Comment from Karin
Time: June 8, 2009, 7:13 am

Bless Jen for this tutorial, and Jennifer for showing it to me!!! I am off to make several! lol I am doing my first quiliting project and need pincushions!!!! WOOT!

Comment from maria filomena
Time: June 8, 2009, 8:13 am

Beatiful!!! Maravilhoso!!!!!
abraços de Maria Filomena

Comment from Turtle
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:10 pm

love them!

Comment from Tami Knox
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:16 pm

Hey Jeff, If your Obama had his way, this podcast would be taxed, regulated and eventually taken over by our new socialist government. Your stats about being able to afford losing republican listeners wouldn’t matter! Too bad, I love Jen’s podcast and am so happy for her being able to leave her job. Her kids deserve it!

This republican has just unsubscribed, but then you don’t care.

Comment from Tami Knox
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:22 pm

This isn’t like you to allow a guest to so thoroughly diss someone, especially with only vague examples. Your sponsors use Etsy!! I think she sorely lacked credibility.

Comment from Catherine
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:24 pm

I’m not sure if it’s just me or not but around halfway through when she’s talking about the campout, I don’t hear her for a few minutes but I can hear Jennifer.

Okay, off to listen more! :)

Comment from Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:55 pm

Catherine, thanks for the heads up about the audio problem. I’ll have Jeff help me sort it when he gets home this evening. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Comment from Catherine
Time: June 8, 2009, 12:59 pm

Like Jen, I do feel like “art” is thrown around too often and in my opinion, art is something out of the reach of most people…it’s like a certain amazing creation that you look at and think “I could never do that” or “I would never have thought to do that.” I’ve had people say that I am downplaying what I do when I say that I am a crafter, but I think the issue with that is the feeling that “craft” should have a negative connotation. I think craft is fabulous and can be shockingly gorgeous and creative too.

I do have to agree with Tami that I was disappointed with this episode. I love listening to your podcasts for inspiration or motivation and I found this one to be surprisingly offensive and unprofessional. As an Etsy user (or perhaps what Jen may call one of the “stupid Etsy people” who enjoys Etsy), I think she was either unaware or the audience or simply didn’t care. Either way, there was a bitter taste there for sure and rather than being inspirational, she turned me off.

Thank you for the work that you do – looking forward to the next podcast.

p.s. I’m a Republican too. ;)

Comment from nancy
Time: June 8, 2009, 1:14 pm

the voice keeps cutting out.

Comment from admin
Time: June 8, 2009, 4:25 pm

Jennifer’s husband here. I apologize for the quality of the audio, something went haywire (my computer hard drive crashed over the weekend). I have posted a new version of the show, which hopefully sounds better.

@Tami Knox — I kid, I kid about GOP and the former president. Sorry to offend. Next week, Obama bailout the podcast and Joe Biden will be showing off his basket weaving skills.

On both of these issues, I’m the one to blame. Sorry again.

Comment from Kim
Time: June 8, 2009, 5:52 pm

While this episode was a little uncomfortable to listen to because of all of the negativity about Etsy, I do appreciate other points of view and one’s right to express them. I, as an Etsy seller, do not appreciate being clumped into a group of…I don’t know hundreds of thousands of people?…not to mention being called stupid, but that is simply a reflection of this particular guest and her negativity.

I love craftsanity and will continue to listen anyway and hope for the inspiration again, too!

And just in case you wanted to keep track, I’m a dem. :)

Comment from Hilary
Time: June 9, 2009, 10:20 am

Well, this guest did have a strong opinionated point of view. I’m not sure I understand her staying with Etsy when she has such a conflict of interest with them. Anyways, I liked hearing the Flicker information.

It is obvious we do not all think alike, both during the show and the aftershow. I dislike politics being brought into this podcast. I would think twice about alienating Republicans. Please stick to the theme – Crafts. If you do, I will continue to listen.

Thanks Jennifer.

p.s. Please keep your husband behind the scenes, unless he becomes a craft expert.

Comment from abbyglassenberg
Time: June 9, 2009, 12:06 pm

Hi Jen,

I just wanted to say an advanced congratulations to you for quitting your job next month. Clearly this is something you’ve wanted to do for a long time and I’m so excited for you!

-Abby

Comment from Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
Time: June 9, 2009, 1:19 pm

Thanks, Abby. : )

Comment from Ellyn
Time: June 9, 2009, 2:09 pm

hmmm I am struggling to digest the podcast. I love her pincushions & don’t mind people having different points of view, but I do fear you have alienated some folks. That’s a shame… I love your podcast & will continue to listen. As for Jeff being on, if people don’t like it they don’t have to listen to the aftershow! You give them ample warning. Good luck in your ventures after the full time job ends! You’re very brave

Comment from Lydia
Time: June 9, 2009, 2:28 pm

Hi Jennifer. Well, this podcast was definitely interesting. A little rough to listen to at times, but not everyone has to agree with us, even though it would make life easier.

I did learn about artfire and flickr which I hadn’t realized were good for crafters, so that was nice.

Congratulations about quitting your job in July. I know you will probably be a lot busier than you imagined. You deserve the new opportunities that are coming.

I’m sorry about Juno. I know the girls are probably very hurt. It is hard to lose a pet, no matter how old you are.

Keep up the great work. I’ll listen to you til the end. :-)

Lydia

Comment from Monica
Time: June 10, 2009, 8:35 am

I found CraftSanity earlier this year, and as a lifetime crafter, I was thrilled. I love Jennifer’s easy way of speaking to her guests, her excellent questions, and I LOVE all the inspiration I have gotten. After listening to her podcasts, I have purchased many of the books discussed and done many projects from the books. One of your podcasts was what inspired me to learn my now all-consuming passion to crochet.

I, too, am all for differing opinions and viewpoints so I overall enjoyed the interview, though I felt Jen Segrest’s arguments were at times a little more ranting than well-thought out points of discussion.

I was startled to hear the comments about being all right with losing your Republican subscribers. My family and my DH’s family have greatly varying and diverse political opinions and we have found you can discuss these topics without making anyone feel unwelcome in the conversation or simply dismissing them out of hand because they offer a different point of view.

It felt very weird after listening to this podcast to think that, because I vote Republican more often that I vote Democrat, I am unwelcome as a listener.

Not what I was really expecting today when I sat down with my crocheting to listen to this. Bummer.

Comment from Betty
Time: June 11, 2009, 5:56 am

Oh my. The comments here by some of the Republican listeners are way, way out of proportion to the playful kidding by Jeff in the aftershow. Reading the comments, you’d think the whole show was a rant about politics. Really, how can one be startled or offended or alienated by a JOKE that lasted about 15 seconds? (And by the way, did anyone actually listen to Jennifer’s response to the joke? It’s pretty obvious she appreciates all her listeners.)

As for the actual podcast, I really appreciated the alternative viewpoint on Etsy. I think when you consider the number of podcasts where the guests sing the praises of Etsy, it’s only fair to air one differing opinion. I appreciate that she had the time to explain her views as well. (Although perhaps “uninformed” might have been a better term than “stupid”.

But again, when you listen to the content and not just one word, you get a lot of really helpful information. It’s obvious that the guest wants to be helpful and provide useful information to the listeners, and I appreciate that.

Comment from Michele at A House Called Nut
Time: June 12, 2009, 12:36 pm

Just a little note to say congratulations on quitting your day job! How exciting! You’ll have to get someone in to interview you for a change. Maybe Jeff? Have you thought of doing some sort of online interactive classes? I’ve enjoyed watching your tv demos and I wonder if something like that (maybe even a webinar?) could be profitable for you. Best of luck!

I agree with other listeners that all the negativity in this particular show was a bit disappointing, but I was happy for the Flickr talk. Something about that site hasn’t quite clicked for me, but it’s all starting to make a bit more sense now!

Comment from Errin
Time: June 14, 2009, 3:34 pm

Well I just need to say that this republican is going to listen anyway. I love your podcast and I will just overlook the political comments made by Jeff. I am not listening for the politics, I love the crafting. Thank you Jennifer and Jeff for an excellent podcast.

I was disappointed about the negativity of the show. However, she was insigtful at the end about other sites to check out.

Comment from mjb
Time: June 15, 2009, 5:44 am

I have to say I think this is the first time I’ve felt compelled to come read the comments after a podcast to see what the discussion would say. I’ve wondered about the negative side of etsy after seeing people pack up for big cartel, but I have to say that it’s nice knowing there’s a built in audience of people searching around on it for neat stuff. I like the fact that the front page is juried so that it has a consistent look, but maybe I fit into the same demographic as the 20-somethings working at etsy hq. And even though I have an advanced degree in Computer Science, I’d rather not have to program my own apps to specialize things and understand that things fall to the bottom of the coding list, so it doesn’t bother me when “easy” things go undone. That being said, I don’t think it helps women business owners who are unfamiliar with the digital world to call them stupid. Instead, it would be better to work on positive ways to get the word out about your own site, right?

(And don’t worry, there are plenty of us republicans who are able to take a joke and are used to being the minority voice in the online crafts-sphere).

Comment from Jen Segrest
Time: June 15, 2009, 11:32 am

It’s been so long ago I nearly forgot I did this. I am a podcaster too and used to just to going off on a tangent because we edit down significantly, so I apologize if anyone was insulted or disappointed. I kinda got caught off guard when the recording time came, so certainly don’t blame CS.

I think most people think that because I make sweet little pincushions that I somehow have a personality to match.

I tend to just talk in my podcasts so I assumed more would be edited out to keep it on topic. Oh well. It’s done now. At least no one said I was boring! right? ;)

Comment from Jen Segrest
Time: June 15, 2009, 12:48 pm

I throw “stupid” around a lot, please dont read to much into it! Other things I’ve called stupid:

My dogs

My husband’s refusal to use online banking

My shoes

My microwave

That I have to set the time on my oven to use it at all

The way my tivo works when you have something recording and trying to record something else

The plug on my USB mouse disconnects from the port when I pull the cord too far

That I have to switch to “component” on my tv to see my dvds

Walmart’s giftcard system

That Internet Explorer even still exists

See? Don’t be offended by the word, please, it wasn’t my intent at all. If anything I’m insulting Etsy, and certainly not the sellers. I’m a seller too. Sellers are always who I speak out more than anyone and seeing them being disregarded makes me really angry.

Pingback from CraftSanity » Enter to Win Free Craft Felt!
Time: June 16, 2009, 12:43 pm

[...] CraftSanity Episode 98: A Conversation with Pincushion Maker, Jen Segrest [...]

Comment from Philipa Core
Time: June 20, 2009, 7:05 am

I listened to this podcast this morning. I loved it. I loved the fact that there was someone who wasn’t afraid to have a go at something that is held in high esteem by so many people. I wouldn’t know and don’t have an opinion on Etsy. I have looked but never bought. I don’t make stuff to sell. Jen seemed to have some problems actually articulating the exact problems that she feels Etsy has. Perhaps a clearer explanation would have made it… well clearer. I found her a breath of fresh air. Have to admit the only problem I had with her talk was the way she said Jesus so many time.

I am not a democrat or a republican…. I am an Australian. Lots of us in the listening world aren’t Americans. I like Geoff. Let him stay and play… another breath of fresh air. The after show bit is often not about craft so the people who made comments about the show sticking to craft could always turn off at the end of the guest appearance bit.

At least this podcast has generated lots of responses… nothing like a bit of controversy to spark people’s interest. Keep up the good work

All the best with your new ventures Jennifer. Leaving the comfort and security of your day job is no doubt a bit scary… but as a mum who has never worked full time since I had children I can honestly say I don’t know how you did it at all. Enjoy your new adventure

Comment from Tami Knox
Time: June 29, 2009, 9:35 am

She’s baaaacccckkkkk!!! Love the duct tape sound effect on episode 99. Jennifer, you are so funny!! It is nice to know that our voices are heard. Your podcast is fabulous, it is clear that you put a lot of time and effort into it. I do appreciate the help Jeff gives you and am sorry I couldn’t take a joke. Apology accepted and I so look forward to episode 100!! What an accomplishment!! Tami

Comment from Dawn Blair
Time: June 29, 2009, 12:55 pm

I could not agree more about Flickr. I have two Flickr accounts for myself and another that I manage for a friend. The community is awesome. I have met all kinds of other jewelry artists through the various Flickr groups. I was invited to be featured in a well known jewelry magazine by the editor who found me on Flickr. Unfortunately, I completely dropped the ball on it and wasn’t able to meet the deadline. But really, anything can happen. The opportunities are there. I also use Flickr for inspiration. The photos people take of ocean life, architecture, flowers, anything…are just and amazing source for me for color palettes and keeping the creative mind moving.

Comment from Sonicka
Time: June 30, 2009, 11:05 am

I value different opinions, but don’t appreciate being called stupid (as an etsy seller). I am a teacher and I teach students that when you use offending language you often lose credibility. I know this guest lost all credibility with me.

Comment from Johanna
Time: July 1, 2009, 1:42 am

I love your aftershow chat. Please keep Jeff :) As for the show being somewhat controversial, I’d say what a breath of fresh air! Life can be both nittygritty and cuticute, and so can the craft market be. Lest not forget that. I really enjoyed hearing Jen’s perspective on Etsy and how to get your stuff out there.

Comment from KellyV
Time: July 1, 2009, 8:25 am

Well – I really liked Jen Segrest. While I personally know a few artists who craft/art (especially figurines from LOTR, Star Wars, etc.), I know few who craft in both worlds. Jen’s rawness and openess is expected in her world of designing and programming, as well as, role playing. Visit a few sci fi websites and this will become apparent.

Craft Sanity rocks. I love the glimpses into another part of the country – Grand Rapids sounds like a great place to live. Thanks for the hard work, keep JEFF on the show. Anyone with that name rules!

While politics probably will cause feathers to fly, gotta love it too.

Kelly
TC, CA

Comment from Julia
Time: July 2, 2009, 9:09 am

First, let me say that I am so, so sorry about Juno. We lost our beloved old dog a few years ago and it was weeks before my husband and I could look at each other without sniffling. A good dog is family. I also wanted to put out there that you can get a mobile vet to come to your house so that you can be with your pet when she passes. I realize that with children that might be frightening and complicated, but it is an option that worked well for us. Our dog raised our cat, who never, ever left her side. We were able to all be together, with the cat laying next to her when the time came, and somehow that helped.

As for the interview, there was a lot that I liked about Jen and the pincushions are cute. It was just a very different interview than CS listeners are used to, as it focused more on perceived problems with etsy than on what Jen actually does in a crafty sense, and I think that detracted from the interview overall. I also think that the way in which Jen presented her ideas about etsy made it hard to give them real consideration. When a person rants like that it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that their opinions are not well thought out. I think Jen probably has some very interesting things to say on the subject but it was hard to get through the manner in which her ideas were presented. I did find her comments on Flickr and other newer venues to be really interesting. I just wish that she had stayed a little more balanced. It had the potential to be one of the more informative shows in terms of on-line resources for crafters. Maybe you guys could do a follow-up interview that was more focused? I’d listen.

As for Jeff’s comments, I didn’t think twice about them, but I’m an independent, so it’s possible that they didn’t phase me because they weren’t directed at me. Anyone who has listened to you knows that you are fair and interested in all of your listeners. I’m sure Jeff is, too. I’d just categorize the joke as a “blip” and move on.

CS is great and I feel really lucky to have it to listen to. Please just keep doing what you’re doing and don’t worry about ramping up so much now that you are leaving the day job. We all love the show exactly the way it is! Congrats and good luck!

Comment from Kyla Crawford
Time: July 2, 2009, 4:11 pm

Personally I am not offend by this podcast. It is a seller’s point of view, Jen Segrest gave some valid points about etsy. I agree with Jeff about her comments being thought provoking and it is always important to reevaluate your own views.
As for Jeff’s comment it was a joke.

I am sorry to hear about Juno. I am sure she had a wonderful life.

Comment from Jen Segrest
Time: July 3, 2009, 11:52 pm

I think if the podcast had been edited down it would have come across more concise and less rambly for sure, I’m glad some people got me though.

Oh, and I think as a result of this podcast, Etsy closed my store on Monday. I had more of less been waiting for them to do it when I stated working for ArtFIre. No reason was given, and they didn’t even sign the email which is their MO I hear when they don’t know for sure they are doing it by the book.

Jen Segrest

Comment from Katherine
Time: July 7, 2009, 1:31 pm

I thought this was the best episode I’ve ever heard. I don’t necessarily agree with all points of view presented, but it added a little spice and made for a fun listening experience. I think Jeff is a hilarious addition to the show as well! What I find the most offensive, is the guest’s comments left here. Jen S., I love what you do and support your right to express your point of view. However, I don’t think it is fair to blame podcast editing, or lack thereof, for how your message was portrayed. Frankly, to use your own word choice, if you were assuming that it would be edited more, that was a stupid assumption. We all know what happens when you assume. You said what you said the way you said it, now stand by it.

Comment from Kate
Time: July 7, 2009, 5:45 pm

Just another voice to say although this podcast had a different tone, I did appreciate hearing about alternatives to etsy and some of the perceived problems. It was clearly one person’s opinion, and I was happy to give it a listen! Also, I thought Jeff was clearly joking and Jennifer was quite clear that her listeners’ political viewpoints were irrelevant to her. Keep up the good work Jennifer! I love to hear these long conversations with crafters everywhere. Good luck in your new job situation– I can’t wait to see what opportunities turn up for you!

Comment from Tamdoll
Time: July 11, 2009, 1:52 pm

Great podcast, as usual!!! This one definitely had a different tone, and was thought provoking.

Comment from Sandy
Time: August 25, 2009, 4:50 pm

I”m with the appreciative crowd here in comment-land. It was nice to have a realistic and unvarnished and unedited viewpoint from Jen. Too often nowadays people either self-edit or get edited, and don’t express their true selves. While I took some things she said with a grain of salt (because I can, after all, think for myself), I appreciated that she had a valid viewpoint and the guts to express it. And that JAH had the guts to put it on the podcast. And that Jeff had the guts to make a tiny political joke (it’s a joke!!). I also appreciated the information on Flickr, Artfire, etc.

I say less playing it safe, and less apologizing, and more free thinking and expression!

Comment from dawn
Time: March 11, 2010, 11:40 am

In my opinion, art is an object, experience, performance etc. rendered in a medium that can be appreciated aesthetically and captured (at least partially) in tangible form that expresses the maker(s)’ original ideas. I don’t make an art and craft distinction, insist on a particular training program, or require absolute originality. Painting calls for specific skills, which can be added to, transformed, or even ignored, and so does quilting. Artists can be trained or self-taught, and so can knitters or glass-blowers. The important thing in evaluating all these different types of works is whether they are interesting aesthetically, rendered skillfully (for their purposes), and says something that hasn’t been said before in just that way.

Also, the form/function distinction seems unhelpful. Sure a painting is made solely to engage the eye and a pot-holder mainly to keep your hands from burning, but would the Mona Lisa be less “artistic” if da Vinci had painted it on a chair? Is a painting necessarily less original and important if it covers a hole in your wall? It’s probably true that most people put fewer original ideas and less skill into a pot-holder than da Vinci put into something that he meant to be art, but that is proven by the result (objective) and not the intention (subjective).

And a lot of the time when people think they’re debating about whether something is art or not, they’re actually trying to decide if it’s good or not, which is the only important divide.

Pingback from Leah Virsik » Blog Archive » On getting published
Time: June 2, 2011, 1:13 am

[...] are different ways to go about getting published. Jen Segrest in this Craft Sanity podcast talks about her work getting published from it’s initial discovery on Flickr. That was enough [...]

Comment from Sachi
Time: June 26, 2011, 11:17 am

Loved this episode! Too often the “Craftosphere” tries to always be so perfect & shiny. I love people who have honest viewpoints and charisma for what they do! Sometimes I feel pressured to assimilate, because I love crafting. Breath of fresh air…real talk from real people. We don’t all have to be the same. We don’t all have to agree. Thank you for not editing this podcast down to something less than what it was! Viva la Craftsanity!