Sew Much More

Elizabeth Gerdes owns Stitch Above The Rest, LLC, a full-service retail drapery fabrication studio, in Woodstock, GA, since 2003. Elizabeth specializes in helping clients create their vision by offering high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail in every area, from design, to fabrication, to installation. Elizabeth has won eight VISION awards, including Workroom of the Year 2017, multiple trade competitions, and several local “Best of” votes.

Nancy Letts started Pine House Drapery, an award-winning full-service workroom serving interior designers in the lakeside resort communities of northwestern lower Michigan, in 2001, with her husband Rob joining the business as an upholsterer in 2008. Nancy is a CHFA Career Professional in Slipcovers, a CHFA Alumni Showcase winner in 2012, has written how-to articles for Drapery & Design Professional magazine, is a member of Drapery & Design Pro Network and has taught at the Custom Workroom Conference in 2016 & 2017. You can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Nancy will be teaching at Workroom Tech. You can go to their website to sign up for classes now.

Nancy Letts started Pine House Drapery, an award-winning full-service workroom serving interior designers in the lakeside resort communities of northwestern lower Michigan, in 2001, with her husband Rob joining the business as an upholsterer in 2008. Nancy is a CHFA Career Professional in Slipcovers, a CHFA Alumni Showcase winner in 2012, has written how-to articles for Drapery & Design Professional magazine, is a member of Drapery & Design Pro Network and has taught at the Custom Workroom Conference in 2016 & 2017. You can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Nancy will be teaching at Workroom Tech.  You can go to their website to sign up for classes now.

 

Frances Pusch has worked with textiles in some form her entire professional career. Her training includes art school and a bachelor's degree in textile design from Boston University. She also studied tailoring and fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

During twelve years in New York, Frances worked for two leading textile companies, had a custom tailor shop, was a pattern-maker for outerwear companies, including London Fog, and taught tailoring and pattern-making at FIT.

As a business owner, she has made men's and women's custom suits, designed and produced a collection of women's clothing, and later a line of gift items for dog lovers. Her sole focus, starting in 2002, has been creating fine products for home interiors.

Frances keeps her business up-to-date by actively participating in online discussion groups and webinars, as well as traveling to conferences and workshops around the country. She is always searching for better techniques, resources and technology—all the while keeping hand stitching alive and well!

Her professional affiliations include the Window Coverings Association of America, the Drapery and Design Professional Network, and the Maine Women's Business Network.

Frances lives in an 1848 cape-style house, next door to her studio, in a small village in coastal Maine. When not working, she is most often found playing with her rescue dog, Tilly, or on a tennis court, or enjoying the company of art, music, books and friends.

You can find photos of Frances's beautiful workroom on her website.

One of Frances' favorite tools is the disappearing Purple Pen.

Frances Pusch has worked with textiles in some form her entire professional career. Her training includes art school and a bachelor’s degree in textile design from Boston University. She also studied tailoring and fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

During twelve years in New York, Frances worked for two leading textile companies, had a custom tailor shop, was a pattern-maker for outerwear companies, including London Fog, and taught tailoring and pattern-making at FIT.

As a business owner, she has made men’s and women’s custom suits, designed and produced a collection of women’s clothing, and later a line of gift items for dog lovers. Her sole focus, starting in 2002, has been creating fine products for home interiors.

Frances keeps her business up-to-date by actively participating in online discussion groups and webinars, as well as traveling to conferences and workshops around the country. She is always searching for better techniques, resources and technology—all the while keeping hand stitching alive and well!

Her professional affiliations include the Window Coverings Association of America, the Drapery and Design Professional Network, and the Maine Women’s Business Network.

Frances lives in an 1848 cape-style house, next door to her studio, in a small village in coastal Maine. When not working, she is most often found playing with her rescue dog, Tilly, or on a tennis court, or enjoying the company of art, music, books and friends.

You can find photos of Frances's beautiful workroom on her website.

One of Frances' favorite tools is the disappearing Purple Pen.

Today's podcast is a little different! Michele Williams and I tackle the question, Why?

Why is it important in our businesses and in our lives? Why do we need to ask that before we do almost anything else?

I hope you enjoy this week's podcast. It's a little different, but different is good, right?

You can find Michele at Scarlet Thread Consulting and you can join Michele's Facebook group, Build a Profitable Business for Interior Designers and Workrooms.

You can order Simon Sinek's book, Start With Why from Amazon.

We also mentioned Jack Canfield's The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

I have also mentioned, more than once or twice, Gretchen Rubin's book Better Than Before. I loved this book and learned so much about myself (and the people I love!).

And if you would like to hear more about Simon Sinek's book, Start With Why, join Sandra VanSickle's Wednesday morning book club on her Facebook page, New Tech-Style

Today's podcast is a little different!  Michele Williams and I tackle the question, Why?

Why is it important in our businesses and in our lives?  Why do we need to ask that before we do almost anything else?

I hope you enjoy this week's podcast.  It's a little different, but different is good, right?

You can find Michele at Scarlet Thread Consulting and you can join Michele's Facebook group, Build a Profitable Business for Interior Designers and Workrooms.

You can order Simon Sinek's book, Start With Why from Amazon.

We also mentioned Jack Canfield's The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

I have also mentioned, more than once or twice, Gretchen Rubin's book Better Than Before.  I loved this book and learned so much about myself (and the people I love!).

And if you would like to hear more about Simon Sinek's book, Start With Why, join Sandra VanSickle's Wednesday morning book club on her Facebook page, New Tech-Style

Anna Welsh is the Founder and CEO of littlebags.BIGIMPACT, a company that hand makes clutch bags from resourced, vintage materials. littlebags.BIGIMPACT is a social impact business, with 15% of the proceeds donated to Treehouse Books, a giving library and literacy center in Philadelphia. Anna is the 2017 recipient of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Philadelphia Center for Advancing Entrepreneurs and the National Association of Women Business Owners Philadelphia Chapter. She was accepted into the 2017 Young Entrepreneurs Academy, an entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students. Anna is the youngest recipient from the YEA Philadelphia chapter to win the "Shark Tank" investor competition and her company received the largest investment in the chapter's history. Anna went on to complete at the YEA national competition in Rochester, NY.

Anna just completed 6th grade at Welsh Valley Middle School in Gladwyne, PA. This past year, she was selected to participate in the Lower Merion School District Student Leadership Conference. She has achieved Distinguished Honor Roll in all subject areas.

In 2015, Anna participated in the Cradles to Crayons Kids Care Corp program —volunteering to provide everyday essentials to children in the community. She was asked by the Cradles to Crayons leadership team to write a speech about her experience and present it to over 300 corporate volunteers and community members at the Cradles to Crayons 8th Annual Un-Gala.

Anna also volunteers her time to support other organizations including Build On, Special Olympics, and the Jewish Relief Agency.

Twitter: @littlebagIMPACT

Facebook: Littlebags Bigimpact

Instagram: littlebags.bigimpact

We also mentioned Tree House Books

Anna Welsh is the Founder and CEO of littlebags.BIGIMPACT, a company that hand makes clutch bags from resourced, vintage materials. littlebags.BIGIMPACT is a social impact business, with 15% of the proceeds donated to Treehouse Books, a giving library and literacy center in Philadelphia. Anna is the 2017 recipient of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Philadelphia Center for Advancing Entrepreneurs and the National Association of Women Business Owners Philadelphia Chapter. She was accepted into the 2017 Young Entrepreneurs Academy, an entrepreneurship program for middle and high school students. Anna is the youngest recipient from the YEA Philadelphia chapter to win the “Shark Tank” investor competition and her company received the largest investment in the chapter’s history. Anna went on to complete at the YEA national competition in Rochester, NY.

 

Anna just completed 6th grade at Welsh Valley Middle School in Gladwyne, PA. This past year, she was selected to participate in the Lower Merion School District Student Leadership Conference. She has achieved Distinguished Honor Roll in all subject areas.

 

In 2015, Anna participated in the Cradles to Crayons Kids Care Corp program —volunteering to provide everyday essentials to children in the community. She was asked by the Cradles to Crayons leadership team to write a speech about her experience and present it to over 300 corporate volunteers and community members at the Cradles to Crayons 8th Annual Un-Gala.

 

Anna also volunteers her time to support other organizations including Build On, Special Olympics, and the Jewish Relief Agency.

 

Twitter: @littlebagIMPACT

 

Facebook: Littlebags Bigimpact

 

Instagram: littlebags.bigimpact

 

We also mentioned Tree House Books

For Beuancha Jeffries, it was a natural progression from many years of hand crafts, knitting, needlepoint and cross-stitch to creating her business, Soft Furnishings and Home Décor. A combined 30-year career in the Corporate manufacturing process using assembly equipment, and working in an office environment interpreting blue prints, schematics, following government standards prepared Beuancha for her passion, creating beautiful Home Decor for the home furnishings industry following professional standards and specifications and also managing a workroom.

Sew Cozy Interiors (SCI) opened its doors in June 2003 as a part time home based workroom offering pillows, bedding and draperies. Beuancha worked in her workroom at night after working her day job. In 2009, she received a retirement package from my company and she began working in her drapery workroom, Sew Cozy Interiors full time, and has never looked back.

Beuancha is a Certified Career Professional in Window Treatments, Advanced Window Treatments, Pillows and Bedding and Window Treatment Installation and Advanced Installations through the Custom Home Furnishings Academy (CHFA). A member of Drapery and Design Network, WCAA National and WCAA Atlanta. She is on the Program Committee of the Designer Workroom Council (DWC) in Atlanta. She attends many semi-annual and annual conferences, learning the newest time saving custom methods for achieving durable fabrication, correct measurement and professional standards and results.

Website

Sew Cozy Interiors

Facebook

Sew Cozy Interiors Facebook

Sew Cozy Interiors Instagram

Pinterest

Sew Cozy Interior on Pinterest

Twitter

twitter.com/Beuancha

Houzz

houzz.com/pro/Beuancha/sew-cozy-interiors

Things we talked about on the podcast;

Hopper

John Gordon's Energy Bus