Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cortney Goodman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cortney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Here at Curious Creations Macrame I only use 100% cotton cord that has been ethically sourced and recycled. Most of this cord comes from recycled clothing that would usually end up in a dump. In addition to using recycled cotton cord, I also keep all of my scraps and use them in other projects. My cats also get a great amount of enjoyment from playing with the scraps. So really it’s a win win for everyone. Curious Creations Macrame also goes to local schools to teach kids the art of macrame. Most recently I was invited to The Miami Valley School to teach in part of their immersion program.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Cortney and I am the macrame babe behind Curious Creations Macrame.

I am a gem city transplant who relocated to Dayton over a decade ago from a small town up north and I love the small town community spirit in this great city of ours, especially the thriving creative arts community.

As a “Mom” of cats, I was struggling to find a safe way to keep my precious fur kids away from plants that were harmful to their well being and so about four years ago, I took up macrame to keep plants up high….and to stop kitty from snacking on my spider plant and getting…..high.

I quickly fell in love with creating macrame and learning the field of fiber art and what started as a hobby, creating pieces for family and friends, has grown into a business that allows me to stretch my creative wings.

Today I make all types of fiber art from large scale wall hangings to jewelry to practical home products and add my own touch of whimsy with the addition of crystals, disco balls and more. To be able to connect my other passions into my art such as disco, daisies, nature and the moon helps add a personal touch that keeps my pieces unique. You’ll find my moondalas adorned with crystals, key chains with a daisy design and since I love shiny things (so do my cats), disco ball hanging plant holders.

Within the local creative community, I’ve had the good fortune to be able to collaborate with other artists to offer one of a kind designs, and I thrive within the collaborative process. There is truly no limit on what you can achieve with the dedication and help from a friend who knows and understands the art life.

I’m always open to custom orders, you can reach out to me on my social media or email. My handmade creations can be found at any of my in-person events or through instagram. All events are posted on Instagram: CuriousCreationsMacrame [email protected]

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is a tricky beast, there are many people that claim to know all the tips and tricks, and maybe they do. I am certainly not one of those people; social media is constantly changing so it’s difficult to get a good grasp and know what will really work.

I started the Curious Creations Macrame account, so I had a dedicated place to market all of the amazing macrame pieces. Building your social media from the ground up can be daunting, but I suggest starting by following local makers that you can connect with. Build the community you want to be a part of, after all you’re going to be leading it.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The biggest resource that has helped me grow Curious Creations Macrame has been the amazing friends I’ve made at various events vending around town. The local makers of Dayton, OH are a different breed and they truly show up for one another. I have learned so much and gained some lifelong friendships along the way. The community here in Dayton is like no other I’ve seen in my travels; we show up, we support each other, and most importantly we build each other up.

Curious Creations Macrame would not be what it is today without the support from this amazing community. A shining example of this is the markets that Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities (located in Kettering, OH) hosts twice a month. The stellar bar manager, Austin, goes above and beyond to involve local artists and makers and gets the community involved in that support by bringing a market right to the bar. Who doesn’t want to grab a beer and shop some locally made items? Austin has introduced me to some truly amazing people I would not have crossed paths with without the aid of the Curios Market.

Curios Markets are the first and last Saturdays of the month.
Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities
4716 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH 45440

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouscreationsmacrame/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuriousCreationsMacrame/
• Other: IG & FB: @CuriousCreationsMacrame

Image Credits
Riley Street Merchants Curious Creations Macrame