Sew Much More

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

Riana LeJeune-Copeland is the owner and creative Mastermind of Repinned LLC. Riana was born in 1982 and was raised by an emergency medical pilot father and a historic restoration expert mother. Having grown up in historic homes, she had a deep appreciation for antiques and great craftsmanship.  Riana moved to Des Moines with her family in 1996, attending Callanan and then Graduating from Roosevelt in 2000. After high school, Riana studied Psychology with minors in Criminal justice and anthropology. During her time at Iowa State University, she volunteered at a local women's shelter and headed up the Student Officer Program at ISU PD. After graduating with her BA in Psychology she pursued a career in law enforcement. However, destiny had different plans for Riana. Injury at the age of 24 would take her in a different direction.  After leaving law enforcement she took several office jobs but it just wasn't a good fit. She longed for something more. After her daughter was born in 2011, Riana took a part-time wit

Shasta Breitkopf has been part of the Window coverings industry for quite some time and I was so happy to be able to hear more about her story! Shasta has worked for various companies and also as an independent representative of some of those companies.  Her company, Unique Expressions was developed to assist workrooms with products that help with productivity as well as fabrication. Links and Resources; ( I do occasionally use affiliate links for Amazon and can earn some money if you choose to use them) Workroom Tech Custom Workroom Conference Joy Wilbur's YouTube Method Share on The Workroom Channel Becoming by Michelle Obama Hell and Other Destinations an Autobiography of Madeline Albright Books by Wayne Dyer   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

Heather McGrew is the owner of Drapery Décor.  She started her business in 2010 after working and gaining knowledge/experience of this industry in a workroom in Chicago.  Heather is a workroom dedicated to providing custom window treatments.    Links and Resources;     Snapseed Whitagram Pinterest Fiver Tiktok Inshot   Books; (I do use some affiliate links here, so if you choose to use them, I appreciate it!)   E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki What Your CPA Isn't Telling You: Life-Changing Tax Strategies by Mark J. Kohler Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz   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

    (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!) Simon Sinek's Podcast - A Little Optimism - Unreasonable Hospitality with Will Guidara Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildenbrand 

Lisa Brock is the owner of Brock Custom Interiors in the Birmingham AL area. Born and raised in the south, married her college sweetheart and best friend. They raised 5 children on a pastor’s salary learning to make a dollar stretch. We were often gifted hand-me-down furniture that I would turn into usable goods in our home with a bucket of paint and a nematic staple gun.  Fast forward, kids are all grown and moved out with grandkids coming along at a rapid pace, she wanted to have some way to contribute to the “wants” of the family while doing something with her hands that gave her flexibility to be with her growing family. She began Brock Custom Interiors in 2020 after listening to just a few of the Sew Much More Podcasts that gave her the encouragement and realization that she knew enough to make a go at this industry and she’s not regretted it once!!  You can find Lisa on Instagram. Links and Resources;   Webinar on Returns on the Library - https://csfrl.org/project/returns-the-finishing-touch/ 30 Minutes

Kevin Kise owns a workroom and is a designer for Kise Interiors. Coming from humble beginnings in Rural Franklin County, Ohio, his passion for fabrics began when at 8 his Grandmother showed him how to sew, and cook. Her beliefs were that every man should know how to fix a hole in his jeans and cook for himself. Kevin took both of those tasks to heart by going to culinary school out of high school. His dossier includes working in a Michelin 3 star restaurant, managing a fabric store and working in a commercial drapery workroom. He credits his talents to a myriad of mentors including an elderly Japanese woman who taught him the art of Japanese tailoring and fabric draping and the much loved Cheryl Strickland for whom his questions would have never been answered without the direction of her amazing forum and workroom conferences. Kevin is married to his husband, Josh, they have a chocolate lab named Teagan and live in Columbus, OH.   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thr

Lisa O'Brien is the owner of All Things Material. Raised in Northern Kentucky, as a child Lisa O’Brien was always creating something. No wonder she became an artist! Custom window treatments add an artistic element to every home. Creativity, education, and detail are necessary to provide customers with the right look to fit their home design goals. Hiring a professional is how this is done. In 2004, after attending a Custom Home Furnishings Conference with Donna Skufis, Lisa returned and gave a one-month notice to her corporate office and opened All Things Material! With the education provided by this unique school and continuous ongoing education to remain current on fabrication methods, trends, fabrics, and safety, All Things Material has become a well-known and respected business. Lisa is the President of the Kentucky Workroom Association, meeting quarterly to learn from others in the industry and share experiences. During her free time, she enjoys catching up with family. Walking her 2-year-old Lab Summe

Where is the problem in your workflow?  I would love to hear from you about it.  Let me know on the Sew Much More Facebook page.     Links and Resources; (some of these are affiliate links and I will earn a few cents if you choose to purchase through the link.) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman The Ten Percent Happier Podcast with Oliver Burkeman

Adam Brand is the 4th generation co-owner of M&S Schmalberg. Their artificial flowers have complemented the apparel, wedding, accessory, millinery and home furnishing industries for over 100 years. M&S Schmalberg’s custom fabric flowers are still hand-made in New York City. They have been featured in The NY Times, Women’s Wear Daily, Wall Street Journal, Vogue, and on the runway all over the world. Adam generously offered a discount to listeners of the Sew Much More Podcast.  Use this direct link to order or go to the M&S Schmalberg Etsy sight and use code SEWMUCH to get 20%off. Links and Resources; M&S Schmalberg Bernadette Banner Article in The Hat Magazine  

Cathy Cuddington is the owner of Dogwood Designs, a wholesale workroom located in Apex, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh. Her earliest sewing memory is making clothes for her Barbie dolls. She moved on to sewing her clothes through high school, even learning some tailoring techniques. Cathy spent her first career in the IT industry, during its infancy (i.e. card punch machines). During those 26 years, she would occasionally help out her friends with various window treatment requests, usually following a pattern in the pattern books. One personal project (a slipcover) took her onto the internet to find a how-to video. That one event opened her eyes to the possibilities of owning her own business in the custom soft furnishings marketplace. Dogwood Designs was born as a 50th birthday gift to herself. She has attended available trade schools and conferences, eventually gaining enough experience and confidence to offer her services exclusively to interior designers. She’s an active member of the Triangle chapte

Michele Williams is a serial entrepreneur and speaker on a mission to close the financial literacy gap for small businesses.  Through her two companies, Scarlet Thread Consulting, a client-facing coaching program, and Metrique Solutions, a robust financial software platform, she supports entrepreneurs to understand their numbers confidently.  Michele is a champion for creative entrepreneurs, serving as a change agent to facilitate building scalable and profitable businesses. Michele’s empowering work has been applauded by The Business of Home, My Doma Studios, and The American Society of Interior Designers. 

Born and raised in Marietta Ohio. Enjoyed making and creating as a kid and did a lot of cross stitch with her mom. Sewed a pair of shorts as a class project in 4th grade and didn’t pick up sewing again until after college. As a social worker, in Cincinnati, creating became a great outlet so she took an upholstery class and learned the basics. Life had plans and her first daughter was born, a month early and only 4lbs. So most creative ventures took a back seat. 2 more daughters came along and then her mother-in-law decided as a break from mom life a sewing basics class could be fun. Once a week for 6 weeks Elizabeth got out and realized how much she loved sewing! Over the years she has made costumes for plays, altered prom dresses, wedding dresses, and dance costumes! For a brief stint even had a storefront for her alterations business. Life again threw a curveball and her husband got a job in Asheville North Carolina and they needed to move. In Asheville, she found out about workroom tech through a grandmot

Angie Wewel is the owner of Grandview Drapery Studio, a wholesale workroom located in Arvada, Colorado, just northwest of Denver. From a young age, Angie has had the desire to start her own business in a creative industry. After attending the Custom Workroom Conference in 2018, she decided it was finally time to turn her life-long passion and pursuit of sewing into a career. Angie values ongoing education and has attended classes at Workroom Tech in Tryon, North Carolina, studied upholstery at a technical college in Denver, and has taken many additional online and in-person training courses and seminars to hone her skills. She is a member of the Workroom Accountability and Mentoring group (WAM), and a member of the WCAA, and WCAA Virtual Chapter. Angie is on Facebook and Instagram     Links and Resources; M'Fay Workroom Manual Deborah Cronin's Blog Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Price Your Work with Confidence - Kitty Stein SCORE   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom C

Lisa LaChance started Something Sew Unique nearly 20 years ago in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. While there she had the opportunity to create unique window treatments and bedding in every style, texture, and fabric imaginable – from rustic country to shabby chic to sleek contemporary style. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. As a professional member of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA), she is active in the promotion of window treatment design and fabrication as a business. In 2007 she completed certification to become a Certified Workroom Professional and was also featured in the prestigious Window Covering Association of America (WCAA) 2007 Elegance Showcase. Her solid educational background and experience, coupled with her love for sewing and design, have given Lisa a unique view into the window of interior fashions. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, and caving in her backyard.   Links and Resources; Dream Draper Instagram

Claudia Couto, owner and founder of Claudia Couture Homes LLC, has been in the design business for over 17 years. Born and raised in Brazil, Claudia’s passion for unique luxury design began at a young age, when she learned to sew at just 8 years old. With great grandparents who were Italian designers, the industry has been in her family for decades. After studying Chemical Engineering in Brazil, Claudia came to America to pursue her dreams of design. She graduated from New York Institute of Art with a degree in Interior Design and went on to begin her career in Connecticut, specializing in luxury textiles, high-end custom window treatments, upholstery, bespoke furniture design and beyond. Over the years, Claudia’s work has been installed in hundreds of homes curated by top interior designers. She has worked in Connecticut, the Hamptons, Westchester, New York City, Newport, Watch Hill and abroad in Dubai and areas of Japan. Her expert craftsmanship, along with her creativity, reliability and unmatched quality

Links and Resources; Chris Guillebeau

Peg Wagner owns and operates Above and Beyond Window Design out of her home, working with mostly designers. She fabricates window treatments, pillows, cushions, and roman shades, as well as sells hard treatments. Peg has a bachelor’s degree in education with a major in Home Ec. (Back in the day when they called it that.) Sewing was in her background. In 2008, while working part-time in a design store she was introduced to CHF academy. It was near Charlotte NC and her next-door neighbors had just moved to Charlotte. Peg took the opportunity to go and take 3 classes while staying in the evening with her former neighbors. She was hooked from day one and her only regret is that she didn’t know about this industry sooner. Peg has met the most amazing, dynamic, generous women at the CWC conferences and classes. Before that, she was a “stay-at-home” mom of 2, while helping with her husband’s business as a sales rep in the ski and outdoor industry. His office was at home and he traveled to the states of MI, IN, and O

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt Notes: To see Cynthia's letter to her students, colleagues and friends click here. Episode 88 with Kitty Stein Laura Nelson's article in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest

Kristine Clarke owns and operates August Day Designs, a custom soft furnishings workroom. She fabricates window treatments, Roman shades, and pillows for interior designers. Kristine has been in business for 16 years and operates her business part-time from her home. She lives in Murfreesboro, TN, having recently moved from West Des Moines, IA. Kristine and her husband Scott have one son who is a junior in college in Nashville, TN.  She grew up learning to sew in 4-H and from her mom and grandma. When her son was a toddler, Kristine looked for an option to work from home. She took online classes from the CHFS to get started in this business. Kristine has made great friends by being involved in this industry and enjoys taking classes and meeting other workroom owners.    Resources and Links; Price Your Work With Confidence by Kitty Stein Take Back Your Time by Christy Wright Atomic Habits by James Clear FlyLady website   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consul