Sew Much More

Jen Holaday is the owner of Brave Maggie Designs, a custom drapery workroom in Franklin, TN. She fabricates pillows, bedding, cushions, and shades but nothing makes her heart skip a beat more so than beautiful custom drapery. From the fabrics and hardware to the pleating and draping, custom drapery will elevate an entire space. It’s the difference between a pretty room and a simply stunning one. Jennifer has close to 10 years of experience throughout the Nashville area working with professional workrooms, interior designers, and directly with homeowners. She loves living in Music City, where she's had the opportunity to work with some very creative people. In addition to fabrication, Jennifer offers the following services: fabric consult, fabric sourcing and purchasing, measuring, drapery hardware, roller, and woven shades, and professional installation.   Where you can find Jennifer: www.BraveMaggieDesigns https://www.instagram.com/bravemaggiedesigns/ https://www.facebook.com/bravemaggiedesigns bravemaggiede

Grace grew up in Philadelphia - one of nine children - she recently celebrated 40 years of marriage to her wonderful husband Bob who is now retired and is now her personal Chef - they are blessed to have 4 grown children and 3 grandchildren - Her favorite place to be is with Family.  Grace and her husband now live in Huntingdon Valley just outside of Philadelphia.   In April of 1999, Grace Irene Window Fashions was born. Grace worked from home for 7 years before opening a Drapery Shop in Hatboro.  Grace is on Facebook and Instagram.   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association    

  Marie Mouradian has celebrated over 38 years of owning her own business. What began as a childhood sewing hobby has become a lifelong passion for creating comfortable, functional, and beautiful environments. Window Designs Etc. by Marie Mouradian has evolved over the years to include custom window treatments, Hunter Douglas blinds & shades, soft home furnishings, and interior decorating consulting services for both residential and commercial properties in the Worcester, MA area. Experienced is how she refers to herself with several Window Fashion Vision awards and positions on the local Chamber and BBB board of directors.  Marie is on  Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association

Cathy Cohane started her business "Curtain Cathy" in 2003 as she was transitioning from a career in garment manufacturing.  A lifelong sewist with a degree in Clothing and Textiles, owning and running her own business has been both a passion of hers and has brought her much success and joy.  As a sole proprietor, Cathy specializes in roman shades, drapery panels, and soft furnishings, as well as blinds, shades, and shutters.  Her business serves the metropolitan area of NJ, NY, PA, and CT.  Curtain Cathy serves both homeowners and designers and she especially loves collaborating with designers as they complete their projects.  Cathy's work has been featured in Apartment Therapy, Women's Day Magazine, and on the Instagram feeds of her vendors.   You can find her on Instagram and Facebook is Cathleen Cohane DBA Curtain Cathy.  You can reach her by email at cdcohane@verizon.net.    The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA       The Curtains and Soft

Jackie Myers is the owner of Useful Stitches drapery workroom and Useful Stitches Etsy.  She has been sewing for 38 years.  After graduating with a BS in Math, she decided to pursue her interest in sewing and took sewing and decorating classes. After sewing for years as a hobby for herself and friends, she decided to officially open shop as Useful Stitches, LLC eleven years ago.  She sews mainly to the trade with some retail jobs.  Her husband of 38 years is her installer, accountant, and consultant.  When she is not sewing, she loves to garden, cook, watch birds in her back yard, and sew useful gifts. You can find Jackie on Facebook. Links and Resources; As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and I am grateful if you choose to use my links.  Some of the links below are affiliate links. Bill's Sewing Center New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories Custom Draperies in Interior Design by Mary Neal Profit First: Transform Your Business from a

Bethany Brubaker works at Adaptive Textiles and posted a great answer to a question on the Forum in the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library     Links and Resources; Simon Sinek Finding Your Why, YouTube channel   Members of the Library have access to a SWOT analysis Circle Time webinar   Brene Brown Netflix   Pomodoro technique 25 minutes of work/5 minute break   Time Blocking Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendencies Quiz   Podcast with Jean Lawes and Cindi Grey   SCORE   Ten Percent Happier for Meditation   Adam Grant's Ted Talk about Languishing    

Joy Willbur started her business, Sew Joy,  in Lexington KY in 2006 with a desire to have a career that combined her passion for sewing with the flexibility she wanted as a mother. She loves to create gorgeous custom sewn décor. Joy works with designers, decorators, and homeowners as a partner to fabricate their designs. She loves to learn about new products and fabrication methods. Joy belongs to the WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America), the Kentucky Workroom Association, and the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library. You can find Joy on Facebook and Instagram Links and Resources; (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and I am grateful if you choose to use my links. Not all links below are affiliate links) Ann Johnson's Swag Books Custom Workroom Conference Fabrics A to Z: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Using Fabric for Sewing  by Dana Willard  Workroom Marketplace Gridded Canvas Cover Drawmatic Joy's YouTube video about the Drawmatic   The Sew Much More Podca

Almost 20 years ago Leigh Anne was looking for fabric to reupholster her sofa.  She found fabrics that were sophisticated, but not environmentally friendly; or “green” (mostly recycled polyester – actually a poor green choice), but not stylish.  Even the fabrics claiming to be “organic” were processed with chemicals that were harmful to people and the planet - and many of those chemicals remain in the fabric. Since Leigh couldn’t find a company that was creating entirely safe but gorgeous  fabrics using organic or sustainable methods and using zero plastic (polyester, nylon, etc), she enlisted her sister, Patty, and together they formed Two Sisters Ecotextiles, to “change the way textiles are being made.” You can find Two Sisters Ecotextiles on Instagram and Facebook.   Links and Resources; GOTS  Oeko-tex Toxic Chemicals Control Act

Michelle Minner is the owner of Blue Roof Cabin Upholstery, located in Washington state. She’s a solopreneur, specializing in residential furniture reupholstery. Michelle fell into the upholstery trade by accident. As a DIY blogger looking for a project she decided to try her hand at reupholstering an old chair and fell in love with the transformation process. Self-taught, Michelle is passionate about sharing knowledge and supporting fellow upholsterers. She loves to share upholstery tips on her YouTube channel and Instagram stories. She is currently a Virtual Instructor for FLC training systems.  You can find Michelle on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Links and Resources; Michelle's article in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest The Funky Little Chair You're A Bad Ass by Jen Sincero   Atomic Habits by James Clear   Spruce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Upholstery and Design  by Amanda Brown, Grace Bonney    Singer book by Steve Cone   Podcasts Brene Brown Jennifer Allwood   The Sew Much More Podcast is spons

Karen Barnes is the former owner of The Elegant Window.  She owned her business for.  years.  She is now retired and is sharing her journey with us. The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Links and Resources; Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow Podcast Episode #60 - Karen Barnes - I Was Like A Sponge Michele Williams - Scarlet Thread Consulting Pricing Without Emotion

Nancy Sargent is the owner of Cobani Bleu. A creative upholstery business whose mission is The Art of Sitting Soft, a tagline inspired by her mom. The ‘sit soft’ philosophy is all about gathering with family and friends, to be enveloped in a warm, nurturing and comfortable environment. The goal of Cobani Bleu is to always create furniture that sits soft.   After spending way too much time in corporate America, she took early retirement and has never looked back. Her passion is artisan textiles. Combining grain sacks and mudcloths, quilts, woolen blankets, and leather hides with more traditional fabrics to create bespoke furniture.   Nancy does client work as well as designs and sells her own unique furnishings on Etsy. She is a proud member of the National Upholstery Association. As a firm believer of there is always something new to learn, she teaches one-on-one upholstery out of her she shop in Nashville, TN.   Nancy is on Facebook and Instagram.   Links and Resources; (I do use some affiliate links)   The

Donna Redmond is the owner of Undercover Sewing.  She has been a member of WCAA since 2016 and participates in ongoing professional education.  Donna loves to work with both to the trade interior designers and local homeowners.  Donna is always striving to provide high-quality window treatments, cushions, and/or pillows that transform a house into a special place for special people.  You are special! Links and Resources; 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech - Mentoring Association of Sewing and Design Professionals Women's Business Association of Maryland Susan Woodcock's Craftsy Classes Custom Workroom Conference Window Covering Association of America Comfortex Workroom Tours on the Library Ann Johnson's books on swags Susan Woodcock's book M'Fay manuals Kim's Upholstery Calendly EZ Pleat   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consu

Whitney Kaufman is the owner of Whitney Kaufman Designs in Grand Rapids, MI.  Whitney is a busy wife and mother of four teenagers. As a teacher turned stay-at-home-mom she began sewing shortly after her oldest daughter was born, and for years she enjoyed sewing Halloween costumes for her brood. Over the years she tried her hand at making both Roman shades and quilts. At the suggestion of some friends, she began looking into ways to turn her passion for sewing and decorating into a career. In December 2020 she opened Whitney Kaufman Designs. Whitney quickly jumped on the opportunity to join the 2021 WAM group and credits the group with helping her to build her business.   Links and Resources; Sailrite The Workroom Channel Elki's class Rowley EZ rig system Laurie Gutberlet's podcast The Funky Little Chair Boxed Cushion Course Workroom Tech Sewing Custom Curtains, Shades, and Top Treatments: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Installing Window Decor by Susan Woodcock The Slipcover Maker Business Gui

  The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association Jonathan Bennet, owner of Unsprung Upholstery is originally from Martinsville, VA.  He caught the sewing bug from his great grandmother at a young age. He moved to Richmond, VA on a whim in August of 1989 and earned a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. Directly after graduation, Jonathan taught in the Fashion Design department as an adjunct professor for 13 years. He started his first workroom job in 1997, learned how to make various types of window treatments, cushions, pillows, and more;  since then, he has done freelance workroom client projects in his home for over 25 years. Jonathan opened Unsprung Upholstery LLC in August 2019 and will continue this beautiful journey for the rest of his life!   Website:  Unsp

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association   I hope this year is off to a great start for you!  Happy 22! Links and Resources; Gretchen Rubin's 22 in 22 pdf

In what has become our annual tradition, Michele Williams and I spend some time together discussing this past year, our plans for next year, and what great books we have read. I hope you enjoy today's podcast.   Links and Resources Scarlet Thread Consulting   Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team  by Scott Jeffrey Miller, Todd Davis, Victoria Roos Olsson   The Vision Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business by Michael Hyatt   Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! Kindle Edition by Mike Michalowicz   Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt   The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Revised and Updated: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals Kindle Edition by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling, Scott Thele, Beverly Walker    Getting Things Done by David Allen   Atomic Habits by James Clear   Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business Hardcover – April 3, 2012 by Gin

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Debbie DiFrancesco, who has been sewing since the age of 7, founded Creative Hands in 1990 to supplement the family income.  Initially, Debbie provided general sewing and bridal alteration services while working a second job as an assistant manager/Craft Department Manager at House of Fabrics/So-Fro Fabrics until 1991.  Two years later, Creative Hands transitioned from alterations to exclusively fabricating window treatments and selling hard treatments.  Soon after, in 1997, Debbie attended courses at the Professional Drapery Workroom School, later known as the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Swannanoa, NC under Cheryl Strickland.  Since then, she has participated in the Custom Home Furnishings Conferences and International Window Coveri

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association     Dennis Locke is a 3rd generation furniture upholsterer in Greenville, Tx. Serving the Dallas area. He came into the family business as a child, and has doing it professionally for over 40 years. Dennis took over the business in ‘97, when his mother passed. He does commercial and residential furniture, as well as specializing in repair and foam replacement.  You can find Dennis at Payne's Upholstery.  For some insight into Dennis's writing ability, be sure to visit his About Us Page.

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association Theresa Harmon is a graphic designer turned one-woman drapery and soft furnishings workroom. She loves transforming beautiful fabric into custom creations not found in the mass retail market. Theresa works with retail clients, a handful of decorators, and her daughter Lee, owner/designer at Contented Interiors, and her other daughter Nivette who is her project manager. Her husband is her admin, on-site measurer, foam cutter, bookkeeper and tax man. Theresa grew up with an artistic mother who kept her supplied with a plethora of arts and crafts kits. She learned to sew at summer camp and through middle school home ec classes and have had a love affair with sewing and fabric ever since. Her high school guidance counselor didn't have an answer f

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Susan Souza grew up in the suburbs of Long Island, NY. She went to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC after finishing high school. She was petrified to be going to school in the big city, but she got used to it and loved the whole atmosphere of being in the fashion world. Susan landed a job as an assistant designer in a children’s wear firm in the garment center. She had no idea what her future held for her. Susan went on vacation to Bermuda and that is where she met my future husband. She got married and moved to Bermuda. When she got there thought "what am I supposed to do now – there weren’t any jobs to be had in fashion design." Susan made all of her own clothes which included making the patterns. Years later she found myself w