Sew Much More

For many of us, our first M'Fay Pattern was our introduction to professional drapery making.  It's amazing that such an extensive collection of instructional manuals and patterns all started because of one woman's thought that someone ought to be making them!  

In this podcast, Marylan Borchardt and family talk about her initial interest in sewing, the early days working within her sister's business, the development of her first pattern (The Empire) and the growth of the M'Fay Pattern Company.  They are joined by Jeanelle Dech of Adaptive Textiles who recently acquired the patterns, and shares with us her vision of the future.

I hope all of  you have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!  I look forward to hosting more podcasts in 2017!

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by

Scarlet Thread Consulting

The WCAA

The Workroom Channel

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;

Scarlet Thread Consulting

WCAA

The Workroom Channel

In 1987, successful window treatment designer Carlette Cormier started the business to help support her family. With a small toddler at home and her husband recently laid off Carlette needed employment that would not only allow her to contribute income, but to be at home to care for her family. Deciding to rely on the skills taught to her by her mother since the age of five, she began CC's Designs. At a young age she learned to sew doll clothes and over the years Carlette has continued to develop her skills alongside her mother.

After moving to Savannah, Georgia to look for employment, a friend who worked in a wallpaper store recommended Carlette to a local designer who came into the store inquiring about help with some window treatments. After seeing the work Carlette had done in her own home, the designer was sold and thus began CC's Designs and a new career for Carlette was born.

Despite the fact that Carlette was new to the area and a complete unknown, her reputation for creating beautiful window treatments spread quickly. Through word of mouth advertising, the small business with humble beginnings evolved into an award winning design and fabrication company. Services include the design and installation of window treatments, beautiful bedding, canopies, upholstered walls and ceilings and much more. CC's Designs can now confidently make the claim to be a one stop shop for all your window treatment needs as it continues to be family owned and operated.

Attributing much of her success to the continued education she has received by attending trade shows and conferences, Carlette now attends as an instructor, to help other up-and-coming designers and fabrication studios learn from her experience and talent. Her continued efforts to build on her talent have had rewarding results:

Window Fashions Magazine Workroom of the Year 2010 Drapery & Window Coverings Magazine 1st Place Vignette Competition 2008 Window Fashion Magazine 1st Place Specialty Windows 2005 Window Fashion Magazine Workroom of the Year 2004 Window Fashion Magazine 1st Place Top Treatments 2004 Window Fashion Magazine 1st Place Specialty Windows 2002 Window Fashion Magazine 1st Place Commercial Treatments 2001 Window Fashion Magazine 1st Place Curtains & Draperies 2000

Carlette continues to challenge herself by exploring new avenues of her talent. One of her fellow instructors, Jeanelle Dech (Adaptive Textiles) began digital printing custom fabrics. This gave Carlette an idea for expanding her business, exploring her talent and creating an opportunity to give something back to her city. Carlette has designed a unique toile fabric showcasing some of the beautiful historic landmarks of Savannah. With this distinctive Savannah Toile and an new corporation, Carlette's LLC, she is now creating Tote Bags, Aprons, Napkins, Tea Towels and other unique pieces featuring Savannah. Her desire is to send Savannah visitors home with something special that will help them forever remember a city that has been very good to her.

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;

Scarlet Thread Consulting

WCAA

The Workroom Channel

In 1987, successful window treatment designer Carlette Cormier started the business to help support her family. With a small toddler at home and her husband recently laid off Carlette needed employment that would not only allow her to contribute income, but to be at home to care for her family. Deciding to rely on the skills taught to her by her mother since the age of five, she began CC’s Designs. At a young age she learned to sew doll clothes and over the years Carlette has continued to develop her skills alongside her mother.

After moving to Savannah, Georgia to look for employment, a friend who worked in a wallpaper store recommended Carlette to a local designer who came into the store inquiring about help with some window treatments. After seeing the work Carlette had done in her own home, the designer was sold and thus began CC’s Designs and a new career for Carlette was born.

Despite the fact that Carlette was new to the area and a complete unknown, her reputation for creating beautiful window treatments spread quickly. Through word of mouth advertising, the small business with humble beginnings evolved into an award winning design and fabrication company. Services include the design and installation of window treatments, beautiful bedding, canopies, upholstered walls and ceilings and much more. CC’s Designs can now confidently make the claim to be a one stop shop for all your window treatment needs as it continues to be family owned and operated.

Attributing much of her success to the continued education she has received by attending trade shows and conferences, Carlette now attends as an instructor, to help other up-and-coming designers and fabrication studios learn from her experience and talent. Her continued efforts to build on her talent have had rewarding results:

Window Fashions Magazine
Workroom of the Year 2010
Drapery & Window Coverings Magazine
1st Place Vignette Competition 2008
Window Fashion Magazine
1st Place Specialty Windows 2005
Window Fashion Magazine
Workroom of the Year 2004
Window Fashion Magazine
1st Place Top Treatments 2004
Window Fashion Magazine
1st Place Specialty Windows 2002
Window Fashion Magazine
1st Place Commercial Treatments 2001
Window Fashion Magazine
1st Place Curtains & Draperies 2000

Carlette continues to challenge herself by exploring new avenues of her talent. One of her fellow instructors, Jeanelle Dech (Adaptive Textiles) began digital printing custom fabrics. This gave Carlette an idea for expanding her business, exploring her talent and creating an opportunity to give something back to her city. Carlette has designed a unique toile fabric showcasing some of the beautiful historic landmarks of Savannah. With this distinctive Savannah Toile and an new corporation, Carlette’s LLC, she is now creating Tote Bags, Aprons, Napkins, Tea Towels and other unique pieces featuring Savannah. Her desire is to send Savannah visitors home with something special that will help them forever remember a city that has been very good to her.

The podcast is sponsored by;

Scarlet Thread Consulting

The Workroom Channel

WCAA

Caterina Meadows, of Pate Meadows Designs will make you laugh!

Before the label "strong willed child" was so widely used, there was "hardhead".

Caterina wears the label hardhead proudly but sometimes considers "passionate" to be a

more politically correct description. She lovingly accuses her parent's of creating a

monster for telling her from the time she could sit up "there's nothing you can't do". If

you're told something long enough – it's embedded forever! Sometimes, however, that

tends to make life miserable for people around you.

Caterina is most known as the Meadows of the dynamic duo Pate Meadows Designs and

ShowHome Patterns. Way before PMD, Caterina knew she never wanted to go to

college. Her goals were always:

1) Marry her high school sweetheart, Danny – which she did – two weeks after

graduating high school,

2) Get a job in a big office - did that - her typing skills were way above average so as

soon as she graduated high school she was hired as one of the youngest administrative

assistants for Bradley, Arant, Rose and White (huge – huge law firm)

and 3) Buy a house – "A" house has turned into – 11 over the years. Only 1 of the 11

required no renovations – that's because she and Danny built it.

Working with her hands, Caterina describes - is a type of addiction – whether it is

crocheting with her grandmother, sewing, typing, or laying hardwood flooring.

After her first child, Haley, was born she quickly realized she never wanted to set foot

back in an office again. Typing, although she loved, required being tied down in a

cubical all day. And for her A personality it was torture to endure. So the day she left –

albeit terrifying to give up the nice salary – she has never looked back.

Her accomplishments (with the help of Leigh Pate, Doug Pate, and Dan Meadows and

too many others to list so far have been:

• 1986 to 199(?) Caterina's Customs – custom fabrication of anything sewn.

"there's nothing I can't do" was my motto

• 199(?) joined workrooms with Leigh's Window Fashions to alleviate the stresses

of owning single person workrooms

• 1995 – Pate Meadows Designs was incorporated and went on to become one of

the most highly sought after custom fabrication team in the Southeast

• 1996 – Big year! Show Home Patterns was born and also partnered with

Southern Living Magazine on the first Lowe's Idea House.

• 1996 – 2007 – Primary fabricators for Southern Living Idea Houses

• 1997 – 2000 – Pattern development for Southern Living Curtain Patterns

• 2002 - Developed the Show Home Hardware

• 2004-2005 – Purchased and renovated the condemned McLellan building in

Historic Downtown Bessemer

• 2005-2015 – McLellan building was home to PMD and host to many WCAA

mettings/educational seminars. Several local high schools made it a recurring

field for students in Family and Consumer Sciences classes as well as the Design

students attending Birmingham Southern and Samford Colleges.

• Technical support and sales rep for ShowHome and Southern Living Patterns

• Keynote speaker for many seminars over the years including The Family and

Consumer Sciences Teachers Association, Regional and Local Sewing

Conferences as well as other motivational gatherings for students of all ages

• Seminar Speaker and Vendors at IWCE, CHF, IWCE and WCAA Education and

Trade Conferences.

• 2009-Present – Contributing Editor for the Fresh Style and Material Matters

columns in Southern Lady Magazine

• December 2015 – Leigh retired and Caterina took on the entire business and

moved it to Franklin, Tennessee.

So in a nutshell, the many hats worn by Caterina include but certainly not limited to:

Daughter, wife, mother, best friend for life, instigator, business owner, teacher,

cheerleader, home renovator, janitor, sales person, trouble maker, seamstress, customer

service, technical support, landlord, entrepreneur, trail blazer, pattern designer, promoter

of the "craft" of sewing, custom workroom, lover of life, but most important - master

giggler.

The podcast is sponsored by;

Scarlet Thread Consulting

The Workroom Channel

WCAA

Caterina Meadows, of Pate Meadows Designs will make you laugh!

Before the label “strong willed child” was so widely used, there was “hardhead”.

Caterina wears the label hardhead proudly but sometimes considers “passionate” to be a

more politically correct description. She lovingly accuses her parent’s of creating a

monster for telling her from the time she could sit up “there’s nothing you can’t do”. If

you’re told something long enough – it’s embedded forever! Sometimes, however, that

tends to make life miserable for people around you.

Caterina is most known as the Meadows of the dynamic duo Pate Meadows Designs and

ShowHome Patterns. Way before PMD, Caterina knew she never wanted to go to

college. Her goals were always:

1) Marry her high school sweetheart, Danny – which she did – two weeks after

graduating high school,

2) Get a job in a big office - did that - her typing skills were way above average so as

soon as she graduated high school she was hired as one of the youngest administrative

assistants for Bradley, Arant, Rose and White (huge – huge law firm)

and 3) Buy a house – “A” house has turned into – 11 over the years. Only 1 of the 11

required no renovations – that’s because she and Danny built it.

Working with her hands, Caterina describes - is a type of addiction – whether it is

crocheting with her grandmother, sewing, typing, or laying hardwood flooring.

After her first child, Haley, was born she quickly realized she never wanted to set foot

back in an office again. Typing, although she loved, required being tied down in a

cubical all day. And for her A personality it was torture to endure. So the day she left –

albeit terrifying to give up the nice salary – she has never looked back.

Her accomplishments (with the help of Leigh Pate, Doug Pate, and Dan Meadows and

too many others to list so far have been:

• 1986 to 199(?) Caterina’s Customs – custom fabrication of anything sewn.

“there’s nothing I can’t do” was my motto

• 199(?) joined workrooms with Leigh’s Window Fashions to alleviate the stresses

of owning single person workrooms

• 1995 – Pate Meadows Designs was incorporated and went on to become one of

the most highly sought after custom fabrication team in the Southeast

• 1996 – Big year! Show Home Patterns was born and also partnered with

Southern Living Magazine on the first Lowe’s Idea House.

• 1996 – 2007 – Primary fabricators for Southern Living Idea Houses

• 1997 – 2000 – Pattern development for Southern Living Curtain Patterns

• 2002 - Developed the Show Home Hardware

• 2004-2005 – Purchased and renovated the condemned McLellan building in

Historic Downtown Bessemer

• 2005-2015 – McLellan building was home to PMD and host to many WCAA

mettings/educational seminars. Several local high schools made it a recurring

field for students in Family and Consumer Sciences classes as well as the Design

students attending Birmingham Southern and Samford Colleges.

• Technical support and sales rep for ShowHome and Southern Living Patterns

• Keynote speaker for many seminars over the years including The Family and

Consumer Sciences Teachers Association, Regional and Local Sewing

Conferences as well as other motivational gatherings for students of all ages

• Seminar Speaker and Vendors at IWCE, CHF, IWCE and WCAA Education and

Trade Conferences.

• 2009-Present – Contributing Editor for the Fresh Style and Material Matters

columns in Southern Lady Magazine

• December 2015 – Leigh retired and Caterina took on the entire business and

moved it to Franklin, Tennessee.

So in a nutshell, the many hats worn by Caterina include but certainly not limited to:

Daughter, wife, mother, best friend for life, instigator, business owner, teacher,

cheerleader, home renovator, janitor, sales person, trouble maker, seamstress, customer

service, technical support, landlord, entrepreneur, trail blazer, pattern designer, promoter

of the “craft” of sewing, custom workroom, lover of life, but most important - master

giggler.

This week I have the honor of interviewing Sue Gillen, owner of Window Fashion Designs & More. Sue is a dear friend of mine and is a Certified Window Treatment Consultant and Fabricator who works with homeowners and designers to create beautiful and functional window treatments that are truly works of art. She also offers shades, shutters, custom upholstery and accessories to finish the look.

An expert craftsperson who keeps up with current trends, Susan has a strong background in traditional design.This wide scope of experience ensures that her clients get the best of both worlds... a treatment that perfectly fits their tastes now and one that will continue to "work" well into the future.

I often ask my guests if they ever thought about quitting, and my answer would have to be YES!!! But Sue talked me out of it. More than once!

This week I have the honor of interviewing Sue Gillen, owner of Window Fashion Designs & More.  Sue is a dear friend of mine and is a Certified Window Treatment Consultant and Fabricator who works with homeowners and designers to create beautiful and functional window treatments that are truly works of art. She also offers shades, shutters, custom upholstery and accessories to finish the look.

An expert craftsperson who keeps up with current trends, Susan has a strong background in traditional design.This wide scope of experience ensures that her clients get the best of both worlds... a treatment that perfectly fits their tastes now and one that will continue to “work” well into the future.

I often ask my guests if they ever thought about quitting, and my answer would have to be YES!!!  But Sue talked me out of it.  More than once!

Hearing Tracy's story was so inspiring! Most of us at least knew how to sew when we started this journey, but Tracy had to learn that before she learned how to fabricate. And she hasn't stopped learning! Hear how Tracy decided, "If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right!"

Tracy Windley is the owner of Sew Elegant Fine Window Designs, established in 1994 and located in Searcy, Arkansas. Sew Elegant is a retail/wholesale fabrication studio which offers custom window coverings, slipcovers, and light upholstery. The studio specializes in detailed fabrication and couture finishes. Tracy is a former student of the Custom Home Furnishings Academy, a contributor to Drapery & Design Magazine, and a webinar presenter for the Drapery & Design Professional Network and WCAA Virtual Chapter. She will also be an instructor for the WF Vision IWCE and the Custom Workroom Conference in 2017. Tracy is a member of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) and Co-President of the WCAA Virtual Chapter.

Hearing Tracy's story was so inspiring!  Most of us at least knew how to sew when we started this journey, but Tracy had to learn that before she learned how to fabricate. And she hasn't stopped learning!  Hear how Tracy decided, "If I was going to do it, I was going to do it right!"

Tracy Windley is the owner of Sew Elegant Fine Window Designs, established in 1994 and located in Searcy, Arkansas. Sew Elegant is a retail/wholesale fabrication studio which offers custom window coverings, slipcovers, and light upholstery. The studio specializes in detailed fabrication and couture finishes. Tracy is a former student of the Custom Home Furnishings Academy, a contributor to Drapery & Design Magazine, and a webinar presenter for the Drapery & Design Professional Network and WCAA Virtual Chapter. She will also be an instructor for the WF Vision IWCE and the Custom Workroom Conference in 2017. Tracy is a member of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) and Co-President of the WCAA Virtual Chapter.

I had such fun talking with Ann K. Johnson of Sew Easy Windows!

Ann owns a wholesale workroom in Ohio, established in 1992. She is an author and publisher and offers private workroom training, seminars, and hands-on classes in workroom fabrication, pattern drafting, efficiency and pricing. Her topics are always fully packed with time saving tips and techniques, delivered in a relaxed and light-hearted style. Ann has been a popular industry instructor since 2004. She teaches at Window Fashions IWCE and Custom Workroom Conference. She is a webinar instructor for WCAA & D&D Pro, and a representative for DreamDraper. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Drapery Professionals and WCAA.

I have learned a great deal from Ann over the years, and I was surprised by how much we had in common. You won't want to miss her story, or miss her teasing me about my choice of words!!!