Sew Much More

In what has become our annual tradition, Michele Williams and I spend some time together discussing this past year, our plans for next year, and what great books we have read.

I hope you enjoy today's podcast.

Links and Resources

Scarlet Thread Consulting Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller, Todd Davis, Victoria Roos Olsson The Vision Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business by Michael Hyatt Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! Kindle Edition by Mike Michalowicz Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less by Michael Hyatt The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Revised and Updated: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals Kindle Edition by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling, Scott Thele, Beverly Walker Getting Things Done by David Allen Atomic Habits by James Clear Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business Hardcover – April 3, 2012 by Gino Wickman Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive by Jonathan Fields Paperlike for Ipad

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association

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 fabricating window treatments and selling hard treatments. Soon after, in 1997, Debbie attended courses at the Professional Drapery Workroom School, later known as the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Swannanoa, NC under Cheryl Strickland. Since then, she has participated in the Custom Home Furnishings Conferences and International Window Coverings Expos as both an attendee and window treatment fabrication instructor.

With an extensive skill set Debbie has, over the years, moved Creative Hands from the attic of her home to a commercial building. In 2009 she purchased a larger commercial building, which allowed for the expansion of the workroom and the transition from a Hunter Douglas Showcase Dealership to a Hunter Douglas Gallery. Additionally, Debbie is a Certified Hunter Douglas consultant, a Hunter Douglas Certified Master Installer and the current President of the Western NY Chapter of WCAA.

Debbie is on Facebook.

Links and Resources;

Missouri Star Quilting

Michele Williams Scarlet Thread Consulting

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association 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 Upholstery. For some insight into Dennis's writing ability, be sure to visit his About Us Page.

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association 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, on-site measurer, foam cutter, bookkeeper and tax man. Theresa grew up with an artistic mother who kept her supplied with a plethora of arts and crafts kits. She learned to sew at summer camp and through middle school home ec classes and have had a love affair with sewing and fabric ever since. Her high school guidance counselor didn't have an answer for how to combine art and math into a career, and she didn't know she could make a living sewing so she pursued a BFA in Communication Arts & Design. Thersa's best art projects are their five children who are now contributing members of society;) Theresa is very curious and always asks a lot of questions. She also loves people and sharing information so she considers herself a connector. She's had the privilege of being an employment coach for nearly ten years helping over 100 people get jobs. These personality traits led her to create and maintain All the Trimmings Shop where she tries her best to turn clients' dreams into reality. Links and Resources; As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and I am grateful if you choose to use my links. Tobi Fairley Slight Edge by Jeff Olson You are a Badass by Jen Sincero Shade Smart Class from Workroom Tech Custom Workroom Conference The Workroom Channel - Elki Horn Brene Brown

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Susan Souza grew up in the suburbs of Long Island, NY. She went to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC after finishing high school. She was petrified to be going to school in the big city, but she got used to it and loved the whole atmosphere of being in the fashion world. Susan landed a job as an assistant designer in a children's wear firm in the garment center. She had no idea what her future held for her. Susan went on vacation to Bermuda and that is where she met my future husband. She got married and moved to Bermuda. When she got there thought "what am I supposed to do now – there weren't any jobs to be had in fashion design." Susan made all of her own clothes which included making the patterns. Years later she found myself working in an insurance company as a Facilities Administrator and I really missed being creative. A few years ago Susan found Workroom Tech online and thought it would be fun to take a few classes – something different. It took her a while before she actually decided to follow through with making pillows, cushions, and window treatments. Susan's knowledge of patternmaking has come in handy with drafting some of the window treatments. For now, she is working two jobs and will eventually have to make a decision on which one she wants to continue with. You can find Susan on Instagram. Links and Resources; Workroom Tech Sailrite

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Carol Blow is the owner of a retail workroom – CMB Designs, LLC -- located in Richmond, Virginia. She started her business in 2018. Carol learned to sew at an early age. Her zest for learning new techniques, combined with a can-do attitude, provided the foundation for her business … along with years of experience! Creating custom items gives her great joy and satisfaction. Carol has been a member of WCAA since 2019 and currently serves as Vice President of the local Richmond Chapter. Links and Resources; Donna Skufis

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

Trading Up Consulting, LLC

National Upholstery Association

Kristin Speyer started Red Head Sewing LLC ten years ago in the Texas Hillcountry. She works to the trade, and has a core group of designers that keep the sewing machines running furiously. There is currently a small team of two other workers, and plans for expansion are underway. Kristin and her husband have been married for 22 years and spend their downtime mountain biking, traveling, and trying to outsmart their dogs. She also has a passion for books, friends, and office supplies. https://www.redheadsewing.com/ https://www.instagram.com/redheadsewing/ Links and Resources; (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and I am grateful if you choose to use my links.) Jenny Lawson - Furiously Happy, A Funny Book About Horrible Things The Blogess Seamless Workroom

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Terry Sandlin has been a part of the soft furnishing industry since 1992. Starting in a 1 person workroom, 1 day a week, making cording & ruffles. In 2007 she and her husband relocated to Birmingham, Ala, where she opened Terry's Designing Windows. Terry was a member of the WCAA Birmingham Chapter and served as Secretary for 2 years before they disbanded. Terry was a winner of the 2018 Artisan Project, Demonstrator in the Construction Zone of the 2019 IWCE Conference, and was slotted to demonstrate in the 2020 IWCE -newly named- Workroom Central before it was rescheduled. She was also selected to be an Instructor for the 2021 Custom Workroom Conference. Terry is on Facebook, Instagram Here is the link to Terry's article in the Drapery & Design Digital Digest Links and Resources; Pitch Like A Girl by Rhonna Lichtenberg Workroom Tech The Custom Workroom Conference Ann K. Johnson - Essential Workroom Skills & Efficiency Class Sewing Custom Curtains, Shades, and Top Treatments: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Installing Window Decor by Susan Woodcock

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

Trading Up Consulting, LLC

National Upholstery Association

In today's podcast, I am talking about paying attention to what we have accomplished, not just what we have to do!

Links and Resources;

The episode with Sarah Devaney O'Neil

In this Opportunity Thinking Series of the Podcast, Cynthia Bleskachek of The Funky Little Chair shares the journey of creating the education necessary for today's upholsterer and what it means for the industry.

Links and Resources;

Previous podcasts with Cynthia;

#45 Cynthia Bleskachek - A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships

#199 - Cynthia Bleskachek - I'm Having A Wobble!

Procrastinate On Purpose 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time Rory Vaden

CSFRL Circle Time Video on Lean Manufacturing with Jeanelle Dech (Please note, this video is for PRO Plus Members of the Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library)

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and I am grateful if you choose to use my links.