Podcast appearances and mentions of Sarah K Benning

This is a new series on the podcast where I interview all of the contemporary artists in my new book, The Art of Embroidery Design!Sarah K Benning dives into her experience as a contemporary embroidery artist, her transition from art student to accidental small business owner to a full-time job, and how her creative process and relationship with art have evolved. Sarah highlights the therapeutic aspects of embroidery, the challenges of sustaining a creative livelihood, and her new role helping to support creative entrepreneurs.Mentioned in this episode:Sarah K Benning's websiteSarah's instagramEmbroidered Life: The art of Sarah K Benning (written by Sarah Barnes)My upcoming book, The Art of Embroidery Design, publishing January 2025

I'm excited to invite you to my conversation with artist, embroiderer and DIY designer Sarah Benning. At first glance, Sarah's life seems like a vision from the past. She lives in a historic Victorian home in New Hampshire, and spends most of her days embroidering.  Although, in actuality Sarah is a successful contemporary artist, creating one of a kind hand stitched artworks, DIY kits and digital embroidery patterns. Sarah studied painting in college and despite being drilled in school that in order to be a successful artist you have to live in a big city, she decided to throw caution to the wind and leave Chicago and city life after graduation. She took a job as a nanny and in her downtime began experimenting with embroidery as a creative medium. She found that the lower cost of living and the less stressful lifestyle gave her more free time, which actually inspired her creative process and ingenuity in taking up an antiquated art form and bringing it into the 21st century. Documenting her work and process on Instagram in the early days of the app Sarah amassed an enormous online following that helped her begin selling her work. In just a year and a half, Sarah reached a point where she felt like she could make art her full time hustle. She has slowly built a sustainable art business by constantly evolving her work and offerings to keep up with the wants and needs of her customers. Now, both Sarah and her husband work full time to run the business. They are able to live in a small town and have much more flexibility in their lives. I am so inspired by Sarah's creative journey of taking a leap from side hustle to full time artist. I also really appreciate her journey of leaving the city and moving to a tiny community before realizing that a slightly larger small town felt more like home. Sarah's story speaks to both the intense amount of work it requires to build your own business and also the tremendous rewards of having more autonomy over your own life. I encourage you to peruse Sarah's online shop or consider taking one of her workshops. This is a story of making your passion your profession, being open and willing to make creative evolutions, rural entrepreneurship in the digital age, the lost art of embroidery, and so much more. I hope you enjoy it. For links to Sarah's work, social accounts and photos from her creative home and studio visit the Urban Exodus blog. Photo credit: Sanders Three

Sarah K. Benning is an artist and DIY designer working within the realm of contemporary embroidery. She creates of one of a kind hand stitched artworks and thoughtfully designed DIY kits and digital embroidery patterns. More from Sarah: https://sarahkbenning.com/ and on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkbenning/ Photos from the episode: https://www.instagram.com/artilluminatedpod/ More about the podcast: www.islamicillumination.com/podcast + 

This week on Top Artist Podcast we chat with embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning on her successful professional journey and about how her work has changed along the way. Benning tells us about her decision to embark on an art career. We hear about managing an 80-hour workweek to fill an Etsy shop, pursue new projects, and to keep up with demand. We think you’ll enjoy hearing about this artist’s relatable struggle with finding a work-life balance—especially when your work includes creating art that you love. See some of the artwork we discuss on the Top Artist Instagram Follow Sarah K. Benning’s work on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. And read more about some of the projects we discuss during our chat: Learn About the Illustrative Embroidery of Sarah K. Benning in This Gorgeous Book Embroidery Giveaway: Win a Book About Sarah K. Benning + a DIY Kit to Start Stitching Everything You Need to Start Stitching Your Own Embroidery Want to support My Modern Met and the Top Artist Podcast? Join our Membership Program and you'll have a hand in supporting creativity!

Episode 54 November 27 2020 On the Needles 1:46 Color Love Shawl by Veera Välimäki in Malabrigo Arroyo, Madeline Tosh Oeste, and Jo Sharp Pond #44. Next up: Boho Style Mosaic Cardigan by Irene Lin   Celtic Cardigan by Asita Krebs, Blue Brick Killarney Sock in electric avenue (sweater set)-- DONE!!   Simple baby hats in Yarn Loving Lady DK in Grandma’s Christmas Candy-- DONE!! (mostly)   Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes, The Sanguine Gryphon Eidos in A letter concerning toleration   Atlantica by Audrey Borrego (pom pom #34)  biches & buches petit lambswool in light grey and dark violet blue   On the Easel 17:31 Gouachevember, with prompts from @heyhooraydesign. 2021 Calendar project! On the Table 22:51 sweet potatoes with pecans and goat cheese   easy vegan gravy Vegan Gluten-Free Stuffing with Mushrooms and Pears   Turkey-Lentil Chili from Allrecipes.com Salmon with Kalamata & Parsley butter On the Nightstand 38:27 The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by HJ Parry (Charley and Rob) Language of Secrets by Ausma Zhenat Khan (audio) (esa and rachel) Just Us by Claudia Rakine Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid (Ashley and Drew) You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria (jasmine & ashton) Majesty by Katharine McGee (beatrice, samantha, jefferson Secrets and Lies by Selena Montgomery (Katelyn & Sebastian) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab Under the Tree 1:05:57   Craft-related:  Scarf cuff https://birdieparker.com/ Kits-- lady dye yarns Market baskets, if in SF, try Papenhausen Hardware or Glen Canyon Market. Seed packets, bulbs: try Floret or Hudson Valley Seed Co. Pencil sets from CW Pencil Enterprise or Carbon Crusader for custom pencils. Fancy detergent for handmades from Tangent GC available on Eileen Fisher. Kunst + Papier sketchbooks. Embroidery kits by Sarah K. Benning. Table-related: Rancho Gordo Beans Omnivore Book Club Diaspora Spice Co. Litchfield Distillery Maple Syrup Cutting boards like these or these Swedish dishcloths Book-related: iphone book case iphone fav book case   https://libro.fm/gift/?cmp=mmd18   https://modernmrsdarcy.com/bookmark-round-up/ Book tote like this one or this Bibliophile one! Book journal/planner Check out the new releases from Omnivore Books. And Chronicle Books. Chronicle has a Moby Dick pop-up book! https://www.chroniclebooks.com/collections/fiction/products/moby-dick  

Hear more from Sarah K. Benning on learning how to price her work, building a sustainable business online, diversifying income streams, the unexpected benefits of living in smaller towns, and how she manages a large social media following. Artwork Archive — Podcast sponsor, an all-in-one platform to run and organize your work and the most cost-effective way to manage a professional art career. Get started for under $5 / month with our exclusive discount at www.artworkarchive.com/beyond www.beyondthe.studio Intro and Ad Music by: Suahn Album Artwork by: David Colson

Hear more from Sarah K. Benning on learning how to price her work, building a sustainable business online, diversifying income streams, the unexpected benefits of living in smaller towns, and how she manages a large social media following. www.beyondthe.studio Intro and Ad Music by: Suahn Album Artwork by: David Colson

Sarah K. Benning joins us to share more on her artistic background, her contemporary embroidery style and what makes her workshop in this upcoming month so special. We are so excited for October! In October, The Crafter's Box is partnering with Sarah to create a contemporary needlepoint piece as well as teach a thorough and detailed workshop on how to sew a variety of different stitches to complete a beautiful, signature Sarah K. Benning pattern. This month we are partnering with Brooklyn-based, French designer Amelie Mancini to send embroidery carryall cases in Amelie's traditional style. Listen in to learn more about what's in store for October. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2016-10_featured-maker/

On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about embroidery as illustration with my guest, Sarah K. Benning. Sarah K. Benning is an American fiber artist with a nomadic studio practice.  Originally from Baltimore, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her BFA in Fiber and Material Studies in 2013.  Shortly after graduating, Sarah discovered her love for embroidery, started her own business and has never looked back. +++++ Today’s episode is sponsored by The Merriweather Council where makers learn that gainful self employment through craft can be a reality and how to make it happen in their own lives. Visit merriweathercouncil.com for more information. +++++ Please note that this show used to be called the While She Naps podcast. The name has changed, but the content and host have stayed the same. To get the full show notes for this episode, visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Meet with show host, Abby Glassenberg, each month for our Craft Business Roundtable, get access to courses and webinars taught by industry leaders, and much more.