In this episode of the Craft to Career Podcast, I'm joined by Abby Glassenberg, founder of the Craft Industry Alliance — an organization created to help makers, designers, teachers, and creative entrepreneurs build real, sustainable businesses.

Many creatives start with a love of making, but quickly discover that success requires much more than talent. It requires education, connections, and support. Abby shares why she created the Craft Industry Alliance, what resources are available (both free and paid), and how makers can avoid common business mistakes by learning from others in the industry.

We also talk about the changing craft industry, what opportunities exist right now, and why community may be one of the most valuable business tools a creative entrepreneur can have.

Whether you want to publish quilt patterns, teach, design fabric, or grow a handmade business, this conversation will help you understand where to find support and how to move forward with confidence.

• Why Abby started the Craft Industry Alliance

• The biggest struggles creative entrepreneurs face

• Why business education matters for makers

• Free resources available to creatives

• The benefits of joining the Craft Industry Alliance

• How networking helps grow a creative business

• What the future of the craft industry looks like

Abby Glassenberg is the founder of the Craft Industry Alliance, a professional organization for craft professionals including designers, teachers, shop owners, writers, and manufacturers. She is also a long-time craft entrepreneur and podcast host dedicated to helping makers succeed in business.

What if getting a degree in design didn't mean writing a thesis—but instead meant building a real, revenue-generating business?

In this episode, I'm joined by Carina Gardner, who is doing something truly bold: she's opened her own university.

The University of Arts and Design is unlike any traditional university experience. Think of it as a trade school for creatives, where students learn practical, real-world skills—like keeping their books with QuickBooks, pricing their work, and running a profitable business.

Instead of writing a thesis for a master's degree, students are required to create and run a business.

Carina knows both sides of the academic world. She holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota and spent years watching talented creatives hear the same discouraging messages:

• "You can't earn money as a creative."

• "Don't study art—you'll just be a starving artist."

But Carina—and many of her peers—are living proof that those statements simply aren't true.

In this conversation, Carina shares how creatives can build multiple six-figure businesses by selling their art and designs—not by teaching others how to be creative, but by doing the work themselves.

This episode is an inspiring look at what's possible when creativity and business come together—with intention, structure, and confidence.

• Why Carina started the University of Arts and Design

• How this model differs from traditional art and design degrees

• What creatives actually need to learn to earn real income

• Why running a business replaces a thesis

• How artists and designers can build sustainable, profitable careers

If you've ever loved creating—but wondered how to make it financially sustainable—this episode will open your eyes to a new way forward.

🎧 Come meet Carina and learn all about the university she's built—and the future she believes creatives deserve.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dawn Jett, founder of Spruce Micro, a company I truly love and personally use.

Spruce Micro has one of the most compelling business models I've seen, and it solves a very real problem for so many people: stubborn skin concerns like dark spots, large pores, uneven skin tone, and texture issues that just don't respond to one-size-fits-all solutions.

Dawn shares why she started Spruce Micro, how the business works, and what makes it so different from traditional skincare clinics.

Here's the unique part: Spruce Micro doesn't rely on lasers or chemical peels. Instead, every client receives a fully customized skincare protocol, tailored specifically to their skin, lifestyle, and goals. No generic routines.

Everything is done virtually. Clients send in high-quality photos of their skin, Dawn and her team carefully look at your skin concerns, then they create a personalized morning and evening routine you can do entirely from home. And the results? Truly impressive.

Dawn has worked with thousands of clients across all skin tones and skin types, helping people achieve results that exceed what they thought was possible.

I've personally been working with Dawn for several months now, and I'm beyond pleased with my own results, which is why I asked her to come on the podcast. Not just to talk about skincare, but to break down the business model behind Spruce Micro.

In this conversation, we explore why Spruce Micro is such a strong, sustainable business:

• It solves a clear, specific problem

• It's membership-based, allowing flexibility while encouraging long-term loyalty

• It's highly personalized and difficult to replicate

These are the ingredients of a business built to last.

Whether you're interested in improving your complexion or you're a business owner looking for inspiration you can apply to your own work, this episode is packed with insight.