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 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 F...

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...

Kelly and Lee Nanney are a dream team when it comes to fulfilling customers' window-covering needs. Creating custom-designed draperies to compliment the look and feel of each individual home, Kelly and Lee find joy in providing clients with high-quality and timeless curtains, shades, valances and more. With each project, Kelly and Lee pay great attention to all the small details and maintain the h...

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 November of last year, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Tryon, NC at Workroom Tech.  Nancy Letts of Pine House Drapery was teaching a pillow and cushion class.  I met four wonderf...

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     Custom Coverings was established in Peoria Arizona in the fall of 2000 by Linda Tully. After honing her sewing skills and drapery knowledge, Linda was able to build her own custom workroom in...

This year, for the OPPORTUNITY THINKING Series of the Podcast we will be learning more about the services and products that the Sponsors of the Podcast offer our industry and how they can help us.  I am starting out the series with the Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library and Sharon Gizzi is here to help me with the questions and her feelings about how she has discovered so much content....

Bianca Schmidt, owner of Bianca's Stitchworks grew up watching her mother sewing and her father fixing things around the house. When she was 12 she asked her mother to teach her how to sew. She was always her father's helper when it came time to fix something. Little did they know at the time that together they were preparing her for her second career as a Drapery Workroom Owner. Bianca has a degr...

Jan Britt, owner of Jan Britt Interiors has been helping her clients decorate their homes in the Atlanta area for over 25 years.  Jan is an Interior Designer, Window Treatment Specialist, Home Stager, Educator, and Author.  She has appeared multiple times on HGTV.  She has been awarded "Adult Teacher of the Year" for the State of Georgia. Jan was awarded "Educator of the Year 2017" for Think Realt...

Julie Murphy is the owner of Designer Draperies of Boston , a full-service workroom serving the design community in Boston MA.    Julie started her home-based workroom, JM Custom Design in 2006, after a career as an Occupational Therapist.  In 2014, with the desire to expand, she purchased her current business which had been in operation for 28 years.   She is the mother of 4 children ranging from...

Sheri Corey is my guest today.  She is the owner of Style and Stitch/Sew Sheri Designs * Her professional beginning Pediatric Oncology Nurse * 1994 left nursing career to begin a new business that allowed her to be at home with her children * Her business services have continued to evolve * Initially Sheri made children's clothing – then moved into products for the home * A second business, Dorm S...

Suzy Daruwala is the owner of Sew Bella Home , a full-service drapery and fabrication studio servicing homeowners, builders, and designers alike.  Clients say they enjoy working with Suzy because she has the ability to really listen and interpret their needs and desires and helps to translate their vision into a well-executed design and fabrication plan. She delivers exceptional quality and is ver...

Jean Lawes is my guest today on this special episode of the Podcast.  Time is running out for you to apply for the Jill Robson Scholarship!!!  The deadline is January 31, 2020. Visit WCAA's Scholarship webpage to find out more. Ann K. Johnson's Swag Books Ann K. Johnson's Workroom Skills Class The Complete Book of Curtains and Drapes Lady Carolyn Wrey Bluprint - Cynthia Blescakchek's class - Getti...

Diana Nolan is the owner of a retail and wholesale workroom located in Medford, New Jersey outside of Philadelphia.  She started her business after a career in Retail Management for College and University bookstores.   She started Diana Nolan Custom Windows in 2001 shortly after her children were born.   Diana is a member of both the NJ and Pennsylvania WCAA chapters and currently holds the positi...

Debbie DiFrancesco, who has been sewing since the age of 7, founded Creative Hands in 1990 to supplement the family income.  Initially, Debbie provided general sewing and bridal alteration services while working a second job as an assistant manager/Craft Department Manager at House of Fabrics/So-Fro Fabrics until 1991.  Two years later, Creative Hands transitioned from alterations to exclusively f...

Once again, Michele Williams and I are wrapping up the year and sharing how we analyze the year that is ending and plan for the year ahead.  Talking with Michele is always a pleasure for me, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! Links and Resources; Who's In Your Room 212 The Extra Degree SWOT Analysis is discussed in the January 2018 Circle Time on The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Libra...

Nicole Nomer is the owner of Fabrication Studio , a drapery workroom that has been servicing the interior design industry since 1985. I interviewed Nicole in Episode 148 of the Podcast .  Today we are talking about how she became a Coulisse Distributor. Links and Resources; Nicole's Youtube Channel Nicole's Facebook Page You can reach Nicole by email - fabricationstudio@gmail.com The OPPORTUNITY T...

Cheryl Meiklejohn, was born in a rural community, she fell in love with sewing at the age of 8, when she began sewing with her grandmother.   Always one to seize an opportunity, she set up and managed her own custom drapery business, where she became an expert in selling, sewing and installing window treatments.  Five years later she went to work for a much larger specialty textile manufacturing c...

I had the pleasure of talking with some of the previous winners of the Jill Robson Scholarship and why they applied and what it did for them. Apply for the Jill Robson Scholarship     Custom Workroom Conference Jill's Webinars can be found on the Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library for PRO Plus and PRO Access members. The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   S...

Betsey Reigle has worked in the interior design field for her entire professional career. Her training includes a bachelor's degree in interior design from Mercyhurst College. If you combine her experience in the interior design field with the skill of sewing she learned from her mother at a very young age and, always having a love of fabric, you can see why she loves her job. Betsey is the owner...

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Mark and Jay Helser of Helser Brothers, Inc. Mark Helser is the CFO and Co-Founder of Helser Brothers, Inc . His entrepreneurial spirit and interest in metal fabrication started early in his life, having a paper route at age 8 and acquiring his first welder at age 11. Mark and his brother Jay founded Helser Brothers, Inc in 1994. Mark is a strong believer...

  Roger Magalhaes started in the window coverings industry in 2006 as a part-time installer for a national chain. After only two months, he was asked to leave for "standing out." Clients continuously requested him over the other installers, and this didn't sit well with his colleagues. He knew he was on to something! Following this experience, Roger traveled to many parts of the country acquiring...

Kathy Patterson is the owner of Draperies by Kathy   She started sewing for a designer 15 years ago and her daughter, Michelle has joined her in her business.     Links and Resources; Michelle's Etsy Shop - This White Rabbit Co . The Custom Workroom Conference Kim Chagnon - Kim's Upholstery Ann K. Johnson's Workroom Skills Class Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Wo...

Ronica is from a small town in Western NY and moved to Raleigh 27 years ago via San Diego. She and her husband of 28 years have 2 kids and a dog. Ronica's Custom Creations is an award-winning full-service window treatment design and fabrication studio. Ronica works with both the homeowners and design clients, using her specialized industry skills to make ideas and plans become reality to transform...

Who doesn't have a few extra feet from Sloan Machinery !?? I must confess, I really didn't realize how extensive Sam Sloan's business was until I had this opportunity to talk with him and Jill.  They have been collaborating for years in an effort to customize feet for our industry.  I was thrilled to hear Sam's story and learn more about what he does - hint - it isn't just feet!!! Jill Plummer Sta...

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Helser Brothers, Inc Tracie N. Bresnahan holds a Bachelor's degree in Apparel Engineering and a Master's degree in Quality Assurance Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University. She worked in the apparel and the consumer products industries for 12 years. Tracie opened  Custom Creati...