Fan Mail? Feedback? Suggestions? What does it look like to build a creative business while life is fully happening around you? Autumn Woods is the founder of Cobblestones, a fiber arts store and cafe coming to Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. She is working a full-time job, teaching soft crafts part-time at a local art center, and building her dream in whatever hours are left. In this episode, Autumn and I talk about how a single dinner conversation with one of her students sent her home that same night to start writing a business plan, what her vision for Cobblestones actually looks like when there are no obstacles in the way, and how she protects her energy so she can keep going for the long haul. She is not grinding until two in the morning. She is sleeping, eating, and staying intentional about her limits, because she knows the business is only as good as she is. If you are building something meaningful in the margins of a full life, this conversation is going to feel like a deep breath. In this episode: How a student’s offhand comment about owning a yoga studio sent Autumn home to write a business plan that same night What Cobblestones will look like when it opens: fiber arts store, cafe, local art, live music, classes, and community events all under one roof How she is raising capital without taking out loans, including crowdfunding through her site Why she refuses to stay up until two in the morning and what she does instead to keep the business moving How she uses calendar blocking to navigate tasks she has never done before Why she is adamant about showcasing smaller and lesser-known designers alongside established names How she has been running a traveling craft group through Chicago for over a year, before Cobblestones even has a location What it means to her to build a space that is not just creative but genuinely safe for BIPOC and queer communities Questions this episode answers: How do you start a business when you already have a full-time job? Autumn is working full time, teaching part time, and building Cobblestones simultaneously. She shares how she manages her time, blocks her calendar, and protects her energy so she can keep going sustainably. How do you raise money to open a brick-and-mortar store without taking out loans? Autumn is growing her online shop, applying for grants, and accepting crowdfunding donations through her website while she saves toward the buildout. What is the best way to build community before your business opens? Autumn has been hosting a traveling craft group through Chicago for over a year, before Cobblestones has an address, because she believes the community you build is the reason people show up when you finally do open. How do you avoid burnout when you are building a business in your spare time? Autumn sleeps seven hours a night, eats three meals a day, and blocks time in her calendar intentionally. Her rule: the business is only as good as she is. How do you create an inclusive creative space for BIPOC and queer communities? Autumn is intentionally locating Cobblestones in a diverse neighborhood near the art center where she already teaches, and she has been building community with that same intention through her traveling craft group. Find Autumn Woods at Cobblestones: https://www.cobblearts.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobble_arts Support the Cobblestones buildout: https://www.cobblearts.com/donate Links mentioned in this episode: Cobblestones online shop: https://www.cobblearts.com/shop-all Cobblestones donate page: https://www.cobblearts.com/donate H+H Americas (Handcrafts and Hobbies trade show): https://hh-americas.com Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com Shopify: https://www.shopify.com If you are thinking about building your own teaching business, start here: https://www.academyforvirtualteaching.com/f/12-questions-before-you-build-your-course Learn more about the Academy for Virtual Teaching: https://Instagram.com/theAcademyforVirtualTeaching https://facebook.com/theAcademyforVirtualTeaching https://www.academyforvirtualteaching.com https://www.youtube.com/@TheAcademyForVirtualTeaching Never stop creating, Lyric Tutorials, Systems, Templates, Understanding of which of your images go where! You can find Canva Made Simple at https://www.academyforvirtualteaching.com/courses/canva-made-simple Let's Connect! Join The Academy for Virtual TeachingInstagramFacebook >> Register for the FREE webinar: Make an Effective Promotional Video in 3 Easy Steps! You will learn how to get conversions with authentic connections instead of pushy sales!
