Sew Much More

408 - Remembering Beth Hodges

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   Workroom Tech    

407 - How Do You Overcome Procrastination?

Amber De Lagarza's Time Blindness Podcast   Gretchen Rubin - The One Minute Rule and Will Future Gretchen Thank Me?   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   Workroom Tech    

406 - Will Linn - My Boss Makes It Easy To Work For Her

  Will Linn is the Head workroom manager at Marquis Design Group in West Palm Beach, Florida. With over 15 years experience in the world of Fashion and Interior Design, he manages the day-to-day operation of the shop, building and upholstering beds, ottomans, cornices, and walls for Marquis Design Group as well as pillows, roman shades and drapery. As a native Florida resident, he loves spending his time, when not working, at the beach and theme parks. Having graduated from Mount Ida C...

405 - Listener Favorite - Monica Rhodes

404 - Opportunity Thinking Series with Renee Gurganas, WCAA Executive Director

Renee Gurganus is a native of Augusta, Georgia and now lives in beautiful Wilmington, NC.  With over 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit  and for-profit sectors, Renee brings a wealth of knowledge to the WCAA. Previously she was the Executive Director of a community organization in Murrells Inlet, SC, where she lead the organization in a new Strategic Plan that they continue to use today.   After becoming the Executive Director of the WCAA, Renee began working with the Bo...

403 - Keaven Willa Hartt - Only Say Yes to the Type of Job You Want to Do More Of

Keaven Willa Hartt was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, and grew up in the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. She moved back to Maine in 2010 to attend the Maine College of Art, in Portland, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Woodworking and Furniture Design, with a self-directed thesis on Sustainability Through Upholstery. Keaven founded her upholstery business, Willa Hartt, in 2019. She joined the National Upholstery Association in 2021, and was nominated to the Board of Directors, where she...

402 - Rachel Crowe -If You Don't Have your Own Wisdom, You Borrow it From Others

Rachel began her business in 2004 on the dining table of her mother’s living room after a fluke encounter with a family friend at the local bakery.  Who knew that croissants would be the catalyst to begin a soft furnishings business? The seed had been planted several years after visiting a stranger's home and noticing custom bedding, draperies, and floor-length round tablecloths. “I remember thinking …’hey I wonder if I could do that!’ after a sneaky examination of the undersides and backsid...

401 - Opportunity Thinking Episode with Deb Cronin - The Workroom Body

Deborah Cronin is the owner of Leatherwood Design Co is a custom window treatment fabrication studio, located in Ossining, New York, in the breathtaking Hudson River Valley. Deb and her team work to the trade and delight in fine fabrics and workmanship. It's an understatement to say they love what they do! Begun as a part-time pillow and cushion workroom in 1987, in 1999  Leatherwood Design Co, became a full-time workroom creating window treatments. Fabric and sewing has been Deb's life-lon...

400 - Listener Favorite - Jamie Terrel

Jamie Terral is the owner of Workroom Creations by Jamie LLC.  With encouragement from Jamie's husband, Bob, and Susan Woodcock, she made her hobby and love for sewing into a soft furnishings workroom, where she uses beautiful fabrics and trims to sew amazing home decor.  Jamie is a window coverings specialist that is honest, reliable, and dedicated to the client that she serves.  Her tagline and mantra is "So Much Fabric, Sew Little Time!" Jamie is on Instagram,  Facebook, and Pinterest ...

399 - Listener Favorite - Sharon Coppede

Sharon Coppede is the owner of Custom Window Treatments, Inc. In 1982, when her children were 4 and 2 yrs. old, Sharon joined a neighborhood cottage industry in Plymouth, Mass. as a seamstress for aprons, toaster covers, and tab top drapes stenciled on the lead edges.  She realized she had a gift for making window treatments and when she moved to our next assignment in Virginia, she built a 4 x 8 table in the walk-out basement and that is when she started making draperies for customers.  S...

398 - Listener Favorite - Cristina Alamdari

Cristina Alamdari was born in Colombian and moved to the US almost 30 years ago. She lives in Phoenix AZ and she has 3 beautiful children, her husband is Iranian, and they have a unique family of combined cultures and religions.  Cristina enjoys traveling and learning. She has been working in the industry for 24 years, and as a business owner for 22. Cristina owns AZ Draperies and Pillows and it is a mix of 80% retail 20% designers. She offers in-home consultations for window coverings.  H...

397 - Mary Cardinale - I Know What I Need To Do and Sometimes It's Hard

Mary is the owner of Bucks County Window Décor. She has been in business since 2007, offering custom drapery and soft treatments, fabrics, hardware, blinds, shades, and shutters to both retail clients as well as designers.  Her company is full-service and offers complete project management including measuring, ordering, fabricating, and professional installation.   After 8 years of working in the legal and corporate world, Mary left to stay home with her first baby.  She learned to sew a...

396 - Cheers to 5 Years at the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library!

I am so happy to be celebrating 5 years of being the Librarian at the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library!!   I couldn't have done this without the help and guidance of Jeanelle Dech, and so many people in our industry who have contributed to the content within the Library. And I am so grateful for the Sponsors of the Library; The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furni...

395 - Listener Favorite - Julia Hash

Today's episode of the  Podcast is a re-release of my interview with Julia Hash of JSH Designs.  Julia needed to solve a problem in her workroom and realized, she probably wasn't the only one who needed this solution.  I think you will find her ruler is really amazing!   Links and Resources; Profit is a Choice Podcast episode with Julia Hash You can find Julia's Ruler here.

394 - Barb Flynn - It's Challenge After Challenge, But You Get Through It

Barb Flynn started sewing as a young girl making drapery panels out of bed sheets for her and her sister's bedroom. Always having a mind on figuring life out and solving problems, Barb studied history and psychology in college and became a Paralegal after college.  She worked in the law field for many years after raising 4 children, but always had her hand in sewing, whether it was for friends, their home, or a small number of clients. More recently, over the past several years, Barb took se...

393 - Listener Favorite - Jayna Manzelli

Jayna Manzelli graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Biology and began a career in Pharmaceutical Quality Control. Experience gained in analysis, equipment, procedures, organization, specifications, and personnel management became relevant when Jayna began her new custom workroom business. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating beautiful things, Jayna opened JM Custom Creations in 2008. JMCC is a to-the-trade workroom, specializing in draperies, Roman shades, top tre...

392 - Julie Wood - White House Christmas Decorating

Julie Wood, owner of The Leading Edge, began her career as an Art Educator. An avid interest in interior design led her to enroll in the Interior Design program at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. While at NHIA, her love of fabric and sewing translated perfectly into a career creating window treatments. Since she launched her business in 2006, she has specified her services largely to the interior designer. Julie enjoys assisting designers in creating spaces for clients that far exceed ...

391 - 2023 Year End Wrap Up with Michele Williams

I look forward to this episode with Michele Williams!  We hope you enjoy hearing it as much as we enjoy recording it.   Scarlet Thread Consulting Metrique Solutions

390 - Cara Rinne - I Work in the Past, But Live in the Present

Cara has had a needle and thread in her hand since she was six. While raising her three children, she ran a sewing business from 2005 to 2021, where she focused on children's clothing items, bedroom soft furnishings, and accessories. Always with a taste for decorating, Cara rebranded her business, Threaded Hive Interiors and Antiques, in January 2021 focusing solely on custom-sewn/fabricated soft furnishings, interior decorating, and styling with antiques. Cara lives in the Kansas ...

389 - Shari Walla - You Have to Implement What You Learn

Shari Walla learned her love of sewing as a young child from her mother. Initially, she worked as a draftsman in the automobile industry. She started working for Accent Custom Drapery LLC  21 years ago, eventually became a partner. When her business partner, Karen Miceli, retired in 2018 she became the sole owner. She is married and has three adult children. In her spare time, she loves spending time in northern Michigan, fly fishing, and knitting.     Shari is on Facebook and Instag...

388 - Julia Fields - I Think There is a Lot of Opportunity for Pride to Happen Here.

Julia Fields worked in the bridal industry for more than five years, making wedding dress dreams a reality. Since joining Savannah Window Fashions, she has had the opportunity to transfer her skills into all things custom for our clients homes! In her free time, she loves to write, crochet, and experiment with new recipes for the team to try. 

387 - Nikki Greenwood - When You're in the Midst of the Crazy, You Can't Always Look Ahead

  For Nikki, it was love at first sight when she first visited Savannah to plan a destination wedding downtown in April 2018. She and her husband decided to move and bought a house sight unseen in August 2018. In their new neighborhood, they were fortunate to find a fabulous group of neighbors, including the former owner of Savannah Window Fashions Jeanne Dunn. Nikki purchased Savannah Window Fashions in 2020 from Jeanne, leaving behind corporate life and a career in advertising. In Nikk...

386 - Cade Smith - From Employee to Owner in No Time!

    Cade Smith was born at a very early age in Pensacola, Florida. Upon moving to Tennessee in 1999 at the age of 5, he began to explore many art and craft activities and finally found his way to The Appalachian Center for Art, Craft and Design at Tennessee Technological University, where he studied Fiber Arts and graduated in May 2020, virtually... Cade wandered into an interesting looking store in an industrial strip mall in August 2022, and in May 2023 he purchased that company and ...

385 - Julie Wood - There is Nothing You Have to Lose!

Julie Wood, owner of The Leading Edge, began her career as an Art Educator. An avid interest in interior design led her to enroll in the Interior Design program at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. While at NHIA, her love of fabric and sewing translated perfectly into a career creating window treatments. Since she launched my business in 2006, she has specified her services largely to the interior designer. Julie enjoys assisting designers in creating spaces for clients that far exceed...

385 - Lilye Lavender - I Know I Won't Let Myself Fail

Lilye Lavender owns Laveña Luxe Interiors, a new workroom based in Austin, TX. Together with her fashion school peer, Joseph, they fabricate and sell drapery, shades, and other soft furnishings to the trade. With success happening early on, they have big ideas to help drive the industry forward for a new generation of workroom owners.   Lilye is on Instagram   283 - Kristin Speyer - I Didn't Think I Could Do It, But I Just Did It! The Workroom Channel The Curtains & Soft Furnishi...

384 - What Three Items in Your Workroom Can You Not Live Without?

Links for podcast   Terko thread - https://workroommarketplace.com/collections/sewing-supplies     Jewel’s tape Home Sewing Depot - https://homesewingdepot.com/collections/sealah-tape-glue/products/3-16-jewels-tape-double-sided-adhesive   Workroom Channel Marketplace - https://workroommarketplace.com/collections/sewing-supplies/jewels-tapes   Dondar Designs - https://www.donnaskufis.com/shop/   JSH Designs Rulers- https://jsh-designs.squarespace.com/shop     G...

383 - Listener Favorite - Jeanne McDermott of Virtual Design 4 Interiors

As the owner of At Your Service, a drapery workroom in the Boston area for over 15 years, Jeanne McDermott was always searching for the best way to communicate with her clients. Jeanne discovered her passion for computer programs and has developed this into a service for designers and workrooms to help them convey their ideas in a fast and efficient way. Her years of experience in the workroom/design process from concept and measuring to procurement and installation gives her the abilit...

382 - Opportunity Thinking Series with Taylor Angel

Taylor Angel is the Vice President of Angel's Distributing, LLC.  Today we are talking about customer service and some new products that Angel's has developed and the how and why behind their new products.

381 - Kari Culberson

Kari Culberson is an interior designer, textile designer & sewist specializing in contemporary block printed textiles & soft goods fabrication for the home. Kari has a Masters in Interior Design from Florida State University & has been working in the interior design industry for the past 15 years. She began her design career working under renowned designers such as Victoria Hagan & Robert Brown, but her love of fabric & textile design led her to move to the vendor side. In 2011, she began Ka...

381 - Kari Culberson - I Feel Comfortable and Ready for More

Kari Culberson is an interior designer, textile designer & sewist specializing in contemporary block printed textiles & soft goods fabrication for the home. Kari has a Masters in Interior Design from Florida State University & has been working in the interior design industry for the past 15 years. She began her design career working under renowned designers such as Victoria Hagan & Robert Brown, but her love of fabric & textile design led her to move to the vendor side. In 2011, she began Ka...

380 - Kimberly Lista - I Found My Peace in the Workroom

    Kim has a very unique way of tapping into what her clients want for their homes, and creating that atmosphere by mixing both high and low-end furniture items in her designs.  Every design is different, and her specialty is to bring out the personality and style of her clients, into the design of the space.  Traveling to the various furniture markets, networking with her peers, and a ton of research keeps her on top of all of the latest trends and fresh ideas in the interior design ...

379 - Are You Up to SPEED?

Links and Resources;     Up to Speed with Jeanelle Dech in the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library The 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech Podcast, Episode 79 - A New Method is Born  

378 - Listener Favorite - Donna Hovis

Donna Hovis owns Donna Hovis Interiors, a one-woman drapery workroom serving Middle Tennessee for the past 18 years. Donna has an Associate's Degree in Interior Design and loves being involved in every aspect of her projects: from measuring to designing to fabrication to installation.   Donna is on Facebook and Instagram. You can see Donna's published window treatments here in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest   Links and Resources; (I do use some affiliate links)   Drapery ...

377 - Jenny Ellis - I Just Knew I Wanted To Do This

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, ...

376 - Opportunity Thinking Series with Sue Parten of The Workroom Pro

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 e...

375 - Judi Turner - I Am Always Looking for Information

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 bein...

374 - 7th Anniversary Podcast

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  

373 - Diane Girty - I Put Aside Everything I Didn't Like

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 uphol...

372 - OT Series with Susan Woodcock

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 ...

371 - Lisa Moore - Meet The New Owner of Home Sewing Depot

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 ...

370 - Listener Favorite - Rodger Walker

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...

369 - Karen Lander - I Love Trying New Things

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 ...

368 - Kelly McGrory - The Pause is Everything

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 u...

367 - Listener Favorite OT Series - Two Sisters Ecotextiles

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 ...

366 - Barbara Holley - I Had the Patience To Do It Right

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 ow...

365 - Margie Nance - Everything I've Learned Has Brought Me to Where I am Today

    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

364 - Loretta McGranaghan - When It Turns Out Right, You Hear the Angels Sing!

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 f...

363 - Opportunity Thinking Series with Taylor Angel

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

362 -Justin Dazey - Hire Professionals and Expect Them to Act Professionally

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 ...

361 - Frances Pusch on Retirement

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 ...