How One Small Tip Tripled Barbie Mills’ Business | H+H Americas 2026

Carina Gardner sits down with Barbie Mills, founder of the Quilting Mill, at H+H Americas 2026 in Chicago.

Barbie has been longarm quilting since 2012 and designs modern digital pantographs for computerized longarm quilters. She sells her designs to quilters around the world and teaches pantograph design. She is also an MFA student at the University of Arts & Design.

In this episode, Barbie talks about what makes her work stand out, why building a unique creative business is the key to real profits, and the one small tip from Carina that tripled her business.

Visit the Quilting Mill: https://www.thequiltingmill.com
Learn more about the University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/

Join Carina today in this special episode where she talks about the 3 Gaps for designers, the three things no one tells you, and the research behind design and business education. Furthermore, Carina interviews graduate Katie Winn who talks about her experiences at the University of Arts & Design.

Learn more about UAD’s degrees and certificates at www.uad.education

Be wary of anyone who gives you a strategy and tells you it always works because if there is one thing Carina has learned it is that everything changes. Today Carina is at the H + H Show and she talks about the evolution of shows during her time in this business and changes she continues to see in the design and art industries. 

What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com

University of Arts & Design: http://uad.education

Pulled from our March Sweet Life of A Designer Summit, this youtube live features some of our presenters “Favorite Books.” Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/live/JW9JZz5XRns?si=S08Bn_KfCgRMtJM3

What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com
University of Arts & Design: http://uad.education