# 389: Blobs Are Not Stressful

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-10-14
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 389
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/389

## Summary

Carrie Sundra, founder of Alpenglow Industries, discusses her transition from dyeing yarn to building 'frivolous circuits' and tools for makers. She details the design and crowdfunding of the SkeinMinder and SkeinTwister, explaining how she bypassed Kickstarter for the latter by using her own website and the now-defunct Celery payment processor. Sundra also covers the engineering challenges of her FUnicorn board, the PS-I Hate You soldering kit, and her live-streaming efforts to promote representation for women in hardware.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=6) Introduction and Background
- [7:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=420) SkeinMinder Kickstarter and Fulfillment
- [10:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=641) SkeinTwister Crowdfunding Strategy
- [15:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=945) FUnicorn Circuit Design and Power Management
- [22:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=1373) PS-I Hate You Soldering Kit Design Challenges
- [30:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=1800) Live Streaming and Representation
- [37:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=2279) Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators
- [42:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful#t=2549) Conductive Yarn and Blob Making

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Alpenglow Industries (company)
- SkeinMinder (product)
- SkeinTwister (product)
- FUnicorn (product)
- PS-I Hate You (product)
- Tindie (company)
- Celery (company)
- Teenage Engineering (company)
- Arcade (product)
- GeekMomProjects (other)
- Debra Ansell (other)
- Chibitronics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Kickstarter, IndieGoGo & Ignite - Jasperated Jimswinger Jobbery](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-04-24-kickstarter-indiegogo-ignite-jasperated-jimswinger-jobbery) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Josh Lifton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-09-an-interview-with-josh-lifton) (The Amp Hour)
- [Girl Power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-08-24-girl-power) (The Amp Hour)
- [Minted: Mariam Naficy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-06-04-minted-mariam-naficy) (How I Built This)
- [#058 - Freedom to work and play anywhere without losing power, with Nancy de Fays of Linedock, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-07-04-058-freedom-to-work-and-play-anywhere-without-losing-power-with-nancy-de-fays-of) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.