From Pillowcases to Publishing with Kathryn LeBlanc

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Andi sits down with Kathryn LeBlanc of Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio (and author Kathryn Mykel) to talk about what it really looks like to keep reinventing your creative business when the thing that's working stops working. Kathryn opened a brick-and-mortar quilt shop with no money, no inventory, and no business background - then closed it right before COVID hit. She pivoted to Facebook Lives and made more in two years than she did in five years with the shop. When that dried up, she went to school for self-publishing and launched a cozy mystery series set in the quilting world that regularly hits bestseller lists.They also dig into the business side of running designer collaborations - what makes a 50-week block program succeed or fall apart, how to actually make money from free patterns instead of just giving your work away, and why your free pattern is the coupon (so stop stacking discounts on top of it). Plus, Kathryn shares how she landed magazine features in a short window and why having a publishing schedule from her book career gave her an unexpected edge.Whether you're thinking about your next pivot or just trying to figure out how to monetize what you're already doing, this one's full of real talk from someone who's done it - multiple times over.Don’t miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Kathryn LeBlanc and Her Journey03:52 From Hobby to Business: The Quilt Shop Experience06:52 Navigating Challenges: Closing the Quilt Shop and New Beginnings09:53 Collaborations and Community Engagement During COVID12:35 The Art of Collaboration: Pros, Cons, and Lessons Learned15:39 Monetizing Free Patterns: Strategies for Success18:36 Transitioning from Freebies to Paid Supporters21:42 The Cozy Mystery Series: Writing and Publishing Journey29:25 The Balancing Act of Writing and Quilting33:07 Expanding Horizons: Magazine Submissions and Collaborations39:39 Navigating the Quilt Industry: Patterns and Sales Strategies44:27 Finding Inspiration and Defining Your Niche47:07 The Joy of Creativity and Business in QuiltingConnect with KathrynKathryn's Website Amazon Author Instagram Youtube FacebookWant More Quilting Business Content?🔗 Join us on Patreon for exclusive perks🔗 Grab Tori’s book, Workshops Unleashed 📌 Follow us on InstagramCo-Hosts:Tori McElwain @heytori.tech & https://www.heytori.tech/Andi Stanfield @truebluequilts & https://truebluequilts.com/ Support the showIf you want more support with your quilting business, make sure to hit follow.