Workshops Unleashed: How to Turn Your Craft into a Teaching Business with Tori McElwain

What happens when you walk away from a dream career in fashion to pursue a life of freedom, creativity, and true joy? In this episode, I chat with Christine Lindebak, a talented garment sewist, pattern designer, and upcycling advocate who left the high-end retail world of Rodeo Drive to build a more meaningful creative business—on her own terms. Christine shares her inspiring journey of transitioning from luxury fashion to sewing and teaching full-time. Now living in Spain, she works where and when she wants, creating one-of-a-kind pieces and encouraging others to sew boldly and sustainably. We talk about: Why she walked away from a picture-perfect career The unexpected things that helped her find success How upcycling fuels her creativity and purpose What it really takes to build a creative business you love Encouragement for anyone considering a big leap into their passion If you’ve ever dreamed of starting a creative career—or wondered if it’s worth the risk—this episode is a must-listen. Christine is proof that the hard work is real, but the reward is so worth it. 🎧 Tune in now and get ready to be inspired! 🎧 Resources & Links: Christine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewingandthecity/ Fit Clinic: https://www.sewingandthecity.co/fit-clinic47934425 📧 FloDesk – My favorite email platform! It’s beautiful, beginner-friendly, and one of the most affordable options for creatives. Try it for 50% off your first year. 👉 Click here to check it out  🎓 Kajabi – The all-in-one platform I use to host my courses and memberships. It’s powerful, intuitive, and perfect for creators who want to build and scale with ease. 👉 Click here to start your free trial

Do you love quilting and dream of teaching others—but feel unsure about where to start or whether you’re even qualified? You’re not alone, and today’s guest is here to guide you through it all! In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and fellow quilterpreneur, Shannon Brinkley. Shannon has built a thriving career around teaching quilting, and she’s passionate about helping others do the same. Whether you want to teach in-person workshops, partner with quilt shops or guilds, or offer your own online courses, Shannon shares how you can turn your love for quilting into a meaningful (and profitable!) teaching business. You’ll hear: How Shannon got started as a quilting teacher What opportunities are out there for quilting instructors today Common myths and doubts about teaching—and how to overcome them Details about her free 3-day event that shows you exactly how to teach what you love and start earning from it If you’ve ever thought about teaching quilting or sharing your skills in a bigger way, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧 Resources & Links: Sign up for Shannon’s FREE 3-Day Event: [CLICK HERE] 📧 FloDesk – My favorite email platform! It’s beautiful, beginner-friendly, and one of the most affordable options for creatives. 👉 Click here to check it out 🎓 Kajabi – The all-in-one platform I use to host my courses and memberships. It’s powerful, intuitive, and perfect for creators who want to build and scale with ease. 👉 Click here to start your free trial

What started as a college assignment turned into a viral business success. In this episode, I sit down with Monique Rapier of MMR Beauty, the powerhouse behind a hair oil brand that keeps selling out—again and again. After years of struggling with hair that wouldn’t grow, bald spots, and breakage, Monique dove into research and trial-and-error to create a formula that completely transformed her hair. Once she cracked the code, she began hand-making her product in small batches and shipping them herself. Fast forward to today—Monique now partners with fulfillment centers to keep up with demand, and her business has taken on a life of its own. Once she cracked the code and after constant questions from her followers asking, "what product are you using?" Monique finally started her own company. She began selling the product, doing it all on her own in a small apartment. Fast forward to today - she now has a warehouse and fulfillment team to keep up with demand. Her business has taken a life of its own.  In this inspiring and practical conversation, Monique shares what it really takes to grow a product-based business from scratch. From her formulation process to her fulfillment journey, she’s an open book. She also dives into the characteristics she’s had to embrace—like vulnerability, consistency, and building trust—to grow an audience that keeps coming back. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Monique formulated her own hair oil from scratch The steps she took to move from kitchen batches to fulfillment centers What it really takes to have a product that sells How she grew (and keeps growing) on TikTok and social media The key traits that helped her build trust and loyalty with her audience If you're dreaming of launching your own product or want a behind-the-scenes look at building a brand that connects and converts, this episode is a must-listen. Links:  MMR Beauty - Monique's hair oil mask that helps you grow long, healthy hair. Kajabi - Build online courses and membership with the BEST platform out there! FloDesk - Use code QUILTERSCANDY and save 50% off your first year.

In this heartfelt episode, I join Will Rogers, the editor of The Quilters — a Netflix short film that tells the moving story of incarcerated men in a Missouri prison who sew quilts for children in need. Will shares how he landed this unique editing role, the behind-the-scenes challenges and beauty of shaping such a powerful narrative, and what he discovered about the human spirit along the way — both from the quilters and the prisoners.  This episode is a beautiful reminder of the transformation that comes from creating with purpose and the unexpected places where hope and art intersect. Whether you're a quilter, filmmaker, or creative entrepreneur, this episode will leave you inspired to look at your craft — and your purpose — with new eyes. Kajabi - My go-to for online education, courses, and memberships. FloDesk - Start your email marketing with the best provider!

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Tori McElwain, quilter, educator, and author of Workshops Unleashed. We dive into Tori’s journey into quilting and teaching, how she transitioned into leading workshops, and why sharing your skills with others can open amazing doors for your business. Links Mentioned: Workshops Unleashed Book by Tori McElwain Tori’s Website: The Quilt Patch by Tori Kajabi - My go-to for online education, courses, and memberships. FloDesk - Start your email marketing with the best provider!

Let’s talk about email lists—why you need one, how to grow it, and what to actually send. I’ll walk you through my best-performing opt-ins (including the one I keep sharing even though I think everyone already has it), ideas for what to say in your emails, and how to sound like a real human being—not a robot. Plus, I’ll share the #1 rule when it comes to building your list: be kind to yourself. Small steps matter. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why email is more powerful than social media (when done right) How to pick an opt-in that attracts the right people The real secret to writing emails people actually enjoy My go-to email content ideas when I’m not sure what to say How to get started with my course, FloDesk Made Easy Resources mentioned: FloDesk Made Easy – My course to help you create opt-ins and send emails with confidence Free Gingham Quilt Pattern – My most popular opt-in! Kajabi Course - My FREE course teaching how to use Kajabi for selling online courses and memberships  

If you’re running a business—or dreaming of starting one—there’s one thing that can make or break your success: solving a real problem. In this episode, I’m diving into why identifying the specific problem your business solves is so powerful, and how it shapes everything from your marketing to your products. We’ll talk about: Why a “nice idea” isn’t enough How to figure out the actual problem you solve (hint: it might not be what you think) What happens when you get crystal clear on your audience’s pain points Simple ways to test if your offer is truly meeting a need Whether you're just starting out or feeling stuck in your current offer, this episode will help you get back to the root of what makes a business thrive: solving a problem people actually care about. 🎧 Tune in and let’s uncover the heart of your business together. LINKS:FloDesk – Try my email marketing platform and save 50% off your first year! Kajabi – Looking for a platform to create and sell courses or a membership? Try Kajabi with my affiliate link here, and I will share my free Kajabi course, on how to use Kajabi to set up your courses and/or membership. 👉 Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! It helps more creative entrepreneurs find the show, and get great guests for you to enjoy!

Have business questions? You’re not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing the most essential business tips that will help you streamline, grow, and succeed. Top Business Tips Covered in This Episode: ✅ Solve a problem – The foundation of a successful business starts with identifying and addressing a real need. ✅ Focus on ONE product – Selling multiple things at once can be overwhelming. Start with one strong offer. ✅ Create quality content that captures interest – I’ll share strategies on how to create content that truly engages your audience. ✅ Build an email list – Social media is great, but you need to bring your audience off the platform and into your own space. No matter what stage of business you’re in, it’s always a good idea to pause, evaluate, and ensure you’re focusing your time and energy where it makes the biggest impact. Links & Resources Mentioned: 📩 FloDesk – My go-to email marketing platform! Use code QUILTERSCANDY to save 50% off your first year. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review for the Craft to Career Podcast! Your feedback helps more entrepreneurs like you grow their dream business. Got a business question? Email me at [email protected]—I’d love to hear from you!

If you've ever struggled with saying yes to new opportunities, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear how Christina Lee, of Sweet Potato Quilts, leans into her passions while balancing a busy, fulfilling creative life. 📢 Listen now and get inspired to embrace your own creative journey! Links From This Episode: Sweet Potato Quilts Website - CLICK HEREFloDesk – Try my email marketing platform and save 50% off your first year! Kajabi – Looking for a platform to create and sell courses or a membership? Try Kajabi with my affiliate link here, and I will share my free Kajabi course, on how to use Kajabi to set up your courses and/or membership. 👉 Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! It helps more creative entrepreneurs find the show, and get great guests for you to enjoy!  

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a creative passion into a thriving business? In this episode, I chat with Mike from Legit Kits, a Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) company that was recently featured on Shark Tank! Mike shares his journey—from balancing his day job to scaling his FPP business and landing a spot on national television. He offers invaluable insights into growing a creative business, overcoming challenges, and staying true to your vision. We dive into: ✨ Mike’s career outside of quilting and how it influences his business ✨ The evolution of Legit Kits and what’s driven its success ✨ Behind-the-scenes of Shark Tank—what the experience was really like ✨ Practical tips for creatives looking to build and expand their own businesses ✨ The mindset shifts that helped Mike push past obstacles and keep growing Mike is real, down-to-earth, and full of motivation for entrepreneurs and makers alike. Whether you're just starting or looking for fresh inspiration, this episode is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss! 🎧 Listen now and get inspired to take your creative business to the next level! 🔗 Links & Resources: Legit Kits Website Follow Mike on Instagram Watch the Shark Tank Episode FloDesk - Try my email marketing platform and save 50% off your first year! Kajabi - Looking for a platform to create and sell courses or a membership? Try Kajabi with my affiliate link jere, and I will share my free Kajabi course, on how to use Kajabi to set up your courses and/or membership. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! It helps more creative entrepreneurs find the show.