Sew Much More

Teresa Paul, Executive Director of WCAA, studied communications at George Mason University and began her career working in restaurant publicity, first with a Fortune 100 company, and then as an account executive with one of the top restaurant PR firms in the DC area. With encouragement from friends and colleagues, Teresa launched her own public relations agency in 1998 and became the go-to firm for both profit and non-profit companies specializing in the interiors industry. Her firm represented several interior designers, as well as the NSO Decorators’ Show House, C2 Paints and Mastercraft Interiors. Teresa moved with her family to Raleigh, NC in 2006 and was a stay at home mom and active volunteer until she came out of retirement in 2014 to be the Executive Director of WCAA. Teresa is an avid country music fan, has an admitted addiction to all things pumpkin spice and loves spending time at the beach. She has been married to her husband, Michael, for almost 18 years and is mom to their son Justin, who is 13 going on 25. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading and watching Justin, a second degree black belt, compete in Taekwondo tournaments.

Teal Major is the owner of Slips, an interior sewing/design studio in Berkeley, California. After spending years as a pattern maker in the garment industry, she transitioned to home furnishings. Using her knowledge of patterns, fabric and design, Teal fabricates custom slipcovers, curtains, shades, cushions/pillows and bedding. With a focus on customer service and high-quality work, she helps people create a living space they want to come home to.

Teal Major is the owner of Slips, an interior sewing/design studio in Berkeley, California. After spending years as a pattern maker in the garment industry, she transitioned to home furnishings. Using her knowledge of patterns, fabric and design, Teal fabricates custom slipcovers, curtains, shades, cushions/pillows and bedding. With a focus on customer service and high-quality work, she helps people create a living space they want to come home to.

Rachel Barrera has been in the custom soft furnishings industry, encompassing

design fabrication and installation for more than 14 years. From 2000 to 2016 she owned

Shorty's Window, designing and fabricating window treatments primarily for

retail clients.

Her passion for her craft and industry can be witnessed through

the offices she serves: president of The Houston Area Custom Drapery

Association (HACDA) since 2012 and President of the Houston Chapter

of The Window Coverings Association of America since June of 2016.

Her talent can not only be viewed through her extensive client portfolio, but is

also obvious with her ensuing the three-time winner (2014,2015 and 2016) of

the Window Fashions Artisan Project (WFAP), a national annual design competition,

where she designed and fabricated an innovative themed treatment to be displayed

at the International Window Coverings Expo, Vision.

Rachel Barrera has been in the custom soft furnishings industry, encompassing

design fabrication and installation for more than 14 years. From 2000 to 2016 she owned

Shorty’s Window, designing and fabricating window treatments primarily for

retail clients.

Her passion for her craft and industry can be witnessed through

the offices she serves: president of The Houston Area Custom Drapery

Association (HACDA) since 2012 and President of the Houston Chapter

of The Window Coverings Association of America since June of 2016.  

Her talent can not only be viewed through her extensive client portfolio, but is

also obvious with her ensuing the three-time winner (2014,2015 and 2016) of

the Window Fashions Artisan Project (WFAP), a national annual design competition,

 where she designed and fabricated an innovative themed treatment to be displayed

 at the International Window Coverings Expo, Vision.

Rosemarie Garner started out in the theater, getting her BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She spent 15 years after graduating working in theater and TV until she decided to put it all on hold to have a family. While raising kids was challenging and fun, she still needed to get her "creative jollies" out so she began using the sewing skills she learned as a young girl from her mother and grandparents. And, so, a business was born. R Garner Custom Designs, LLC is a a to the trade custom drapery workroom servicing Northern NJ and the NYC area. Rose offers custom window treatments, pillows, bedding, accessories, shades and blinds.

Rosemarie Garner started out in the theater, getting her BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She spent 15 years after graduating working in theater and TV until she decided to put it all on hold to have a family. While raising kids was challenging and fun, she still needed to get her "creative jollies" out so she began using the sewing skills she learned as a young girl from her mother and grandparents. And, so, a business was born. R Garner Custom Designs, LLC is a a to the trade custom drapery workroom servicing Northern NJ and the NYC area. Rose offers custom window treatments, pillows, bedding, accessories, shades and blinds.

I had such a great time helping out in Houston for the Artisan Project Weekend, helping to fabricate the vignettes for IWCE. I did short interviews with the following talented people;

Terri Booser

Sande Ober Dori of Doriginals

Kevin Kise of Kise Interiors

Rachel Barrera of Sugar & Spice Draperies and Shades

Julie Wood of the Leading Edge Drapery

Julia Tamer of Golden Valley Slipcovers

Tish Harmon of EC Interiors

I had such a great time helping out in Houston for the Artisan Project Weekend, helping to fabricate the vignettes for IWCE. I did short interviews with the following talented people;

Terri Booser 

Sande Ober Dori of Doriginals

Kevin Kise of Kise Interiors

Rachel Barrera of Sugar & Spice Draperies and Shades

Julie Wood of the Leading Edge Drapery

Julia Tamer of Golden Valley Slipcovers

Tish Harmon of EC Interiors

Cathy Tucker has more than 21 years experience as a custom workroom owner and manager. She has been a featured speaker at Detroit Workroom Association meetings, WCAA events, and has been the lead instructor for the Career Professional program at the CHF Academy for over eight years. Cathy is a master at fabricating draperies, upholstered cornices, soft cornices, and headboards. She offers private and group training through the Workroom Channel and travels the country offering her Professional Traveling Workroom Service, where she provides hourly expert labor to help other workrooms manage large jobs, and clear back logs. You can reach Cathy at 419-349-7983.