In honor of Juneteenth, the day that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., I’m posting my conversation with Dano Wall, the artist who created the Tubman Stamp that allows the likeness of American hero, Harriet Tubman, to be printed on the $20 bill.

Artist and activist Diana Weymar discusses how was one of many artists who took note of President Trump’s “stable genius” pronouncement and got inspired to create a stitching project that has includes many others.

Making a living as an artist can be tricky with the cost of art school on the rise and lucrative art jobs hard to find. Despite this challenging backdrop, Dayna Walton, a 21-year-old Grand Rapids artist has set herself up well to hit the ground running.

Liz Hilton discusses her 3D knit products she makes at her KNITit studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Learn how Beryl Bartkus created meaningful work for her daughter, Erin, and others with developmental disabilities.

On this episode of the podcast I geek out about wood type and paper and ink with letterpress printmaker Amos Kennedy, owner and chief printer at Kennedy Prints in Detroit. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

Interview with Lori Evesque, owner of Natural Cycles Farm in southern Allegan County, discussing raising fresh food, fiber and plants to sell at local farmers markets and her yarn dyeing workshops.

Interview with 22-year-old Martin Schneider, an art student in Cologne, Germany who designed a 3-D printed printing press and shared his design files for free online.

Interview with Mark Newport, known for his hand embroidered comic book covers and knitted superhero costumes.

Interview with Katrina Rodabaugh, fiber artist and author of the forthcoming book, “Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More.” Rodabaugh is one of the zen stitchers on the front lines of this important and gentle movement that bucks the trend of overconsumption and throw-away fashion.

Mike and Terry McGarr discuss Mike's plan to revive a bit of family weaving history. The 27-year-old is the great-grandson of Wallace and Melvina McGarr, who were owners of the Norwood Loom Co. for more than 40 years beginning in 1951.

Felicia Lo Wong shares the story of how she built her SweetGeorgia yarn business.

Psychologist and crochet designer Sandra Eng recognizes discusses her new book “Crochet Kaleidoscope: Shifting Shapes and Shades Across 100 Motifs,” and the role handcrafts can play as a means of coping with stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Interview with Josie Gamper, who sells her own brand of popular watercolors under the name RedwoodWillow. Josie shares the story of how she built her business as a side gig and now operates it full-time from the living room of her Connecticut home.

We go behind the scenes of the fascinating art career of Drew Sheneman, a nationally syndicated political cartoonist who started writing and illustrating children’s picture books a couple years ago.

Bethany Nixon, owner of Reware Vintage and co-organizer of the upcoming Detroit Urban Craft Fair (DUCF), discuses last-minute tips for handmade business owners who are vending this holiday season and talk about what it takes to produce a craft fair.

Interview with Gloria Kirk-Hann, who takes us behind the scenes of her 2017 ArtPrize entry “Fragments of Old Bones; New Soul” a fiber art installation that is a visual manifestation of her artistic journey through divorce, loss and grief and finding love again.

Interview with Patricia Constantine, who entered a piece titled “Sineater” in the 2017 ArtPrize competition that makes a bold statement about American politics and education.

Melodee Jackson discusses the creation of her intricate ArtPrize 2017 work, “Early January on the Pearl Street Bridge.”

Some artists make art to entertain and amuse, while activist artists like Ti-Rock Moore and Keyon Lovett make art to challenge and raise awareness about injustices in society. Both artists discuss their ArtPrize entries inspired by the continuing Flint water crisis.

Self-taught West Michigan abstract painter Mary-Catheryn Baker discusses her life and her entry into ArtPrize 2017.

Interview with Jeana Eve Klein, about her surprising path to ArtPrize 2017 in Grand Rapids.

Angela Smith, owner of Houston, Texas-based tool and supply business Purl & Loop discusses the unexpected turn of events that led to her start business.

Interview with Marlee Cook-Parrott, who used the Instagram app to promote her business and amassed a strong following quickly.