Sew Much More

The Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Today's podcast is a solo podcast, and I share some of the lessons I have learned while learning to podcast.   I hope you will reach out to me on my Facebook page and tell me something that you have learned from listening to the Podcast.     I mentioned Carol Dweck's book The Growth Mindset

Episode 3 of the Opportunity Thinking Series is an interview with Kitty Stein, author of Price Your Work With Confidence. Ann K. Johnson is now the publisher of the book and she joins us in an entertaining conversation with Kitty. It is a little bit difficult for me to comprehend not thinking about window treatments or our industry on a daily basis, but that is what retirement looks like for Kitty now!

Encompassing a career of 30 years in the Window Covering Industry, Kitty became a highly respected personality who wore many hats as an entrepreneur: Soft covering designer and fabricator, some of which appeared in national magazines and local designer show houses; sole proprietor workroom to the trade; partnership owning a retail decorating business and wholesale workroom; employer of decorators and workroom fabricators; monthly columnist for two prominent magazines to the trade, wrote well over 200 articles spanning 13 years; seminar presenter; teacher and development assistant to the original window coverings school, eventually called the Custom Home Furnishings Academy (CHF School); business consultant to the trade; and author and publisher of five business books to the trade, of which PRICE YOUR WORK WITH CONFIDENCE, published in 2000, is still selling. Kitty was also a board member of the Window Covering Association of America (WCAA) as a liaison with the workroom industry. During her tenure, she saw the development of the Certified Workroom Professional (CWP) program from conception to fruition, for which she received a special award from the WCAA. She also received a Life Time Educator award from the CHF School for her contributions to the industry.

Ann K. Johnson owns Sew Easy Windows LLC, a wholesale workroom in Ohio, established in 1992. She is the author of The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags I & II, and publisher for Kitty Stein's Price Your Work With Confidence! Ann offers private workroom training, seminars, and hands-on classes in workroom fabrication, pattern drafting, efficiency, and pricing. Her topics are always packed with time-saving tips and techniques. Contact Ann at ajohnson@seweasywindows to put together a training package for you. Ann is an instructor for The Workroom Channel and Workroom Tech, a webinar instructor for WCAA, and a speaker for The Custom Workroom Conference. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Drapery Professionals and WCAA. Ann also is an educator for Dream Draper.

During the podcast we talked about;

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

A Course In Miracles by Dr. Helen Schucman

These are Amazon Affiliate links, and I'm grateful if you choose to use them.

 

Episode 3 of the Opportunity Thinking Series is an interview with Kitty Stein, author of Price Your Work With Confidence.  Ann K. Johnson is now the publisher of the book and she joins us in an entertaining conversation with Kitty.  It is a little bit difficult for me to comprehend not thinking about window treatments or our industry on a daily basis, but that is what retirement looks like for Kitty now!

Encompassing a career of 30 years in the Window Covering Industry, Kitty became a highly respected personality who wore many hats as an entrepreneur: Soft covering designer and fabricator, some of which appeared in national magazines and local designer show houses; sole proprietor workroom to the trade; partnership owning a retail decorating business and wholesale workroom; employer of decorators and workroom fabricators; monthly columnist for two prominent magazines to the trade, wrote well over 200 articles spanning 13 years; seminar presenter; teacher and development assistant to the original window coverings school, eventually called the Custom Home Furnishings Academy (CHF School); business consultant to the trade; and author and publisher of five business books to the trade, of which PRICE YOUR WORK WITH CONFIDENCE, published in 2000, is still selling. Kitty was also a board member of the Window Covering Association of America (WCAA) as a liaison with the workroom industry. During her tenure, she saw the development of the Certified Workroom Professional (CWP) program from conception to fruition, for which she received a special award from the WCAA. She also received a Life Time Educator award from the CHF School for her contributions to the industry.

 

Ann K. Johnson owns Sew Easy Windows LLC, a wholesale workroom in Ohio, established in 1992. She is the author of The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags I & II, and publisher for Kitty Stein's Price Your Work With Confidence!  Ann offers private workroom training, seminars, and hands-on classes in workroom fabrication, pattern drafting, efficiency, and pricing. Her topics are always packed with time-saving tips and techniques.  Contact Ann at ajohnson@seweasywindows to put together a training package for you.  Ann is an instructor for The Workroom Channel and Workroom Tech, a webinar instructor for WCAA, and a speaker for The Custom Workroom Conference. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Drapery Professionals and WCAA.  Ann also is an educator for Dream Draper. 

During the podcast we talked about;

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young 

A Course In Miracles by Dr. Helen Schucman

These are Amazon Affiliate links, and I'm grateful if you choose to use them.

 

The Podcast is Sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA Sharon Gizzi is the owner of Styles by Sharon, a custom drapery workroom located in Richmond, Virginia. She has been creating exquisitely crafted window treatments and bedding, with a conscious attention to detail and outstanding customer service, since 1999. She learned to sew from her mom, who was a custom dressmaker, at age 5. Sharon graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and a Master's degree in Clothing and Textiles. She pursued a career in retail sales, management, and buying, from Blacksburg, Virginia, to Richmond, to Washington, DC. Sharon started attending industry conferences in 1999, her first one being Cheryl Strickland's Sew What Conference and has attended many since then. She has been published in the Sew What newsletter and Richmond House Trends magazine. She joined WCAA in 2001 and has served as president, vice president, and treasurer of the local Richmond chapter. She is also a member of the Virtual Chapter. Sharon added hard treatments to her business in 2005, wanting to grow the business while still maintaining her solopreneur status. She serves both designers and retail clients, both in Richmond and resort locations in a tri-state area. Sharon and her husband Henry are empty nesters and have two terrific sons, Matthew and Steven. You can find Sharon on Facebook and Instagram. Here is the link to The Workroom Channel Method Share for sewing zippers next to welt cord. And here is Donna Cash's method.

The Podcast is Sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   Sharon Gizzi is the owner of Styles by Sharon, a custom drapery workroom located in Richmond, Virginia.  She has been creating exquisitely crafted window treatments and bedding, with a conscious attention to detail and outstanding customer service, since 1999.  She learned to sew from her mom, who was a custom dressmaker, at age 5.  Sharon graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and a Master's degree in Clothing and Textiles.  She pursued a career in retail sales, management, and buying, from Blacksburg, Virginia, to Richmond, to Washington, DC.     Sharon started attending industry conferences in 1999, her first one being Cheryl Strickland's Sew What Conference and has attended many since then.  She has been published in the Sew What newsletter and Richmond House Trends magazine.  She joined WCAA in 2001 and has served as president, vice president, and treasurer of the local Richmond chapter.  She is also a member of the Virtual Chapter.      Sharon added hard treatments to her business in 2005, wanting to grow the business while still maintaining her solopreneur status.  She serves both designers and retail clients, both in Richmond and resort locations in a tri-state area.      Sharon and her husband Henry are empty nesters and have two terrific sons, Matthew and Steven.

  You can find Sharon on Facebook and Instagram.    Here is the link to The Workroom Channel Method Share for sewing zippers next to welt cord.   And here is Donna Cash's method.  

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

A Chick & A Chair started when Lindsay Orwig kept bringing home wonderful vintage furniture that needed new fabric. Always creative and hands-on, she decided that upholstery was something she wanted to try on her own. She grabbed every book she could put her hands on and scoured the internet for videos and blogs telling her how to upholster. Throughout this time, Lindsay was working on the pieces at home, and posting pictures of them to her personal page on Facebook. Eventually, friends began to notice her work, and one friend decided to take a chance on this do-it-yourselfer, and actually paid Lindsay to reupholster some chairs for her! But they weren't just any chairs - they had belonged to her friend's grandmother, and they were special. They had a story. Lindsay was hooked. From then on, she realized she had found her calling, and A Chick & A Chair was born in 2016. Lindsay now enjoys specializing in chairs with stories for many clients, and hopes to hear your story soon!

Lindsay can be found on Facebook, Instagram and her website, A Chick & A Chair Upholstery

During the Podcast, Lindsay mentioned;

Kim's Upholstery

The Funky Little Chair

Spruce Upholstery

Steve Cone's Book - Singer Upholstery Basics Plus; Complete Step by Step Photo Guide

PUAM

Sailrite

Lakeside Custom Art

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

 

A Chick & A Chair started when Lindsay Orwig kept bringing home wonderful vintage furniture that needed new fabric. Always creative and hands-on, she decided that upholstery was something she wanted to try on her own. She grabbed every book she could put her hands on and scoured the internet for videos and blogs telling her how to upholster.

Throughout this time, Lindsay was working on the pieces at home, and posting pictures of them to her personal page on Facebook. Eventually, friends began to notice her work, and one friend decided to take a chance on this do-it-yourselfer, and actually paid Lindsay to reupholster some chairs for her! But they weren't just any chairs - they had belonged to her friend's grandmother, and they were special. They had a story.

Lindsay was hooked.

From then on, she realized she had found her calling, and A Chick & A Chair was born in 2016. Lindsay now enjoys specializing in chairs with stories for many clients, and hopes to hear your story soon!

 

Lindsay can be found on Facebook, Instagram and her website, A Chick & A Chair Upholstery

During the Podcast, Lindsay mentioned;

Kim's Upholstery

The Funky Little Chair

Spruce Upholstery

Steve Cone's Book - Singer Upholstery Basics Plus; Complete Step by Step Photo Guide

PUAM

Sailrite 

Lakeside Custom Art

The Workroom Channel, Scarlet Thread Consulting, The WCAA Kristen and John Vince are the owners of Custom Elegance a to the trade drapery and upholstery Workroom located in central Florida. Their work has been seen in the Wall Street Journal, Design Bureau, and MCBC builders. They are current members of WCAA. After marrying and moving to Florida Kristen started her home-based business decorating and fabricating window treatments for vacation homes. Later she bought an upholstery shop with a small showroom and moved her business to a commercial location. Five years later, after more than 22 years with a Fortune 500 company, John was laid off as a result of the recession and joined Kristen full time. They have now transitioned their business to strictly fabrication and installation. They provide services to both residential and commercial decorators and have clients throughout the state of Florida and the U.S. You can find Custom Elegance on Facebook, Instagram.

 

  The Workroom Channel,  Scarlet Thread Consulting,  The WCAA      Kristen and John Vince are the owners of Custom Elegance a to the trade drapery and upholstery Workroom located in central Florida. Their work has been seen in the Wall Street Journal, Design Bureau, and MCBC builders. They are current members of WCAA.
After marrying and moving to Florida Kristen started her home-based business decorating and fabricating window treatments for vacation homes. Later she bought an upholstery shop with a small showroom and moved her business to a commercial location.
Five years later, after more than 22 years with a Fortune 500 company, John was laid off as a result of the recession and joined Kristen full time. They have now transitioned their business to strictly fabrication and installation. They provide services to both residential and commercial decorators and have clients throughout the state of Florida and the U.S.   You can find Custom Elegance on Facebook, Instagram. 

The Opportunity Thinking Podcasts are sponsored by; On Today's podcast, Vita Vygovska, Jeanelle Dech, and Sue Fresconi talk about business growth. we talk about the decision to grow or not and how many factors and decisions are involved. There is a lot to take in today Vita shares her growth risk analysis where she lists and ranks the pros and cons of the adding employees as a path for expanding her business. If you haven't listened to Vita's first podcast with me, number 63 be sure to listen to that as well. We refer to a spreadsheet that Vita put together and if you go to http://www.curtainsandsoftfurnishingspro.org/ you can get a copy of the spreadsheet for free. Jeanelle Dech is President and Co-Founder of Adaptive Textiles, an innovative textile printing company in West Chester, PA. She is a friendly and engaging speaker, known for her Fit-Like-a-Glove slipcovers, SPEED sewing method, and workroom profitability training. She is the creative inspiration behind The Workroom Channel's METHOD SHARE and REAL WORKROOM series (www.TheWorkroomChannel.com), and the new Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library (www.curtainsandsoftfurnishingspro.org), which hosts the industry's largest collection of educational resources for Home Décor Professionals. I interviewed Jeanelle in podcast episode number 9. Vitalia (Vita) Vygovska is the award-winning author, speaker, business coach, and window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc.- Fine Window Treatments & Interiors, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, and installation service, servicing exclusively interior designers and architects. In business for almost 12 years, Vita and her team are proud to be experts in their niche field, providing their clients with superb quality product and excellent communication. I interviewed Vita in podcast episode 63. Sue Fresconi is the Librarian for the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library, and a Project Manager at Adaptive Textiles. Sue has had an extensive corporate career in Human Resources, Training and Development, and Project Management. She operated a home-based workroom on a part-time basis for several years. Sue was selected to participate in the CHF Academy Alumni Showcase twice; creating her designs for exhibition at IWCE. She holds a BS in Textiles from the University of Delaware, the PMP (Project Management Professional) designation from the Project Management Institute, and the CSM (Certified Scrum Master) designation from Scrum Alliance. Please check out the Transparency Initiative!! And please take the survey. Here are links to some of the things we talked about; Vita's Book Michael Hyatt's book Living Forward

If you would like to reach out to Vita, you can email her at [email protected]