SKILLS PAY BILLS: A Sew Loka Podcast

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San Diego muralist and installation artist Shirish Villasenor joins us to talk about art, motherhood, and creative rebirth.

From painting Chicano Park murals and Comic-Con windows to dropping out of fashion school and finding her way back to creating, Shirish opens up about imposter syndrome, refusing to dumb down her work for anyone, and why your dreams are always valid, whether or not they pay the bills.

We also get into her upcoming installation at Sew Loka, The Death Moth, a walkable "romantic horror" piece about metamorphosis and the scars that come with change. Plus Guillermo del Toro, hidden Easter eggs in art, the power of a supportive art collective, and the great burrito debate.

In this episode:

• Raising strong, creative girls while building an art career
• Learning to trust yourself as an artist
• Why gatekeeping hurts the creative community
• Finding beauty in the strange and the spooky
• The Death Moth installation, embroidery workshop, and merch drop

The Death Moth – Opening Night October 10 (World Mental Health Day) Sew Loka – 2113 Logan Ave, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92113

Follow Shirish: @shirishtheartist Follow Sew Loka: @sewloka

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Claudia sits down with painter Melicha (Melissa Salgado) for a full hour of real talk - how they met, Melissa's creative process, the family traditions behind her work, her love of cactuses, and what's coming next. Melissa's Paint & Stitch: Nopalitos workshop drops June 28th, and her solo show Conceiving Tradition opens July 11th right here at Sew Loka. Don't miss it!

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Claudia from Sew Loka talks with San Diego artist Selena Idioma about her creative journey, her artistic influences, and her upcoming first solo art show, "Love, Always," opening Valentine's Day at the Sew Loka sewing studio. Pull up and show some love! 

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Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski of Sew Loka and Chris Carson from The Homegrown Project SD sit down to reflect on Slow Fashion Day 2025.

The co-organizers share how the event started and discuss their favorite moments from this year's festival—from hands-on workshops to sustainability panels and fashion shows—and the community members who helped make it happen. They talk about what worked, what they learned, and give a sneak peek at plans for 2026, including expanded workshops and new partnerships.

Whether you attended this year or are curious about the slow fashion movement in San Diego, Claudia and Chris offer an honest look at building a community event focused on sustainable fashion and local makers.

Recorded at Sew Loka in Barrio Logan, San Diego 12/15/25

 https://sewloka.com/

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Movie Manny returns with exciting news about directing a new short film "Legends Never Die," starring his wife, Claudia from Sew Loka and shot in their Barrio Logan sewing studio. Discover how a simple clothing patch can be transformed into a beautiful cinematic experience! Manny also gives exclusive updates on upcoming Sew Loka collaborations with SDFC, Uniqlo, San Diego Wave, and more. He also shares the raw journey of balancing small business growth with creative aspirations and using filmmaking to cope and push through crazy times. Whether you're into clothing, film, or entrepreneurship, hopefully this episode will remind you to stop overthinking and just "make the thing."

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Project Runway Season 14 winner Ashley Nell Tipton @ashleynelltipton⁩ joins us to share her journey as the first designer to feature plus-size models on the Project Runway stage. At 23, Ashley broke barriers in the fashion industry while navigating the intense pressures of reality TV.

In this candid conversation, Ashley reveals the challenging behind-the-scenes reality of filming - from isolation and strict production rules to the emotional toll of competition. She opens up about how winning changed her life, the unexpected costs of sudden fame, and finding strength through her grandmother's memory and spiritual guidance.

We also explore the vibrant San Diego sewing community and discuss the importance of connecting local designers and celebrating talent outside of major fashion hubs like LA. Ashley shares her vision for building stronger creative networks and supporting emerging artists.

Topics Covered:

Behind the scenes of Project Runway
Breaking barriers in fashion
The San Diego creative community
Mental health and self-care
Finding resilience through visualization
Building creative networks

A must-listen for fashion enthusiasts, aspiring designers, and anyone interested in the realities of pursuing creative dreams. #sewloka #sandiego #sewing #ashleynelltipton

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Paul Chevallier @toofbush visits the @sewloka sewing studio in #barriologan to discuss #sewing #socialmedia #slowfashion shooting #videos creating #clothing and surviving in #sandiego 

Recorded on 5/12/25 by @moviemannysd in Barrio Logan, San Diego, CA - 12:30pm PST 

To learn more about Paul and @pleasetoofbush please visit Paul's website: https://www.toofbush.com

To learn more about Claudia and @sewloka please visit Claudia's website: https://sewloka.com

@sewloka @toofbush @skillspaybillstv @moviemannysd

Skills Pay Bills TV #107 feat Paul Chevallier @toofbush #sewloka #sewing #sandiego #toofbush

 https://sewloka.com/

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Skills Pay Bills TV#106  feat. Chris Carson @bychriscarson 

Chris Carson is an artist and cut and sew clothing designer living in San Diego, CA. Chris and Claudia talk about sewing, sustainability, San Diego, and slowing down. You can visit Chris in person at his clothing store "The Homegrown Project" @thehomegrownprojectsd 2440 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950

Visit Claudia in person at her sewing studio "Sew Loka" @sewloka 2113 Logan Avenue, B, San Diego, CA 92113

https://sewloka.com/

@skillspaybillstv

Documented by Manny Biezunski @moviemannysd

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Manny and Claudia are back for a new season of Skills Pay Bills 2025. They talk about "Ryde or Dye" and celebrating 12 years of Sew Loka, reciting prayers of gratitude at USD, recording new reels for KittiePIG, creating soccer balls for SDFC, and what's next for Sew Loka in 2025. There is so much to talk about and to be thankful for! Thank you for listening, we appreciate you!!! 

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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Skills Pay Bills #104 - Official Sew Loka Interview (Oct 2024)

SEW LOKA
2113 Logan Avenue, Suite B
San Diego, CA 92113

https://sewloka.com/shop

@sewloka @skillspaybillstv

 https://sewloka.com/

Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!