Emily Blumenthal - The "What Now" Moment
02/15/24 • 40 min
Handbag Designer 101 – is synonymous with Emily Blumenthal as she has done it all. What makes her different is that she takes her creations one step further in teaching not only HOW to design...but what to do next with your creations. Born and raised as a New Jersey Girl, she now makes her home on the lower East side of New York.
(2:55) It was the entrepreneurial spirit that her parents instilled in her that got her on her way to where she is today. Hear how ADHD helped her along the journey.
(4:24) Who else was an influence on her? Well, both parents of course in the garment industry...and there was more as her whole family were entrepreneurs!
(6:05) What were her first creations? Well...first she learned how to find things to sell.
(7:28) So, why did she choose to design handbags? Necessity is the mother of invention – combined with dance parties!
(8:47) What’s her process for design? She tells us about this and how Kate Spade had a hand in things with her.
(13:50) Learn the difference between a utility patent and a design patent!
(14:50) How are the various designers she works with? They are “all the same”! And she offers words of caution and advise for those who create.
(16:55) Emily works with investors and provides counsel to designers about the future. How does this work? She also explains why items in color cost more than items in black or white.
(22:35) And then there’s the “what Now” moment. Emily explains what this is and how to manage it.
(23:30) Emily is a podcasted...Handbag Design 101. She takes us inside this show.
(25:41) Why did the New York Times call her the Handbag Fairy Godmother?
(39:59) The handbag awards launched the careers of multiple designers. Emily tells us about some of them!
(31:55) Kidpreneurship and Savvy Suzanna. What are these? Emily tells us.
(35:54) What’s next for Emily? How about an Out of Office on her email!
(37:56) And what didn’t I ask...?
(39:00) How do you find Emily? HBD101 on Facebook and Handbag Designed on everything else.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.
Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform...and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.
Handbag Designer 101 – is synonymous with Emily Blumenthal as she has done it all. What makes her different is that she takes her creations one step further in teaching not only HOW to design...but what to do next with your creations. Born and raised as a New Jersey Girl, she now makes her home on the lower East side of New York.
(2:55) It was the entrepreneurial spirit that her parents instilled in her that got her on her way to where she is today. Hear how ADHD helped her along the journey.
(4:24) Who else was an influence on her? Well, both parents of course in the garment industry...and there was more as her whole family were entrepreneurs!
(6:05) What were her first creations? Well...first she learned how to find things to sell.
(7:28) So, why did she choose to design handbags? Necessity is the mother of invention – combined with dance parties!
(8:47) What’s her process for design? She tells us about this and how Kate Spade had a hand in things with her.
(13:50) Learn the difference between a utility patent and a design patent!
(14:50) How are the various designers she works with? They are “all the same”! And she offers words of caution and advise for those who create.
(16:55) Emily works with investors and provides counsel to designers about the future. How does this work? She also explains why items in color cost more than items in black or white.
(22:35) And then there’s the “what Now” moment. Emily explains what this is and how to manage it.
(23:30) Emily is a podcasted...Handbag Design 101. She takes us inside this show.
(25:41) Why did the New York Times call her the Handbag Fairy Godmother?
(39:59) The handbag awards launched the careers of multiple designers. Emily tells us about some of them!
(31:55) Kidpreneurship and Savvy Suzanna. What are these? Emily tells us.
(35:54) What’s next for Emily? How about an Out of Office on her email!
(37:56) And what didn’t I ask...?
(39:00) How do you find Emily? HBD101 on Facebook and Handbag Designed on everything else.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.
Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform...and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.
Previous Episode
Linda Diak - Stronger
Only coming to quilting 5 years ago, Linda Diak has had a life full of creativity. She’s raised and sheered her own sheep for fibers to spin. She’s crafted knitting needles and crochet hooks, and beautiful bespoke art quilts. Her newfound love for quilting began at a chance opportunity to sit down at a long arm and well...let’s let her tell you more.
(2:00) How did she learn to sew? Her grandmother was a tailor and furrier who took the reins. However, it wasn’t easy because grandma did it faster! Her mother was a maker too.
(3:45) Marietta Jones was quite an influence on both Linda and her grandmother. Founder of the Shuttle Craft Hand Guild in the 1940’s and 50’s whose focus was on bringing hand weaving back to America. Looms were everywhere in her home. Linda tells us her story.
(5:49) At 18 years old, Linda went to Atlanta to go to design school and where this ended up was not initially apparent to her. The first of many twists and turns.
(9:00) A heard of sheep, guard llamas, dogs, cats and more. Linda tells us how this menagerie came to be, how she crafted fibers and the evolution of her company to DyakCraft.
(12:35) Linda takes us through the process of creating fibers from sheering the sheep to spinning the fibers. It’s not easy...learn more than you ever thought was involved!
(15:32) And how did Grafton Fibers become DiakCraft...yet another unforeseen twist!
(19:00) What was the impetus for Linda to begin to create art quilts? Yet another life event led her to this new endeavor.
(20:54) How does she choose the subjects of her quilts? She shares this with us here.
(21:50) What are her favorite creations? Baskim Farms for one! Hear about this organization and the wonderful sustainable work they do.
(24:08) Sitting down at a long arm five years ago at Waterwheel Quilt Shop in Londonderry, VT was life changing. She knew in this moment that quilting would play a large part in the rest of her life.
(25:30) The Rutland Plywood Company played a part in yet another life changing event. Linda tells us this story.
(29:40) What’s her favorite creation? It’s the thing she just finished making!
(30:55) The recipient of a recent WomensNet Amber Grant, Linda tells us about the history of this award and how she won this recognition.
(33:12) What inspires Linda? Nature, animals, color, lines and the work of others!
(43:50) Linda’s mother had a great influence on her. A director of nursing in Youngstown, OH her pragmatism and common sense was instilled in Linda. This sense of self and independence has served Linda well. And her father...his influence was paramount as well.
(38:00) Linda is involved with VINE rescue. She tells us about this organization, their work and how she supports them. Hear the story of the travels of Tiki the Emu!
(41:26) What’s next and what’s her dream?!
(42:30) You can reach Linda at www.lindadiakquilts.com and [email protected]. Facebook and Instagram as well!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.
Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform...and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.
Next Episode
Cristina Arcenegui Bono - My 40 Cousins - My Inspiration
Travel with us to Andalusia, Spain for an amazing conversation with Cristina Arcenegui Bono whole cloth quilter extraordinaire!
(2:27) How did Cristina learn to sew? Well...she never really did!
(3:15)Who is her inspiration? How about her 40 cousins?! And wait...there’s more!
(5:16) Cristina started out her career in the Travel & Tourism industry in London...to help improve her English. She shares that story here.
(7:05) Cristine used to frequent haberdashery shops www.libertylondon.com which fueled her love for textile art. It all began when she came to London and the first thing she did was to visit the museums. And then there’s the story of how she learned to cross-stitch because she became very ill.
(10:10) The movie How to Make an American Quilt was a springboard for her ambitions, hear the story here...it was all about community!
(13:07) Her work is stunning...many of which are made for the sole purpose of entering contests. She shares a story of one these competitions, the quilt and what made this so meaningful.
(16:40) Her quilts are based on the illustrations of Johanna Basford www.johannabasford.com, Daira Song @daria486, Rita Berman @rite.berman and Svete Dorosheva www.svetsdorosheva.com. She explains her focus on children living authentic childhoods!
(20:50) Her signature quilts are pictorial whole cloth quilts. She explains what this is. And, what it’s like to listen “incognito” to people experiencing her quilts at exhibitions.
(24:43) Patchwork quilts weren’t popular in Spain at the turn of the century. Why? She explains. www.SpanishPatchworkAssociation.org
(27:35) in 2005 she bought her first longarm and opened her quilting business. How’s it going?! She tells us here.
(29:54) The pandemic opened a whole new world for Cristina teaching on line. She talks about the positives that came into her life!
(32:10) What inspires her? Her childhood...and her cousins! Traveling means a lot as she saw her first hummingbird...and a Zebra. Not to mention all those she gets to meet on the road. When she taught in California and needed to then get to Houston, she took a train to experience the country – the trip of her life... including a sunset in Arizona.
(36:04) What’s her dream? To get published in a magazine and to teach in Korea and Japan. Why there? She explains!
(38:06) Finally, what didn’t we ask?
(28:23) Want to contact Cristina? Facebook Cristina Arcenegui Bono, Instagram @cristinaarceneguibono, and www.crisarcbono.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.
Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform...and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.
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