Shows
Creative CrossroadsMusic, Quilts & Synesthesia with Chris DaviesShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, hosts Ellyn and Catherine welcome their friend Chris Davies, a talented quilter and musician. Chris shares her journey from music to quilting, discussing her creative process, the impact of synesthesia on her art, and her inspirations. The conversation delves into how Chris transitioned from music to visual arts, her love for improvisation in quilting, and her thoughts on embracing the creative process without fear of failure. Listeners will find insights into Chris's unique approach to both quilting and music, as well as her philosophy on creativity and...
2025-11-0638 minCreative CrossroadsCulinary Creativity with Chef Lucas TrahanShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, host Alan introduces esteemed chef Lucas Trahan, the chef de cuisine at Ever, a Michelin-star restaurant. Lucas shares his journey from a young boy cracking eggs with his mom to becoming a rising star pastry chef in 2021. He reflects on the pressures of high standards set by his family and mentors and how these experiences shaped his approach to creativity and excellence in the kitchen. Lucas discusses the importance of authenticity in his culinary creations and the balance between maintaining high standards and fostering a positive, respectful...
2025-10-3041 minCreative CrossroadsExploring Personal Curriculums: Passion Projects and Creative PursuitsShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, hosts Catherine and Ellyn discuss their new personal curriculums and the subjects they are passionate about learning. Ellyn delves into her fascination with Frank Lloyd Wright, sharing insights from her visit to his winter camp in Arizona and the new Magnolia Network show, 'The Last Wright.' She also talks about collecting books on Wright's architecture. Catherine, on the other hand, is focused on updating her sexuality course, with a particular emphasis on the topic of consent. This work has led her to explore the evolution of s...
2025-10-2926 minCreative CrossroadsExploring Creative Curiosity: A Conversation with Weaver Kathie RoigShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, hosts Ellen and Catherine welcome weaver and fiber artist Kathie Roig. Kathie shares her extensive journey of over 30 years in the field of weaving, exploring different studios and the evolution of her creative spaces. She discusses her process, from early days working in a small guest bedroom to operating large looms in various studios across different locations, and now working from her home studio. Kathie delves into her experiments with textile techniques, particularly warp painting and double weave methods. This inspiring conversation highlights Kathy's persistent curiosity, willingness...
2025-09-2656 minCreative CrossroadsCreativity, Community, and Crossroads: Season Two is HereShare your thoughts & suggestions!Welcome to Season 2 of Creative Crossroads! In this episode, hosts Ellyn Zinsmeister and Catherine Dutton introduce exciting new changes, including the option to watch on YouTube. They provide a sneak peek into the season's diverse lineup, featuring quilters, visual artists, a Michelin-star chef, and a fiber artist. Ellyn and Catherine also share updates on their personal and creative lives, from quilt entries to participating in Fodder School, and more! Join them as they explore the expansive world of creativity and engage in enriching conversations.00:00 Welcome to Creative Crossroads...
2025-09-1918 minCreative CrossroadsJoin us at Remix & Stitch Lab!We are thrilled to announce their first-ever 'Remix and Stitch Lab,' a five-day creativity retreat from September 3-7, 2025, at Sunset Retreat Center in Sunset, Texas. This picturesque location offers a perfect escape with luxurious accommodations, accommodating meals, and vast workspaces. Attendees will enjoy a variety of workshops led by inspiring artists, including mixed media sessions with Dory Patrick and improv comedy exercises from McKinney's Comedy Arena. Both Ellen and Catherine will also host their own creative sessions, with Ellen leading an improv quilting workshop and Catherine teaching block printing and mixed media artist trading cards. All-inclusive at $999, the...
2025-03-0711 minCreative CrossroadsSeason 1 Finale and ReflectionsShare your thoughts & suggestions!Creative Crossroads: Season 1 Finale and ReflectionsIn the final episode of Season 1 of the Creative Crossroads podcast, hosts Catherine and Ellyn reflect on key learnings from their journey exploring creativity with various guests. They identify common themes such as the essential nature of creativity, the importance of the creative process over the final product, the role of community, managing creative blocks, balancing structure and spontaneity, and the evolution of creative practices. The conversation delves into individual episodes, highlighting insights from guests like Dusty, Amanda, Dori, Mel, Charles, and Amelia. Catherine and...
2025-01-3056 minCreative CrossroadsAmelia Knott on Digital Spaces, Therapy and CreativityShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, we welcome Amelia Knott, a registered psychotherapist and art therapist based in British Columbia. Amelia shares her rich journey from childhood art experiences to becoming a multifaceted professional encompassing art therapy, content creation, and authorship. Her first book, 'The Art of Thriving Online,' emphasizes navigating the digital space using creativity as a tool for well-being. Amelia discusses her creative process, the importance of focusing on the experience rather than the outcome, and how she incorporates unconventional materials into her work. She also elaborates on art therapy...
2025-01-1347 minCreative CrossroadsCharles Cameron: Innovation and Inspiration in Modern QuiltingShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, we welcome Charles Cameron, a modern quilter and engineer based in North Carolina. Charles shares how he balances his analytical day job with his vibrant quilting practice. Cameron's quilts, featuring bright colors and modern designs, have been showcased at QuiltCon and have won awards, including the first-place ribbon for his Sudoku quilt in 2022. He talks about his creative process, which blends structure and spontaneity, and how his design wall and PowerPoint help him visualize and iterate on ideas. Charles also discusses the influences from his childhood, how...
2025-01-0642 minCreative CrossroadsMel Beach: Creativity as Problem SolvingShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, Ellyn and Catherine sit down with award-winning fiber and mixed media artist Mel Beach. Mel shares insights into her creative journey, which began in her childhood without cable TV and involvement in activities like Girl Scouts and 4-H. This early exposure led Mel to a lifelong passion for crafting and problem-solving, particularly through fiber arts. She discusses her innovative approach of using dice to inspire her 100-day project. Mel delves into how she balances structure with spontaneity in her work, often finding inspiration in the world around...
2024-12-2032 minCreative CrossroadsFinding Joy in Creation: Insights from Artist Dori PatrickShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, Ellyn and Catherine welcome mixed media artist Dori Patrick, who shares her inspiring creative journey. Dori, hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, owned a collaborative art studio and storefront called the Dreaming Bear for 12 years. It was filled with creative workshops, parties, and community outreach projects. After closing Dreaming Bear, Dori transitioned to working from a home studio, where she rediscovered her personal creative process and style. She discusses her upbringing in a creative family, the need to express herself through making things, and her belief that everyone c...
2024-12-0747 minCreative CrossroadsExperiment and Take Chances with Amanda DunbarShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode of Creative Crossroads, hosts Ellyn and Catherine interview Amanda Dunbar, oil painter, printmaker, and PhD candidate in art history. Amanda shares insights into her creative process, emphasizing the importance of experimentation and learning from failures. She discusses how her journey in art evolved, including her foray into fiber arts during her pregnancy and the impact of the pandemic on her work. Amanda explains how she balances multiple projects, often working on several at once, including commissioned pieces. She provides valuable advice on overcoming creative blocks and self-doubt, stressing the significance...
2024-11-2532 minCreative CrossroadsEmbracing Your Creative Confidence: Dusty Allendorf's JourneyShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this episode, Dusty Allendorf shares personal experiences on how she has grown to be more assertive over time. Highlighting her personal development and creative journey, Dusty discusses how overcoming these challenges have positively impacted her life. We also he discusses innovation in her quilting integrating laser cutting and hand dyed fabrics. Thanks for joining us at Creative Crossroads! Keep creating and we'll see you again soon!
2024-11-0928 minCreative CrossroadsWelcome to Creative Crossroads: Meet Your Hosts Ellyn & CatherineShare your thoughts & suggestions!In this introductory episode of Creative Crossroads, Catherine and Ellyn introduce themselves and their vision for the podcast. They discuss their backgrounds as lifelong creators, their passion for community-building, and their unique perspectives on creativity. The episode lays the foundation for future discussions with talented artists and explores how creativity impacts both the individual and the community. Join Catherine and Ellyn as they invite you into a vibrant community of makers and share insights that will inspire your own creative journey.00:00 Welcome to Creative Crossroads00:33 Meet Your Hosts: Catherine...
2024-10-2407 min