Sew Much More

In 1995 Susan Kostelecky began SK Designs, an award-winning custom window treatment design and fabricating company serving the greater Houston area. Susan has designed and fabricated hundreds of window treatments, including many featured in Houston area home tours. Susan has served as President of the Houston Area Custom Drapery Association, is a WFCP-Expert and often presents seminars to other workroom and design groups. skdesignscustom.blogspot.com

 

In 2006 Susan founded The Custom Sewing Institute, which produced weekend seminars for medium to advanced level workrooms with a focus on hands-on classes, small group networking, all-inclusive registration fees (meals, lodging and class supplies) and industry leaders and talented instructors. For six years this event drew attendees and speakers from across the US, Canada, and England.

 

Since the closing of her CSI adventure, Susan has focused on growing SK Designs and focusing on her increasing clientele, many of whom have found her via her A rated Angie’s List membership and on Houzz, where she has received the Best of Houzz Service award in 2016 and 2017.

 

At SK Designs we love using embellishments, mixing and coordinating fabrics and trims and adding specialty details to our treatments!

You can find Susan on Facebook.

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.

You can find Vita on Facebook.

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.

Jann Newton is the owner of Newton Custom Interiors, which opened in 2000 and is located in Bloomington, IL. Newton Custom Interiors is an award-winning drapery workroom that offers custom window treatments, pillows and bedding. Jann is a former student of the Custom Home Furnishings Academy and has written articles for the Drapery & Design Magazine. In 2013, Jann started a blog where she shares home décor DIY tutorials with her readers.

She has taught an online class for Craftsy (Custom Bedding: Decorative Shams & Bolsters), and also a class for Kim's Upholstery (How To Make Drapery Panels).

 

Jann Newton is the owner of Newton Custom Interiors, which opened in 2000 and is located in Bloomington, IL. Newton Custom Interiors is an award-winning drapery workroom that offers custom window treatments, pillows and bedding. Jann is a former student of the Custom Home Furnishings Academy and has written articles for the Drapery & Design Magazine. In 2013, Jann started a blog where she shares home décor DIY tutorials with her readers.

She has taught an online class for Craftsy (Custom Bedding: Decorative Shams & Bolsters), and also a class for Kim’s Upholstery (How To Make Drapery Panels).

Tammy Paradoski is the owner of Daisy Chain, a full-service retail drapery and slipcover studio created in 2000. She specializes in the high-quality craftsmanship of window treatments, bedding, and slipcovers with attention to detail. She is also the owner of Bespoke Soft Furnishings Magazine, the only multimedia publication in the industry. Her passions include teaching others and sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years. Tammy is a member of the WFCP Advisory Board and WCAA.

You can also find Tammy on Facebook for Daisy Chain, LLC and Bespoke Soft Furnishings Magazine.

Tammy Paradoski is the owner of Daisy Chain, a full-service retail drapery and slipcover studio created in 2000. She specializes in the high-quality craftsmanship of window treatments, bedding, and slipcovers with attention to detail. She is also the owner of Bespoke Soft Furnishings Magazine, the only multimedia publication in the industry. Her passions include teaching others and sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years. Tammy is a member of the WFCP Advisory Board and WCAA. 

You can also find Tammy on Facebook for Daisy Chain, LLC and Bespoke Soft Furnishings Magazine.

Karen Barnes is the owner of The Elegant Window, a to-the-trade custom drapery and soft goods workroom located in Gilbert Arizona. She is thrilled to be celebrating 20 years in business this year! Karen entered the custom drapery and soft furnishings business in 1997 working with both retail and with the design trade. Five years into the business, Karen realized that what she truly loved was working with talented interior designers and bringing their ideas and vision to fruition. Her reputation for her attention to detail and high standards in workmanship quickly spread within the design community. In 2003, Karen switched to wholesale only and she, along with her great team of employees, have been creating exquisite, high-quality soft furnishings to the design trade ever since.

In 2009, Karen entered the IWCE Ingenuity Workroom Competition and was awarded Workroom of the Year, the most prestigious award for drapery workrooms. She also was awarded First Place in Specialty Treatments and 2nd place in Top Treatments. In 2011, she again had a winning entry in the Ingenuity Workroom Competition and won 1st place in Specialty Treatments. In 2016, Karen won 1st place at Arizona North Chapter's ASID Design Excellence Awards in the category of Industry Partner, Commissioned. In 2017, she again had winning entries at IWCE. She won 1st place in Specialty Treatments, 2nd place in Ingenious Installation and a 2nd place tie in Top Treatments.

Karen is looking forward to the challenging role of judge in 2018 for IWCE's Ingenuity Workroom Competition, as she has done on two previous IWCE competitions.

The treatments fabricated by the team at The Elegant Window have been published in several magazines including Window Fashion Vision, Phoenix Home and Garden and Desert Design. Karen is a Certified Workroom Expert through the Window Fashions Certified Professionals Program. Her affiliations include membership in the Window Coverings Association of America, as well as membership in the Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals, Drapery and Design Professional Network, and is an Industry Partner with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA).

Links of things mentioned on the show;

Custom Draperies in Interior Design

This book is still available on Amazon and you can use the affiliate link above.

Find Karen on Facebook.

For information about submitting to IWCE click here. The Expo will be held in Tampa, FL March 27 - 28, 2018.

Karen Barnes is the owner of The Elegant Window, a to-the-trade custom drapery and soft goods workroom located in Gilbert Arizona.  She is thrilled to be celebrating 20 years in business this year! Karen entered the custom drapery and soft furnishings business in 1997 working with both retail and with the design trade. Five years into the business, Karen realized that what she truly loved was working with talented interior designers and bringing their ideas and vision to fruition. Her reputation for her attention to detail and high standards in workmanship quickly spread within the design community. In 2003, Karen switched to wholesale only and she, along with her great team of employees, have been creating exquisite, high-quality soft furnishings to the design trade ever since.  

 

In 2009, Karen entered the IWCE Ingenuity Workroom Competition and was awarded Workroom of the Year, the most prestigious award for drapery workrooms. She also was awarded First Place in Specialty Treatments and 2nd place in Top Treatments.  In 2011, she again had a winning entry in the Ingenuity Workroom Competition and won 1st place in Specialty Treatments. In 2016, Karen won 1st place at Arizona North Chapter’s ASID Design Excellence Awards in the category of Industry Partner, Commissioned.   In 2017, she again had winning entries at IWCE. She won 1st place in Specialty Treatments, 2nd place in Ingenious Installation and a 2nd place tie in Top Treatments.  

 

Karen is looking forward to the challenging role of judge in 2018 for IWCE’s Ingenuity Workroom Competition, as she has done on two previous IWCE competitions.  

 

The treatments fabricated by the team at The Elegant Window have been published in several magazines including Window Fashion Vision, Phoenix Home and Garden and Desert Design. Karen is a Certified Workroom Expert through the Window Fashions Certified Professionals Program. Her affiliations include membership in the Window Coverings Association of America, as well as membership in the Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals, Drapery and Design Professional Network, and is an Industry Partner with the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA).

 

Links of things mentioned on the show;

Custom Draperies in Interior Design

This book is still available on Amazon and you can use the affiliate link above.

Find Karen on Facebook.

For information about submitting to IWCE click here. The Expo will be held in Tampa, FL March 27 - 28, 2018.

Robin Matthews transformed her passion to create into her business "Seams Sew Right" in 2000. She offers high-end custom window treatments, bedding and slip covers to designers and retail clients. Robin is a member of the WCAA, WCAA Virtual Chapter and WCAA NJ Chapter where she served as secretary from 2011 to 2015. She has participated on the planning committee for Windows to Success the WCAA NJ Chapter's vendor show, volunteered her time to sew window treatments and install for Lin's Linens, and sewn for "Little Dresses for Africa" and "Heal the Children". Robin lives in Kinnelon, NJ with her husband Paul and their dog Debbie. She has two grown sons and three beautiful grandchildren. You can find Robin on Facebook.