
A knitwear designer & 🧶 dyer walk into their own yarn shop - ōSHən Knits & Fibres w/ Vanessa Fleming
Hey there, fiber friends! This week on Making Conversation, I’m bringing you a chat that is full of color, creativity, and coastal charm. I sat down with Vanessa Fleming, the brilliant mind behind ōSHən Knits & Fibres, a one-of-a-kind yarn shop in Astoria, Oregon. Vanessa is a marine biologist-turned-knitwear designer and yarn dyer, and her love for inclusivity, sustainability, and vibrant design shines through in everything she creates. We talk about her journey from knitting at sea (yes...
May 1, 2025
38 min

In this special episode of Making Conversation—originally recorded and posted on our YouTube channel in late 2024—host Jen welcomes two brilliant voices in the fiber arts world: Brit of KnotBadBrit and Bea of WoolDreamers. This episode is all about building inclusive, authentic community within the crafting space, and it’s filled with warmth, wisdom, and a whole lot of yarn love. Brit shares her journey to becoming a crochet designer and the founder of the Makers of Color Collective, and talk...
Apr 16, 2025
58 min

🌟 This episode was originally published on the Making Conversation YouTube channel on Nov 23, 2024. 🌟 Makers need snacks! We also need to take care of ourselves because if we do not, how will we take care of others? That part is so VERY important, especially right now. I popped into my kitchen to record with the WONDERFUL Chef Andreya Nightingale who shares two easy and oh-so-very delicious snacks with us. We also take the time to talk through some ways to cope with our feelings right now aro...
Mar 5, 2025
49 min

I jumped in the car and headed to Portland for Sacred Sheep—a vibrant maker festival brought to you by the team at Ritual Dyes! If you love yarn, fiber arts, pottery, handmade jewelry, inspiring classes, and creative community, this festival is for you. In this episode of Making Conversation, I chat with some of the incredible makers who vended and attended Sacred Sheep (learn more here). From indie dyers to fiber artists, ceramicists, and beyond, this event celebrates the heart of the maker ...
Feb 26, 2025
1 hr 1 min

In this special episode, I hit the road to Portland, OR, to sit down with Rachel, the creative mind behind Ritual Dyes and founder of Sacred Sheep, a festival dedicated to makers, especially those passionate about the fiber arts. From discovering her love for knitting and hand-dyeing yarn to the creation of a highly curated, community-focused fiber arts festival that celebrates all things making, you'll love getting to know Rachel! Grab your WIP and hit play! Psssst...tickets are still ava...
Oct 19, 2024
44 min

The world of crafting and making should be a space where everyone feels welcome and empowered. However, there are barriers—both visible and invisible—that can exclude or marginalize makers with disabilities. In this episode I am joined by the super fabulous Beth Gorishek, The Adaptive Knitter & Kira Dulaney of Kirk K Designs and we chat about the ways in which ableism manifests in our community and, more importantly, how we can actively work to dismantle these barriers. If you prefer to w...
Oct 5, 2024
31 min

We're back with some wonderful Fall episodes to celebrate hunkering down with your current favorite WIP and enjoying an episode of the Making Conversation podcast. ;) Just a heads up, this episode is VERY visual. If you prefer to watch, pop over to our YouTube channel. xoxo In this episode, I am so lucky to chat with Amy Swanson of June Cashmere and learn all about the special goats and farmers they work with to create their beautiful yarn. We then get to learn about knitting a wedding dre...
Sep 28, 2024
53 min

Flock Fiber Festival + La Mercerie - Special spaces for makers w/ Jess Povenmire & Jen Joyce, ep 164
To know Jess is to love Jess and Jess' love of this special fiber arts community is very evident in everything she does. From in her yarn shop on Bainbridge Island, WA to Flock Fiber Festival, a yarn show in Seattle, WA, celebrating a love of all things wool, the fibers arts community is so very lucky to have these two spaces to come together and celebrate these things that we love and bring us the most joy! Jen hopped on a ferry and headed out to Bainbridge to chat with Jess about La Merce...
Jul 26, 2024
35 min
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