Sew Much More

Laura Hawley is a co-owner of AD Window Treatments, a Custom Window Treatment and Hunter Douglas Showroom in Blue Bell, PA.

Ambiance is on Facebook, Pinterest and Houzz.

Resources;

Dave Ramsey's Every Dollar App

Disto Measuring Device

Profit First

The Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA

Jill Stanbro Plummer Hughes was born, raised and has spent her entire life in Canton, Oh. She has imported two husbands from out of state. At separate times, of course! Married for 7 ½ years to Michael Hughes with three grown children, Eric, Julie and Sean, 7 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, who are all the loves of her life, along with her son-in-law and two daughters-in-law.

Since 1979 Jill has worked strictly in the window coverings business.

After working for another company, Jill started her own business, in January 1984. In the 35 years that Stanbro's Draperies has existed, Jill's business has come full circle from working by herself in her basement workroom, to moving the business three times and employing as many as 10 people, to being back in a basement workroom in her home working mainly on her own, with some much needed assistance from her family.

Jill had the privilege of working for both Cheryl Strickland and Margie Nance. Jill loved teaching and it enabled her to travel all over the country sharing her knowledge and she has met some of the most wonderful people that are still her good friends. She published several articles and was even a cover girl on D&WC magazine!

Jill keeps trying to retire but customers and friends won't allow it, but mostly because she still loves what she does. Her byline says it best: I love that when my job is finished, something beautiful exists.

Social Media

Facebook: Jill Plummer Stanbro Hughes

Instagram: @Standrapes

Resources;

CABMMF

Corporate Sponsors of the Podcast are;

The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA

Regina Allen is retired from the military and a native Arkansan. She has had a life-long passion for interior design, window coverings, and fabric. Regina is the owner of Beau Embellishments. While moving from place to place for over 20 years she designed her own draperies and soft furnishings. Ever the perfectionist, Regina, wanted to fabricate with professional techniques and quality craftsmanship. She invested in professional equipment and is a graduate of the Custom Home Furnishings Academy and the Custom Workroom Technical Center. She has established relationships around the country, with other workrooms, designer's and suppliers so she can provide exceptional value and service. Regina is passionate about pursuing education and training opportunities in the window coverings industry to bring you the best in window fashions.

Regina is on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Resources;

Regina mentioned the CHF Academy and while the academy is no longer in existence, the courses they offered on video are available on the Curtains and Soft Home Furnishings Library for Pro Plus Members.

SCORE - Service Corp of Retired Executives

Boots to Business

Make it Happen by Lara Casey

Minute Matter

Worx Drill

Dean Fountain is the owner of a wholesale workroom providing draperies, bedding, slipcovers, upholstery, and installation in and around Jacksonville, FL. Dean opened his workroom in 2001, and he added Workroom Racks to his business in 2018.

Dean Fountain tells us about the design and manufacturing of his new Workroom Rack. It was introduced at the Custom Workroom Conference in 2018.

You can contact Dean by calling him at (904) 334-3694.

Rita Boland and her daughter Auret deGasperi are the owners of Island Drapes and Upholstery on St. Simon Island in Georgia. It was truly my pleasure to get to know them better during the interview.

You can find them on Facebook.

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA Resources; The Workroom Channel Kitty Stein's Book

I'm talking with Donna Skufis of Dondar Designs. Donna shares the story of her business, how education is important to her - both learning herself and sharing her knowledge and why she made some of her choices. Donna is on Facebook. Resources; You can watch some of Donna's videos on The Workroom Channel's YouTube Channel The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA

Heather Taylor owns and is the sole operator of Custom Textiles, a workroom located by her farmhouse in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut. She has been producing residential and business window dressings since 2003.

Heather is on Facebook.

Speaking with Heather was truly an honor. I admire her strength and resilience as well as her creativity.

Resources;

The Custom Workroom Conference

Kim's Upholstery

A Monster to Love

Dean Fountain's Workroom Racks or call Dean at (904) 334-3694

Michele Williams and I talk about how we like to finish up our year and what we do to start the new year. I love my conversations with Michele! With our personalities being so different, I really enjoy talking with her about how we do things.

Resources;

Gretchen Rubin's 4 Tendencies Quiz

Brene Brown's Dare To Lead

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA

Donna Skufis's passion for creating beautiful and unique window treatments and soft home furnishing has propelled her talents into a thriving 33-year-old business. At the start she was retail; selling, fabricating and installing; but is now strictly a wholesale fabricator.

Her love of challenges has encouraged her to take on more difficult even almost impossible projects. These projects showcase her engineering abilities.

Teaching others how to fabricate window treatments and soft home furnishing is a large part of her business. She started teaching in 2000 with Cheryl Strickland, then with CHF Academy, in her own studio and with The Workroom Channel. To continue her educational offerings she now has a collection of full color, step-by-step instruction binders covering soft and hard cornices, using Tableaux and building arched and shape top valances. You can find these binders along with her favorite double face tapes and other valuable workroom supplies on her website www.donnaskufis.com

Watch Donna's Method Share on The Workroom Channel.

You can also purchase Donna's Tapes on The Workroom Marketplace.

While many workrooms and designers started out in our homes and because we had a skill, Sarah O'Neil started her business, Storibook Designs out of a need to make a life change and to find joy every day. She no longer wanted a job, she wanted to feed her soul!

Sarah talks openly and honestly about the challenges of anxiety and the tools she uses to get through the difficult times.

Thank you to my sponsors who make it possible for me to continue to bring the podcast to my listeners.

Scarlet Thread Consulting

The Window Covering Association of America

The Workroom Channel

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].