Episode 6: Vickie Howell
In today's episode on the Collage Creative podcast I chat with TV host, author, podcaster and the list goes on! She tells us so much – like how her first businesses unknowingly lead to a once in a lifetime opportunity in TV. You’ll definitely want to stick around to the end when she fills us in on the biggest thing she learned hosting a kickstarter campaign for her latest endeavor The Knit Show. You'll also hear about the kooky way she unwinds as a serial multi tasked and my favorite, why leaning into our oddities might just be the best option for all of us.
I hope you enjoyed this episode. I felt like I really got to know Vickie on a whole different level and just fell in love with her. She is tirelessly encouraging all of us to embrace our creativity in any way, at any level and to never beat ourselves up about it. Her design philosophy of creating simple, accessible patterns totally resonates. They aren't supposed to make you feel bad because they're so tough to finish. Amen sister!
I especially loved when she touched on this idea that when we are creative, it makes us open and openess is what allows us to receive all those things we are hoping for, working on and thinking about. Like the way that an email came out of the blue to her asking if she’d be up for hosting a show. That’s exactly what she was looking for and had experience in. I’ve had this happen a bunch in my life too - a little out there but I love this idea – like attracts like and that the universe has your back, kind of like that. I recommend the Jess Lively podcast for anyone interested in this idea.
I also love how she talks about the challenge of being vulnernable in our professional lives and asking for help when we need it. As my dear friend (hah!) Brene Brown would say vulnerability is the birth place of creativity. You have to embrace your vulnerability to put something new out into the world. It can be scary but I think it gets easier the more we practice it. Maybe if we all embraced it a little more it wouldn't be quite so scary to do it in the first place. Asking for help seems to be a theme running through this podcast too as Sasha mentioned it last week. She credits this lesson to making her Kickstarer campaign successful. Such a good reminder to let go of this idea that we have to figure it all out ourselves.
Her last words of advice echo back to what I want to tell my kids, it’s cool to be weird. She takes it one step further with lean into your oddities because they are what sets you apart. Love it!
Here are the podcasts she recommends: Nerdist, Pop Culture Happy Hour, This Song, Power Purls and anything on NPR that's political. A few pics of Vickie and her family below. Find out more about her on her website and on Instagram. Be sure to check out the Knit Show right here - I'll be making a cameo!
Her kids tho - I love it and I can't wait for my kids to be able to help me, ha!
She designed this gorgeous shawl in our Spun Cloud yarn. Pattern available here.