Sew & So...

This is your full access pass to the exclusive/annual BERNINA dealer conference – BERNINA University.

Join us in Palm Springs, CA for this 53rd gathering of BERNINA dealers, BERNINA partners and BERNINA staff from both BERNINA of America and BERNINA International – Switzerland and beyond.

Hear about the brand-new products BERNINA is unveiling in 2022 and experience the immediate reactions from the attendees.

Learn what it takes to produce an event of this magnitude.

Hear about the new product development process, the importance of education and how “listening” is behind everything BERNINA does!

Meet the 4th and 5th generations of the Ueltschi family whose ancestors founded BERNINA in 1893. You’ll hear from Hans Peter (HP) the current Chairman of the company and his children Philipp and Katharina who are both instrumental in crafting the future of the company. 

You won’t want to miss a word of this exclusive-never before available visit to BERNINA University.

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

Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast too!

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.

Make time to settle in for the duration of this fascinating conversation with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably. 

Learn how Kaffe chose his name, about how a chance meeting on a train changed his life, and about the three women that had a profound effect on him and his career. Hear the story of Kaffe and Brandon’s worlds combining and the genesis of an enduring partnership.

And then there are the inspirations, their work with Oxfam, the famous exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, visions into the world of colors, and the things that still take their breath away.

Partnering with BERNINA was destiny for both parties…with a lot of help and encouragement along the way…Kaffe takes us through this journey.

Let Kaffe tell you about his brand-new book…and hear Kaffe and Brandon share, right here on Sew & So, their announcement about multiple upcoming exhibitions 

This entire, colorful conversation is sure to be one that you’ll carry with you for a long time!

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

Be sure to subscribe to, rate, and review this podcast too!

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.

Michelle Morris began re-fashioning long before it became a trend. Growing up, her family didn’t have a lot of money, so she was always doing something to breathe new life into second-hand clothes, or her own clothes. A major influence for Michelle was her first Home Economics teacher who took her under her wing. Today, a sewing influencer herself, Michelle is known for her bold and unusual prints, her ability to mix and match those prints, and her denim creations. She shares her evolution with us, from her younger years where her very first project in Home Economics class was a pair of pleated pants, to studying fashion design in tech school, to becoming a designer and tailor. Michelle has always looked at sewing and designing clothing as creating art. Her DIY blog is a platform for her to share her own fashions, sewing tips, and tutorials, while her fashion magazine Sewn showcases makers from all walks of life. (:024 – 7:34)

After flipping through a magazine and realizing there was no one in there that looked like her, Michelle decided to pay closer attention to the features and contributors of sewing magazines. After looking through a sea of sewing magazines and seeing only two people of color in them—neither of whom were Black—she put together a business plan and committed to starting her own magazine the following year. The first issue of Sewn was launched in 2017. The magazine features makers of all skill levels, from beginners to acclaimed sewists, and gives everyone a chance to showcase their creations in a fashion-forward way. Her most popular issue to date is an all-Black issue where everyone, from the makers to the contributors, was Black. The second most popular issue was one that featured male sewists. Both her magazine and blog encourage sewists to step outside their comfort zone and try new things. (8:23-12:05)

Her mission statement, “To help you imagine, create, and share beautiful things,” reflects her passion and her commitment to helping others find inspiration in the world around them. When conducting her tutorials, Michelle always tells people to “just do it and you’ll get better,” and to remember that they don’t have to follow the exact way someone else does something.  There’s not always just one way to create. Michelle encourages people to get out there and share their creations because, as she shares, “it’s the only way people will know you’re out there creating.”  Today, Michelle is more committed than ever to her magazine, her blog, and to help others give voice to their creativity. According to her, “We're always looking for people to feature in the magazine. We're always looking for new people to interview, new people, to feature…We’re looking for anybody and everybody who can create a quality garment…as long as it’s interesting and on-point.”  (16:10-23:24)

If you have ideas, creations, or recommendations you’d like to share with Michelle after listening to her inspirational podcast, you can do so by sending an email to [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.

Although not a common combination, Mae’s father was a career Marine and an avid sewist. A direct descendant of Betsy Ross, he was born into a family of sewists, including his mother and grandmother. Mae grew up watching her father create quilts on his BERNINA machine and it was his love of sewing that inspired her to start sewing at the age of six. Mae was nine when her mother caught her cutting up her skirts and enrolled her in sewing school. 

Even as a child, Mae was frustrated by the “by the book” approach of her sewing teacher. Although she had ideas for making her own clothes her way, the school’s strict adherence to the formal pattern-driven designs prevented her from doing so. Today, she’s free to create her designs on her terms, whether she’s sewing from a pattern or bringing her own vision to life. 

Mae’s passion for sewing is driven by her belief in body positivity. “I know everyone is shaped differently. Some people are taller, shorter, or larger in some areas, and smaller in other areas. I want everyone just to look good, no matter what shape they are in. So I do a lot of custom work.” 

Mae’s clients run the gamut—some are thin with very few curves, some are larger and curvaceous, but the one thing they have in common is that they all look great in the clothes Mae designs for them. Mae often makes clothing for her clients, without ever meeting them. She discusses their style and asks questions to help her determine the best shapes, like “are you bigger on the top or the bottom,” or “what are your measurements.”  If a person doesn’t know their measurements, she asked them what size they usually wear and goes from there. 

Mae’s designs are comfortable and classic and are inspired by the timeless styles of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Whenever she makes a dress or an outfit for someone, she wants it to be something they’ll look great in 10 years from now; something that is high-quality and won’t out of style. She believes that clothes should make a woman feel good about herself every time she wears it. (1:46-8:38)

Mae has had a lot of challenges in her life, including being hospitalized for COVID. When her doctor told her she had a 50/50 chance of surviving, she decided then and there that if she survived, she was going to always make time for what she loved, and that was sewing. And that’s exactly what she did. When Mae isn’t working at the fire department, she spends her time immersed in sewing: from learning more about it to experimenting with different tools to creating new designs.  She shares how different life challenges led her to where she is today and says that her dream for the future is to sew full-time and to help everybody look and feel their best in their clothes, and comfortable in their own skin. (8;40-26:27)

If you’d like to reach out to Mae after hearing her inspirational story, you can go to her website and email her or find her @mae_burrows on 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.

Bill Schroeder III has been around quilting since he was a young boy selling buttons at their AQS booth at the Quilt Show in his hometown of Paducah, KY. When his grandparents launched the AQS Quilt Contest in 1985, it was the first contest in the industry to award a $10,000 prize.  When Meredith and Bill Schroeder started hosting Quilt Week 36 years ago, young Bill was right there helping his dad hang signs. When his family decided to sell the business, he and his brother-in-law James went in 50/50 and purchased the company. They did so to continue the family legacy, and to ensure that National Quilt Week would continue. It had been canceled the past two years due to Covid, so Bill worked tirelessly to ensure the show would go on. 

You can hear the pride in Bill’s voice as he shares the history of AQS, National Quilt Week,  the National Quilt Museum, and American Quilter Magazine. As he details his hopes and plans for the future, and for the different shows around the country, he shares his desire to make Paducah the biggest show it can be. “For me, you know Paducah is home and I just tried to do my best to get everybody back here.” 

Bill is committed to keeping quilters and their amazing creations front and center.  His goal for AQS is to reach 70,000 members by 2024 and he’s working hard to make that happen. He’s working with sponsors, the mayor of Paducah, the Secretary of State, and the residents of Paducah to make the community stronger, and to build greater awareness and support for the quilting industry. When Bill rolls the dice, his team rolls it with him, and he credits them with making National Quilt Week the best experience it can be for attendees. [8:23-15:40]

As Bill continues to share his story, it’s apparent that the Schroeder family values have permeated every generation.  He talks about the strong bond and connection they all have, and how their support of AQS and Quilt Week continues. It was a thrilling moment for everyone when the doors opened in Paducah this year and the quilters walked through them. Over 30,000 quilters came, sharing their love of quilting and their longing for community. Bill shares how much the support of his family and the hard work and dedication of his staff means to him, and humbly expresses his gratitude to everyone who made Quilt Week such a resounding success. [15:50-21:09] 

Be sure to tune into this engaging podcast to learn more about the Schroeder family, AQS- the internationally renowned organization, and the power of community. If you’d like to reach out to Bill personally, you can email him 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, rate and review this podcast too!

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.

The conversation begins with Rachael Barr, Curator of the National Quilt Museum. She talks about the history of the museum, its mission and the behind-the-scenes activities involved in bringing an exhibition to life.  One current exhibit is “New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Shakespeare 2022”. This competition challenges quiltmakers from around the world to create an innovative quilt based on a specific traditional pattern. Each artist brings the magic of storytelling to life through their own creative interpretation and techniques. The theme for this year’s competition is Shakespeare. 

Laura Pomes, this year’s first place winner, comes from a background of theatrical costume design. She talks about the research, the inspiration and the various techniques used to create Twelfth Night Vision, which is suggestive of a painted portrait of William Shakespeare.  She did a lot of experimentation to ensure that each section of the quilt was different than the others and was reminiscent of the Elizabethan era. “Every time I turned around, she explained, “I was trying to express some type of Shakespearean theme.”  (6:00-14:38)

When second place winner Rachel Burke was asked about her reaction to winning, she shares that, “My heart is equal parts gratitude and amazement.”  Her quilt, called Come Ye Spirits was inspired by Lady MacBeth’s monologue where she calls upon the spirits of the underworld to assist her in her ambitious goals. The piece started out simple but became more complex as she went along and ended up consisting of almost 3,000 pieces.  

Another one of our conversations was with award-winning artist Sheila Frampton Cooper, who ventured into the world or abstract quilt making in 2010. Her exhibit Untamed Abstraction reflects the fact that she likes to push the limits when piecing. She describes one of her quilts, in such exquisite detail that it brings it to life for the listener. (20:57-27:17)

Mildred Sorrells, Hall of Fame Quilter, shares a fascinating story about her quilt that was inspired by an antique quilt from 1856.  Whether talking with artists, guests or staff, the excitement is palpable—proof that you don’t just visit the museum, you experience it. 

Becky Glasby, Educational Director at the Museum, talks about the museum’s “Block of the Month” Club, and the excitement of seeing how different quilt artists bring their own interpretation to the challenge.  Her piece, Cheers for 30 years is also on display. The museum is always interested in acquiring new work from artists, and encourages people to visit their website,  quiltmuseum.orgto learn more about events and submitting a proposal for their work. (33:04 - 38:55)

If you’re looking to be inspired, pull up a chair and listen to this delightful and informative 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.

What began as just a hobby in Mimi's Los Angeles home in 2012 blossomed into an international brand. She’s achieved a daily engagement of more than 3.2 million followers across all social media platforms, 22 million pageviews and 2.2 million unique visitors annually on her blog and courses on DIY. But her love of sewing started long before that.

Mimi began sewing when she was twelve, taking apart clothes, and figuring out how to put them back together again. She didn’t realize that she was teaching herself the basics of construction and pattern making.  

Although she was a runaway at 15 and a single mom at 16 living on the streets of L.A., Mimi always knew that she had some sort of purpose in life. Although it was hard to sew while she was homeless, her love of sewing never left her. She eventually got a job in film production, started a sewing blog, created home sewing videos for You Tube, and became a successful and respected entrepreneur. 

She signed on as a licensee for Simplicity in 2014 and was the first blogger to have her own pattern line. Within a few years, her tenacity and talent led her to the role of VP for the Big Four (McCall, Butterick, Vogue, Simplicity). Mimi shares, in detail, her journey to creating several multi-million-dollar businesses. (2:32 – 22:16)

Mimi has consistently been an advocate for creating more sexy and confident patterns for plus-size women, more stylish patterns for men, styles for brown and black women, new sewists and young sewists. She is integrally involved in every aspect of the business, from creating the patterns, to obtaining fabric rights, to merchandising and branding. In addition to her role as a Vice President, her blogs, online classes, and other highly successful ventures, Mimi, along with her friend and fellow sewist, Brittany J. Jones, founded Melanated Fabrics and Creative Center in Atlanta. To add to her list of accomplishments, Mimi has written a book, which will be released next year.

Simply put, Mimi’s story is a story of hope, fortitude and grit. An important part of her mission in life is to inspire men and women to embrace their power, find their voice and discover their purpose. She attributes much of her success to following her inner voice and being authentic. She believes that if you do what you love, the money will follow. In her words, “It has to be something that’s special to you, and something that you would do even if you weren’t being paid for it.”  The purpose, she says, has to be genuine. (22:24 – 38:55)  

As you listen to this amazing and engaging podcast, you realize that Mimi’s story is not about the struggles, but about the triumphs. The best way to reach her is through Instagram @Mimi G style. 

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’s love of sewing began when she was a young girl growing up in New Zealand. Her first creation? A bean bag frog. As she grew older, her passion for sewing grew and Sarah eventually studied fashion, design, and garment construction.  Her talent led her to BERNINA. She shares what it’s like to work for a family-owned company, how everyone looks out for each other, and how she can go into any BERNINA store anywhere in the world and be welcomed like family. “It really is quite unique.”  (1:57-10:29)

Sarah also talks about her biological family, and about growing up with a mother who struggled with mental health issues. She shares how sewing helped her deal with some of those issues, including the death of her mother. She’s glad that more people are talking freely about mental health. For her, and for many others, sewing and social media are providing creative and emotional outlets and are helping to build a strong sense of community. She shares many fascinating stories about her travels and the people she’s met along the way. One of her favorite experiences was going to the Kimono Museum in Japan and having them dress her as a geisha; she brings the experience to life in exquisite detail. (11:49 -19:43)

Sarah learns new things everywhere she goes and believes that sharing her knowledge with young sewists and designers is her way of giving back to the community. One of the ways she does it is by being involved with cosplays (costumed role-playing venues), including Comic-Con events. She has several different costumes she loves to wear, with Princess Leia being her most recent. It’s also one of her favorite creations. But cosplays aren’t the only thing Sarah’s created costumes for. She was part of the team that created costumes for Lord of the Rings when they were in New Zealand filming. As she shares the fascinating details of how it came about and the experience itself, she says that creating the quilt for Frodo’s bed was a labor of love. “Anyone out there who’s sewn with gold thread knows how challenging it is.” (20:14 -32:01)

Everything Sarah Caldwell does is a labor of love, whether it’s sewing, baking, doing Zumba or singing in her band.  At times, she combines her sewing and singing skills in her classes. You won’t want to miss the entertaining podcast about a woman who dared to dream.

Be sure to follow Sarah on Instagram where you can get a first-hand look at some of her wild and wonderful creations. You can also reach her at @cladwell

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.

As a young girl, Jean would look at the moon at night and dream of working for NASA. That dream came true when she became one of 18 seamstresses that built (sewed), created, and repaired thermal protection, flight hardware, and parachutes. This dedicated team of women dubbed themselves the Sew Sisters.

Jean felt that getting her initial interview with NASA was a miracle. “The second time Kennedy Space Center came on the caller ID, I thought somebody was playing a cruel joke.”  It was no joke. Jean got accepted into the team.  She remembers telling her daughter, “Oh gosh, this is a call Mom's been waiting for her whole life.”  She shares the fascinating story of how her dream came true—from her initial meetings with the panel to her training to receiving her official stamp number that showed she was officially certified.  This number appears on every part she’s ever built.  (5:54-11:19)

Everything from the giant industrial sewing machines to the precision of the work to the materials used, pose a unique challenge to sewists. There’s Teflon-coated fiberglass used for the spacesuits. Silver Polyamide film that’s layered with Dacron mesh to create blankets. Threads made from quartz stones are liquified, then spun and twisted into thread.  Whatever the material, each one has special properties designed to perform a specific function while protecting the equipment and the astronauts. Jean goes into fascinating detail about how these unique fabrics, threads, and materials are created and combined to provide the ultimate protection against even the most extreme conditions. (11:20-27:00)

Because of her work at NASA and her interest in the Wright Brothers, Jean received a call from Neil Armstrong’s son, Mark, about a special project. The project involved precisely cutting and preparing nearly 200 pieces from historical fabric for auction. This fabric had flown in the Wright Flyer in 1903 and had also accompanied Neil Armstrong to the moon. Pieces that were three-quarters by three-quarters of an inch sold for $95,000 each, the ones that were an inch and a quarter by an inch and a quarter went for $175,000 each. 

Whenever Jean gives a talk, she stresses the need for creative people at NASA because, as she says, “those are the dreamers of the world.” It was through channeling her own creativity that she came up with Sew Sisters Space Creations, which is an homage to her fellow Sew Sisters at NASA. She creates shirts, lanyards, and ties; everything she makes has a piece of flown payload bay fabric from Columbia, Discovery, or the Endeavor space shuttle.  ( 34:06-40:00)

Although retired, Jean is still involved in many NASA-related activities. As you listen to her story, you can’t help but be inspired by how a little girl from Michigan had the chance to live her dream. If you’d like to connect with Jean, you can reach out to her at her Sew Sisters Space Creations on Facebook or by emailing 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.