massage & Health Center in Midtown Atlanta. Art Heals the Broken!    You can follow along with Mia on her Website and Instagram.

Emily Joyce creates nostalgic and sentimental works of wearable art and sculpture about her love of all things related to the school experience. Her pieces are unique, one of a kind, and all made by Emily in her home studio.  Many sources of inspiration are from visiting playgrounds, reminiscing about teaching and learning, and found tools and documents at Antique stores. She gets warm and fuzzy over "kid writing." She collects tools, and school supplies.  Emily realizes that her work is different from the ordinary. She wants her work to speak to people on a personal level, and evoke a feeling or a memory. Many of the themes revolve around the subject of school. She realizes school may bring people feelings of joy or pain, or anxiety, and she is here for it. Emily struggled in school herself, and thinks about school a lot as her kids are all of elementary school age.  The materials Emily uses to create are metal and enamel. Enamel has a rich history that dates back to the early 9th century. Many times, she recommends people check out the reliquaries from the Byzantine Era at their own Art Museum to see some pieces that inspired her to learn the art. Enamel is powdered glass fused to metal. It is finicky and fragile, and comes in a variety of colors and techniques. Although she knows many processes in enamel, Emily is always drawn to champlevé, drawing and exploring unique ways to apply enamel. You can follow along with Emily on her Website and Instagram.

A was taught at a young age how to work with tools and how to think creatively as well as resourcefully. While they decided to foster their passion for photography and the arts throughout college and into a career, the 2020 pandemic led to a revived passion for woodworking. Thus started Slightly Acute. The name Slightly Acute stems from the idea that the goal is not absolute perfection but to honor and enjoy the process of making and embracing the mistakes. A is now based in Columbia, SC with their partner and furry family. They are providing handyperson services to the local community while also continuing their custom woodworking business. You can follow along with A on Instagram. Please vote for Crafting a Revolution for both Art and People's choice on Podcast Awards.  

Meera is a wife, mother, and former opera singer turned woodworker. Meera's first passion was singing and opera. However, after becoming a mother she realized that the life of an opera singer and one of a mom do not always fit well together. After leaving opera, she soon discovered woodworking after tackling her first project doing an ikea hack. She found a woman owned workshop in Los Angeles and started taking classes, and the rest as they say is HERstory. You can follow along with Meera on Instagram. Vote for Crafting a Revolution for Podcast Award - Categories Art and People's Choice.

Daej knew from a young age that she wanted to make things. After watching her mom study Interior Design, Daej was completely intrigued by furniture. From the grain on table tops, to how a chair can be the center of attention in any room, she was mesmerized. She started woodworking in the sixth grade, then continued her education in woodworking throughout the rest of middle school and all four years of high school. Daej's first year of post-secondary education began at Sheridan College in their Craft and Design: Furniture program. She later went to Humber College to immerse herself in their Industrial Woodworking Program. In December 2016, Daej graduated and receiving a diploma as an Industrial Woodworking Technician. Not having any examples of furniture makers/designers that looked like her, put her in a position to be that example for others. Daej finds that a lot of the time, people need to be shown that their goals and aspirations are valid; they need to know that they can succeed in a field that may not look like it's ‘for them'. With that being said, her goal is to inspire. You can follow along with Daej on her Website and Instagram. Remember to nominate the podcast for a podcast award under the category of art.

Jenna Pilant is a rainbow-obsessed designer in Southern California; doing her part to spread happiness into the world one colorful interior project at a time. Jenna has an unusual design style = “polychromatic whimsy,” and over the past few years, her work has been featured in Darling Magazine, San Diego Home & Garden Lifestyle and Origin Magazine. She was born and raised in Nebraska and believes that through hard work and determination, anything is possible . . . even “banning the beige” in interior design. In a past life, Jenna was also a farm girl, musical theatre performer and television host, but now saves those talents for Instagram and YouTube. When not bringing delightful color into the world, she spends her time keeping her mental health in check, making her handsome hubby laugh, or just being a damn good dogmom to their random four. Vote for Crafting a Revolution for Podcast Awards – Peoples Choice under the category of art.

In this episode co-hosts Katie Freeman and Katie Thomspon discuss the current state of equity within the craft and art profession. Talking specifically about organizations that are working hard to bring positive change and grow equity across the country.

Ava Foster grew up in rural Manitoba and started carving when she got her first jackknife sometime before the age of 10. Two of the first things she can remember carving were a candle stick with a flame on top and a shrew sized canoe that she later sent down the brook at her aunt's farm. Ava has carved on and off since then but only started pursuing it more seriously in late 2017 when she wanted to produce wares for a market and the power supply at her shop was failing on a regular basis. She decided it was best to rely mostly on hand tools instead of the machines. She started creating and selling spoons because they are a simple, practical product for the public. When Ava began to hear people saying the spoons and carved serving boards were too nice to use, she saw the potential to take more creative risks in her work. Ava continues to learn, growing both her mental and physical carving toolbox. 2020 marked the shift of her carving turning fully into an art form. You can find Ava's work on her Website and Instagram.

Anne Taggart is originally from the Northeast US and the mountains of Vermont. She currently calls the mountains of West Virgina Home. Anne loves to make and fix things. She studied the traditional Japanese Kintsugi with a third-generation urushi lacquer artist from Kyoto, Japan. The traditional Japanese ceramics repair practice of kintsugi is associated with the aesthetic tradition of wabi-sabi, or the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Anne uses traditional materials and brings deep respect for the history and origins of kintsugi and urushi lacquer art forms to her work. Every attempt is made to honor the history and cultural importance of this traditional art form while sharing it with the world. You may follow along with Anne on her Website and Instagram. You may also follow your hosts Katie Freeman and Katie Thomspon on Instagram.

SaraBeth Post just completed her time at Penland School of Craft in the Core Fellowship program. Therefore, she is in a big transition! It's exciting to venture back out into the world and she is looking very forward to the opportunities ahead. SaraBeth's primary medium is Glass but she is a bit of a metalsmith, and is quite interested in printmaking techniques right now. In 2015, she earned her BFA in 3D Studios concentrating in Glass with a Creative Writing minor at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Reiki energy healing and meditation are non-material practices that she appreciates. You can follow along with SaraBeth on Instagram.

D'ondra creates custom designs for your space so that you can enjoy what you envisioned for your home.   She always had a passion for flipping furniture but was afraid of the power tools needed to really get into it.  One evening she was watching someone on Instagram share about how they were self-taught, and she thought if they can do it, so can she. God's given her the next piece of the puzzle He saw for her life when Workboots & Glasses was born.   Today, she's created over a dozen pieces and sold some of the ones she was building for fun.  Now, D'ondra take custom orders for those who have something in mind, but can't seem to find the right piece at a furniture store.   You can follow along with D'ondra on Instagram.

Lee is queer, nonbinary woodworker and digital promoter from the UK. Lee has been on a journey with their woodworking for many years now. They started with a workshop, being able to make larger things, and then when they lost their workshop someone suggested carving since not much space is needed for that. Now Lee is a master carver of especially small things with inlays and you can see their creations all across social under The Rainbow Carver. During the pandemic Lee started another journey, this one around their gender identity. Lee has always been open on social media about not only their gender journey, but also topics such as mental health, and is seen as a cornerstone of the online making community. You can follow Lee and all their journeys on Instagram and TikTok primarily.

A Tribe Called Queer is a Los Angeles based multidisciplinary community organization dedicated to the everlasting empowering of BIPOC & LGBTQIA2S+ communities through mental health, wellness, art, education and more!  We provide accessible community programs, incredible resources, free virtual offerings, an archival podcast, gender neutral clothing line, wellness zine, and more to come!  Our Founder is Sabine Maxine Lopez (she/they). A Queer BIPOC Non-Binary Femme from Los Angeles, California. A natural born multi-hyphenate, you can find Sabine expressing herself through design, writing, photography, fashion, and much more. Most recently her essay ‘My Journey to Design' was included in the book ‘The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Reflection & Expression!' You can follow A Tribe Called Queer on Instagram. Also, follow along with your hosts, Katie Freeman and Katie Thompson on Instagram.

Carla Mendoza, also known as Untidy Maker on social media, is a jane of all trades. Growing up she was introduced to making through sewing and cooking. As an adult, she got into making with power tools, starting with concrete projects and working her way into welding. Pinterest and YouTube have opened the world of makers and her desire to continue to grow and learn. During the pandemic, she decided to take the leap and leave her job as a pharmacist technician and go full time as a maker and carpenter. Now she travels where she is needed, whether that is to help work on remodeling a space or help make some sort of object. You can follow along with Carla on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. You can also find and follow your hosts, Katie Freeman and Katie Thompson on Instagram.

Hello fellow makers, artists, and craftspeople. Today I should be releasing episode 248 of the podcast. Yet, I cannot.  On May 2nd of this week, we found out, through a leaked draft from the Supreme Court, that it is every intention of that Supreme Court to overrule Roe V. Wade. Roe V. Wade, which was decided on January 22, 1973 is the decision that gave everybody with a uterus full, legal, and safe access to ALL forms of reproductive health care. The last, and ONLY time I have made a statement rather then releasing an episode was on June 4th, 2020, in solidarity for the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Since that time, we have watched in this country as hundreds of thousands of people died in the US alone from a global pandemic, as black and brown people are still being murdered at alarming numbers by those who say they just want to protect us, as transgender youth are being villainized and their parents being taken to jail just for providing medical care to them, as gay AND transgender youth are being told they cannot exist in schools, as so many schools work tirelessly to erase history and views they do not agree with, and now, as safe and legal access to reproductive health care for 50% of the population is taken away.

Cristina Cordova received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puerto Rico and continued to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. In 2002 she entered a three-year artists residency program at Penland School of Crafts where she later served on the board of trustees from 2006 to 2010. Recognitions included a USA Artist Fellowship, and American Crafts Council Emerging Artist Grant, a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship, a Virginia Groot Foundation Recognition Grant and several International Association of Art Critics Awards. Her work is part of the permanent collections of the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Fuller Craft Museum, the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico, the Everson Museum and the Mobile Museum, among others. She currently lives and works at Penland. You can follow along with her work on Instagram. Find and follow your hosts Katie Freeman and Katie Thompson on Instagram.

Join us for an exciting discussion with Leah Woods who is an artist, woodworker, sculptor, educator and community organizer in New Hampshire. She is an Associate Professor of Art at the University of New Hampshire where she teaches woodworking, and also works with the Women's POP program teaching incarcerated women the craft of woodworking. Leah also maintains a studio practice and is a member of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters Association. You can find Leah on Instagram @leahkathleenwoods You can see more of her work and information on her website http://leahkwoods.com  Follow Katie Thompson and the Women of Woodworking project on Instagram at @womenofwoodworking. Follow Katie Freeman on Instagram.

Sarah is the creator, author, and voice of Ugly Duckling House™. She started blogging in 2010 with a few crazy stories about what she found as she was renovating her home (the press-on fingernails she found in the fridge still give her chills). She went from your typical 9-6 software job to a full career that is never the same and reaches millions of people each year! For many years, Sarah was a single chick in the power tool aisle. Life kept going, and now she shares her DIY adventures alongside her partner Kyle (who is often refer to as “K” on the site), their dogs Stella and Charlie (RIP), and their son Ellis in Atlanta, GA. You can follow along with Sarah and her adventures on her Website and Instagram. You can find your hosts Katie Freeman and Katie Thomspon on Instagram as well.

Illustrator Jacqui C. Smith creates unique artwork that showcases diversity amongst women of color. After graduating from Columbia College of Chicago with a B.A. in Traditional Animation, Jacqui headed to Burbank California to begin her journey as a freelance artist.  In the last ten years, Jacqui's created children's books and illustrations for self-publishers, publishing companies, and businesses including Duck Studios Animation, Disney, YWCA, and more. When she's not working on commissions, you can find Jacqui at festivals and conventions throughout Los Angeles and selling her artwork at boutiques and galleries across the U.S. Also, Jacqui's created four coloring books, “Know Yourself: A Coloring Book for Girls (& Women)”, that focus on positive self-identity and relaxation for women and girls of color.  Find Jacqui's work on Instagram and her Website.

Sondra Elder is a self-taught artist, who was not able to truly devote time to her creative journey until after retiring from her life in the business world.  With pottery, Sondra's chosen medium is porcelain because its strength and delicacy learn to live in harmony. It is the perfect canvas to display the beautiful zinc-silicate crystals that can only be created through normally destructive fire. These naturally occurring phenomena inspire her never-ending desire to artistically harness their capability on the backdrop of her forms - which equally exude capability and femininity. Sondra creates her forms on the potter's wheel with a vision to move the observer's eye from one end of the piece fluidly around the work without interruption. On this canvas, she applies glazes that she developed using rare earth elements and oxides that create dramatic backdrops for the crystal formations. You can follow her journey and work on Instagram. Please also visit your hosts Katie Freeman and Katie Thompson.

Rogelio Rendon is a nonbinary maker that does woodcarving, furniture making, and all sorts of other woodworking. Perhaps the deepest love though is for carving characters that are influenced by Native American and Japanese cultures in addition to Rogelio's lived experiences. In addition to carving characters for themselves and occasionally selling their work, Rogelio also works for a furniture maker in the San Diego area. You can follow along with Rogelio and their work on Instagram.

Robyn's woodworking journey began in 2017, soon after stepping foot into his first wood shop. Since then, they have spent countless hours of hard work following his woodworking and artistic passions. He is a self-taught woodwork and exploring different mediums has helped him develop his creativity and craftsmanship skills. Since starting their small business, they have taken on many commissions. He continues to work to grow his business not just with woodworking, but also with other art mediums such as photography, painting, resin, and more. You can find Robyn and his work on Instagram.

Thelma is a lover of all projects. She is a self-described small town, part-time woodworker that hates sanding and is always looking for ways to improve her skillset. It all started with a needed drawer which turned into what I will call power tool creep instead of project creep. Now she takes on commission work to fit into her day job schedule and is really enjoying working with her hands. You can follow along with Thelma on Instagram.

Valerie Berlage is a woodworker, artist, and owner of Lauraine Lillie Studios based out of Western North Carolina. She developed her craft and business name from her grandparents who taught her how to make. Tune in as we discuss the early days in the woodshop with her grandfather, to what is inspiring Valerie to create her contemporary jewelry designs, intricate wall hangings and other works now. You can find Valerie on Instagram @laurainelilliestudios. You can see more of Valerie's's work and information on her website https://www.laurainelilliestudios.com/ 

Nicole Crowder Upholstery is a Black-owned furniture and upholstery studio creating commissioned, generational, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture and home furnishings like meditation pillows, poufs and more. Nicole's work has been commissioned by the leading hotel chains, restaurants, and spaces. She also has created bespoke pieces for private clients and has been featured in design publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Martha Stewart Living. Nicole began her journey into upholstery design after spending her childhood traveling and often moving with her family. You can follow along with Nicole and her work on Instagram and her Website.