Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans

Tis the season to get crafty fa la la laThe silly season is upon us and the Ministry is here to help you craft your crazies away! Today, we're chatting about our advent plans, some fun projects we've shared in the past, and a super fun community building event kicking off on Sunday! We hop you'll join us. Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration, and celebrates all things art, craft, and friendship. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

With four seasons and just shy of two years of podcasting under our belt, today we are reflecting on the growth we've experienced over our podcasting journey. We chat about how we have held to our mission statement - creativity, community, connection and collaboration - and what a blessing our podcast community has been.Whether you've been here since the beginning, or just finding us, thank you for making it possible for us to mark this amazing milestone for our podcast.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

This week we take a trip into our podcasting archives and revel in the growth we have achieved so far. We discuss how we stay motivated and keep showing up to a creative project when it doesn't have all the new project shine. Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Social media is all about sharing parts of ourselves, but what does it mean to share part of ourselves without a project to hide behind? Today we are chatting about feeling vulnerable, choosing what to share, and podcasting without a project.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Often, our creative time is our anchor in an otherwise busy day, a moment of peace and mindfulness to centre ourselves. But what if our mindful & sefl care doesn't look like it "should"? If it doesn't fit in a neat little box? Today we chat about the influence of marketing a specific idea of mindfulness & self care, and how it shows up in creative spaces...and what we choose to do instead.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Group projects have long been a mainstay of our creative practice, but slowly we are dropping off. In today's episode, we look at crafting to fit in, wanting to stand out, and the joy of true belonging.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Our identity as crafters & creative folk is shaped by so many influences, and today we are unpacking where we "fit",and end up starting to prepare our bug out bags for the zombie apocolypse...things got a little unhinged along the way!Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Motivation and productivity, we're finding, is rather like the chicken and the egg. Are we productive when we're motivated, or does being productive give us the motivation to create?Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Sometimes life can get us so overwhelmed and languishing that picking up a project just feels too hard. Today we chat about how we get ourselves out of a rut and into a project - and how crafting helps pull us out of general life overwhelm.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

What is it about a blank page that makes it so hard to get started? Or why do we find it hard to keep going on a project?Today we chat about the ways we get in our own way, how life gets in the way, and tease through a couple of real life examples of why we are blocked at the minute.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansOr on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.comYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

We started the year off with a bang, and lots of big plans...how are they fairing after a few months and a whole lot of life? Join us for episode one of season four as we chat about goals, giving up, and the encouragement of making our struggles with keeping up visible.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Find us on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Four days of wall to wall crafting? What else would we do over the Easter long weekend! We're sharing some thoughts on our inaugural MOCS Easter Bingo last year, and start kicking around ideas for this year - are you in?Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/autumn-2023-season/autumn-2023-episode-3/Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Like everything, our crafting ebbs and flows with the seasons, both the actual seasons and the seasons of life. Today we're chatting about the different rhythms we embrace in our crafting, with a little side journey into spring cleaning and true confessions of the current state of Rach's stash (spoiler - it's not pretty!).Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=665Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

From big projects to big plans, plus what we're working on at the minute; join us in the Ministry for your weekly dose of crafty inspiration. Today we are chatting stitching, photography, and art classes, our year long projects and our 100 Days project for 2023, plus the drive to revisit old projects and bring them back to our current day creative practice.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/autumn-2023-season/autumn-2023-episode-one/Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

In a wave of January intention, we both set our words for the year. Two months in, there's already been a whole lot of life happening. Todya we are chatting about how our words are holding up, and the ways we keep them high on our priority list as we do the days. Sometimes, though, our words have to take a backseat to everything else, and we talk about the times we have given up our words - including one where the word turned out to be perfect anyway!Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast, chatting craft and creativity, connection and friendship, collaboration and accountability, and the joy of community in an increasingly isolated world.Todays show notes can be found at - ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=639Find our wonderful community on instagram - instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - instagram.com/barefootcrafterCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

We're celebrating both the silly season and the finale of season three, with a look at all the crafty fun we are up to in the run up to the end of the year. Because life isn't busy enough at this time of year, we can't help but add a few more projects!Thank you so much for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2023 with season four.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=553Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Coming into gifting season, our minds are turning to making for others. Investing our time and supplies into a gift project is the unspoken way a crafter says "I love you", and in today's episode we delve into the thought process behind choosing who to make for, and what supplies to use. We also talk about how being vulnerable in our creativity can be seen as a type of love language, and who we let in "behind the scenes" is a mark of connection and relationship.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=570Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

After a busy couple of weeks, we are both finding ourselves reaching for familiar and meditative projects. Following on from our Nostalgia episode, we look at what influences us to reach for the familiar over the new and exciting, and how connection to those around us is one of the strongest influences of all.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=532Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

As our creative processes have shifted over the years, we've traded places of which of us is the finisher and which is the procrastinator. In today's episode, we look back over past projects and try and nail down where we find our motivation, and what blockages stop us from making progress.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=507Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Each year, we both pick a word as our theme for the year, in place of a New Years resolution. Sometimes they work, sometimes we can't connect with them, sometimes they become surprisingly appropriate in unexpected ways.Today we are chatting about how we use our word of the year to anchor us and help us set goals, and how we apply them in our creative life. Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=483Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

"Brains are so silly", we say to each other at least once a week. In today's episode, we chat about the different ways our brains need a little nudge in the direction of keeping our minds on our projects. Personality types, focus, working environments...even pop culture and we settle the all important question - what Hogwarts house do we belong to?Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Subscribe now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday!Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=445Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

What does growth look like in creativity? Is it growing out? Up? Circles and spirals? We share our perspectives known own growth and each other, and how our own growth is reflected in our children's creativity as well. We have an epiphany on podcasting fits into our evolution as crafters and as content creators, and start taking notes for season 4.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Amazon and Google Podcasts where you can listen & subscribe on a now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday.Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=414Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

How do you shift from crafty acquaintances to dear friends? By sharing the everyday mundane happenings of life! Today we are chatting about how even when it all feels a bit Groundhog Day, sharing our daily behind the scenes rhythms offers unexpected moments of connection. We chat accountability & vulnerability, and how having a friend in our pocket makes the same same of daily life more manageable.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Amazon and Google Podcasts where you can listen & subscribe on a now to hear all the latest episodes as soon as they drop each Friday.Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=391Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Once upon a time, craft and sewing groups abounded, particularly in small towns like where both of use are from. These days, they are less common, and less practical for busy mums - enter, the internet! We are chatting about how the internet is a wonderful tool to develop connection, and to find your place amongst like minded people.From feeling brave trying new things, to our regular chats, via a little detour into potential true crime when meeting people off the internet, we're chatting through the various ways we've found our place, and why it matters.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=367Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

Welcome to season three! In our season premiere, we are chatting about nostalgia, how we use it as a a means of connection and also as an inspiration launching point for our crafty projects. In a topsy turvy world that continues to be anything but predictable, the comfortable familiarity of nostalgic favourites are a touchstone we can use to ground ourselves. It's also a way of connecting with the creative people who can before us, and gives our children a safe place to start exploring their own interests.From sewing to journals to books, media and video games, we're exploring how all the things we've loved in the past can inspire us and help us grow in the present.Ministry of Crafty Shenanigans is a weekly conversational podcast on creativity, connection, community and collaboration. We invite you to grab a project and a cuppa, and join us around our virtual craft table, as we chat inspiration, motivation, friendship and our creative process.Today's show notes: http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=336Join the conversation: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansYour hosts:Rach - thebarefootcrafter.comCar - instagram.com/carrosecreative

One whole year ago, we nervously released our first episode out into the world. 364 days later, we have two full seasons, two mini seasons, and two bonus episodes under our belt. In a special anniversary episode, we chat about how sharing online has evolved for us, some of our favourite moments, and how podcasting has helped us grow in ways we didn't necessarily expect.Thank you so much for your support over the last year!! We are back soon with season three, so be sure to subscribe to be the first to hear the episodes as they drop.You can find us over on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansAll the episodes and our blog are on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com

Spring has sprung, and with it comes a burst of mojo! We're procrastinating on our spring cleaning by chatting about craft room organisation, learning when to let go of creative projects, and that time Car lost her sewing machine (and how Rach never lets her forget it!).Season three coming soon! Don't forget to subscribe to be the first to listen!Come join the conversation on instagram: instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansFind more information on us, how we turn inspiration in progress, and our creative process, over on our website: ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com

Spring is just around the corner, but first we have to get through the August slump! We chat seasonality in crafting, riding the mojo rollercoaster, and using small daily creative projects to help keep us grounded

While we plan season three, there's plenty of fun and chats going on behind the scenes. In our first Winter Mini Ep, we're sharing what we're creating and planning, reading ad watching, and chatting life in general.Join the conversation on Instagram - instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigans

With end of financial year comes long days and long to-do lists, so what better way for two crafty finance nerds to procrastinate than to record a bonus podcast episode! We are chatting what we've achieved in the last six months, set some goals for this week, and start planning out projects for the next six months.

We made it! Another wonderful season wrapping up, and to celebrate, we have some very special guests to chat about creative habits and a crafty life. Thank you so much for joining us this season, and we look forward to seeing you in a couple of months with Season Three!

Instagram is our main stomping ground for both connection and memory keeping these days, rather than blogs. A freeze frame of a split second doesn't always tell the full story though, and today we are chatting about why we chose to share what we share, and also how scrolling instagram and comparing everyone else's perfection to our own daily life impacts our creative process

Before we were podcasters, before we were instagrammers, we were bloggers. We are diving into nostalgia and revisiting those days, and chatting about why we loved blogging as a format for sharing our projects, and as a way to connect.

Who knew craft could be so scary? Apparently it is! We fear dropping a project and regretting it later, we fear losing mojo half way through, we fear letting a project go, and we fear that good old fashioned worry of social media - a dint in our pride when we admit we "failed" on a project we've already shared publicly!Join the conversation on instagram at instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansFind today's show notes at http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=211

When the going gets tough, the crafters get going...to the project pile! Today we are chatting about how we use craft to ground us when we are feeling All The Things, and to help us process our big emotions. We also chat accountability and languishing - are we feeling flat because we haven't bee crafting or are we avoiding crafting because we feel flat?Join the conversation at instagram.com/ministryofcraftyshenanigansBONUS: a free download to help your own 3x3 practise in included with todays show notes at http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=210

Bringing together thread from episodes 3 & 4, we wrap up our discussions on productivity, and chat about how our perspectives vary, as well as prioritising creativity even when life gets busy.

Productivity seems to be the name of society's game, but what does that look like when you are a compulsive crafter, and don't have a 9-5? How does our self-image and identity play into our desire to appear productive (even if just to ourselves), and in the end, does it really matter?

Some projects have a clear purpose and outcome. some exist simply because they are fun to make. We chat over some of our projects that don't always have a tangible purpose, but are still crucial to our creative process. Along the way, we take a side trip into group projects, and creating as a tool for connection.The shownotes with today's links and downloads can be found at http://ministryofcraftyshenanigans.com/?p=207

We chat about some of our more iconic projects and more ambitious schemes, to try and tease out what it is about a project that tickles our crafty mojo and has us obsessed with it... or why we give up almost before we start.

Over the first two years of the pandemic, we've both had major shifts in our creative practices. In this episode, we chat about how Rach switched from perpetual procrastinator, to finishing all the things, and why Car suddenly filled a heap of journals. We talk word of the year, non-pandemic influences, and the importance of mindset and where we started from.

Thanks so much for listening in to our summer mini series! Today we are wrapping up and reflecting on what we worked on over summer, plus some reflections on how our New Years journal

What do a horse lead and a bottle of instant coffee have in common? This week we are chatting about the weirder parts of crafty life. Weird supplies, strange locations, oddball projects...join us as we laugh at ourselves and some of the more out of the box aspects of our pursuit of creative play.

This week we are wrapping up summer holidays and sharing some of our "currentlys" - what we are reading, watching, planning and starting.

Kicking off 2022 with some fun. This week are are looking at some of the more divide tribal wars of the crafty community - Bernina vs Janome, Canon vs Nikon, Aida vs Linen, and more

That's a wrap on season one! Today we are chatting about how this fun project has grown us personally, added new dimensions to our friendship, our favourite episodes, and our plans for season two. Thank you so much for joining us for season one!

This week we are chatting about online classes, and doing vs collecting them. We look at what makes us stick with a class, why we choose what we choose, and how we integrate them into our creative practice.

December is one of our biggest months of creative adventures, and today we share our plans for the month to come. We take you down the rabbit hole of planning and expanding on a project, and how we combine ideas to make an ambitious project list achievable. We also talk about the importance of creative play to each of us personally, and also how we use creative play in our friendship during busy seasons.

This week, we are chatting all about learning new things. Both of us have an incurable sense of creative curiosity, and if one of us is down a rabbit hole of new and shiny, the other isn't far behind. We talk classes vs winging it, how affordability & access impact our experiments, and perfectionism and growth.

This week, we chat about how our creative partnership is such a helpful part of our individual creative processes. We look at how accountability is a helpful way to leverage our partnership when we lack motivation, and why we value a partner being there to encourage us through the trickier parts of creativity. We also visit some of the projects we have on the go at the minute that are a joint effort, and how individual inspiration becomes a communal project with almost very little encouragement.

This week, we mark a decade of quilt camp - and our second cancelled camp - chatting about organised retreats, outgrowing those and creating our own, plus why we think camp is a cornerstone of our group's friendship.

This week, we talk about some of the daily projects we've taken on, and why making something every day is such an important part of our lives.