Sew & So...

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo or C2E2 is a Chicago fan convention dedicated to comics, pop culture, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Now celebrating its 13th year, this event is a place for self-proclaimed geeks, nerds and introverts to connect and fit in. We had full access to attendees, vendors, fabricators and even some well-known authors and cosplayers. Join us as we experience C2E2 2023.

We start this fun day talking to several cosplayers who share their experiences in designing their costumes and talk about what C2E2 means to them. An interesting perspective shared as well is the fact that Cosplayers are in every fabric of life, and you might not know they are into cosplay!

Of course, as we always do at events, we found a non-profit, ExtraLife and talked with them about their mission and their work.

Equally as fun, we met-up with Desi Desu – a previous guest on this podcast – and found out what she’s been up to since we visited last.

We visited with Maggy Urso from BERNINA of America and talked about BERNINA’s/bernette’s commitment to the cosplay community. We met a quilt vendor – Sew Quiltable and spent considerable time on Artist’s Alley talking with noted author Art Baltazar.

Fabricator Adam Catt shared his C2E2 stories, talks about his fabrication work and how his whole family is involved in C2E2.

Jedimanda spent time with us talking about this event and why she so loves this community (Listen for a special episode with Jedimanda coming soon).

While the exhibits, artists, vendors, celebrities, and costumes were certainly pervasive and mainstays of the event. It was truly more about inclusion, belonging, being who you are and cosplaying who you dream of being. The respect, recognition, and acceptance we saw and experienced really set C2E2 apart as something magical. To a person…this was not lost…

And that’s C2E2 2023– a home for geeks, nerds, introverts and all who want to fit in. It’s a place to go to be you and to be among friends old and new!

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review this podcast! If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Aleeda Crawley, President of the Modern Quilt Guild shares her personal journey into the world of quilting and tells of how she became president of the guild. The Guild itself is a powerhouse in the world of quilting – she tells us about its purpose and overall work. The Guild can be found at www.themodernquiltguild.com.

Karen Cooper – Executive Director of the Guild drops in to explain how the Guild has taken a stand for DEAI and is committed to being a place where all feel safe in expressing their opinions and coming together as a community to create together.

Chawne Kimber, (@cauchycomplete) the internationally known 2023 keynote speaker at QuiltCon and respected quilter whose work can be found in the Smithsonian Museum, tells of the genesis of her art, her purpose, and her love for the quilting community.

Latifa Saafir, the 2022 keynote, recounts her 2022 keynote, tells how she started the LA MQG, and shares her thoughts on modern quilting as well as her personal quilting storytelling journey. www.latifasaafirstudios.com

Lisa Woolfork, of Black Women Stitch recounts her personal journey in founding this organization. An Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, Lisa’s work was shaped by personal experience and her work toward a better future for black sewists is notable. Hear also of her adventures with her “little Bernette 33” sewing in transit across the country. www.blackwomenstitch.org

At the age of 13, Sara Trail became a powerhouse in the quilting community. She tells us how she learned to sew, wrote her first book at 13, released her first DVD at 15, attended UC Berkley and Harvard and became the Executive Director of the Social Justice Sewing Academy. Sara’s story is not to be missed! www.sjsacademy.org.

Finally, Peggy Martin, President of the Brown Sugar Stitchers shares her own personal sewing journey, the mission and the work of the organization founded in 2000, how the group got their name and their special relationship with the Gee’s Bend Quilters. www.bssquiltguild.com

Six strong women with six different experiences, stories and impact on their sewing community. It’s their passion for preserving the past, celebrating the present and fighting for a better tomorrow that makes them formidable as individuals and invincible together.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Growing up in South America, Nick spent his days under a tree drawing his mother’s dress designs for the diplomatic parties she attended with his father…an American diplomat in Caracas. He called her “Jay-Lo before there was Jay-Lo”! He credits his success to his mom for her support and encouragement. Learn too who Nick considers his mentor.

(5:36) What was the moment he knew he was a success? Nick shares that with us – the retailer Henri Bendel had a lot to do with this. 

(8:15) Project Runway…behind the scenes and exclusive scoops…this conversation doesn’t disappoint! He also talks about the many doors that being a designer opened for him.

(14:01) Nick answers the question…” who are you”?

(15:26) Beyonce, Katy Perry, Heidi Klum, Carrie Underwood…he’s designed for them all! Oscars, Emmy’s SAG awards…he talks about what’s it like to work with the famous. And all of this led to his very own line on QVC!

(20:04) Endearingly humble, his work ethic remains intact, and he has never forgotten how he got to where he is today – listen to what continues to inspire him. He takes this a step further in words of wisdom for aspiring designers…find your voice!

(22:17) Nick walks us through the Sewing and Stitchery Expo and points out the things that made a big impression on him. This was his first time visiting this event after several invitations…he shares why he wishes he had attended years earlier.

(26:43) The genesis of Nikolaki, his fashion brand’s name – Nick shares the story! It was born out necessity and in a rush.

(28:18) The Red Carpet is a place where outfits must be perfect. Learn how Nick deals with the little imperfections that stars experience travelling to the event. And, what’s it like to do interviews on the Red Carpet…let Nick tell you.

Finally, what’s next for him and what’s his dream? He also reaches out to and encourages the next generation of designers to take a chance and push themselves! “The world is starving for creatives!”

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

This exclusive/all-access episode takes you through the 2023 version of SewExpo at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA

In it’s 39th year, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo was back in full force after a two year Covid 19 hiatus.

Hear directly from Show Manager Janet McLoughlin and Education Manager about how they were brought out of retirement to make this all happen.

There are vendors who will talk about their wares and as always interviews with charities and non-profits who use sewing and quilting to serve unique needs.

Hear from Becky Groves of Project Linus tell about how they’ve delivered more than 9 million blankets to children in need since 1995 (www.projectlinus.org)

Visit with Kali Basi as she tells of the origins and work of Conscious by Kali, (https://www.consciousbykali.com) an organization that works to help human trafficking survivors. And then Leslie Unruh of Sew Powerful (www.sewpowerful.org) shares the story of her organization and how sewing a purse can keep a girl in school.

Then settle into your front row seat for a night of fun, prizes and an exclusive fashion show hosted by Nick Verreos. Learn how he constructs dresses for stars such as Beyonce, Katie Perry, Heidi Klum and more. 

As always, we catch-up with past Sew & So guests. This time we caught up with Pam Mahshie, Aaroica Cole, Amanda Carrita and Joe Vechiarelli.

As this event looks forward to a 40th year anniversary celebration in 2024, Janet and Ann take us back to the year 2001…to the highest attendance ever…and the big earthquake.

You won’t want to miss this exclusive journey through one of sewing’s premier events, where everyone learns, shops and in always among friends.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

This exclusive all-access episode takes you through the 2023 version of QuiltCon in Atlanta, Georgia.

The definition of Modern Quilting varies from person to person. Hear the thoughts of Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) President Aleeda Crawley, Karen Cooper Executive Director of MQG, Christa Watson BERNINA Ambassador, Last Year’s Keynote Speaker Latifa Safir, and attendees from around the world.

Learn from Elizabeth Dackson – MQG Director of Events exactly what it takes to put on QuiltCon…and she shares a hidden secret about the show!

Then Karen Cooper added her two cents on putting the show together, and she shares a very special story you won’t want to miss about a devotee of this event. She also talks about an interesting challenge this year’s event faced.

Chawne Kimber, this year’s keynote speaker and renowned activist/artist talks about her experience at this year’s event.

Black Women Sewist had a prominent voice, and they shared their perspectives on the progress that’s been made – and what’s still left to be accomplished. Latifa Saafir explains her POV, Aleeda Crawley describes the MQG focus for the coming year - and by the way…don’t touch the quilts! She also acknowledges volunteers.

Lisa Woolfork talks about community and safety, the genesis of Black Women Stitch, and sewing on Amtrack on her way to QuiltCon.

Peggy Martin, President of the Brown Sugar Stitchers shares the story about this group’s founding and how this group got its name.

Next, meet Uzoma Samuel, a first-time quilter from Nigeria. Learn about his family, his process, how he sees fabric as paint, and his long journey to finally getting to QuiltCon. Sara Trail – a friend of Uzoma’s, tells how they met on Facebook and how she worked tirelessly to help him.

One of our favorite things to do is to catch up with past Sew & So Guests. At QuiltCon we talked with Becky Glasby from the National Quilt Museum (Episode 24) and Marisa Marquez from Brewer (Episode 26). Becky shares updates from the Museum and what we can expect coming up this year and Marisa tells us what she’s been up to since her episode.

And…oh the shopping! One thing that everyone loves at QuiltCon is the selection of vendors – listen as we learn about Sew Creative Lounge, String and Story, and Moda/United Notions. 

Louise Duffy from BERNINA exudes the energy of this event and talks about the Georgia stores she works with.

The days were full…and long. The mood is upbeat…inclusive, realistic, and hopeful. It was all about much more than quilting and sewing. It was about the interwoven stories of those who quilt and sew and the effects they have and will have on each other. It was about yesterday, today, and the promise of a better tomorrow. It was about community. And it’s this community that makes sewing and quilting so very much more. This was QuiltCon 2023. Thanks to all who shared their stories with us for this special episode of Sew & So!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

(2:00 – 6:35) She begins the conversation by explaining that she learned to sew with her grandmother’s basement sewing machine, using fabric from her grandma’s (who she never met) magical craft cupboard. This cupboard held all of her deceased grandmother’s scraps, thread, etc., and inspired her with her grandmother’s spiritual presence. In high school, she wanted to learn to sew clothes and created her first 1950s-style dress. She’s always been drawn to vintage silhouettes creating her first design from a princess/full-skirted pattern.

(7:25 –11:19) She explains why she named her blog the Lilac Elk. In September 2018, Sarah learned to knit and tells us why and how. Then, she practiced and created her first sweater…then she dove right in and created The Beauty School Top from Poison Grrls knowing nothing about how to buy yarn and needles…with the help of YouTube.

(12:07 - 15:05) She tells us the definition of a “frog” pile, and why it’s important. “Vintage Inspired” is her named style…she explains why and how Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor inspire her creations.

(15:35 – 18:28) Sarah shares with us what it took for her to move to 100% online teaching when the pandemic hit after building a large successful in-person following at Pintuck and Purl. Starting with a beginner sewing class that was a hit, she not only taught sewing but began to build a large, vibrant online community. She shares why online is a little challenging and how she addresses that. Also, what the real plusses are of online sewing classes.

(18:30 – 19:58) Sarah fondly talks about the community that grew during the pandemic and how she’s still in shock that people still want to learn from her. Her students in her very first class are still with her and though she’s not met them in person, they’ve become a part of each other’s sewing family.

(21:10 – 24:30) Sarah takes us through how she grew her passion for teaching and why she chose this vocation over being a flight attendant. Sarah, who also teaches chemistry at the collegiate level, explains the similarity between sewing and chemistry. 

(24:38 –30:02) She tells us how she curates her personal wardrobe with trial and error or sewing exploration being the driving force. She opens up about her streak of misses and how they influenced her successes. She also counsels to make what you want, no matter what people say.

(30:07 -32:42) Sarah wraps up this episode by speaking about her dreams, plans for the future, and asking the question she wished we had asked!

You can reach out to Sarah on Instagram @TheLilacElk, TheLilacElk.com and she teaches all classes through PintuckandPurl.com

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Sarah Ramberg worked for an environmental engineering and consulting firm for 15 years. After being laid off in 2017, she decided to turn her passion for sewing with flannel and upcycling into a full-time career. Sarah was bitten by the antiquing, thrifting, and garage sale bug when she was in Junior High. Today, she feels a fundamental need to repurpose and recycle broken and neglected items in lieu of buying new things whenever possible. 

She describes upcycling as taking something that already exists and improving it to your own personal tastes. Maybe you want to transform one style into another, or infuse more color into something, or create something that’s distinctly you. Sarah shares some of her own projects and says that an upcycling project can be anything from turning old flannel shirts into a wreath to painting a picture frame or turning a bed frame into a bench. Whether simple or complex, you’re taking something old and turning it into a wonderful creation that’s borne from your imagination. 

Her suggestion for those just getting started is to go to a local thrift store and look around to see what you feel drawn to. She also encourages aspiring upcyclers to check out Pinterest or YouTube for inspiration, and shares that, as a vlogger, she loves getting emails from people who share photos of their finds, be it a window or a funk flannel shirt. (2:25-17:19)

Sarah’s love of flannel likely began in the early 90s when grunge was the rage and flannel was virtually a social icon. Having done several flannel projects on her blog, she was excited when she was approached by a publisher who wanted to create a book about flannel crafts. Crafting with Flannel  is full of creative and engaging craft tutorials, designed to motivate and inspire.  

Another great source of inspiration is her website and blog, Sadie Seasongoods, which is about, “Living a firsthand life using secondhand things.”  Sarah loves traveling, and many of her blogs are about projects that came out of her travels and the discoveries she made at thrift shops along the way. Through her travels, she also discovered a new phenomenon called “creative reuse.” These creative reuse stores and organizations are popping up everywhere and are like craft thrift shops. Sarah describes them as having oodles and oodles of great crafts and art supplies and strange items that have been donated. 

She is excited that more people are taking an interest in upcycling, and the implications that could have for our planet.  “I think there are just an unlimited number of ways that we could all kind of take a breath and look at our impact and our footprint.” (17:25-25:58)

Sarah is committed to living a more creative, less disposable life and this podcast exemplifies her passion and vision.  If you’re ready to be inspired, kick back and listen, and then keep the inspiration going by connecting with Sarah at sadieseasongoods.com, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also email her at [email protected]  

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

A wrinkled dress changed the trajectory of Brooks Ann's career. It all began her senior year at Centenary College, where she was a theater major. She had been cast in a play and was behind the stage when the head of the department, “a brilliant, but grumpy old man,” noticed her dress was wrinkled he sent her off to iron it. When she confessed, she’d never ironed before, he assigned her—against her will—to work with him in the costume shop for the next production. “I unexpectedly just had a total blast making costumes with the grumpy old man and I found out that I really like sewing.” 

On a whim, she applied for an internship at Yale School of Drama, and much to her surprise was accepted. It was there she created her first dress, a big fancy bustle dress with a huge collar and lag mutton sleeves. While there, she discovered her love for pattern-making and sewing. After completing her internship at Yale, Brooks Ann received her MFA in costume production at the University of North Carolina. (2:33 - 14:45)

Although she loved her time in New York, she realized that neither she nor her boyfriend (now husband) were the hustle and bustle type. Upon leaving, she took a brief hiatus from sewing. Then, at a Thanksgiving dinner, her husband’s sister got engaged. She got so swept up in the moment, she offered to make her wedding dress. Then she made another, and another, and another…including one for her own wedding.  Suddenly realizing she was now a wedding dressmaker, she put together a portfolio of her designs and made herself a website. In 2009, she started a blog and really got into the sewing community. (22:14-32:58)

For the past nine or so years, Brooks Ann has been teaching and blogging, where she develops her own easy-to-follow, beginner-friendly methods for creating pattern blocks. Her blogs are about custom sewing. There’s no fashion formula. No fashion textbooks. She shows people how to sew for where they’re at, with no sizes, no pear or apple ranges. She loves the puzzle-solving, the detective work, and the fact that she’ll never stop learning new things. The best part?  Through her blogs, sewists can go on that journey with her. “It’s a place where everyone can just be themselves. So it's really empowering. And it's pretty magical.”  (33:00--44:49)

So what’s next for Brooks Ann? Building a dream studio from a broken-down 1920 farmhouse that’s on their property. This story and the many others she shares in the podcast are fascinating. Have a seat and take a listen. 

The best way to get in touch with Brooks Ann is to go to brooksann.com, and link to her blog. From there, you can also link to her other three websites and her bridal website. You’ll also find her at brooksanncamper@Instagram.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

A lifetime learner and prolific entrepreneur, Carina Gardner learned to sew by sneaking downstairs and using her mom’s sewing machine to create Barbie clothes from fabric scraps. As time went on, she found herself in the scrapbooking world at a time when scrapbooking crossed over into fabric. The first fabric company she designed for was Northcott. She also designed a fabric line for Riley Blake, who was so impressed, it started producing a variety of Carina Gardner-branded products. According to Carina, it was a lovely way to take her creativity to a whole new level. 

Carina is always striving for that next level of creative excellence. When she was contemplating starting her own scrapbooking company, she was contacted by the creative director at Echo Park. He asked if she’d be interested in working with them to create a sister company. It was out of that conversation that Carta Bella was born. All the designers reported to her, and all design works went through her. As the creative director, she got to focus on all things creative, while Echo Park dealt with all the business aspects. It was a perfect arrangement. (:24-13:21)

Always evolving and aspiring to reach the next level, Carina has worked for a variety of entities over the years—always from home, always on her own terms. She currently has eight shops on the Internet and a Design Suite where she teaches aspiring designers to make their mark and make money. Her one-year program is different from other classes because she believes that if you want to have a successful design company, you have to understand how cells work and how money work.  In addition to doing creative critiques, she also gives a lot of business advice. She believes that learning how to make money is creative in its own way. 

When it comes to business and design, Coco Chanel is one of the great inspirations of Carina’s life. “What I love about her is that when everybody was going one way, she was going the opposite way.” Carina believes that this very approach is the key to success and that when you’re going your own way, “You’re building something so different, so unique, so valuable, that people can't help, but want to know what you are doing.” 

Carina wants her students to have big dreams, and she wants to help them realize those dreams. So she pushes them to know what fulfills them, what makes them happy, what makes them light up when they wake up in the morning. Helping her students and watching them succeed makes her feel successful.  

Any way you look at it, Carina is a big dreamer. And a lot of those dreams are coming to fruition: a book,  a 40-ft by 8-ft mural, and a design agency. But of all her dreams, her biggest one of all is to help thousands of women dream big and become financially free. 

As you listen to the podcast, you learn that Carina’s classes and podcasts are devoted to creative dreamers, designers and sewists who want to learn, evolve, and grow with a community. For those of you who love design and are podcast listeners, there’s, “Making Design with Carina Gardner.  If you’re more interested in sewing you can hang out with her at her You Tube channel, youtube.com/karinagardner. Either way, spending time with Carina is time well spent. 

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Sue O’Very Pruitt’s love of sewing began very early and has taken her to places near and far. She went from designing dresses for her Barbie doll at six years old to creating customers at Busch Gardens when she graduated college. After leaving Busch Gardens, she created costumes on a cruise ship for six months, before going on to become lead designer for a leather manufacturing company in China. While there, she designed leather cases for Verizon, and small leather goods for Hartman Luggage, Nautica, and numerous other companies. She’s traveled to China 22 times and to other marketplaces around the globe for her job. Her final job, before launching Sookie Sews was at VF Imagewear, where she was the Technical Designer for Harley Davidson. (2:17-18:02)

Although she started designing hoop projects long before she started her business, she’s recently been focusing on them more. The entirety of each project is created on an embroidery machine, perhaps with a little hand stitching or hardware added at the end. As she talks about her projects, passion, and the progression of her career, she shares how the pandemic changed the way she did things. Sue and her husband Joey were home together a lot more, and he would challenge her to take a fresh look at things. “I love him for challenging me like that, because it really made me better, and he continues to challenge me now.” 

According to Sue, his inspiration during that time breathed new life into her business. 

She goes on to say that he's very good at color. She’ll sketch something and he’ll kind of help her put it together. The company was recently rebranded, and Joey helped with the video for the design rebrand. According to Sookie, “We're a good little team and I hope we get to work together more and more in the future.” (18:02 to 25:30)

Before meeting Joey, Sue ran her business from top to bottom, without any help. And while she gets some insights and assistance from Joey, she is basically a solo entrepreneur. She thrives on the sense of empowerment it gives her. She does her own artwork and concept design, digitizes her own embroidery projects, writes her own patterns and instructions, creates the graphics for her serger patterns, and makes all the prototypes. “I'm kind of proud to be a solo entrepreneur, it's very comforting. I have control over the things that I want and when I need help, I'm comfortable asking for it.”

There are exciting future projects in the works, from growing her YouTube channels to working on some virtual classes and video courses with her husband. As she shares her story, her passion and enthusiasm shine through, and when she says, “I’m living my dream,” there’s no doubt that she will continue to do so.  

If you’d like to share Sue’s passion, you can go to SookieSews.com, @Sookiesews on Instagram, and on her Facebook page. You can also subscribe to her weekly newsletter, The Weekly Beehive

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to [email protected] or complete the form on our website.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.