Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast

Hand Embroidery—Coloring with Thread with Melissa Galbraith - Happy Time Craftcast 26

• Joleen Emery

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Oh gosh, you’re going to love the next episode of Happy Time Craftcast! We’re so excited to be chatting with the incredible Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ, and let me tell you, it’s going to be a good one. 🎉 If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at embroidery—or if you’re already stitching away—Melissa’s nature-inspired designs are just the thing to spark your creativity. Her kits are perfect for everyone, whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been crafting for years. 🌸✨

📌In this episode:
[0:00] Introduction to Jolene and Melissa Galbraith
[3:00] Melissa's Journey and Embroidery Philosophy
[10:00] Melissa's Designs and Where to Find Them
[16:00 ] Introduction to Melissa's New Book" DIY Embroidered Shoes"
[23:00] Melissa's Favorite Project and Free Resources
[32:00] 10 Questions and Answers
[42:00] Being an Artist and Community Support
[50:00] Animals, Sounds, and Other Professions
[58:00] Happiness and Final Thoughts

📌About the Melissa:
Melissa Galbraith is the fiber artist behind MCreativeJ. She was born and raised in the desert of Washington state where her mother instilled a love of making things by hand at an early age. Melissa shares her love of nature through whimsical and modern hand embroidery kits, patterns, workshops, and her books, How to Embroider Texture and Pattern and DIY Embroidered Shoes.

📌Stay connected with Melissa:
→ Youtube
→ Instagram
→ Facebook
→ Pinterest

🌟 Links & Resources:
→ Melissa's new book: "DIY Embroidered Shoes" (available Oct. 27th)
→ Melissa's cyanotype embroi

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Joleen:

Hello everyone. Welcome to jolene's Happy Time craftcast. I am indeed Jolene, and it is lovely, lovely to have you all with me today. It is a beautiful day here in southeastern Minnesota, and at Big Raven farm, we are getting ready for another retreat this weekend. We have had, I want to say, six in a row, maybe seven, and then we have four more to go, and then we are out of retreat season. So if you haven't seen me on social media as of late, that's because I've been cooking and cleaning and getting ready for all of the lovely folks who come to big Raven farm so but I get a chance to seal away and spend some time with you now, and I'm delighted to sit down for the next hour or so and talk to my guest, Melissa Galbraith is the fiber artist behind M, creative J. She was born and raised in Washington State, where her mother instilled in her the love of making things by hand at an early age. Sounds like my mom, who's been a guest on the happy time craftcast. That sounds a lot like Josephine, but Melissa shares her love of nature through whimsical and modern hand embroidery kits, patterns, workshops and books, and she's got a new book that is coming out here at the end of October, and she's got lots of fans and followers all over the place, because she is remarkable. So I know you will do a really good job of welcoming Melissa to the happy time craftcast. Hello, Melissa.

Melissa Galbraith:

Hi.

Joleen:

Thank you so so much for being here.

Melissa Galbraith:

Thank you so much for having me.

Joleen:

I want to start by telling you that at a retreat we had at Big Raven farm last weekend, I had somebody with me who said they were so excited that you are going to be on the podcast today because they purchased your one of your kits at a local craft store in Minneapolis. Her name is Molly, and Molly asked me to say hello and tell you how much she loves what you do.

Melissa Galbraith:

Oh, thank you so much.

Joleen:

Isn't that this way? What does that so what is that like to have your products in fiber and craft stores all over the country.

Melissa Galbraith:

It's super exciting. I mean, it seemed, it feels like a little surreal, because I never really saw myself as a small business owner or somebody who would be, you know, making embroidery kits and selling them everywhere. And it's also a little exciting, because when you walk into the store and you see your products that you're like, I did that thing

Joleen:

that's so awesome. Well, I know that you have so you have one book published, right? One book releasing soon, another book in process. You have kits and patterns and classes. So, like, that's kind of like the 30 foot view. What would you like people to know at like, the three foot view, like, what do you want folks to know about you? Um,

Melissa Galbraith:

I guess that I am a crafter at heart. I love making things by hand. And I would say my embroidery kits are meant for anybody who wants to give you know the needle arts a try. They're all teacher inspired. And I have a range you can start a very beginner where you just kind of do some line outwork and filling things in, all the way up to creating some really cool 3d pieces that pop away from the fabric and are all sorts of fun that are a little more advanced.

Joleen:

Wow. So how So, how did you get into so embroidery, you know, has a reputation, I would say, of being a little bit persnickety, right, with some folks who have pretty strong held beliefs about clean backs and like those kinds of things. So what are your thoughts on that? Um,

Melissa Galbraith:

I Okay. I will say, I think a clean back is really helpful. I don't think it is mandatory. When my mom taught me to embroider, she definitely was on like the clean back side, like your back of your embroidery should look the same as your the front, you know, be beautiful. And I think that is a long held belief from when embroidery was much more, like used in tablewares and garments and things like that, where the back was exposed and had stuff moved up against it, and things like that, as embroidery has kind of seen more of a modern resurgence in the past. I want to say, like 1015, years now, it was used as it's been used more as decor, where people would hang it up on the wall or something like that, and at that point, like, the back is covered up, or you're not really going to, like, see it or worry about it, so I don't think it's as big of a deal. Sure. I think end use of your embroidery is really important and kind of figuring out what you need for the backing. But when you're learning, I think it's more important to get comfortable with the stitches. Is feel comfortable with the materials and not like stress so much about whether, like, you have a giant thread tangle in the back of your embroidery. Like, you know you're learning, you're trying something new, and it will get better as it goes

Joleen:

well. I think that for me, I think that's why I have our head, for a long time, shied away from it, because I'm not like, I'm not much of a perfectionist. I have a yardstick called close enough. And so I didn't know that I could do embroidery because of my kind of messy ways. And it wasn't until, you know, my friend Hannah said, just let go. Let go that perfection of the back. And then I felt like, welcomed in the embroidery space. And I love it. I love it so much. Yay.

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah. I mean, embroidery is really like coloring, but with thread. And you know, everyone's going to do it differently, and you're going to have fun exploring that. But there's, there's, there's foundations that help you make things look good at the same time. There's really no right or wrong. If you find a way that works for you, I think that's totally okay. And with embroidery, it's just thread. You can take it out, you can cover it up, like right

Joleen:

giving well in your design. So the question I have here on the screen too is, you know, where can our listeners find you. But could you for folks who aren't familiar with your work, could you just just describe some of your designs, because they are so unique and creative, and I love them, but could you tell folks a little bit about the things you design?

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah, so I started off with a lot of like plants and landscapes, and they're really colorful and very filled in. Let's see, I have my kit wall on the side over here, so I'm looking over at them. I have some kind of like bugs and flowers and different like scenes, and I really kind of dabbled more into 3d embroidery, so you have things that pop away from the fabric, whether they're flower petals or butterfly wings and things like that. But I love playing with color and lots of different stitches and textures, so you really get to create some like dense stitching and like just like sculptural elements with

Joleen:

I just, I think dense stitching is a really great way to describe it, because your designs are full, right? Like you don't see quite a lot of the background fabric, especially with the landscapes, the mountains, the trees, the bugs, the layers, I mean, they're, when you say whimsical nature, I think you hit it right. Like, that's exactly what it is. They're, they're just so beautiful. Thank you. So, where can our listeners find you? Like, if they wanted to buy a kit, take a class, do a workshop, like, you know, and maybe, like, where, where can they find you?

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah. So I have a website. M, creativej.com, you can find all of my kits on there, my upcoming classes, my pattern packs, my books. Additionally, on my website, I have a section that are a bunch of retailers that carry my kits. So I think there's like over 250 stores that carry my kits and patterns and books. And so if you want to shop more locally, you can kind of search by state and see if there's a shop near you that carries it, and hopefully you'll find my kits and some other really great supplies there too.

Joleen:

Melissa, Melissa, we we must just pause for one moment. Did you say 250 locations carry your kits? Yeah,

Melissa Galbraith:

I think it's somewhere between 250 and 300

Joleen:

Oh, my goodness, that's incredible. Congratulations. Like, that is a thing to really be happy about. Like, good job. Like, that's awesome.

Melissa Galbraith:

Thank you.

Joleen:

So no matter where you're listening from, if you go to Melissa's website and you go to the page, I think it I think the title is called stockcus, is that right? So you can find where her products are stocked. But then you also have a big announcement about your newest book that's coming out here in just a few weeks. So embroidering on shoes. Can you tell us about this? Yeah,

Melissa Galbraith:

so my new book is called DIY embroidered shoes, and it comes out later this month. It has 15 different shoe products, and I have some fun shoes that I can show you as well too, but it really walks you through all the different stitches and like materials and techniques you need for embroidering on your own shoes. You can see there's like, really good step by step photos for all the different stitches we have in here. Scoot back a little bit so.

Joleen:

Exciting?

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah, it'll walk you through.

Joleen:

Is there a brand of shoes that we need to get so that we're ready to go when the book comes out in a couple weeks?

Melissa Galbraith:

So I would just recommend kind of more of a canvas shoe for this really hard and stiff shoes are not the best for embroidering on. But if you get kind of like those soft canvas shoes from your local craft store, or is, like, similar to kids or Converse or like, you know, you can get the knockoff ones as well too. There's like, some really cool colors on Amazon that you that I want to say for like, under 20,$30 instead of, like, you know, spending 70 $100 on shoes and stresses about embroidering on them. So there's any, really, any option you want for soft shoes. So,

Joleen:

so take us through the first time you embroidered on shoes. Like, what happened there were you just, like, looking at your shoes across the room and you were like, you know, it seems like a good idea. I think I'm going to embroider on my shoes.

Melissa Galbraith:

So the first shoes I embroidered were actually these, like mountain shoes that have these, this really pretty sunset on it. Oh

Joleen:

my gosh. And those looks like your kits. Those are Melissa. Those are beautiful. Thank you. For those of you who are listening, it is like a mountain scape on the side of a almost like a converse sneaker style shape with mountains, and it's completely filled in on the side of the shoes. Oh so beautiful.

Melissa Galbraith:

Thank you. Yeah. So these ones, I actually so for my second book, when I was pitching it to my the acquisitions that I was really wanted to do, like a clothing embroidery book that kind of fun, different ways to embellish and upcycle your clothes. And these shoes were one of the projects I had in there. And she really loved the idea of shoe embroidery, and I had a lot of fun stitching these mountain shoes. And she was like, Well, what if we pivoted your idea to be only shoes? And I thought about it for a little while because I was like, Well, I really love, like, the clothing idea, but I can see like, it will be challenging, because, you know, like, all clothes are different. Like, how great you have to get this specific sweater to do this project, right, right? I don't want that. I want it to be accessible. So, like, after some thought, I was like, Yeah, let's do it. Let's do shoes. And so I kind of got into it more and played around with some other shoe ideas, and just really had so much fun with it. I will say shoe embroidery is, like, definitely harder on your hands, rewarding to kind of see these like designs come to life, and then you get to wear them. You know, what

Joleen:

kind of attention do you get when you wear those shoes?

Melissa Galbraith:

So I will admit, I mostly only wear them around my house right now because I've been waiting for the book to come out. Right? You know, wanted to make sure we didn't need any extra like photos or or, and I didn't want to, like, mess them up. You know,

Joleen:

I will imagine, when you take them out for a stroll, they are going to get a lot of head turns and questions, because, can you hold them up one more time? So for our friends here in the comments, have you ever in your life seen something like this? They are so great.

Melissa Galbraith:

Thank you. I

Joleen:

love the detail of the mountains and you know the skyline. I guess behind it, to me, it looks kind of orange, Rusty pink. Yes. So like, is that the exterior and then you did not do like the interior. Nope,

Melissa Galbraith:

I didn't do the inside of these shoes, just because it's fine actually, to like, rub and like, when you like, have your feet there, so it made more sense to do the outside. And a lot of the other shoes that I did use that keep that in mind as well, and I have some other ones that I can show you,

Joleen:

yes please.

Melissa Galbraith:

So these are the like colorful clouds pattern in the book, my goodness, overlapping, kind of cloud like shapes that use really fun colors, and then it's outlined with some metallic gold thread. So really kind of pops and gives it some fun sparkle. And again, these are, like super filled in on the outside of the canvas shoe here.

Joleen:

I love them so much. What I mean, what a precious and unique idea, and it would be a very special person that one would gift something like that to, definitely.

Melissa Galbraith:

I mean, I will say these two patterns are ones that are super filled in. There are some that are less like densely stitched. So I did these two. Let me get them in frame here. Now we're

Joleen:

looking at trees and what is in the background there at the top. Yeah, so this is the moon

Melissa Galbraith:

beaded clouds. And then the one at the bottom has a little half moon with some like, stars and beads as well, too. So less densely stitched was still super fun with, like, the beaded texture and additions that way

Joleen:

I just Melissa, that's just so cool. I wish I had like, better, bigger, more descriptive words to like, describe how I feel looking at those shoes, like they're just so great, like I love them so much. And so this education tutorial knowledge base is coming out in a book on the 27th of October or something. So those of us with crafty hands and interests will be able to do this ourselves,

Melissa Galbraith:

absolutely.

Unknown:

Oh my gosh,

Melissa Galbraith:

yeah. One of the things I'm really excited about with the book too is that, well, two things along with like canvas shoes that you can embroider. There, it teaches you how to create your own espadrille shoes. So it'll walk you through, like creating those. And then, if you want to, there's like two different patterns for kind of, like embellishing your espadrilles when you make them. And then in the back of the book, there's also, I want to say it's like, 40 or 50 additional patterns that you can kind of mix and match and play around with. So you could add them to some of the existing designs, or, like, use them to create your own like this one here, this kind of, this one. The shoe has a bird with kind of a branch on it. So this is the patterns for the book. And in addition, I did some other birds that go along with it. There's, like, this little blue guy here.

Joleen:

It's kind of gray, Oh, I love it on, like the tongue top part.

Melissa Galbraith:

And then I did a little Cardinal. But these ones also use this branch, and it's just kind of like flipped in different directions, like, Okay, this way for this one. And then I put the branch on the tongue as well, too. So you can kind of play around with different ways to use the existing patterns.

Joleen:

And then, like, so many congratulations. Oh, let's we'll bring with that one now. So flowers, yeah, so there's goodness,

Melissa Galbraith:

these ones that are like the Wildflower shoes, and they, this is one of the shoes that, like, is a unmatched pair. So each side of the shoe has, like, a different floral assortment. And then in the back of the book, there's some more flowers and plants, if you wanted to, like, mix and match and change it up and really make it your own. So

Joleen:

I just, I mean, I'm pretty crafty. I've seen a lot of stuff. Love these so much. I mean, so many congratulations to you like I this is great and and what I love too is that it is accessible. You know, those of us who I would imagine right, please correct me if I'm wrong. But where in the spectrum of embroidery experience would you say some of those projects are

Melissa Galbraith:

so I did try to keep it where some were, like, more beginner friendly. There is a shoe pattern in there that uses some where you can create, like, a sculptural element with the piece. So I would say that's definitely more on the advanced range within the book. But in general, I'd say they're probably around intermediate just because stitching on shoes is a little more challenging than something you would hold in a hoop. It's stiffer material. You kind of get into funky nooks and crannies and things like that. But you know, in general, it's, I think if you want to do it, it's definitely doable, right?

Joleen:

And okay, so if we want to get your book, what do we do? Where do we go?

Melissa Galbraith:

So you can get my book, DIY embroidered shoes. It's available on my website and creativej.com it's also available through my publisher, on Amazon. Most like bookstores carry it or would be happy to order you a copy. If you have a local bookstore that you love, and it's not in stock, just ask them, and they would be more than happy to order it for you as well, too.

Joleen:

I cannot wait. I can't so we just have to now figure out how I can get, like, a signed copy for my collection of really great books, because I can't wait to to get it myself and you, you had me at the birds and the flowers. And I think, too, one of the things that I know about you, and what you offer is that you know you have been so generous with free tutorials and information about stitches. Your website has so many which I really appreciate. Because, I mean, you can certainly sometimes go to YouTube, but I noticed when I was on your site, it just they just kept coming. It was like one after another, which is really generous to create and share all of that content. So with that being said, Do you have. A little project that you would encourage our listeners to try.

Melissa Galbraith:

Gosh, um, I will say my favorite project that I'm worked on this year, and I'm kind of playing around with some new ideas for, is the cyanotype embroidery kit that I have. It's really beginner friendly, and it kind of plays with the like idea of the cyan creating a cyanotype photo, which is like a blue fabric that then you would in the cyanotype process, you use the sun, and you print what you want in there, and then it's like a white image, this blue fabric or paper. So I kind of played with that idea in an embroidery kit where I still use, like fun Indigo dyed fabric, and then you get to stitch a botanical design that looks like it's printed with the cyanotype process.

Joleen:

I love that. In fact, I'm just shaking my head and smiling. So we just had a retreat this past weekend when I was telling you about here at Big Raven farm, and we did eco dyeing and we did cyanotype prints on the same day, and I love cyanotype prints, and I've been doing more testing. And, you know, you really just have to experiment with that kind of medium. But I could see how lovely it would be to have an embroidered botanical mimicking. You know, what we're able to create on a cyanotype sunprint, and then plop that in a modern hoopla frame, and we got a whole situation there, like, That's sounds so beautiful and incredible. Oh, that

Melissa Galbraith:

would be gorgeous. Yes. Wouldn't

Joleen:

that be gorgeous? Okay, so the cyanotype kits are on your website? Yes, yes. Okay, so that would be a good thing to go there and take a look at the book is coming out in a couple of weeks. And you do have a newsletter as well, right?

Melissa Galbraith:

I do? Yeah, I send out a weekly newsletter so you can get some fun updates, see what classes are coming up. I kind of share some fun things that are on the blog and just, you know, anything that's happening

Joleen:

that's awesome. Well, in my world, what I am working on is, so this is about the time of year where I wish I would have asked my four adult children what they wanted for handmade Christmas gifts. Six months ago, the time of the year where I, like, frantically freak out, and I'm like, Okay, I'm cold. I'm wearing a sweater. That means I have to be talking to our adult children about what they want. So I am going to be working on gifts for my children. If you are familiar listeners, I'm going to be making one of my kids wants my design called warp speed. And so warp speed is made with hundreds of paper tubes. So I make paper tubes wrap around a chopstick, and then I smash them with a brayer or my fingers. And then, if you can visualize Melissa starting from a center point, all of these paper tubes come out in a really large frame. So think like 33 by 40. And so they're all from the center, and it looks like you're in a warp speed. It's got a lot of movement in it. And I love making warp speed. I've only made one. So one of my children wants that. So that's on the list. Another child would like a finger crocheted blanket. I've got the yarn, so that's on the list. Another child said he wants something creepy. So friends and fans, if you have ideas about a creepy thing we could make for the death metal drummer, I would appreciate that very much. Last year, I made him an angel. It was like a clown Angel I found at a thrift store this really creepy clown painting, and I cut him out of the canvas, and then I gave him black wings, and then I splattered it with red wax. This kid is interesting. He loved it. So I have to top, I have to top last year's clown with Black Angel Wings. And then another kid has a favorite book that they would like me to make into a hand bound book to go with his collection of other books that I have hand bound. So I've got those four things that are kind of priority on the list, and that's what I'm working on. So do you do handmade holiday gifts?

Melissa Galbraith:

I do, I will say, some years I am much more prepared than others, right? Last year, I embroidered sweatshirts for everybody and a few friends. I've done like some fun claw fabric. Claw. Much like pillows. Let's see I

Joleen:

would like that together, kind of scraps, or did you start with a pre made pillowcase?

Melissa Galbraith:

No, I sewed it all together. So one of the really great things about growing up, my mom had us do like, everything we did, quilting, paper mache, bobbin lace, embroidery. So I kind of have like, a smidge of a background of a lover, not saying I'm an expert in anything. I'm a good dabbler. But it also helped me feel like I could try things. Like it was like there wasn't like a hurdle to, like, you know, give something a try. So I do, like, a smidge of quilting, I would not say, like the really beautiful, geometric, precise quilting, or, like, free form, crazy quilting. Kind of do all sorts of fun stuff without a pattern. Yeah, that's kind of where the like, collage, fabric collage comes in. So I like to kind of collage landscapes with different fabric scraps and pieces, and actually teach a workshop with that where you then get to embellish on top of it with fun stitches, kind of like an extension of that. So it was a little more sewing, less embroidery, but I thought it turned out really fun. So

Joleen:

I love that idea. I my grandma did a lot of, like, crazy quilting, and, you know, just scraps like, and she would keep, like, the teeniest, tiniest little scrap. And I've never quite understood how you get all of your weird angles to come together. So I end up kind of getting pooches and, like, you know, little pockets, because it doesn't, like, lay out quite right, because they're not squares or rectangles. I mean, you might have, like, a moon shape. So, so anytime someone can scrap quilt, my ears perk up, because I've never been able to quite get it. So

Melissa Galbraith:

when you crazy quilt, you always have to, like, cover up the raw edge, like I usually start in the center of the block, and then you have, like, your two pieces here that you would sew together, and then you have to cover one of the edges with your next piece. So if I did like the center, then I would like cover the other side, even if I want to do an angle or something like, I'd have to make sure to always cover a side and not leave, like a raw edge open and uncovering, just because then you like work yourself into weird corners. Oh,

Joleen:

yeah, or you get a little Poochy pocket. So that's good advice. So make sure, in a crazy quilt that you're covering all the raw edge with your next piece. Yeah, on the side you're working on, yep, on the side you're working on. Good tip. Good tip. Good tip. Well, I would say that, you know, for for my listeners, you know, some of the things too, that I think that are kind of good projects to work on right now is, if you are planning, you know, a Christmas tree this year, and doing some paper ornaments, one of the projects that I did a couple of Christmases ago has turned into one of my favorite projects. But I took some book Paper, right? Discarded books, we all know where to get discarded books, and I ripped them into squares, and then I took cotton, non stretchy cotton twill fiber. And I actually get that at Home Depot. I'll be sure to link it in the show notes, because you don't want anything that stretches. You want it to keep its shape. Because what I did was I cut those, rip those actually into squares, put them on my line, and then every hunk, you know, one inch or two inch hunk, I would add buttons. So you have to kind of visualize button, hunk of ripped paper. Button, hunk of ripped paper. And it just made the most beautiful and interesting garland. And I just used a hole puncher to get them on the line. But you know, when you're ripping paper, it takes a while to take up the the distance that you need to make it into garland, right? So you look at that project and you're like, Oh, that's easy, yes, definitely easy, but also time consuming, because ripping into ripping them into squares, hole punch through the line buttons and you want it, you know, to go around your tree. So this would be a good time to get going, I think, on some of those more labor intensive repurposed goods projects. And that one has been one of my favorites. Yeah, I feel like

Melissa Galbraith:

it's always good to start your like, handmade projects early, because as soon as soon as you start getting into, like, the holiday season, there's so many things that are happening going and right? Where did those, like, three, four weeks go that I was planning on working on something, and it's now like the holidays

Joleen:

well, and I feel like holidays kind of start at Halloween, right? Like, I feel like Halloween is like the. Off, and then I feel like, for me, my birthday is in March. So I feel like holidays go. They go from Halloween until March. That's kind of how I feel. And I love presents. So that's a heads up to everyone, March. March 31 isn't that terrible? So Melissa, I'm so glad you were able to come today. Can you believe it? We're already at the halfway point, and I do ask all of my guests the same questions. And you can elaborate, you can give one word answers. It's completely up to you. But we'll start with you know, the most difficult one. What is your favorite word?

Melissa Galbraith:

Gosh. So every year I try to pick a word of the year to kind of help direct and point me for the year. And this year, my word was thrive, because I'm trying to find more like balance between work and life and also nourishing, like my family and my business, and figuring out how to grow at a pace that I can like, sustain and things like that. And I felt all of that was kind of encompassed in the word thrive. So that's the word I've been focusing on this year, right?

Joleen:

I love it. My friend, Deborah, who is a friend and fan of the show. She does that too, and she, in the past, has sent me her words so I can put them in my art journal, which I just love and appreciate. And I love the word thrive for me. I'm going with steady because, you know, I'm sure, I am sure you can relate, you know, being an entrepreneur and owning my own businesses, we get to seasonal times where it feels kind of pinchy, and so I'm right in the middle of the pinch. And so I just keep telling myself, just steady, steady, right? Like this is the bite I took. This is the life I live, and we're definitely going to get through it. But if I think about all the tasks and all the to do is I might, you know, jump off of steady and into chaotic. So right now I'm steady, good, right? Stay in the course.

Melissa Galbraith:

Really good word to describe that feeling too, because when the holiday season picks up, it's a lot of in person markets and things like that. So it can definitely feel chaotic and very busy. So I will have to keep steady in mind,

Joleen:

steady, right? So then on the other side of that, then, Melissa, do you have a least favorite word?

Melissa Galbraith:

Gosh, I guess maybe, like in the realm of Least favorite words, it's kind of like wrong or bad. Just because I feel like when you do art and crafts, there's really no right or wrong way to do it. There might be some down foundations that help you get started, but I think one of the really great things about the creative process is figuring out your way of doing it and what works for you, and that will look different for everyone. So that's why I don't love words that kind of are wrong, bad, down, pudding, things like that, just because I feel makes people feel like they aren't crafty, they aren't artsy, and they can't do something. And I want everyone to feel like they can give something a try. Well,

Joleen:

especially in such an exploratory space. You know, it's not like we are all designing and creating for the Smithsonian, right? Like we're just designing and creating because for many of us, like, for me, I don't know who or what I would be if I wasn't a creator of of things, like, if I wasn't a maker, that's a better way to say it like I am a maker. I love making things I always have. And I was raised by a maker. So like you, I come by it quite honestly. And I just love the opportunity to you said it earlier, like I believe in having a dabblers mindset, like I love to dabble. I'll, I will try anything. I mean, I really want to be a welder, but clumsy, so it's off the table, but I still want to try, but I would love to try so, but I think for me, my least favorite word again, it's right now, like these change every episode. But right now, I'm not really happy with the word dog pile, because on some social media platforms, I kind of feel like I'm watching like a lot of dog piling in, like people coming after people, and. Um, I'm worried about those outcomes, and I think that we have to give people a little bit of grace. So dog pile. All right, what about this one for you? Back to an easy one. What is the best kind of sandwich?

Melissa Galbraith:

Oh my gosh, um, I guess I'll go with the one I usually get. So I love a good tuna melt. I know this is probably a little controversial. That's a little polarizing,

Joleen:

the tuna melt

Melissa Galbraith:

I love, like, tuna cutter and creamy, warm mixture, like I just, it feels very comforting. It's just, yeah,

Joleen:

I love, I love, I love how it's kind of scary to admit, because you just really never know what you're going to get when you open the can, right? But, I mean, I can see it. I respect it. Um, I'm right now. So my favorite food is toast, and that's why this is a really important question, because do you know Prue from the British baking show? Yeah, okay, so I have Pru's cookbook, and it's toast. It's about toast, and it's so good. And the recipe of hers that I'm into right now is like any kind of bread, and I just use whatever we have on hand. And then you put down a layer of brie, and then you put down arugula, blackberries, and then you squirt on like a spicy sauce, like either a sriracha or a spicy duck sauce. Oh, so every bite you're getting the sweet blackberry, the you know, the the weird acidy brie, the arugula and the heat, yeah, change your life. That idea, right? It's so good.

Melissa Galbraith:

I don't know but before you said this, before you said the sauce, I was like, Oh, she's going to put honey, right? Like, that would be really good too. Then you said something spicy, and I was like, This changes the whole thing.

Joleen:

I know it's so good. It's so good that Prue is a genius, and I love it. I love it. I love it, especially, like I love arugula on pizza or toast or like, any of those things. I'll be sure to link this poo cookbook because I got it for Christmas last year, and I love it. I haven't even gotten past the first couple of recipes because I love them so much. I'm just so happy and satisfied. Honestly,

Melissa Galbraith:

I feel like I'm going to have to have to get that cookbook, because one of my friends loves to throw toast parties, and I feel like it will be the perfect addition.

Joleen:

Melissa, what is a toast party? Um,

Melissa Galbraith:

you literally have tons of different breads and spreads and toasters, and you make toast, it's so fun.

Joleen:

So this is my life, because toast is my favorite food, and I don't think people understand why, but it is so versatile, and like so many amazing things happen on toast, a toast party, that's brilliant.

Melissa Galbraith:

Yes, yeah, 100%

Joleen:

I've never heard of such a thing, and cannot wait. I can't wait. Maybe family, maybe we won't have Thanksgiving dinner this year. Maybe we will have toaster.

Melissa Galbraith:

I love that. I love that.

Joleen:

So what does it mean being an artist like So being an artist, it should say, what does that mean to you? Like you live your life as an artist. What's that feeling?

Melissa Galbraith:

Gosh, um, I would say it's, like, exciting and creative and also a little scary, because it's unpredictable. My art career, like, obviously, started at a very young age, and I kind of went off to school, got, you know, the corporate job, and did that for quite a while, and then I got back into like arts and crafts and did it more as a hobby, which then kind of took over my life. And eventually I transitioned to doing my embroidery full time. But that leap was really scary, because I would say a lot of soft crafts are undervalued and not seen as like art, in many ways, because they are like a handicraft that have been done by women for so many years in the household, at home, more as like something we need versus something that, you know, is, like a big painting that's hung up in a gallery and things like that. So there is a lot of like, I would say, insecurity and like, financial challenges that come with being an artist, but at the same time, it's really creative and reward. Starting, and just such a wonderful feeling to be able to wake up every morning and set my own like schedule and have a really fun time exploring the ideas and concepts I have that day and working on different projects and challenges, and, you know, testing my creativity in ways that I really think I would or could,

Joleen:

right? That's such a beautiful answer, and I think that, like I identify with, yep, it sure can be scary. I have also had a little bit of validation challenges, I would say, in my space, because a lot of the work and a lot of things that I make are made from repurposed or recycled materials. And so in a way, it's kind of like working with garbage to create something brand new. And not only have, I mean, I've struggled with placing the value on it. But I think that what I love about being an artist is I love the the space, the space that people hold for me as an artist like I'm so grateful that they that they kind of get me. And I guess what I mean specifically is when my spouse will say, Oh, she's an artist. And he doesn't mean it in, like, a flippy way. He means it in something really great is going to come out of that noggin, because she's creative and she's an artist, like, she will, like, figure out a solution because of how she solves problems. So I love that space that people hold for artists. Sometimes I do

Melissa Galbraith:

too, and I think it's really great to see like, the different communities that have popped up within art space, and how sad they can be, especially like with different online platforms and things, I felt like I really gotten to connect with so many people that are artists that also face similar struggles and challenges. And being able to connect through our art that way has been really special well, and

Joleen:

I think too, like you and I were talking before the show started, that we have a lot of mutuals, which is so exciting. And like one I just, I would be remiss to not mention, but so, you know, there's big Raven farm and there's big Raven yoga. So we design and manufacture yoga mats, and Melissa and I have a mutual Stephanie Ryan from boreal arts in Alaska. We did we print Stephanie's yoga mats and you sell your kids in her store? Yes. I mean small world. Love that. Love that. So much. Love Stephanie, too. But I just love how like the community, it doesn't I mean, there are many of us, but yet it has a small town feel in that I feel championed and celebrated by other artists. I feel like a lot of us have an abundance mindset in that there's room for everybody. Has that been your experience too?

Melissa Galbraith:

For the most part, I would say, yes, I think as an artist, you definitely go through, like, some insecurities and share or things like that. But I would say having, like, a community over competition mindset has definitely helped me grow and feel like I connect with so many more people and just have an amazing experience within the arts movie itself,

Joleen:

right? I love it. I love arty I love artsy, craftsy people. I love it so much. Kind of like animal people. Like, I love animal people. What about you? Are you an animal person?

Melissa Galbraith:

Yes, we actually have two Sharpay dogs, yeah. So,

Joleen:

right? Like, I don't, I don't want to alienate anyone, but if you don't like animals, I don't know that. I trust you, right? Like, animals are like, so important. So what is the scariest animal?

Melissa Galbraith:

Oh, gosh, um, I will say I'm not a big like, reptile person. Like, I don't love, like, snakes, yep, lizards, any of those kinds of things. They just are a little creepy to me,

Joleen:

right? And they're, they're definitely misunderstood. I get that. I get that, um, but I'm going to piggyback off what you said, and I feel like I had a near death experience last week. I'm not even kidding. So I was cleaning my office, and underneath my desk on my dog's bed was a Carolina wolf spider. Oh,

Melissa Galbraith:

no, no, no, no, no,

Joleen:

it looked like a tarantula. I mean, I'm not kidding. You'll have to go. Glue it? No, I'm going to put a picture of it in the show notes. I could not believe on my farm in Minnesota, this thing was under my desk, and I was a big girl. I tended to it myself. But when I was talking to Darren about it later, I was like, Okay, I have so many questions. One, does it travel in groups? Who is it? The mommy, like, like, what's happening here? Um, number three, do we need to move? Number four, do we need to stage our house? Number five, should we just put the house up for sale? Like, I had so many questions. I was just vacuuming. The thing that got me is I was just vacuuming and, like, I didn't see it, like we were sharing space for like, 10 ish minutes before I even saw it. And then as soon as I saw it, I like, like, stopped in my tracks, and I was like, Okay, that's it. This is how I go. Here are the pearly gates. Here are the trumpets. Like, I we freaked out.

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah, no,

Joleen:

oh yeah, yeah, right. Okay, so Darren answered my questions, and he said that, okay, they're they're alone, and I don't know if he's lying, because he said they are alone, traveler impacts, um,

Melissa Galbraith:

that they are leaders, are kind of like singular creatures, right? Well, this

Joleen:

is what he said. So I have not yet gone to the wipedia to verify his answers, but I gotta say that is the most afraid I have been by an animal in my life because it was under my desk and I didn't see it at first and it was humongous. Like, like, yeah, I will

Melissa Galbraith:

say when we moved into our house, like the time before you, like, between, like, closing and actually moving in, like, a month in between, like when you actually move into your house, our house had had some like, remodeling done to it. So when we moved in so many giant spiders, and the thing I didn't know about like houses that get remodeled is like a lot of the wood they use it sit out, sits outside, so spiders lay their eggs in it. Then when they do the remodel, those spiders hatch, and you get a bunch of fresh spiders in your house. So I was, like, the first year we lived in our house, there were so many spiders. Like spiders too. And I will say, like living in the Pacific Northwest, we still get a lot of spiders, right? I have gotten less squeamish about them, but like, if I see a spider, it has to go like, yeah, don't do spiders in our house. Like, I know they're so good for, like, right bugs and everything, but I'm like, not, I can't right well.

Joleen:

And so with my spider, I took her outside, but I put her in like a cup, because my biggest fear is that she can, like, run up my arm or something, but I, like, did the little plop, plop and slide method. I just couldn't even believe her size like she she was a big girl. She was a big girl.

Melissa Galbraith:

I commend you for bringing that spider outside, honestly, like, I killed the spiders. Like I just, like, as soon as they start moving, I freak out, like,

Joleen:

right? I can't, I know. And we all, we all have a thing, right? I have, I have kids too that are freaked out by spiders. I think this time, I was just freaked out by her size and like, and she also had, like, she could have wore clothes. She was so big, you know, like, she could have had a little rain jacket, like, and her legs were, like, Beefy, like,

Melissa Galbraith:

she worked out.

Joleen:

She worked out. Yeah, she wasn't like some kind of scrawny little spider, like she was the real deal. Anyway, I survived. I survived. But back to you. So what sound or noise Do you love?

Melissa Galbraith:

Gosh, I will say, when I work a lot in my studio, I listen to a lot of audiobooks, just because I love having, like a background story going on. And I will say, like voices with like good accents I really enjoy. I listen to a lot of, like, murder mysteries and, like British cozy mysteries and things like that. That's kind of where, like what I enjoy listening to, but just having something on in the background also helps you feel like you're not like alone all the time.

Joleen:

As they say, yeah,

Melissa Galbraith:

it's just nice to have that additional voice there.

Joleen:

So what is your favorite app for audiobooks?

Melissa Galbraith:

So I do a lot of Libby, which is, like free books through my library. I

Joleen:

love Libby. I love Libby so much. I think it's the best totally.

Melissa Galbraith:

Yeah. And occasionally I'll use Audible, just because sometimes, like the wait for a certain way. That I really want is, like, super long, or my library just doesn't have the book that I'm interested in. So I'll do it that way sometimes. But in general, I I go through my local library and I love them.

Joleen:

Yep, me too. I don't even mind the weight I fill up my cues so that I have, like, many as I, you know, are allowed, and then when they come up. So this year, I did the Goodreads reading challenge, yeah, where you set your own number. And I had no idea, because I've, I've been a podcast person, but I was thinking that my reading list is so long and I don't ever really get a chance to sit down and, like, hold the book, but I'm always working either, you know, in my shop, or cooking clean. Now I'm not cleaning, but not cooking, excuse me, but cleaning, cleaning and getting ready for guests. And so I thought I would, you know, give the whole audiobook a try. And I love it. I love it. I think my goal for the year was 60 books, and I've completed 69 Oh, nice, yeah. And I actually like the little administrative work that I have, of, like, you know, writing down, you know, cooking what I have, like, you know, keeping track of them. Like, I love that administrative part of this reading challenge. I think it's really fun. I

Melissa Galbraith:

do too. I love being able to kind of, like, it helps you, like, look back and be like, Oh, I have read this book. Or, like, I tried it like it, or like, oh, I read it like this. And then if I'll read it, sometimes I'll read a book again, and then be like, Oh, what was I thinking? Like, that's a way better book, or, I don't know, like that book, I didn't enjoy it as much the second time. Yeah, but yeah, I've said,

Joleen:

listen to the Dutch house. No, so the Dutch house is by Anne. Is it Anne placard? And the Dutch house is narrated by Tom Hanks. And so it was actually I really kind of enjoyed, like, having an actor. And I know voice actors do a great job, like, really great job, but I was, like, kind of a voice that you know and recognize, and I really enjoyed his narration of that book. Alright,

Melissa Galbraith:

well, I'll

Joleen:

have to give it a look. Yeah, the Dutch house is. It was really pretty good. Um, so then, is there a sound or a noise that you don't like?

Melissa Galbraith:

Whistling? Can't do it interesting.

Joleen:

So when someone does like the loud kind do you not like that sound,

Melissa Galbraith:

any kind of whistling, enjoy, like, the sound I it's kind of like for me, like nails on a chalkboard, like

Joleen:

for me, Melissa, I love your clarity. Like, I love that. You're just like, boom, it's whistling like, I like, I love that. Mine are, mine are kind of like beeps. You know, we have a few things around the house that just beep, and I am pretty impatient until they stop beeping. Like our commercial refrigerator and our commercial freezer, like, if you leave the door open too long, they beep, and it's like they're an angry beep. And so I get a little I've been known to say things like, and not and not very nice either. Like, I've said it with a whole lot of energy cared in our comments. Doesn't like it when people pop their knuckles or crack their knuckles, I get that. That's fair. That's a reasonable one, for sure. So Melissa, if you were not in this profession, like, what other profession would you like to attempt? Gosh,

Melissa Galbraith:

so before I got into embroidery, I did, like, Social Media for Nonprofits. And I actually started my very first job was in, like, print advertising for a local newspaper. And I had always wanted to, like, go to advertising school and, like, make cool creative ads for, like, you know, big companies. I think it was also like, when the time that like Mad Men was, like, super popular, oh sure, glamorized advertising. But I just thought that would always be, like, really fun, but also very challenging,

Joleen:

right, right. But, I mean, it's in the creative lane, so like that makes all kinds of sense. I I would like mine is art related. I mean, I obviously, I said I want to be a welder, but I can't because I'm too clumsy. But, like, there are a couple of places. There's a place in Minneapolis, it's called open book, and it is for writers and book make. Dollars. And I would love to work at open book down in the workshop with where they have old timey printing presses, and they do, Mm hmm. They do marbleized paper. They make handmade paper, handmade books, silk screening, like all of the book arts things. I would just love to be there all the time. That does sound fun, yeah? Like, the big, like, you know, type setting with, you know, yeah, yeah. Like, the letters are in the box. Like, I think it just that would be amazing. I would love that so much. Is there a profession that you would not like to do?

Melissa Galbraith:

I would not trust myself with anything that is, like, super precise, like math or science related, or, like, being any kind of a doctor, just because, like, I know myself and my process is very like lobby Sabi, like you mentioned earlier, like you have a yardstick that says, like, close enough. That's me and how I am. So anything that needs, like, anything super precise and like measured to, like the, you know, 29th decimal, or whatever, I just could not do it like that's not where my skill set lies.

Joleen:

I don't think I could be like a high school teacher, maybe, or middle school, or like, I don't know, I feel like our teachers just don't get enough support and love and like, so much is asked of them. And like, I feel like I wouldn't want to be in a space where I am overworked and undervalued. Yes, yeah, yeah. I don't know what there is that can be done about that, but I just have such great love and admiration for people who do that. And you know, a lot of teachers I know have been teachers for like, 20 and 30 years, and you know they talk a little bit about how it's changed, but boy, do they love I mean, I just I admire what they love.

Melissa Galbraith:

Yes. I mean I yeah, I have really fond memories of many of my teachers, and I feel like you really help instill a love of learning and help students figure out what they want to do, because so many times now it's like you are pushed along this process, and like, you need to figure it out. You need to know what you want to do. You have to, like, have your end career goal in mind. And that's not how it used to be for like, our parents, their parents, generation, time to like, figure it out. And just the world is so much more expensive, and so much is happening these days that, like, you have to have more of a solid career path and idea of what you want. And I think teachers don't get enough credit for really helping students figure that out and, like, try things to help support them

Joleen:

well. And when you said, you know, like your favorite teachers, like, I think about my favorite teachers often. Mr. Jakobson was my one of my favorite teachers, and when he retired, I went back home to his retirement party that was held in a pretty big church, and the church was full of former students, and I just remember sitting there thinking like I felt so special, but so did everyone in the room, like, that's an amazing gift to I mean, I thought I was the only one who had this, you know, like love and admiration for him and like he made me feel so valued and appreciated. But then to be sitting in a room of hundreds of people who felt the same way. I was like, this is like, the most special thing I've ever been to in my whole life, and he deserves to be celebrated. It was incredible. I loved it. I know isn't that sweet? So sweet teacher. So anyway, well, my last question for you is this one, and it is what brings you the most happiness. Gosh,

Melissa Galbraith:

I would, I guess right now, because we're really going into cozy season, I would say snuggling on the sofa with my pups and like working on a project, just like ending the day with, like, a really happy, cozy moment.

Joleen:

Oh, I love that. And you're right about it is cozy season. I'm sitting here at my office, and I didn't put on socks or shoes, and I've been like, freezing this whole time. Like yesterday in Minnesota, it like, just turned to fall, like, all of a sudden. It was lovely. And then all of a sudden, you know, I'm freezing. And so I agree with you. I love the descriptor of cozy season. I think that's definitely a happy tappy time. I think for me, because I am an empty nester. I think often about. Times when all four of our children are home, and I've said this so many times, but it is one of my favorite things. I love it when they are living their lives and being together, and they are enjoying each other and laughing, and they don't know that I'm listening. I love that. I love that so much. And I love like who they are when they are with each other. I love how they look out for one another. I just it's like the most precious thing to observe, and it makes me really happy.

Melissa Galbraith:

I know it feels like probably a little validating to be like I raised those kids and they're doing all right. Melissa, I

Joleen:

do that shouldn't, but I'm like, oh my god, I think I might be a great mom. Thank you for saying it. Because I was totally thinking it.

Melissa Galbraith:

I think we're all thinking it, right, right? Well,

Joleen:

I cannot thank you enough for being on the happy time craftcast today. Can you believe it is already over? I time went by so quickly. Um, thank you, Melissa. Thank you so much. So in the show notes, we will put where to find the book, How to get on her newsletter email list where you can find her kits and classes, all the things will be available there. And if you are around and you're able to join me next week, Tamara Kelly, the founder of Moogly, is going to be my guest. I know, right, I am so excited to welcome her to the show. But thank you again, Melissa, it's been a wonderful episode, and thank you to everyone listening, and we will see you next time.

Melissa Galbraith:

Thank you so much for having me. Jolene, you're

Joleen:

welcome. Bye, everybody. Bye.

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Joleen Emery

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