Sew Much More

Irina Otto is the owner of IRICHKA Custom Window Coverings , a licensed and bonded California contractor specializing in luxury custom draperies, shades, motorization, bedding, and soft furnishings. With more than 22 years of experience, she has built her business from a small garage operation into a respected full-service firm serving high-end residential projects.     Known for blending artistry...

In 2013, Carrie bought her first sewing machine to begin making décor items for her home. Having always been crafty, this was another creative outlet for her and she soon fell in love with creating beautiful items out of fabric.  A year later, Carrie took her sewing skills to the next level by opening her own creative design business, Studio B Custom Drapery & Decor. Links and Resources; The Custo...

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

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,...

Born and raised in England, Denise pursued studies in child development and education following her primary schooling. Throughout her life, her dual passions for sewing and childcare have been enduring themes. Today, she is the proud mother of four and a blessed Nana to seven.  Life is a gift, and has a way of taking us along a journey that evolves and Denise has learned to embrace that journey th...

Jill Ballew brings more than 30 years of experience in the custom window treatment and soft furnishings industry. She is the owner of High Country Drapery Design and The Workroom Collective , two companies built around craftsmanship, service, and a deep respect for the details that make interiors feel truly finished. Through The Workroom Collective, Jill partners with interior designers and trade...

Chester A. France, Jr. is a Veteran Small Business Owner, a Certified Life Coach (CLC), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master Social Work (MSW), and Offender Workforce Development Specialist (OWDS). Mr. France has more than 30 years of professional experience in sales, sales training, and management in the for-profit sector. For more than 15 years, Mr. France has provided management and technical as...

Over his 40+-year career, Sohn Lewis has reupholstered thousands of pieces of furniture and other items, including antiques, walls, and automobile and boat interiors. One of his more notable projects includes upholstering hundreds of replicated seats for the 2000s renovation of Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. His work also appears in the Smithsonian Institution, a few embassies, and the Marylan...

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Heidi Wenger Yoder is the owner of  Smithland Custom  Interiors in Harrisonburg, VA. which is celebrating 20 years of operation.  Heidi's husband, Brent, is an invaluable member of her team as chief installer and cornice board fabricator.  Her three teenage children pitch in on occasion as directors of recycling, dust bunny chasing, and van loading. Heidi is passionate about helping her clients li...

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Rachel Bristow has been married to her husband, Victor, for 16 years, and together they share a large and close-knit family of 11 children and 13 grandchildren. She has owned her business, Creative Cousins Sewing for 12 years, transitioning to full-time drapery work over the past two years. Sewing is deeply rooted in her background—she comes from a long line of skilled seamstresses. Her mother, a...

Ruti is a Brooklyn-based upholsteress and the founder of Find The Thread Upholstery. Known for her bold use of color and pattern, she helps clients fall back in love with the furniture they already own, transforming pieces in a way that feels joyful and personal. Her process is designed to be approachable and low-stress, while keeping quality furniture out of the landfill through thoughtful, desig...

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 Upholste...

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Abby Glassenberg is the co-founder and president of Craft Industry Alliance , the trade association for the crafts industry. The organization has over 2,000 members in all different sectors. She's also a sewing pattern designer, teacher, and journalist. Abby lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts with her husband, three children, and a rescue dog named Steve. You can reach Abby at https://abby@craftind...

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 frie...

Hollie Rich is the president and founder of Stuck on Hue , a concierge service for people decorating without the help of a professional interior designer. Hollie believes good design is for everyone, so her mission is to break down barriers design enthusiasts face when decorating on their own. She provides expert guidance, and helps them procure to-the-trade products that will make their homes fee...

With over two decades of experience as a workroom owner, Hope Arbery understands the reality of running a custom workroom - the long hours, the pricing uncertainty, and the pressure to get everything right. She founded QUIPA , a software built for workrooms that streamlines and automates quoting, work orders, and project management all in one place so workroom owners can stop carrying around detai...

Ann Mautz is the owner of Madison Avenue Designs and lives in Chillicothe, Ohio, approximately 45 miles south of Columbus. She has been in business since 1984 and holds an Associate degree in Interior Design. Ann has built her career working primarily from her home, offering retail services that include hard goods, custom window treatments, and bedding. In 1994, she expanded her business to includ...

Will Hanke has two passions: supporting our US veterans and helping window treatment and awning businesses tell their story online – providing them with increased exposure, more customers, and higher revenues. For over twenty-seven years he has helped mom & pops, startups, and multi-million dollar companies with their digital marketing strategies. Will hosts monthly online training events and has...

  Riana LeJeune is an award-winning upholsterer, entrepreneur, and founder of Repinned Luxury Upholstery , a nationally recognized workroom known for preserving craftsmanship while pushing the industry forward. With over a decade in the skilled trades, Riana has built one of the country's first registered upholstery apprenticeship programs and is passionate about elevating artisan work through edu...

Thank you so much for being on this journey with me!   Links and Resources; Episode 113 - Opportunity Thinking Series with Jeanelle Dech - Feedback, Failure, Bankruptcy and Girl Scout Cookies    

What a fun podcast this was to record! Thanks to the Jersey Girls for taking time to chat with me!   Irene Hurley Designs Instagram: @irenehurleydesigns Interior Couture for Cottage and Castle Irene Hurley Designs is a boutique design and sewing studio offering custom window coverings, interior accessories, and artisan quilts.   Sue Berry - Designer and fabricator in business for 13 years Sew Styl...