Sew Much More

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Four years into the Podcast, I've learned so much!  Thank you to everyone who has said yes to being on the podcast and thank you to everyone who has listened to the podcast and to those of you who have left me such wonderful reviews!!!    

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Marie Mouradian recently celebrated 38 years of owning her own business. What began as 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   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD Keely Hersh with Right at Home Interiors just won 3 International Vision Design & Workroom Awards!! She won 1st place in Decorative Hardware & Trims, 2nd place in Curtains & Draperies, and 2nd place in Top Treatments, all in the design award category.  This is her first time entering the competition and she won in all 3 categories she entered. Right at Home Interiors has proudly been in business for over 25 years. Owner and interior designer Keely Hersh views fabric as a main feature in home décor and manufactures your custom window coverings, bedding and room décor accessories at her in-house custom drapery workroom. As Keely says, “Excellent customer service involves taking care of my client’s project to the final detail.”  Keely is on Facebook and Instagram Links and Resources; 21 Days to Re

Sara Trail learned to sew at the young age of 4, and is now a successful author, sewing teacher, and pattern and fabric designer. At age 13, she wrote a nationally published book, “Sew with Sara” that teaches teens and tweens how to sew cute clothes and accessories for fun and profit. At 15, she starred in a nationally published DVD, “Cool stuff to Sew With Sara.” She then designed two fabric collections, Folkheart and Biology 101 a pattern collection with Simplicity, “Designed with Love by Sara.” Her pattern collection features prom dresses, backpack patterns, hoodies, and jackets as well as aprons and tote bags. While attending UC Berkeley, Sara created a quilt in memory of Trayvon Martin and her love for sewing and passion for social justice intertwined. After graduating from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, she founded the Social Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA) to be a platform where youth create art that engages and educates communities.  Links and Resources; Susan Kostelecky  Custom Wo

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD     Claudia Buchanan, owner of Home Sewing Depot. Claudia started sewing at 10 years old, and past owner of a drapery workroom. An expert on home decor, including slipcovers, bedding, window treatments, and kids decor. Whether you want to learn how to create your own custom decor at a fraction of the retail cost, or how to use the home decor skills you learn to make a six-figure income as a professional drapery workroom.   Claudia is committed to helping those who are as passionate as she is about home Decor Soft Goods and to gain the expertise to create their personal home decor. You can find Home Sewing Depot on Facebook and Instagram.     Links and Resources;   Tom Hopkins -How to Master The Art of Selling Shopify Kai Scissors    

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Julie Higgins, the owner of Ella Moon Designs, earned a Bachelors degree in Speech Communications from St. Josephs College in New York. Immediately after college, she began working as a communications instructor at the Helen Keller National Center for deaf-blind adults. She taught sign language and braille to her students and loved what she did BUT once she wanted to be a stay at home Mom.  After a kitchen renovation in 2011, a neighbor inspired Julie to make her own window treatments. She is a surgeon and learned how to sew from her mother in law (Yaya). Once they completed the project Julie was hooked. She then began making window treatments for friends and family. In 2013 Ella Moon Designs was born.   Links and Resources; The E Myth Revisited Episode 15 with Sarah O'Neil Ann K. Johnson's Article

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   In this re-release of my conversation with Rosemarie and Linda, we talk about the importance of the relationships in our industry. Rosemarie Garner and Linda Principe have been working together since 2012. Today we discuss the designer/workroom relationship and the importance of it. Linda Principe is the owner of Linda Principe Interiors formerly of Monroe Township, NJ. Linda provides full-service residential interior design services with a specialty in window treatments in the central New Jersey area. Linda is active in the Window Coverings Association of America and is a past President of the National Board. She is also past President of the Central New Jersey Chapter.  Recently, Linda was an instructor for the “Window Treatments” class in the Interior Design program at Mercer County Community College fo

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD     In this episode of the Podcast, Ceil shares some of the struggles of these past few months.     Links and Resources; The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod      

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Chrystal Younger is the owner of Windows and More by Chrystal in St. Charles, Mo. She is a wife, mother of 3 and soon to be a grandmother.  She has been sewing most of her life but started the business approximately 23 years ago. She started sewing while being a stay at mom and the business slowing grew as her children did.  She has been a member and officer in the WCAA, attended several classes at the CHF, and conference and seminars including CWC.  Some of her work was feathered in Susan Woodcock’s book – Singer Sew Custom Window Treatments.  She was selected as 2017 Best of St. Charles Upholster.  She is wholesale and retail and enjoys working on a wide variety of projects. She is on Instagram and Facebook Links and Resources; Issues of Sew What Magazine are available on the Curtains and Soft Furnishings

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Gretchen Tegtman loves to design Window Treatments! When she was little, her Mom (Nancy) would do a lot of crafts and Gretchen's job was to put the fabrics together. So I guess you could say she's been doing this nearly all her life! When they moved from Miami, FL to Fayetteville, GA, Nancy went into this business (with Dianne - hence the name!). Nancy did most of the Installations in those days and Gretchen got to help out - just what you want to be doing as a teenager, right?!  :)  But what she has learned is that it gives her a unique perspective on all aspects of creating Window Treatments - the Design, the Fabrication & the Installation!   Gretchen & Nancy owned Lady Dianne's Custom Window & Bed Treatments together for 26 years. They were always finding inspiration in the International Wi

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Ragne Smith is the owner and operator of Felix Hart, Custom Furniture and Upholstery. She designs, builds and upholsters new custom built furniture and turns neglected antiques into one of a kind pieces of furniture art. She is a mother of few, wife of one, small business owner, located in Dallas-Fort Worth area, in the great state of Texas.   One of the administrators of Professional Upholsterer’s Network, she started her upholstery business in 2012. Being self-taught, she is not limiting her skills and creativity to what’s in the books but approaches new and innovative methods, with enthusiasm. Felix Hart can be found online at: Ragne is on Facebook and Instagram   Links and Resources;   Professional Upholsterers Network is on Facebook

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Terry Sandlin has been a part of the soft furnishing industry since 1992.  Starting in a 1 person workroom, 1 day a week, making cording & ruffles.  In 2007 she and her husband relocated to Birmingham, Ala, where she opened Terry’s Designing Windows.  Terry was a member of the WCAA Birmingham Chapter and served as Secretary for 2 years before they disbanded. Terry was a winner of the 2018 Artisan Project, Demonstrator in the Construction Zone of the 2019 IWCE Conference, and was slotted to demonstrate in the 2020 IWCE -newly named- Workroom Central before it was rescheduled.  She was also selected to be an Instructor for the 2021 Custom Workroom Conference. Terry is on Facebook, Instagram     Links and Resources; Pitch Like A Girl by Rhonna Lichtenberg Workroom Tech The Custom Workroom Conference Ann

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD Jo Moore opened Jo’s Sewing Studio, a mostly to-the-trade workroom in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2004 after a 13-year career editing monthly magazines. From 2009 to mid-2013, however, she combined both editing and sewing skill sets to be a copy editor for Drapery & Design Professional. She was listed in Cincinnati Magazine’s “Best Of” issue in 2011, and two of her drapery designs have appeared at IWCE – “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” (2010) and the co-created “Violet Femmes” (2019). Jo is a WCAA national member, as well as a member of her local Junior League. Facebook: Jo’s Sewing Studio Twitter: @JoSewsMoore Instagram: jossewingstudio   Links and Resources; Tina Fey article -Tina Fey's Aha Moment The Secret by Rhonda Byrne The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

  This past week has been so difficult, learning of the passing of Beth Hodges.  So many people felt drawn to her and she made everyone feel special and important to her.  I am re-releasing my podcast recording in her memory.  Rest in peace, dear Beth.  I will be nice in your honor!     The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD    

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Sherri Bowman, owner of Decorating With Style has lived in Charlotte since 1987.  After spending many years in corporate America, she left to stay home with her newborn twin daughters and two sons.  Sherri's passion for sewing and creativity led her to open her business in 2004.   Sherri serves as Vice President of the local chapter of WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America) after serving as President for two years.  I am also President of GCWA (Greater Charlotte Workroom Association), a local drapery workroom group.  serving as Treasurer.  This leadership demonstrates my passion for the window coverings industry and my desire to learn and grow.   I attend educational workshops, conferences and seminars in order to stay current on the best fabrication techniques and safety compliant hardware option

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD     Adrienne Matthews, sole owner and CFO (Chief Fabric Operator) of C&K Design is a born and bred Tarheel.  She opened C&K Design LLC in 2012. ​Adrienne is a native of Jacksonville, NC, which is located on the coast. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Adrienne moved to Charlotte, NC in the summer of 2001 where she was employed for four years by Bank of America. Following a career in banking, Adrienne obtained an associate’s degree in Interior Design from Central Piedmont Community College. She is a member of the Greater Charlotte Workroom Association, Window Coverings Association of America, and the President of the WCAA Charlotte Chapter.  She is an audiobook/podcast listener (while she works) and helps ou

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Anntoinette Kirwan is the owner and operator of MAK Inspirations, a boutique window treatment, soft furnishings & upholstery workroom. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her desire to give each client personalized attention and to transform their designs into reality by keeping the lines of communication open, overseeing all the details and ensuring timeliness is met.  Antoinette is passionate about her partnerships with Interior Designers and she approaches each and every project as a special challenge, as she takes the design from fabrication ultimately through to installation. Antoinette is an American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Industry Partner, a member of Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA), Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals (PAWP) and the National Upholster

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD Cynthia Bleskachek, owner of The Funky Little Chair has been working as a professional upholsterer since 2001 and teaching since 2010. In 2008 she won a first-place craftsmanship award through The Upholstery Journal for a tufted chair. She was a featured presenter at the 2015 Minneapolis Junk Bonanza, with appearances on Kare 11 and Fox 9.  Cynthia guest teaches at Workroom Tech in North Carolina and will be a 2018 instructor at Custom Workroom Conference in South Carolina.  She currently serves as education chair for the Professional Upholstery Association of Minnesota” Links and Resources; "Who's Having A Wobble?" "The Value of a Secret" Adam Grant's Book Adam Grant's Ted Talk Adam Grant Podcast 10% Happier on YouTube Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD How are you doing? No, really, how are you doing?  Are you adapting?  Susan Woodcock, Jeanelle Dech and I have a conversation about our current circumstances.   Links and Resources; Mask America Facebook Page Gretchen Rubin's Coping With Covid 19 Suggestions Miracle Morning Team Tutor, LLC Facebook page for helpful hints Zoom  Jeanelle referred to the PA Manufacturer's Association but it was actually the Manufacturers Alliance of Philadelphia

Irene Hurley is, in every sense of the word, a true creative. For more than 35 years, Irene Hurley Designs has focused on the art of couture sewing techniques, incorporating artisan details such as applique, fabric manipulation and quilting into custom window attire and interior accessories. Irene’s ability to both envision and create a truly unique, custom product has become the hallmark of this boutique sewing business, located in Sea Girt, NJ. Irene also works with clients on color selection, furnishings and commissioned work through local craftsmen. The studio hosts workshops in Celtic Applique, Heirloom Sewing, and Memory Quilt Basics. Irene studied Fashion Design at FIT (New York), Interior Design at Brookdale CC and is a Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher, a member of the WCAA National, WCAA NJ (Treasurer 2016-18), WCAA Virtual, and Rebecca’s Reel Quilt Guild. She is a volunteer for Lin’s Linens, Little Dresses for Africa and Project Pillowcase. A native of the Garden State, Irene resides in Sea Girt with