Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Cox. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Courtney , we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Dealing with multiple chronic illnesses means that caring for myself is always top of mind. I couldn’t be effective at all without managing my health. Over the last few years, I’ve spent a lot of time dialing in a healthy diet, exercise routine, medication protocol, and resources for a changing landscape of symptoms. Managing stress is a key component to dealing with long-term health issues, which is what a lot of people think of when they think of “self-care.”
Since I work for myself and spend a lot of time alone by default, connecting with people is very important to me. Scheduling in-person meetings, seeing friends, and speaking to loved ones on the phone are part of my weekly routines. Relationships are enriching and help with problem solving, creativity, feeling supported, and introducing new ideas.
Reading is another way I care for myself. Both non-fiction and fiction books have their merits, and I read across genres. Non-fiction provides me with additional resources, while fiction offers me a different sense of discovery.
Knitting is another hobby that I give a lot of my time and attention. The physical movements and tactile experience are calming and relaxing. It also keeps me connected to the world of fiber arts, which motivates my work and helps me view my event planning from the angle of the attendee.
Lastly, exercise has become increasingly important to me. A year ago I began lifting weights and the benefits surprised me, despite knowing it was supposed to be good for me. Beyond the usual improvements to my sleep, stress levels, mood, and aesthetic, it has caused me to view myself as strong and able. My consistency at the gym built a trust with myself that I can tackle difficult and uncomfortable things.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
A year ago, I founded Scenic Stitches, a company that plans events around fiber arts (knitting, embroidery, weaving, sewing, etc.) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Since launching, we have produced two festivals, a handful of smaller pop-ups, and a couple of yarn bombing installations. Yarn bombing is an artform that involves using knitted or crocheted fabric to cover something: a tree trunk, bike rack, light pole, or something similar.
Fiber arts has risen in popularity in recent years, particularly with the next generations of makers: Millennials and Gen Z. Scenic Stitches caters to a younger age group with our events.
In February 2025, we put on the Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival, an event that brought together 70 vendors from across the country as well as a selection of classes for beginner to advanced fiber arts techniques. With our younger age group in mind, we incorporated interactive stations as well as tattoo artists doing live flash tattoos with a fiber arts theme. We had over 2500 people!
More recently was the Scenic Stitches Spectacle, a festival for oversized fiber arts that took place at the end of September. In addition to vendors, we had artist demonstrations by local fiber artists and a playground of oversized fiber arts equipment: a tunnel to walk through and weave, Kumihomo braiding in a hula hoop, giant embroidery and cross stitch, and oversized bobbin lace. The idea was to introduce people to different forms of fiber arts in a non-threatening way; the large scale aspect lent a silliness to trying something new.
We’re gearing up for the second year of the Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival, which will take place February 28-March 1, 2026 at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This year will be bigger, with more vendors and classes as well as interactive stations and artist demonstrations.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three things that helped me a lot in building my business are: knowledge of my market, adaptability, and tapping into community.
As a passionate fiber artist myself, it was easy to have knowledge of my market – I am my market! Looking around, it was easy to see what was missing (nearby fiber arts events) and fun to daydream with my friends about the kinds of things we would love to see happen locally. I paid attention to what sorts of things my friends were travelling to attend and then looked at how I could create those experiences myself.
Adaptability is key when creating anything new, especially a business. My original idea for a small fiber fair grew extremely quickly and I had to grow with it. Creating a large event in such a short timeframe meant learning fast and on my feet, and sometimes letting things be imperfect. Adapting to that challenge included recognizing what elements were essential for success and building a framework around those parts.
Having already spent some time meeting various pockets of the fiber arts community in Chattanooga as a member and enthusiast, I was able to reach out to that network when it was time to produce a large event. A large part of the vision for Scenic Stitches is to unify the disparate branches of fiber arts in the area. To that end, I am delighted at the opportunity to partner with groups that make fiber arts more accessible to others and elevate their visibility at our events. By helping each other grow, we equally ensure our own success.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Scenic Stitches is actively seeking sponsors. We are most interested in festival sponsorships, and there may be additional opportunities for sponsors to be involved in retreats(!) in 2026.
We are proud to be a fiscally sponsored project by the Arts and Business Council of Greater Nashville, a non-profit. This means that all donations to Scenic Stitches are tax-deductible.
For more information or to receive a sponsorship packet, please email us at [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scenicstitches.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/scenicstitches
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/scenicstitchesfest
Image Credits
Millicent Garland Photography
and
True Captures Studios
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
