Sew Much More

Jenny Ellis is the owner of The Artful Chair.  She spent her childhood in Ohio, then moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1968, in a hurricane!  After High School, she secured a scholarship at Texas Christian University where she studied Fashion Design, Clothing Construction and Textiles . Jenny was always a creative maker, even as a child she learned how to make pillows and crafty things, but she was very fond of textures and textiles.  Initially, she thought she'd be in the fashion industry, making beautiful ball gowns and party dresses.  And initially, she did.   When she bought thier first house, Jenny started to look at those windows to be "dressed" ..you know how every homeowner does.   She decided they must be easy to make, compared to the curvy complicated dresses and gowns she was doing.  She set out to find out and decided to get her window treatment certification (WTCP)  in South Florida at the Master's level. There she started "Designs by Jenny G" ( when Kenny G was popular, it was catchy) she found th

Sue Parten opened her workroom in 1985. She found that To-the-Trade was the best fit for her so she could be home with her kids, and she didn’t have to continuously find new clients. Sue hired a business coach in 2009 when the economy crashed.  She was working a 2 nd job to make ends meet and knew she needed to change things up. Her coach helped her look at her workroom as a business instead of a paycheck. Together they built systems and set goals so that someday, Sue could hand someone else the keys to the kingdom and ride off into the sunset!   Donald Miller - Story Brand Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money.  I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you!   M. Scott Peck MD - The Road Less Traveled Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Judi Andersen Turner has been the owner/designer/fabricator for Domicil Design since 1992. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, the University of Michigan, and explores many other art mediums including oil paints, 3D sculptures and other fiber art crafts. Throughout her time in business, she has organized networking groups, including Professional Sewing Association-Home Décor Workrooms (Cincinnati) and WCAA, holding President positions in chapters. Professional accomplishments include being a published contributor to Drapery & Design Professional trade magazine for several years, 2019 Artisan Project winner for WFCP Window Fashion, as well as networking and sharing knowledge with other professionals.   Judi has some videos on YouTube that you can find here.   Judi is on Instagram    Links and Resources; The Custom Workroom Conference     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

Thank you to my listeners for their kindness and loyalty and friendship!   Links and Resources;   Custom Workroom Conference     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   National Upholstery Association  

Diane Girty lives and operates New Skins Upholstery in Lasalle, Ontario, just south of Detroit. A 15-year veteran, she’s known for her marine upholstery work, but also works with classic cars, golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, residential furniture, and such outdoor accessories as gazebos and cushions. Prior to this, Diane spent 32 years in accounting, ending that career as a major corporation’s director of finance for Canada. She has two young-adult granddaughters who are learning the upholstery trade from her — one of whom has opened a shop in Edmonton — and loving it. Learn more about Diane on her Website or  Instagram.     Links and Resources;   The Custom Workroom Conference Press and Snap    

Susan Woodcock is an entrepreneur, educator, and spokesperson for the custom workroom industry. She owns Workroom Tech, a trade school in Tryon, N.C., and Home Dec Gal, a custom to-the-trade workroom. Susan and her husband Rodger Walker own and produce the Custom Workroom Conference. Susan is the author of Singer® Sewing Custom Curtains, Shades, and Top Treatments, and she produces the monthly podcast 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech in partnership with The Sew Much More Podcast. Susan is passionate about helping others realize their dreams of business ownership through education and mentoring. She is a member of the WCAA and NUA.   Susan mentioned the Cocktail Party with NUA at CWC.  Here is a link to register for that event.

Lisa Moore is a true AZ native, born and raised.  She began sewing at the age of three on her mom's lap, learning tailoring from her.  Lisa ran a successful alterations business from home between 1994 and 2008, and during that time, discovered the home decor arena, where she began learning about soft furnishings. In 2009, Sew Classic, a full service workroom, was established. 2021 brought the opportunity to purchase Home Sewing Depot, a professional sewing and workroom supply business that is dedicated to providing professional grade notions, tools, and workroom supplies to the start up workrooms, and DIY community. She currently employs a staff of 3, and operates both businesses from her property in Glendale, AZ.   Lisa is a member of the Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals, since 2013, where she is currently acting President. She is also a member of the Slipcover Network.   Links and Resources; Michele Williams Pricing Without Emotion Kitty Stein's Price Your Work with Confidence Profit Fir

Rodger Walker retired from the City of Richmond, Virginia Fire Department in 2012, after a busy and exciting career.  He moved to North Carolina that same year to marry the Love of His Life, Susan Woodcock. In 2013 they started Home Dec Gal, a workroom and educational resource. With years of experience planning events for non-profit organizations, Rodger was ready to help Susan produce the first Custom Workroom Conference in 2016. In 2017, Rodger and Susan opened Workroom Tech, a trade school for sewing professionals, in the charming town of Tryon in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Rodger is on Instagram Links and Resources; AP Style Book  The Custom Workroom Conference   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   National Upholstery Association  

With over 30 years in business, Karen and her team at Drapery Design collaborate, with several nationally recognized interior design and architectural firms to execute the designer’s vision for their clients. The focus is to create sophisticated, bespoke window coverings with customized detailing and manage the project in an organized and timely manner. Creating beautiful things from fabric has been an interest of Karen from an early age. Her work has been featured in magazines and Designer Showhouses and she has received many industry awards throughout her career. Karen is also a long-time member of the WCAA and has served on their national and local boards. Drapery Design Facebook Instagram   Links and Resources; Work with Passion: How to Do What You Love for a Living by Nancy Anderson  What Does Scaling Your Business Mean to You? 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech Podcast

Kelly McGrory is a woman of many interests, pursuits, and hobbies.  She lives in Kennett Square, PA with her life partner and husband, William, and their faithful malinois, O’Neal.   Kelly is the slipcover maker behind Covered & Stitched, a cottage industry workroom in Kennett Square, PA, where she has been stitching custom slipcovers since 2015.  When Kelly is not making slipcovers, she is sketching, painting, hiking, running, gardening, reading, practicing yoga, meditating, or catching up with a dear friend.        Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money.  I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you! Keep Going by Austin Kleon Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon Show Your Work by Austin Kleon   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishing

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; Lindsay Orwig's Article in the D&D Digest GOTS  Oeko-tex Toxic Chemicals Control Act

Barbara Holley was a systems analyst for Sunbeam Corporation and quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom.  She enjoyed decorating her home and her friends and neighbors' homes as well.  Her ability to sew was the big thing that made her able to magically transform a room.   Barbara's husband's job moved them to Texas and her neighbor across the street was opening a drapery workroom in her garage.  Barbara would go over and help her for free and was more excited about the projects than the owner was!  Her neighbor soon grew tired of the business and Barbara went to work for a local workroom.  She knocked on doors, made sales and then created the treatments.  When that workroom closed, she picked up where they left off, bought equipment from another drapery shop, converted her garage and worked from home.   In 1996, Barbara opened a retail shop and was in business with a partner for 9 years.  She sold that business and opened Holley's Window Fashions in 2005.  Barbara recently sold that business to her daughter a

    Links and Resources; Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon Covid Notes from a Non-Covid Expert by Margie Nance Paperlike Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Loretta McGranaghan is the owner and President of Loretta’s Designs, LLC. She has been in the business for more than 30 years as a workroom, servicing retail & wholesale clients.  They offer many services including soft treatments (panels, shades, cushions, cornices/valances, etc.), hard treatments (shutters, wood blinds, woven wood shades, etc.), fabrics, hardware & faux painting. Loretta's Designs also offers a full interior design service. Loretta received her Interior design degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia & studied Fine Arts at Rosemont College.  Loretta is proud to say that although she graduated from a prestigious institute of education she is a self-taught sewer.   Instagram: lorettasdesigns LinkedIn: loretta-mcgranaghan Loretta's Designs   Links and Resources; Susan Woodcock's Roman Shade Class Pilot Fixion Pens

Links and Resources; My first interview with Taylor in Podcast Episode 259 Taylor's Podcast with Kate the Socialite   Atomic Habits by James Clear  

Justin began his journey into the world of furniture and soft goods working in and managing antique showrooms. After receiving a degree in Interior Design, he began working in a full-service Design and built-to-order luxury home furnishings showroom. He designed residential interiors, attended market as a showroom buyer, and eventually opened a satellite location as Design Director and Showroom Manager before leaving the Design profession in search of a new challenge.   Now nine years into his career in Upholstery, Justin draws heavily on his past experience in the antique and design fields to inform his work as a prior Studio Director and Current lead upholsterer working for Castillo's Custom Upholstery in Seattle Washington. When not in the workroom or the studio, you can find him contributing as a co-administrator of the Professional Upholsterers Network, or at the helm of his latest personal side project, "Foxglove Artisan LLC" created to explore upholstery and adjacent craft, education, research, and tra

Frances Pusch has worked with textiles in some form her entire professional career. Her training includes art school and a bachelor’s degree in textile design from Boston University. She also studied tailoring and fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). During twelve years in New York, Frances worked for two leading textile companies, had a custom tailor shop, was a pattern-maker for outerwear companies, including London Fog, and taught tailoring and pattern-making at FIT. As a business owner, she has made men’s and women’s custom suits, designed and produced a collection of women’s clothing, and later a line of gift items for dog lovers. Her sole focus, starting in 2002, has been creating fine products for home interiors. Frances keeps her business up-to-date by actively participating in online discussion groups and webinars, as well as traveling to conferences and workshops around the country. She is always searching for better techniques, resources and technology—all the while keeping

Elaine Parry is English, born in London and brought up in Bath. Elaine studied retail design in Paris and worked in haute couture boutiques and soft furnishings for over 20 years before moving to the countryside in Touraine. She has two grown-up children who have gone back to England to work and study. Elaine is surrounded by chateaux, vineyards, and forests and has two miniature donkeys, three miniature sheep, two cats, and a little cairn terrier who keep me busy when not sewing. Elaine owns Pretty Petite Choses and she can be found on Instagram.     Links and Resources; Houles Declercq

Podcast 240 - Resources for Your Business Laura Nelson's Artice in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest Sarah O'Neil's Podcast Custom Workroom Conference Jill Robson's Policies & Procedures Webinars (Available to PRO Access and PRO Plus members of the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library) Seamless Workroom A Wild Plan Donna Skufis's Calendar Blocking Laurel Studio Planner   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   National Upholstery Association  

What a thrill is was for me to interview Laurie Medford on today's podcast! Laurie joined the window treatment industry in 1983. Her workroom Centsible Creations specialized in window treatments, bedding, and upholstery. Laurie was an upholstery instructor at the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Charlotte, N.C., and has written how-to articles for multiple magazines. From 2009 to 2018, Laurie worked for Rowley Company as an educator. In addition to her workroom experience, Laurie is an expert at crochet and shares her ideas and talents by teaching beginning through advanced classes both in the U.S. and internationally at conferences and seminars. In her spare time, Laurie enjoys testing patterns for international designers of yarn art. In 2021 Laurie joined Workroom Tech in Tryon, N.C. as an instructor for professional workroom courses.   Laurie is on Facebook