S5 E4: Ergonomics for Comfortable Crafting with Physical Therapist Andrea Lui
Send us a textIn this episode of The SweetGeorgia Show, Felicia Lo welcomes Andrea Lui for a thoughtful conversation about crafting and health. Together, they explore the importance of ergonomics while we craft and share preventive measures to help ensure many years of comfortable, joyful making. Andrea also speaks to the powerful role crafting can play in supporting our mental health.Andrea shares her journey from casual crafter to physical therapist, now specializing in craft-related injuries, and emphasizes the importance of staying aware of how we move while we create. They touch on common concerns like carpal tunnel syndrome and offer practical tips to support a sustainable, daily crafting practice.Whether you knit, spin, or weave, this episode is a gentle reminder that caring for your body is just as essential as the work you bring into the world.TakeawaysCrafting can transform your relationship with your craft.Knitting became a retreat from the busy world.It's important to connect with the crafting community.Many crafters experience pain but don't seek help.Preventative measures are key to avoiding crafting injuries.Posture and ergonomics significantly impact crafting comfort.Choosing the right tools can enhance crafting experience.Carpal tunnel syndrome is common among crafters.Mental health benefits are significant in crafting.Awareness of body mechanics is crucial for long-term crafting.
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42:31
S5 E3: Weaving a Stronger Community with Radical Weavers (Mairi Breslin & Peter Dickie)
Send us a textIn this episode of the Sweet Georgia Show, Felicia explores the work of Radical Weavers, a community weaving studio in Stirling, Scotland. Founded by Mairi Breslin, the studio supports young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds through weaving workshops and inclusive teaching methods. Peter Dickie, Mairi’s son, runs the studio’s commercial offerings and community work, showcasing the transformative power of weaving.The Radical Weavers organization, which started as a small hobby, has grown into a community hub that offers therapeutic weaving workshops and support for individuals facing challenges. Through inclusive and inspiring programs, the organization empowers people to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. The Radical Weavers’ commitment to diversity and inclusion has earned them recognition and support from the community.
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S5 E2: Ease Grief, Create Community, Inspire Generosity with Loose Ends (Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic)
Send us a textLoose Ends is an everyone-is-welcome movement that aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with textile projects people have left undone due to death or disability.In this conversation, Felicia Lo speaks with Masey Kaplan and Jen Simonic, co-founders of the Loose Ends project, which connects crafters to finish projects left behind by loved ones who have passed away. They discuss their backgrounds, the inception of Loose Ends, and how the project has grown to include thousands of volunteers across the globe. The conversation highlights the emotional impact of crafting, the importance of community support, and the future aspirations of the organization as they navigate challenges and seek to expand their reach.TakeawaysLoose Ends was born from a desire to help those grieving.The project connects crafters to unfinished projects left behind.Community support is vital for the growth of Loose Ends.The organization has grown to over 33,000 finishers in 74 countries.Crafting serves as a universal language of comfort and connection.The founders emphasize the importance of planning for unfinished projects.Loose Ends aims to expand beyond textiles into other crafts.Volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the project.The organization is adapting to challenges in the crafting community.Crafting fosters genuine human connections and kindness.
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Season 5, Episode 1: Welcome Back to the SweetGeorgia Show
Send us a textThe SweetGeorgia Show is set to return with a fresh perspective, aiming to explore the deeper intentions behind crafting. This isn't just a podcast about textiles and handcrafts; it's a conversation about the innovation and identity that these crafts represent. We want to understand how the act of making things shapes our identities and how these identities transcend geographical boundaries.In this episode of The SweetGeorgia Show, Felicia Lo reflects on her journey as a maker and the evolution of her brand, SweetGeorgia. She discusses the importance of community in crafting, the challenges and joys of creating, and the renewed focus of the podcast on meaningful conversations about the act of making. With a commitment to fostering connection and creativity, Felicia invites listeners to join her on this new adventure in exploring the stories behind crafting.TakeawaysThe SweetGeorgia Show is celebrating its 100th episode.Felicia started the podcast to reconnect with her craft after a break.The podcast has evolved alongside SweetGeorgia's offerings.Creating videos for YouTube was pivotal for Felicia's teaching.SweetGeorgia now offers over 115 video-based courses.The podcast aims to explore the deeper meaning of crafting.Felicia emphasizes the importance of community in crafting.Listeners are encouraged to engage through comments and Discord.The podcast will be available in both video and audio formats.SweetGeorgia's mission is to spread joy through color and craft.
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Episode 097: The Encouraging, Passionate Spinning Teacher with Debbie Held
Send us a textThis week Felicia is talking with writer and spinner: Debbie Held from Atlanta, Georgia. If you've been following our news at SweetGeorgia this year we created a brand new Ambassador Program this past August and introduced nine people in the knitting and fibre arts world to help SweetGeorgia share the love of colour and craft and Debbie is one of those ambassadors. Debbie was chosen as an ambassador due to her passion for handspinning and her ability to share it with the community in such an encouraging and inviting way. She has written for Interweave, Schacht Spindle Company, Spin Off, Ply magazine, and more. And her writing has led to teaching opportunities all over the world. We hope you'll join us for the chat today! "...finding spinning has brought me an entirely new, incredibly rewarding life... I just feel lucky." - Debbie Held on how her life drastically changed when she was introduced to the art of spinning In this episode, we talk about: 1:24 Debbie chats about what got her into spinning in the first place 5:41 Felicia asks Debbie how she combined her creative life and her professional life 9:08 Debbie chats about how spinning helped her in her darkest times in life 13:15 How Debbie encourages people who want to spin for fun or for a career 17:30 Felicia chats about her new e-spinner with Debbie and how spinning can look different for everyone depending on their circumstances in life 20:57 What other kinds of fibre arts are in Debbie's life? 22:03 What kind of spinning trends Debbie is seeing lately 24:53 Debbie and Felicia chat about being multi-craftual makers 25:49 Debbie chats about the fear of creating and how it can hold you back 29:48 Debbie chats about her column "Her Handspun Habit" 34:24 Debbie chats about her exciting trip to Scotland to research some very rare spinning wheels 44:18 Where you can find Debbie online 47:34 Felicia's Final Thoughts Here's Where You Can Find Debbie: Website: www.debbieheld.com Instagram: @doodler01 Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/doodler01 Thanks for Listening! Thank you so much for joining us this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your fellow fibre art friends. And if you like what we're doing here, please leave a rating and review on iTunes for the show. We read each and every email and bit of feedback, whether it’s on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, so we welcome your comments. Thank you all so much for your continued support of our show! Until next time, enjoy colour! Music Credits: Playbook of Happiness – by RimskyMusic Click to subscribe on iTunes
Join Felicia Lo, founder of SweetGeorgia Yarns, as she explores the sweet spot between craft, creativity, and colour together with some of the most inspiring knitters, spinners, designers, shop owners, and makers in this handmade community.
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