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

Cynthia Bleskachek, owner of The Funky Little Chair has been working as a professional upholsterer since 2001 and teaching since 2010. In 2008 she won a first-place craftsmanship award through The Upholstery Journal for a tufted chair.

She was a featured presenter at the 2015 Minneapolis Junk Bonanza, with appearances on Kare 11 and Fox 9.

Cynthia guest teaches at Workroom Tech in North Carolina and will be a 2018 instructor at Custom Workroom Conference in South Carolina.

She currently serves as education chair for the Professional Upholstery Association of Minnesota"

Links and Resources;

"Who's Having A Wobble?"

"The Value of a Secret"

Adam Grant's Book

Adam Grant's Ted Talk

Adam Grant Podcast

10% Happier on YouTube

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

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 Facebook Page

Gretchen Rubin's Coping With Covid 19 Suggestions

Miracle Morning

Team Tutor, LLC Facebook page for helpful hints

Zoom

Jeanelle referred to the PA Manufacturer's Association but it was actually the Manufacturers Alliance of Philadelphia

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 boutique sewing business, located in Sea Girt, NJ. Irene also works with clients on color selection, furnishings and commissioned work through local craftsmen. The studio hosts workshops in Celtic Applique, Heirloom Sewing, and Memory Quilt Basics. Irene studied Fashion Design at FIT (New York), Interior Design at Brookdale CC and is a Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher, a member of the WCAA National, WCAA NJ (Treasurer 2016-18), WCAA Virtual, and Rebecca's Reel Quilt Guild. She is a volunteer for Lin's Linens, Little Dresses for Africa and Project Pillowcase. A native of the Garden State, Irene resides in Sea Girt with her husband Leo. Their children are Leo, Jr and Ann Marie, and Maureen and Patrick Gilroy. She is also "Nan" to Brendan and Liam Gilroy and Leo James III. You can find Irene Hurley Designs on Facebook, Instagram Pinterest @Irene Hurley Designs.

Links and Resources;

Leslie Fehling

Kelli Chitty - Interiors by Kelli

Simple Abundance Journal

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 highest standards for the outcome of every piece. Kelly's Designer Drapes provides fabric selections, in-home consultations, measuring and installation for your convenience. Window treatments are a necessity for any home, but Kelly's Designer Drapes turns these functional pieces into works of art that complement the furnishings in your home.

Instagram

Facebook

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 wonderful women who were kind enough to sit and answer my questions! I hope you enjoy hearing about their experience.

Links and Resources;

Workroom Tech

The Workroom Channel

BluPrint

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 2007. It was large enough to meet her growing client demand and enabled her to hire help. Custom Coverings was awarded Workroom of the Year in 2011 by Window Fashions Vision magazine. Then in 2012 the Tully family began a journey that took the workroom on an unpredictable cross country tour. Linda has worked with talented designers in California, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arizona. Linda was happy to have two long years with the Shivers Team in Nixa and helped Nola Shivers win 1st place in the Window Treatment category of Decorating Den's annual Dream Room contest. That same year Linda attended IWCE as a speaker. She shared her favorite workroom tips and tricks, taught pattern making, and described her process of sketching to scale. In March 2019, Linda attended IWCE and won 1st place in both Combination Treatments and Specialty Windows, and 2nd place in Top Treatments all with entries made in Lexington Kentucky. Custom Coverings was also grateful to be honored with the title of Workroom of the Year. Linda's early years in business helped her learn the importance of collaboration between the workroom and designer. Custom Coverings specializes in challenging windows and combination top treatments. Linda currently works with designers across the country from her workroom in Scottsdale, AZ, with a second workroom in the planning stages to be located in Temple, Texas. Linda is on Instagram and Facebook

Help me celebrate my 200th Episode

Click below to leave me a Speakpike message about the Best Advice you have ever received.

You have 90 seconds to leave your name, location and the best advice you have ever received!

Leave me a Speakpipe message

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.

Resources and Links;

Pricing Your Work with Confidence by Kitty Stein

WCAA

M'Fay patterns are available at The Workroom Marketplace

30 Minutes With Workroom Tech

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 degree in mathematical science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Go Heels! Her first career was computer programming at IBM. She satisfied her creative side after work sewing and creating many projects. When Bianca moved to Asheville in 1996 she left programming behind and opened her workroom. Since then she has been fabricating custom draperies, curtains, bedding, pillows and almost anything for the home that can be made with fabric. I do light upholstery like chair seats, and leave the upholstery and slip-covering to the experts. Bianca has evolved to a full-service workroom offering measuring, estimating, expediting, fabricating, and installing. She also sells drapery hardware, drapery lining, pillow inserts, blinds, and shutters. Bianca works mostly to the trade, but she also accepts retail customers. In her free time, Bianca enjoys traveling, hiking and geocaching with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. Bianca is on Facebook and Instagram. Links and Resources; 30 Minutes with Workroom Tech Podcast Michele Williams Profit is a Choice Podcast 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

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 Realty Corporation. She is an Award-Winning Staging Educator. Jan stars in her own television show "The Decorate with Jan Show" on Ambizion TV. She teaches sewing classes to children and adults. Jan writes and teaches decorating courses for Kennesaw State University, CPE.

Resources and Links;

Ambizion TV

The Barter Company

The 5 Love Languages

WCAA

ADAC

Tag Gun

Patty Wood Body Language Expert

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 14-20 and lives in Boston where she was born and raised. Julie is on Facebook and Instagram Links and Resources; Indeed Michele Williams Scarlet Thread Consulting Elki Horn 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