The Crafty Mariana Podcast

• From Classroom to Craft Club – Janelle's story building the Salt Lake City Craft Club

  In this episode of the Crafty Mariana Podcast, Mariana sits down with Janelle Widtfeldt, founder of the vibrant Salt Lake City Craft Club. From first-grade teacher to full-time creative entrepreneur, Janelle shares her inspiring journey of turning her love for crafting into a community-centered business that brings people together through creativity. They dive deep into the joys and realities of running workshops, building authentic connections, using social media as a growth tool, and navigating the business side of creativity. Janelle opens up about imposter syndrome, messy events, and learning from mistakes—while always centering joy, play, and community in her work. Whether you’re crafting for fun or growing a creative brand, this episode is packed with heartfelt takeaways and practical gems. What We Cover in This Episode: ✎ Janelle’s leap from teaching to full-time creative business ✎ The story behind Salt Lake City Craft Club ✎ Starting with free events to grow community ✎ Why creativity matters for wellbeing ✎ How social media and ads fuel event visibility ✎ Authenticity, imposter syndrome & showing up anyway ✎ Letting go of rigid workshop structures ✎ The realities of business: money, mindset, and mistakes ✎ Future dreams of expanding Craft Club across cities ✎ Advice for aspiring crafters and workshop hosts Connect with Janelle: ✎ Instagram: @craftclub.slc ✎ Website: craftclubslc.com Resources for Your Workshop Business: 📌 Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop Business📌 Free Spreadsheet: Figure Out Your Numbers! Stay Connected with Mariana: 🌎 Website: craftymariana.com📷 Instagram: @craftymariana🎨 Facebook Community: Crafting Workshops Community📩 Get exclusive content, resources, and deals: craftymariana.com/newsletter Let’s Make This Interactive! Have questions or topics you’d like me to cover in future episodes? DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]!

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• The Secret to a Profitable Workshop Biz 🤫

  In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most important — and overlooked — keys to running a profitable workshop business: knowing your lane. I’m breaking down the two most common workshop business models I’ve seen (and lived!), and how understanding which one you're in can help you set better prices, avoid burnout, and actually make money doing what you love. If you’ve ever felt stuck between being “artsy and broke” or “profitable and bored,” this one’s for you. In this episode, I talk about: ✎ The two distinct “lanes” of workshop profitability — and how to know which one you’re in ✎ What kinds of events work best in each lane (with real examples from art gurl — check out our podcast interview with Maegan from art gurl in this link — Haricot Vert & Karma Studios) ✎ The pros and cons of each model — from pricing power to creative freedom ✎ How your marketing needs to shift depending on your audience ✎ Why it’s okay to change lanes as your business evolves ✎ How I’ve built a profitable business in the Premium Lane — and why I’m now weaving in more community-style events 📝 Want to go deeper? Read the Blog: The Two Lanes of Workshop Profitability (and Why Picking One Matters)Get the Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop BusinessFree Resource: Figure Out Your Workshop Numbers 🔗 Links & Resources: 📌 Join the Crafts Workshops Academy: craftymariana.com/crafts-workshops-academy 📌 DM me your thoughts or lightbulb moments @craftymariana on Instagram 📌 Join my free community: Crafting Collective on Facebook 📩 Want behind-the-scenes content, resources, and deals? Join my newsletter: craftymariana.com/newsletter

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• The Real Cost of Setting Up My Creative Studio! Was it Worth it?! How Much I Spent & Some Learnings

  In this episode, I’m sharing the honest, behind-the-scenes breakdown of what it actually cost me to set up my own creative studio, Karma Creative Studios. If you’ve ever dreamed of opening your own space — or just want a real look at the numbers — this episode is for you. I’m walking you through everything from major setup expenses to the unexpected “little things” that added up fast, plus how I’m feeling about the investment so far. In this episode, I talk about: ✎ Why I wanted a studio in the first place (and why I waited). ✎ The true cost of setting up the space — from tables and chairs to neon signs and curtain rods. ✎ The sneaky expenses that added up (and what I wish I had planned for). ✎ How I’m feeling about the investment now — the good, the stressful, and the "still figuring it out" moments. ✎ My mindset around business experiments, pivots, and playing the long game. 📝 Read the Blog Article 'My Honest Breakdown of Studio Setup Costs' Link Here Resources: 📌 Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop Business - craftymariana.com/guide📌 Free Spreadsheet: Figure Out Your Numbers - craftymariana.com/numbers📌 Join the Crafts Workshops Academy Here - craftymariana.com/crafts-workshops-academy Links to Connect With Me: 🌎 Website: craftymariana.com📸 Instagram: @craftymariana👩‍🎨 My Free Facebook Community: Crafting Collective 📩 Join my email list for exclusive content, resources, and deals: craftymariana.com/newsletter 💬 Let’s Make This Interactive! Have questions or topics you’d like me to cover in future episodes? DM me on Instagram or send an email to [email protected].

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• 🎙️ From Pop-Up to Permanent: How I Opened My Studio Faster Than Planned

  In this episode, I’m sharing the unexpected journey of how I went from planning a temporary pop-up space to opening a permanent studio much sooner than expected! I’ll walk you through the original plan, what made me pivot, the biggest challenges along the way, and how the studio is already impacting my business. In this episode, I talk about: ✎ My original plan for a two-month pop-up space and why I changed course. ✎ How I found the perfect studio opportunity by accident. ✎ The biggest challenges (and surprises) of setting up the studio so quickly. ✎ How having a dedicated space is shifting my business—and what’s next for Karma Studios. ✎ My big-picture goals for both Karma Studios and the Crafts Workshop Academy. Resources: 📌 Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop Business - craftymariana.com/guide 📌 Free Spreadsheet: Figure Out Your Numbers - craftymariana.com/numbers📌 Join the Crafts Workshops Academy Here - craftymariana.com/crafts-workshops-academy Links to Connect With Me: 🌎 Website: craftymariana.com 📸 Instagram: @craftymariana 👩‍🎨 My Free Facebook Community: Crafting Collective 📩 Join my email list for exclusive content, resources, and deals: craftymariana.com/newsletter 💬 Let’s Make This Interactive! Have questions or topics you’d like me to cover in future episodes? DM me on Instagram or send an email to [email protected].

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• How a Burnt-Out Teacher Built a Creative Business: Eva's Story Building Craftiful

  In this episode of the Crafty Mariana Podcast, Mariana interviews Eva Loudon from Craftiful, a creative studio based in Surrey, UK. Eva shares her journey from being a teacher to running a successful crafting business, offering insights into workshop demand, financial hurdles, and the importance of community. They discuss the realities of entrepreneurship—balancing passion with business, managing a team, and leveraging social media to build a crafting brand. Eva highlights the need for structured workshops, customer loyalty, and setting boundaries to ensure sustainability. Whether you’re starting out or growing your creative business, this episode is packed with valuable lessons! What We Cover in This Episode: ✎ Eva’s transition from teaching to crafting workshops✎ The challenges of filling workshops and growing demand✎ How having a dedicated studio space impacted her business✎ The financial hurdles of running a creative business✎ Marketing strategies and the role of social media✎ The balance between passion and business sustainability✎ The importance of customer loyalty and community building✎ Setting boundaries and prioritizing rest as an entrepreneur Connect with Eva: ✎ Craftiful Website: craftifulthecreativestudio.com✎ Craftiful Instagram: @craftiful.thecreativestudio Resources for Your Workshop Business: 📌 Free Guide: How to Start Your Own Workshop Business📌 Free Spreadsheet: Figure Out Your Numbers! Stay Connected with Mariana: 🌎 Website: craftymariana.com📷 Instagram: @craftymariana🎨 Facebook Community: Crafting Workshops Community📩 Get exclusive content, resources, and deals: craftymariana.com/newsletter Let’s Make This Interactive! Have questions or topics you’d like me to cover in future episodes? DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]!

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