Explore every episode of Sew & So...
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Dec 2024 | Terry Grahl – Enchanted Makeovers - Love is in the Details | 00:28:04 | |
Our guest today is Terry Grahl the Founder and CEO of Enchanted Makeovers, a national non-profit charitable organization based in Taylor, Michigan. She started Enchanted Makeovers after a life-changing visit to a shelter for women
Terry grew up in Michigan ran a successful interior decorating business called Terry's Enchanted Cottage.
Terry has contributed to more than 12 books, has appeared on PBS, the Today Show, Woman's World magazine, First for Women magazine, and various other television news outlets and national magazines to raise awareness and share the mission. She is currently working on her next children's book about the Capes for Kids program. To be released in March 2025.
(2:00) Terry who was introduced to us by Deanna Springer who is a huge supported of Terry and her work, tells about her mother’s influence on her work
(3:05) Why does Terry believe sewing is important?
(3:20) Terry tells us about her business Terry’s Enchanted Cottage.
(4:42) How did Terry come to found Enchanted Makeovers? She shares the heartwarming sorry of how fate led her to her remarkable work.
(10:00) Why did Terry choose the word Enchanted. It’s about discovery and hope.
(10:33) Learn about the mission of Enchanted Makeovers and how they work with volunteers and the recipients of their services.
(12:33) Terry shares the remarkable story of Donna who was a recipient of Enchanted Makeovers. (14:05) Enchanted Makeovers The Travelling Pillowcase Project and Capes for Kids involve the work and love of sewists. Learn about this work. And why she says, “What are tears if there is no action”!
(16:18) The Sacred Sewing Room –a project inspired by Terry’s mother – helps thousands through the country. Learn how this began and how it works.
(18:48) What does she mean by “Love is in the Details”?
(19:20) Enchanted Makeovers has had strong coverage in the media and even a shout out from Sheryl Crow. Hear the story…
(21:25) Enchanted Makeovers is now found nationwide…learn about their reach.
(24:06) What’s next for Terry and what’s her dream? Well, for one hew new book The Little Bluebird who Forgot How to Fly available in March 2025 on Amazon.
( 27:00)How do you reach out to terry? www.Enchantedmakeovers.org
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. | |||
| 08 Dec 2022 | Sew Much Giving - Sewing and Quilting as Service for a Greater Good | 00:42:53 | |
In this special episode, you’re going to meet seven special organizations…charities that use sewing or quilting to care for people who are struggling because of where they live, the health burdens they carry, or injuries they sustained in service to our country. Come with us as we meet the extraordinary who care for the exceptional. :37 Our first visit is with Carla Triemar of Quilts Beyond Borders who has handed out more than 30,000 quilts worldwide in the last 15 years. www.Quiltsbeyondborders.wordpress.com 5:42 Diane Canny tells us the story of the genesis of The Covid-19 Hope Project, founded to honor Frontline Workers and to memorialize those lost to the pandemic, and shares stories of their work. www.hopequilt.org 11:49 Learn how Wrap Ukraine in Quilts became an “accidental success” in their efforts to make and provide quilts for people affected by this war. Gina Halladay and Beth Hawkins share this inspiring story. www.wrapukrainewithquilts.com 18:47 Coordinated by the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Ovarian Cancer Quilt Project seeks to build awareness about ovarian cancer through the artistry of quilting. Lisa Smith takes us on a journey through the evolution of this group and the critical work they do. www.ovarianquilts.com 26:01 Enlisting volunteers in more than 120 chapters to make bright pillowcases for children in more than 330 hospitals. Houston Chapter Coordinator Sheila Kristynik tells us about Ryan’s Case for Smiles and how families who have a child going through cancer treatment can find more general information on how to cope. www.ryanscaseforsmiles.com 28:48 Reacquaint yourself with Shelancia Daniel of The Creativity Shell, who we met in August of 2021 on this podcast, as she brings us up to speed on what she and The Creativity Shell have been up to since our first meeting. www.creativityshell.org 34:34 Finally, we meet Suzanne DiCarlo of Quilts of Valor…a non-profit that awards quilts to service members and veterans who have been touched by war. www.qovf.org Once again, the community of sewists has come together to serve the greater good. Our thanks to all who took the time to share the stories of their organizations. If you want to learn more about any of these, you can go to our website for their contact information. If you know a non-profit organization you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com 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. | |||
| 12 Oct 2023 | Philippa Naylor - Gobsmacked | 00:50:59 | |
(3:00) Her thirteenth birthday was a watershed event as she received her very first sewing machine – it was second hand. Sewing by necessity she hand sewed up until this time.
(4:18) Who’s the equivalent of Barbie in the UK…Philippa tells us about these dolls.
(5:19) Philippa shares the training regimen people who want to learn to sew must follow.
(6:43) She went to work with Courtaulds Lingerie in the UK in the mid 1980’s. Learn how she got this job and what working there was like.
(9:00) After 5 years at Courtaulds, Philippa and her husband moved to Dhahran Saudi Arabia. She shares her stories of the move and living in Saudi Arabia. Her motto was wherever you are in the world, there are both positives and negatives. Also, real life is where we are today.
(11:48) She talks about the birth of her two sons Daniel and Benjamin and their “idyllic 1950’s like childhood”. She was also called “the funky mom”! Oh, and her boys were using power tools at the age of three!
(14:59) While in Saudi Arabia, she started a business creating bespoke dresses…she tells us why it was so very successful. And she explains how the process of creating bespoke pieces is so different.
(16:25) Here she shares the story of the chance meeting that changed her life and what it was about quilting that pulled her in.
(19:09) What’s her very favorite quilt? Well, she dropped her kids off at her mom’s and flew to New York to a quilt retreat. This is where Gobsmacked came in! Better than her honeymoon she says!!! And that phone call from Meredith Schroeder…. Well just listen!
(24:30) Philippa tells us of the contents of her two books. The autobiography “Quilting in the Limelight” and Applique Mastery. Hear about her 10,000-mile drive back to England from Saudi Arabia. “Whatever you do informs what else you do.”
(28:00) And that 10k journey…Philippa shares some of her adventures.
(29:10) Philippa explains why her famous quilt was named after Anne Lamott’s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Lamott book Bird by Bird.
(33:29) David Tongeman and Philippa met in 2019 at a party and became fast friends – this led to a wonderful business partnership. She tells us the story of their meeting and the evolution of their partnership. In fact,…they were already prepared for the Covid-19 lockdown when it came about! She also takes us through the genesis of Quilter’s Question Time and the community it’s created.
(40:06) Philippa talks about persistence and why it’s so very important to stick with something to get good at it. She also doesn’t believe in talent…it’s more about doing, and doing, and doing! And anything is possible if you really want to do it!
(42:25) A prolific gardener, she talks about her deep need to be outside…and even to care for her ducks and chickens. She also described the custom-made greenhouse her husband built for her based-on Bird by Bird.
(44:55) Philippa talks openly about her family and why the environmental issues are a big reason for her not travelling.
(45:50) What’s her dream…? A LOT of homebody projects!
(47:40) Was there a question we didn’t ask that she wishes we had asked?!
(48:25) To reach out to Philippa go to Garment Maker’s Question Time https://www.gmqt.co.uk/or Quilters’ Question Time https://www.quiltersquestiontime.com/ . Her personal website on PhilippaNaylor.com http://www.philippanaylor.com/ has a link to contact her directly.
Finally…ever heard of Desert Island Discs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Island_Discs ? She likens her experience on Sew & So to this classic BBC radio Program!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 01 Aug 2024 | Grace Latz - Olympian Artist-in-Residence Program/Paris 2024 | 00:57:18 | |
Grace, who was on America’s 2016 Olympic Team placing 5th in the quadruple sculls. A much-decorated rower, she was on 4 national teams, a 2015 World Rowing Champion and walked on the team at the University of Wisconsin, Madison to eventually help the team win their first Big 10 Championship in Women’s rowing. She will be in a different role this year as one of four Olympians selected for the Paris 2024 Olympian Artist-in-Residence Program to implement collaborative and community-based art. Through reassembling donated uniforms and equipment from Olympic sports through a local recycling center, she created a large-scale tapestry of the Olympic rings with the support of senior Parisian citizens in the lead up to the 2024 Olympics. The piece will be on display during the Paris 2024 Games at Clubhouse 24 and will subsequently become part of the collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
(2:45) Grace tells how all this happened from her initially learning to sew and the strength of the women in her family.
(4:27) Grace isn’t a traditional quilter, she challenges the rules to develop her creations. She talks about this here.
(6:49) “Traditional processes with non-traditional materials with surprising results”> What does this mean to her? She also talks about a project she created in college made from plastic bags.
(9:30) Grace’s work is “collaborative and made with many hands” She tells us what that means in regard to who owns a piece of art. Does it have to be made by one person to be a quality craft?!
(11:49) What’s it like to be an Olympic athlete? Grace shares her story with us. And how did she find this sport? Well, this story is remarkable! Let’s just say, it’s good to be tall.
((16:27) Grace is one of 4 Olympians chosen to be in the Olympian Artist-in-Residence Program. She explains the program and how it began. Then, she tells us about how she came up with the idea of her special project.
(21:24) It was very important to the IOC that she work with local materials and local citizens. Hear why she chose to work with senior citizens and how she got the materials for her project. And she shares her experience of walking the same streets or Picasso, Van Gough and Renoir…and riding the metro with a huge quilt!
(30:00) Hear about how she created her quilt…and why she made the choices she made!
(31:42) Will any of the women who helped with the project will be able to travel to the Olympics to view the quilt?
(33:14) In her role as a participant in the Olympian Artist-in-Residence Program, what will she be doing? Also, hear about how she and her team connected BERNINA and securing their support and sewing machines. The universe certainly interceded!
(39:32) While is college Grace received the University’s student in athlete community service award, and she now is Communications Lead at the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative. The environment is paramount to her. She shares with us why environmental activism is important to her.
(45:48) What’s next for Grace and what’s her dream?
(48:25) And finally, what didn’t I ask?!! Well, what pieces did she include in the project on her own that were personal to her? There were 4 special pieces…find out what they were! And hear about Olympians are viewed and learn a new way of relating to them!
(55:42) How can you reach out to Grace? On Instagram @gracelatz, and on her new website www.gracelatz.com.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 18 Feb 2021 | Bisa Butler - Quilting As Art | 00:37:02 | |
This episode explores Bisa Butler’s fascinating journey, which began with her getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at Howard University. Realizing painting was not her passion, she went on to Montclair University to pursue a Master's in Teaching. It was there, while making a quilt in her first-ever fibers class, that she had an artistic epiphany; she realized she could do what she loved, express her creativity in a way that moved her deeply, and tell the countless untold stories of African Americans. Each pivotal step in her journey is described in fascinating detail. She talks about learning to sew from her grandmother; a black woman, and wife of an Emissary, who found herself transported to Morocco. She and her husband had to attend many formal events, and since they couldn’t afford to buy the refined clothing one was required to wear, her grandmother would pore through fashion magazines and create replicas of designer outfits. The scraps of fibers and fabrics from those outfits can be seen in Bisa’s portraits of her grandmother and grandfather. She explains how using little bits of their lives helped inform her work. Butler describes her work as “excavating the soul, where her own spirit has a conversation with someone who has long passed. The process begins with a portrait. By gazing into the eyes of her subject and really looking at the lines, creases, scars, and the expression in their eyes, she can ‘hear’ their unspoken story. She spoke of the improvisational nature of private quilts and their ability to tell the personal experiences of her people (21:20 – 24:21). As she details her journey through galleries and museums, Butler recounts the bias that was shown towards artists who use cloth in their art. But through all the rejections and dismissals, she kept at it, slow and steady, until her work was exhibited at the Seraleli Gallery in New York. From that moment, her work began getting accepted at more galleries and museums. Her latest fiber and fabric creation, The Storm, the Whirlwind, and the Earthquake features a life-sized representation of abolitionist and social reformer Fredrick Douglass whose magnetic gaze pulled her in. This piece is a powerful example of how Butler’s painterly textiles convey a sense of shared humanity. It is currently on exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art. Her textile creations are also being exhibited in the European Painting Gallery Space at the Art Institute of Chicago through September 6, 2021. This is the first time a living artist has been showcased in this space. Her work is also featured in Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance at the 21C Museum Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio. 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. | |||
| 31 Mar 2022 | Jean Wright - From the Day I Looked at the Moon | 00:48:05 | |
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 candylady187@msn.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 25 Apr 2024 | George Kalajian - Standing Next to My Father | 00:45:12 | |
Our guest in this episode is George Kalajian the owner/operator of Tom’s Sons International Pleating which was founded more than 50 years ago by his grandfather. Born in Lebanon and moving to the US when he was 5 years old. After working with his father for a time, he went off on his own and worked in technology, as a teacher and as a bartender. Coming back to the family business…George has worked with myriad designers, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and on many tv shows, films and Broadway plays. George traces his family’s involvement in the business back 150 years to his great, great grandfather Krikor Tutounjian who owned a fabric factory in Turkey.
(2:00) George takes us through his the rich and touching story of his family and how they got him to where he is today. It all started 150 years ago!
(7:25) George learned from his father…was he interested in learning? Absolutely not! It was the equivalent to “being dipped in boiling oil”! In fact, her left the business entirely for a while.
(9:00) What was George’s life like outside of the family business? He grew up in New York City where he went to school then worked/played at the factory in his free time. What were holidays like in his family? All work…and Clint Eastwood!
(11:12) How did George realize he “got the bug”? After several years away from the business - one day he came back to visit and SAW…really saw his mother and father in the business and understood that he needed to step in to continue the family business. Hear him tell this story.
(14:25) Pleating…the life blood of his business…what is it? George explains here.
(15:54) What are the different types of pleating? He walks us through this and includes how it’s all done. (18:23) He’s worked with numerous designers…here he talks about some of the special projects he’s done with them and why they are notable. Coach, Calvin Klein, and many more!
(21:27) He has done several restoration projects for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dior. He tells us these wonderful stories. He also talks about how it’s fascinating to him to be able to work with and learn from older garments. Learn how a little bravado got him and his father access to valuable and fragile garments. At the last minute, a dream his father had finally solved the puzzle of how to accomplish what they needed to do.
(26:29) In addition to all he’s done, George has worked on several TV specials. He talks about some of the pieces he’s worked on for these productions. For example, Bertha Russell’s costume The Gilded Age, and The God’s of Egypt.
(25:50) George made his wife’s wedding dress…hear this wonderful story here. Bad luck to see the dress? Not at all!!
(31:25) What’s the most challenging this about what he does? Adhering to the old-world methods of producing garments in a city that’s getting farther away from this manufacturing age.
(32:37) What’s this most important thing George wants sewists to know about his work and pleating?! Learn that right here!
(34:40) What is Project Golden Bear? A special project that has grown into so many ways to serve!
(40:00) The new movie Fallout features George’s work. Based on a video game…he tells us this story.
(41:00) What’s next and what’s his dream?
(42:34) Is there something we didn’t ask?
(43:12)How can you reach out the George…www.internationalpleating.com, Instagram @internationalpleating, email info@internationalpleating.com ATTN: George. www.projectgoldenbear.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 12 Sep 2024 | OMG Fashun Part 2. Meet more Disruptors! | 00:30:14 | |
Welcome back to Part 2 of OMG Fashun – Friends They Never Knew They Needed. In Part one, Co-Executive Producer Rich Brusa and Producer Marcy Guevara-Prete gave us an exclusive peek into the genesis and workings of this show. Then, several of the contestant/disruptors shared personal stories of their paths to this show and how it changed their lives.
Join us now as we meet more of the participants and hear their special and unique stories.
(:37) Meet Jarrod Olson (Instagram @jarrodbillieolson)and learn about his brand Billie’s
(2:14) Jarrod cites Rick Owens and Martin Margiela as major influencers. And…there was one more...
(3:27) What was the biggest challenge Jarrod faced. Like many of his fellow disruptors…it was time.
(5:27) What’s Jarrod’s dream?!
(6:27) Learn about designer Natashia Lunt(Instagram @natashia.lunt)and the princess dress! Her mother’s resourcefulness and her grandmother’s keen eye were major influence in her early years. And so was Vogue Magazine!
(10:09) Vivian Westwood and Alexander McQueen influenced her work…and as for her entrée to OMG Fashun?!
(11:07) Highs and lows for Natashia? And oh…how about the bond with her fellow disruptors? How about the stress and pressure?
(13:20) What’s Natashia’s dream?
(13:42) Meet Theo Banzon (Instagram @theobot)winner if episode #4. Learn where he grew up, why he learned to sew and why all of this made him a perfect contestant for OMG Fashun.
(15:36) What was his most memorable moment on the show? How about his treating the show as a summer camp?
(16:47) What’s next for Theo and what should we as consumers know about the fashion industry?
(18:06) Theo tells us about a special group of contestants who bonded and called themselves The Disruptor 6.
(19:18) Meet Chelsea Billingsley (Instagram @Chelseab128) from Chicago. She was the winner of episode 3 and made a name for herself with her crocheted creations. Learn about her brand The House of Chelsea B. Also, she tells us about her first models!
(22:01) So, who are Chelsea’s influencers? Teyana Taylor, Taoray Wang, Jerry Lorenzo to name just a few.
(22:52) Most memorable moments? And…biggest challenge…oh there was definitely a moment!
(25:22) Chelsea tells us about her involvement with The Disruptor 6.
(26:48) How did OMG Fashun help Chelsea grow as a designer? Trusting herself was a major bonus!
(28:10) Her advice to others who want to be on OMG Fashun?
Our deepest thanks to all who gave us their time to make this episode possible. Most importantly to the people at Scout Productions...and BERNINA! Stay tuned for more about these amazing disruptors and their future accomplishments.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 04 Jan 2024 | Yvette Todd - It Began With Rat Hammocks | 00:28:40 | |
Show Notes: Yvette Todd Yvette Todd’s creation Stash Hub is only one year old, but it’s already made bold strides in helping sewists organize their fabric, patterns, and plan sewing projects.
Only sewing since 2020, Yvette grew up in Portsmouth England. She attended the University of Bath where she met her husband…a union that proved essential to the creation and success of the Stash Hub App.
(1:59) Yvette shares stories of her childhood and how these experiences led to where she is today.
(4:00) As Yvette began her sewing journey her projects became more frequent and more complex. There was no one in her family that actually sewed so her inspiration came from within!
(5:25) Prior to founding Stash Hub…her studies focused on Biochemistry. Her husband Doug was a biochemist as well.
(6:17) So, how did she come up with the idea for Stash Hub?She tells us here.
(7:58) Her mission is to help sewists fall back in love with their fabric stashes. She explains why managing fabric inventory is a universal challenge.
(9:33) So what does she recommend for sewists who come home with arm loads of emotional fabric purchases? She offers advice here!
(12:08) Yvette works with her husband Doug in this venture…she talks about how this works and is working.
(13:35) Celebrating 1 year the app has gone through multiple iterations. She talks about this evolution.
(15:12) Hosting “Stash Chats” online, Yvette has shared numerous experiences with participants. She shares several stories with us.
(17:00) Does Yvette share life experiences with others in the sewing community? Well, there’s Natalie…
(18:12) She goes in depth about those members of her community and why this is so very important to her. Especially when she sewed through her finger!
(20:16) Yvette share’s information about Mel’s Refugees and how sewists can de-stash their fabric and donate items to this organization.
(21:20) Yvette loves to talk about sewing. She explains this passion.
(24:03) And…what’s next for her? She also shares her crazy dream based on the TV show The Home Medic. Listen to what she hopes for and it’s something you can help her with!
(25:46) Was there a question we didn’t ask? Well, yes actually there was…she explains here.
(27:11) To contact Yvette, @stash_hub, hello@stashhubapp.com and stashhubclub on Facebook.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 09 May 2024 | AQS Quilt Week 2024 Live from Paducah, KY- Celebrating 40 years of AQS | 00:44:17 | |
(:44) This show opens with the amazing sounds of the Paducah Tilghman Marching Band who annually opens Quilt Week with their exciting showmanship and award-winning music!
(2:07) Bill Schroeder III President and CEO of AQS opens the awards ceremony and Susan Cleveland www.piecesbewithyou.com announced the Best of Show Winning Quilt. Hear personal experiences direct from those attending the ceremony from Alaska, Wisconsin and Nebraska
(6:16) Catherine Gross District Manager for BERNINA talks about the importance of being at quilt week and how special those in the community are.
7:41) Bonnie Browning walks us through all the changes she’s experiences throughout her career with AQS.
(10:18) Award winners for Best Movable Machine Award Jan Hutchinson and Gail Stephanik share their quilt Dot…Dot…Dot.
(11:27) Becky Glasby Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Quilt Museum www.nationalquiltmuseum.org explain this year’s contest New Quilts from an old favorite. Then, we meet two of the artists whose quilts were featured. Jessica Jernan and Mary Lynn Izzo.
(15:38) Not, walk with us through the three magnificent display currently featured at the National Quilt Museum with Karen K. Stone www.karenkstonequilts.com, Barbara McCraw www.quiltasart.com and Dr. Karen Nyberg www.karennyberg.com .
(23:26)Join us as we catch up with past Sew & So Guests Ricky Tims www.rickytims.com, Amanda Murphy www.amandamurphydesign.com and Alex Anderson www.alexandersonquilts.com.
(30:27) Meet Vickie Coleman, the only certified quilt appraiser in the state of Kentucky and learn what she looks for when she appraises a quilt. (Look for Vickie in her own Sew & So episode later this year)!
(32:41) Meet the founding family of AQS as Meredith Schroeder and her Daughter Lynn Lloyd explain the genesis of AQS and Quilt Week and share some on the most notable moments of the past 40 years. Then Bill Schroeder III the new President and CEO of AQS talks about growing up in the first family of quilting and what we can look forward to in the coming years.
(39:11)Now meet the new Executive Show Director Michelle Renee Hiatt and hear why she chose to step into this role.
(41:27)Finally, outgoing Executive Show Director Bonnie Browning passes the torch to Michelle and shares some words of wisdom,
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Inside Quilt Week 2022 | 00:40:00 | |
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.
| |||
| 11 Apr 2024 | Robyn J. Cuthbertson - I feel SO lucky | 00:31:31 | |
Our guest in this episode is Robyn Cuthbertson. Born in Melbourne Australia and raised in Lower Plenty (about an hour northeast of Melbourne), she learned to sew from her mom. Robyn was always interested in crafting, so sewing was a natural progression for her.
She graduated from Melbourne University with degrees in Engineering and Physics and spent most of her university free time hanging out with the juggling club and perfecting her circus skills on a unicycle. At age 30, while working on her PhD in Engineering, Robyn was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease and was forced to give up her engineering career. Her mom suggested that she try machine quilting and as Robyn puts in…it was “love at first stitch”!
When not creating, Robyn practices snorkeling, underwater photography and her newfound passion for free diving.
(2:09) How did her mom start teaching Robyn to sew? Robyn’s persistence had a lot to do with it.
(3:00) Her grandmother – a tailor – was instrumental as well.
(3:32) What’s the first thing Robyn made…she tells us here.
(4:10)At university, Robyn studied engineering and physics…why these subjects?! For fun and to get a job!
(5:08) Have her scholastic degrees helped her get to where she is now? Why yes…they have!
(7:39) The juggling club and the unicycle…why? Oh…and fire twirling too!
(10:32) Sewing carried Robyn for years – then she was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease. Hear her remarkable story of illness and moving forward in both her body and mind. And then…Robyn and her mom decided to start a business doing something neither of them knew anything about and were initially “terrible” at doing.
(13:11) Robyn tells us about mitochondrial disease and what it’s like to live with.
(16:10) Who inspires Robyn? There are four individuals who have made a lasting impression on her and her work. Annamieke Mein https://www.annemiekemein.net.au/, Bethanne Nemesh https://whitearborquilting.com/, Judi Madsen https://www.judimadsen.com/ and Cindy Needham https://www.cindyneedham.com/. And the whole community has inspired her as well!
(20:19) When the pandemic hit and quilt shows were shut down, Robyn turned to textile art. This was a difficult time for her after all of the work she had put into her quilts. Not finding motivation to continue quilting…she found textile art with a 6” square piece.
(22:21) What’s she working on now?
(23:19) Robyn’s spare time is taken up by underwater photography, snorkeling and free diving. She shares with us why these are important and exhilarating for her.
(26:58) Why does Robyn think she’s a goldfish? And, what’s next for her?
(27:55) What’s her dream?
(29:25) What didn’t I ask?
(30:10) How do you reach Robyn? www.robynjdesigns.com.au and on Instagram @robynjdesings
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 10 Oct 2024 | Deanna Springer – The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, 20 Years of Honoring the Legacy of Nancy Zieman | 00:31:20 | |
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Deanna Springer. Deanna was a close collaborator with the legendary Nancy Zieman, co-founding Nancy Zieman Productions in 2007. Together, they launched a blog, social media channels, and over 40 sewing and quilting products, as well as produced 12 seasons of Sewing with Nancy.
Today, Deanna carries Nancy's remarkable legacy forward, sharing their love of sewing with the world through the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show and other initiatives. In our conversation, Deanna reflects on her journey with Nancy, the impact of the Quilt Show, and the vibrant quilting community she’s passionate about supporting. We’ll also explore the ways Deanna continues to inspire and uplift others through her work and community projects like Quilt to Give.
(2:02) For those who haven’t met yet…Deanna tells us about her history in the sewing industry and how she met Nancy Zieman. It’s certainly been an amazing life!
(3:33) The Sewing with Nancy Show started in Nancy’s home in 1984…Deanna tells us how it all started.
(4:15) So, how did this 25-year long TV show evolve to The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show! Well, 4H had a big part of it all! And Nancy was certainly a woman ahead of her time!
(7:35) Deanna talks about how the Nancy Zieman Team is carrying on Nancy’s legacy.
(9:42) Deanna tells us about The quilt to Give Program spearheaded by Nancy and how you can get involved. (11:05) After 20 years, how has the show evolved? Deanna who has been present tear walks us through the transformation. Oh, and Nancy really did teach Bucky Badger to sew!
(14:42) Deanna reflects on pieces of advice that Nancy Zieman shared with her and how this advice has helped her throughout life.
(16:12) How has Deanna seen the sewing and quilting community evolve? It’s the community…it’s people helping people.
(17:08) What are the challenges and rewards Deanna has experienced in carrying on Nancy’s legacy?
(18:10) Deanna’s two sisters now work with her teaching sewing through video. Learn about The Stitch It! Sisters. And hear about the great things that came out of the pandemic.
(21:34) Does Deanna see a difference between long time sewists and those new to the industry? She walks through the differences she sees in the different generations.
(23:36) What are some of Deanna’s most memorable moments of the past 20 years at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show?
(25:50) In all she does, what is Deanna most personally proud of? She points out the vibe created by all who attend.
(27:04) For those who didn’t have the honor of knowing Nancy Zieman, what’s one thing they should know about her? Deanna’s response…grace.
(27:49) What’s coming up for the next Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. You have to keep things unique and interesting…but you have to keep it the same! Oh and…do you want to volunteer? Find out how!
(28:53) Is there a question I missed?
It’s profoundly moving to hear Deanna Springer reflect on the legacy of Nancy Zieman, whose spirit truly embodies the heart of the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. Nancy lived with a genuine humility that touched everyone she met, teaching and inspiring with a grace that resonates through each stitch and seam showcased here. It's a profound honor for us to bring you aa conversation that celebrates her life’s work, touching the hearts of all who gather. Thank you for joining us in this special tribute to Nancy’s enduring legacy. Our deepest thanks to Deanna for taking the time to talk with us.
And there you have it – another story about a very special someone who dedicated their life’s work to Quilters around the world. Someone for whom quilting is so much more than a hobby…it’s a way of life…a connection to something bigger. If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop me a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com 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 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. | |||
| 15 Feb 2024 | Emily Blumenthal - The "What Now" Moment | 00:40:31 | |
Handbag Designer 101 – is synonymous with Emily Blumenthal as she has done it all. What makes her different is that she takes her creations one step further in teaching not only HOW to design…but what to do next with your creations. Born and raised as a New Jersey Girl, she now makes her home on the lower East side of New York.
(2:55) It was the entrepreneurial spirit that her parents instilled in her that got her on her way to where she is today. Hear how ADHD helped her along the journey.
(4:24) Who else was an influence on her? Well, both parents of course in the garment industry…and there was more as her whole family were entrepreneurs!
(6:05) What were her first creations? Well…first she learned how to find things to sell.
(7:28) So, why did she choose to design handbags? Necessity is the mother of invention – combined with dance parties!
(8:47) What’s her process for design? She tells us about this and how Kate Spade had a hand in things with her.
(13:50) Learn the difference between a utility patent and a design patent!
(14:50) How are the various designers she works with? They are “all the same”! And she offers words of caution and advise for those who create.
(16:55) Emily works with investors and provides counsel to designers about the future. How does this work? She also explains why items in color cost more than items in black or white.
(22:35) And then there’s the “what Now” moment. Emily explains what this is and how to manage it.
(23:30) Emily is a podcasted…Handbag Design 101. She takes us inside this show.
(25:41) Why did the New York Times call her the Handbag Fairy Godmother?
(39:59) The handbag awards launched the careers of multiple designers. Emily tells us about some of them!
(31:55) Kidpreneurship and Savvy Suzanna. What are these? Emily tells us.
(35:54) What’s next for Emily? How about an Out of Office on her email!
(37:56) And what didn’t I ask…?
(39:00) How do you find Emily? HBD101 on Facebook and Handbag Designed on everything else.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 18 Jan 2024 | Tina VanDenburg - A Fully Lit-Up Life | 00:47:30 | |
Owner of Kinship Handwork, Tina VanDenburg has lived life others simply dream of. Ready for chances, and learning from experiences, Tina left no stone unturned in searching for passion, peace, and a fully lit-up life.
Born and raised near Grand Rapids, MI, her sewing journey began when she couldn’t find cloths that fit her body. Before that she lived in Alaska then returned to Michigan and built houses as a carpenter.
She blogs and has a vibrant podcast called In Kinship.
(2:06) How did Tina learn how to sew…through osmosis and independence!
(2:55) Tina’s grandmother was a sewist – but Tina never really paid attention. Her grandmother’s creativity left an indelible mark on her…but Tina really didn’t understand…until it was too late. She explains…here and how her grandmother is still with her now anytime she sews.
(6:04) In her 20’s Tina traveled to Alaska to live – she takes us on this adventure to Denali National Park, Anchorage and Seward. She also talks about her decision about college and her future and how a BIG job changed her life when she realized that there was more to living than a bag phone. Alaska opened her mind and changed her trajectory.
(10:45) And then…she returned to Michigan missing her family and wanting to meet her new nephew. Alaska was never far from her heart.
(11:25) Being curious and adventurous got her into the next phase of her life…the purchase of a brick-and-mortar bookstore. It was that “little voice”! And then…she learned to sew…and there was a “gateway dress.”
(20:25) Tina believes that we can take our lives – the whole experience” into our own hands. She loves to disconnect from the “should” to create the life she wants. This free spirit tells us more. Some of this came from an experience in Alaska – go figure!
(23:45) Learn about her four steps to a peace filled, joyful day. These practices have and continue to set her up to feel grounded and capable.
(25:09) Tina does many things to remain empowered…she talked about her many interests and skills.
(27:01) Tina describes the Fully Lit-up Life!
(31:15) Community and gathering with others is paramount to Tina and sharing it is even more energizing. Especially on her podcast In Kinship.
(32:26) She does retreats on Mackinac Island – she takes us through one!
(33:21) What inspires Tina? Authenticity, Bravery and more!
(35:00) What’s tina’s secret aspiration? She shares this here for the first time!
(35:57) Her podcast In Kinship began a year ago and since that time she’s had some remarkable conversations. She shares a few of them here.
(43:23) What’s her dream? Well…it’s shifted because of a few notable life events. And…then there’s two acres and a little house on wheels!
(45:13) What didn’t we ask?
(45:50) Want to reach out to Tina? Her website is www.kinshiphandwork.com, you can find all there!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 27 Feb 2025 | Adam Brand – A Legacy in Bloom: The Story of M&S Schmalberg Flowers | 01:01:21 | |
In this episode, we take a fascinating journey behind the scenes with Adam Brand, the fourth-generation owner of M&S Schmalberg Flowers, the last artificial flower factory of its kind in America. Since 1916, this family-owned business has been handcrafting exquisite fabric flowers that have adorned high fashion, Broadway, Hollywood, and some of the world’s most well-known celebrities and designers. You’ve likely seen their work without realizing it—on Hamilton, Boardwalk Empire, The Radio City Rockettes, Bridgerton, The Gilded Age, and countless other productions. Their creations have been featured by fashion icons such as Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein, and have been worn by stars including Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Adam shares the rich history of his family’s business, from its early days to the challenges of keeping the craft alive in an ever-changing industry. He also tells the incredible story of his grandfather, Holocaust survivor Harold Brand, whose resilience, perseverance, and sheer determination shaped the company’s legacy. You'll hear how Adam found his own path to becoming the next-generation “flower man,” the artistry behind their handcrafted creations, and the game-changing events that transformed M&S Schmalberg forever. Episode Highlights:
Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss future episodes! Follow Sew & So Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 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. | |||
| 13 Oct 2022 | Leanne Pressly - Stitchcraft Marketing and The Colorado Mama | 00:28:57 | |
Maker, quilter, knitter, spinner, and painter, Leanne Pressly is the founder and CEO of Stitchcraft Marketing, which she launched in 2009. Leanne also hosts the podcast, Business of Craft. She is a certified consultant with a Colorado Small Business Development Center, where she consults with new entrepreneurs in a variety of businesses.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.
| |||
| 29 Aug 2024 | OMG Fashun Season 1- Behind the Scenes at this Groundbreaking Show(Part 1) | 00:36:02 | |
We’re taking you behind the scenes—to give you an exclusive peek into the making of OMG Fashun www.omgfashun.com But that’s not all. We’ll dive deep into intimate conversations with these contestants—scratch that, fashion disruptors—who dared to defy the norm and redefine what it means to create. But before we dive into the world of our extraordinary contestants, we’re sitting down with two of the people behind the show—Co-Executive Producer Rich Brusa and Producer Marcy Guevara-Prete. Rich is no stranger to the limelight, with three Emmy nominations and two Critic’s Choice Awards under his belt. He’s worked on iconic shows like Project Runway, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Top Chef. Marcy, a host and plus-size style expert, has been featured on Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show, Hallmark Home, and Oprah.com. These two powerhouses are here to spill the tea on what went into creating ‘OMG Fashun.’ Rich and Marcy will take us behind the scenes, revealing the trials, triumphs, and everything in between that went into making this show a reality. From Julia Fox’s game-changing vision to the intense vetting process that whittled down the contestants to just 30, they’ll share it all. We’ll also hear how sustainability played a crucial role in the show, its impact on the fashion industry, and what it was really like to work with fashion heavyweights Julia Fox and Law Roach. (2:35) What does a show producer do?! Rich Insta (@Rich_But_not_wealthy) and Marcy Insta(@themarcyminute) explain their work and how it affects the show.
(6:11) How did this whole show’s idea begin? Again, Rich and Marcy share its genesis. And a big thanks to Julia Fox!
(12:13) So how did the show choose the contestants? There was quite a process! Rich and Marcy also explain the “types” of people they looked for.
(16:11) How about sustainability and how the show brought its impact to the fashion industry?
(17:56)We asked Marcy and Rich what it was like to work with Julia Fox Insta (@juliafox)and Law Roach Insta (@luxurylaw)
(19:33) Let’s meet the disruptors. Bree Billiter (Insta @breeotiginaldesigns) who grew up in Massachusetts and now lives in New York leads off this incredible cast of disruptors.
(21:42) And how about Alice in Wonderland and the huge effect it had on Bree’s image of herself and her path forward.
(22:34) Who have been some of her biggest influences and what motivated her to be on OMG Fashun?
(23:40) What was her best moment on the show? Well, Law Roach made this happen as he “flipped a switch) inside her.
(24:39) Did the show help Bree further develop her skills and what’s her advice for future contestants?
(25:20) What’s Bree’s dream – listen up Disney!
(25:37) While Bree was honing her skills on the East Coast, in the state of Washington Jersey Cruz (Insta @jersetvirago)was busy working on hers! The winner of Episode 3, Jersey shares how she learned to sew and where this took her in her life.
(27:46)Jersey walks us through her creative process
(28:53) And, what’s her personal style? She describes it for us here! (29:50) Jersey Virago is the name of her brand. How did she come up with this name…she tells us the story behind it all! And she tells us who influenced her style and designs
(31:19) Jersey has always seen the world differently…how did this lead her to OMG fashion?!
(32:45) What about the amazing memories and challenges on the show? And Did she grow being on the show?
(34:05) And finally, what’s Jersey’s dream?!
Well, that’s it for part one of the OMG episode…join us next time for part two!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 10 Jun 2021 | Pam Mahshie - Sewing in a Happy Place | 00:33:00 | |
Pam grew up watching her mother sew dresses for her and her sister and was in fifth grade when she started taking sewing seriously. She recounts going to a sewing class with her mother where the teacher was a manager of a French design workshop in France, and how exciting it was to learn about the evolution of sewing. But wasn’t until Pam graduated high school and attended the MATC program that she fell in love with the serger. Pam describes the MATC program as an intense, well-rounded program that not only taught her about sewing, but also how to develop professional skills and hone them for business. She still keeps in touch with one of her professors who was instrumental in helping her and several other students get into the sewing industry. She fondly recalls going into her first classroom in 1982, and seeing this funny little machine sitting on a table. It was there that her love of serging began. (5:18-7:35) Pam calls her sewing room her happy place. One of her favorite things to sew is christening gowns or baptismal gowns. She shares the story of the time when a friend of her mother’s asked her to create a christening dress for her granddaughter using her wedding dress. As she was taking the dress apart, a piece of rice from her wedding dress fell out. This inspired Pam to also make a pillow for the grandmother, using the rice and the colors of her wedding. As she points out, this is just one of the many stories of how you can use your talent to truly bless other people. (11:09 – 13:10) Pam is passionate about teaching others, and it shows. She shares the joy she feels in helping someone go from eyes growing wide with fear at the mere mention of sergers to the exhilaration of discovering a whole new level of creativity. She talks about the many ways the new generation of sergers, like the BERNINA L Series, simplifies and expands the creative process with things like off-the-edge stitching, the use decorative threads, piping, inserting lace in an heirloom piece, and countless other techniques and processes. What used to take three or four different steps can now be done in one, like sewing and stitching and overcasting. She equates people learning to sew using new technologies to how it was when we went from hand sewing to sewing on a machine. The lesson she says, is that there are always new ways of learning and new opportunities that we need to keep our minds open to. (15:02-17:57) Talk about thinking outside the box: In April, Pam created a raincoat for Earth Day using recycled shopping bags from neighborhood shops. When word got out in the neighborhood that she was looking for colorful bags from a certain children’s clothing stores, young girls in the neighborhood started bringing them to her. She describes the process of cutting blocks of color, fusing interfacing on the back side of the plastic bags, and using black garbage bags from her garage for the sashing, and lining the coat with cotton fabric. She describes the finished product as cute and comfortable and way to help preserve the earth. (22:05-24:54). According to Pam, “When you do something you love to do it comes from within. which is why I feel I’ve never worked a day in my life.” To learn more about serging or Pam, simply stop by her Instagram and Facebook pages. But first, be sure to listen to our podcast with Pam. It could open up a whole new world of sewing possibilities. 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. | |||
| 29 Apr 2021 | Margaret Jankowski - Passion and Possibilities | 00:38:03 | |
During a casual conversation, Margaret shares that on a Saturday morning in 2005, she happened upon an article that was the genesis of The Sewing Machine Project. The article, written by a BBC reporter, was about three women returning to their village in Southeast Asia after the Tsunami of 2004. When asked what they hoped to find when they returned to her village, one woman’s answer really struck her. She simply said, “My sewing machine.” As Margaret recounts this story, she shares her realization that while she could survive without her sewing machine, this woman, and many others like her, could not. She read the story again and again. Realizing the inequity of things, she decided to collect sewing machines to give to those less fortunate. And so begins her journey of mending lives through sewing. (2:21-5:00) When Katrina hit New Orleans, Margaret and her team of volunteers shifted their focus from Sri Lanka to the Gulf. In March of 2006, she headed to New Orleans with a van full of sewing machines. And it just kept growing from there. While other people questioned if the effort would work, she never doubted it. According to Margaret, “There was always just some voice in me that said, just keep going. It’ll work. And it did.” A perfect example of this is when Margaret was wondering how she was going to get five machines that were similar and in good working order to take to a woman and husband team who were creating a community center in New Orleans. Unable to find a solution, she stepped away from the warehouse of the store where she worked. When she came back about three hours later, five identical machines, all in perfect working order, were lined just inside the customer door – which was odd because nobody ever left machines there. She found out that a local teacher had donated them. It was one of those moments when she knew she was doing the right thing. (8:15-12:42) Margaret’s passion for sewing and her belief that it can give people the space they need to plan forward is undeniable. “When I sew,” she says, “it’s almost like I’m entering a room and the piece I want to create is hovering in that room and I can walk around it and figure out how to create it by looking at the dimensions.” From there she asks herself what steps she needs to take to create the piece; what she needs to do first, second and third. By passing along the opportunity for people to learn to sew, Margaret believes she is also helping them to learn how to free their minds so they can problem-solve, one step at a time. She talks about working with women in shelters who have experienced extreme trauma, and how they live in a fight or flight world. Sewing gives them the opportunity to relearn what they have to do first, second, third to get to where they need to be. By learning how to construct a garment, they regain the ability to plan forward. (15:15-17:55) The Sewing Machine Project has been growing and evolving for 16 years. The organization helps groups locally, nationally and internationally. Locally, the organization partners with community leaders in Madison, Wisconsin to create classrooms, secure grant funding for teachers, and provide machines for classes. At the end of each class, students are gifted the machines they learned on. All that’s asked in return is that they pay it forward. Some sew flannel caps and donate them, others share their machines, or teach a friend to sew. A few years ago, the organization also started a mending site, where people can come and get things mended for free. It was so successful, a second site was opened, and then a third. And now, the mending program has taken off nationally. A primary tenant of The Sewing Machine Project is paying it forward, and groups are always asked how they intend to use the machines to help others in the community. While it has physically handed out 3200 machines, Margaret knows they’ve influenced many more lives because of the little ripples that go out from each machine they give. (21:00-27:38). Looking forward, Margaret intends to expand the outreach of her non-profit organization and is currently writing a book about the Sewing Machine Project. 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. | |||
| 21 Nov 2024 | Houston Festival 2024 – A Golden Anniversary Celebration | 00:52:40 | |
Welcome to Sew & So, brought to you by BERNINA, made to create! I’m Meg Goodman, and today, you’re in for an exclusive treat. Join me on a behind-the-scenes tour of a truly extraordinary milestone—the 50th anniversary of the Houston Quilt Festival.
This isn’t just any quilt show; it’s an international celebration of artistry, creativity, and history. We’ll be diving deep with attendees, educators, personalities, and prize-winning quilters, capturing those moments that make this event so iconic. And, of course, we’ll be peeking behind the curtains… because that’s what we love to do on Sew & So, bringing you right into the heart of the action at one of the world’s most renowned quilt festivals.
This legendary event began in 1974, a time when the world was changing fast. Karey Bresenhan, a visionary, opened her quilt shop, Great Expectations, in Houston, Texas, sparking what would become an incredible journey. Just to give you a sense of that time: President Nixon resigned over Watergate, ABBA’s Waterloo was topping charts, and movies like The Godfather Part II and Blazing Saddles were captivating audiences. Nike was filing its first patent, People magazine launched, and fashion was all about flared pants and leisure suits. Quite a backdrop, right?
The Festival’s Remarkable History (1:34)
International Flavors and Creative Innovation (6:31)
From Quilts to Mysteries (8:56)
Stories from Attendees (11:37)
A Global Masterpiece (13:05)
Artistry Meets Innovation (17:29)
Empowering Communities (18:36 & 22:35)
Deep in the heart (24:58) In the charming town of LaGrange, TX stands the Texas Quilt Museum. www.texasquilymuseim.org Meet Executive Director Deborah Blanchette Bradley who shares its story and its effort to preserve the history and future of quilting.
Why they were there (26:47) Meet attendees April from Texas and Scott from California and they talk about their event experience.
Meet Jeanne Delpit of BERNINA (27:42)
Rising Stars and Seasoned Pros (30:50 & 34:31)
Serging Queen and Quilting Royalty (34:58)
The Magic of Haute Couture (37:52 & 41:19) (40:22) And then there’s the wonderful “Evening of Style with Nick Verreos” that Joe was responsible for making happen…
An Evening of Style (41:19) And then…there’s Nick himself! www.nickverreos.com (46:32)Join us now in the front row for this amazing display of Haute Couture as Nick Verreos provide commentary on his wonderful creations. Here’s Jill Benge to lead off the evening!
And the Winners Are… (48:41) Meet the three winners of the BERNINA machines raffled off at the fashion show Kim GImblet, Wendy Shapiro, and Elizabeth Martin
Reflections (49:49) And what did Beth from Pittsburg, Kathy from Prescott, AZ and Lynn from Colleyville TX think of the show?!
A Grand Finale (50:37) And it’s this very spirit—the connections, the creativity, the shared passion—that makes the Houston Quilt Festival so extraordinary. We at Sew & So were honored to be right there on the floor, immersed in it all. Our deepest thanks to everyone who shared their time, their stories, and their enthusiasm with us, painting a vivid picture of what makes this festival a cherished experience year after year 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. That’s S E W A N D S O Podcast.com. 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. | |||
| 24 Nov 2022 | Houston Quilt Festival 2022 - Down the Aisles, In the Gallery, and Behind the Scenes | 00:43:36 | |
Experience the Houston Quilt Festival through this episode chock full of personal and informative conversations. We meet BERNINA educators from the exhibit hall stage – Connie Fanders, Amanda Murphy, and Sylvain Bergeron. Show prize winners Angela Petrocelli (grand prize winner), Debbie Corbett, Sue Sherman and Kestral Michaud describe in detail their award-winning quilts. Listen to class instructors Gail Yellen and Pam Mahshie as they talk about the classes they conducted. Then, Bob Ruggiero, VP of Communications for Quilts, Inc. takes you behind the scenes for an intimate and revealing description of just what it takes to make Quilt Festival happen. And finally, we catch-up with some old friends who have been guests on this podcast. Kaffe Fassett/Brandon Mably (July 2022), Margaret Jankowski/The Sewing Machine Project (April 2021), Shelancia Daniel (Creativity Shell) (August 2021), Bill Schroeder III/Paducah Quilt Week (June 2022), Joe Vecchiarelli/Dancing With the Stars (March 2022). Christy Burcham Director of Training and Education at BERNINA checks in with us as well to sum up the overall experience. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Quilt Festival for yourself If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com 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. 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. | |||
| 20 Jan 2022 | Kelly Rae Roberts - Let Art Out, Let Love In | 00:28:35 | |
As a former social worker with zero art experience, Kelly Rae picked up her first paintbrush at age 30 - that's when everything started to change. Although she had been collaging and card making at home after work, it was when she started adding painting to her cards and scrapbooking that Kelly’s passion ignited. She explains painting brought her what she was craving: healing, unburdened joy, and awakening. Kelly Rae started blogging about her process, and before long, her cards turned into paintings with collaging mixed in. In 2006, when Etsy was first starting out, she began showing her work there, and before long she got a licensing partner through Etsy. She started exhibiting wall art and was approached by a book editor to turn her blog post into a book. Her style of truth-telling and her possibility-driven approach to life, work, and art quickly spread, reaching people from around the country. She shares her journey of being “an accidental artist,” becoming a full-time artist in 2008, having her art up in 60,000 retail shops, launching her own shop, and creating a community of “possibilitarians” —people who believe in the spirit of possibility and that encourage each other to do the things they never thought they could do. (3:55-11:11) Her inspirational style goes back to high school when she recalls her love of all things that had wings. From high school through college, she had butterflies, that turned into angels, all over her walls. Today, these winged figures are a hallmark of her work. Another source of inspiration is the conversations Kelly Rae has with her creative community, friends, and family and the sentiments sparked by them. Today, she works with Benartex to bring her artistry to fabric. Although she’d been interested in fabric design for a long time, it wasn’t until Benartex reached out to her, and Kelly Rae Roberts is founder of KellyRaeRoberts.com and fabric designer for Benartex, the Bernina sister company. She's a creator of several E-courses, books, home decor, gifts, stationery products, and retreats that focus on the idea that when we let art out, we let love in. She began collaborating with one of their designers, and she was able to translate her ideas into fabric. The process starts with Kelly Rae creating a painting using multiple layers of vintage wallpaper and paint to create patterns and depth. She then adds texture and paints the hero image on top, an angel or other winged creature. Once done, she works with the fabric designer to create arresting patterns. It’s a fascinating process; and one that attracts a lot of interest. Her fabrics are used by all different types of quilters in all kinds of quilts, from traditional to super-modern. She loves that she now lives in Sister, Oregon, which is known for its quilting community and is home to the International Quilt Festival. The Stitching Post is a local store that carries her line; the staff has also made several quilts using her fabric. She says, “It’s been fun to be doing fabric while living in this small town that is all about quilting.” (13:44 – 25:25) Kelly Rae’s fascinating story is a testament to the power of synchronicity, trusting in the process, paying attention to the tugs on our sleeves, what wants attention, and then following the breadcrumbs. It’s obvious that Kelly puts her heart and soul into everything she creates. After listening to the podcast, you’re going to want to connect with her. You can do so at her website, KellyRaeRoberts.com, and by sending her an email at hello@kellyroberts.com. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@soandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 22 Jul 2021 | Kristina Wong - The Auntie Sewing Squad | 00:55:39 | |
Kristina started the “Auntie-Sewing Squad” as a way to connect with friends during the pandemic. Today it’s a national network with more than 800 volunteers doing their part to help vulnerable communities. Like Kristina, many members of the Sewing Aunties are of Asian descent, and their families’ involvement in the garment industry played a role in their passage to America. Although sewing has been a part of Kristina’s life since she was young, she shares that she only took it up seriously when she started sewing props for her shows. Whatever the performance—whether it’s her current show, “Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord,” “The Wong Street Journal”, or “Kristina Wong for Public Office”, Kristina discovered that using props made it easier for the audience to relate to her and to the stories she’s sharing. One of her favorite examples was when she created hundreds of felt hashtags as props to demonstrate the rise of the cancel culture. Whether she was throwing hashtags at the audience or they at her, it was a very tactile way to describe a culture that’s very digital. (6:30 -11:08) When her tour of “Kristina Wong for Public Office” was canceled due to the pandemic, Kristina saw an article that hospitals were looking for cloth face masks, and so she made one. Then she posted on social media that she’d make masks for anyone who was immunocompromised or a frontline worker. For every 30 masks she sent out, a request for 90 more would come in. Her passion builds as she talks about the impact this effort had on her, the mask recipients, and the volunteers. When a neighbor who was helping her said that aunties are being called on to fix this, Kristina was struck by the image of aunties because it made her think of a non-threatening immigrant lady who’s just kind of caring and sweet and doing the work of a soldier. And so, the group became the Auntie Sewing Squad. (13:12- 17:50 ) Before long, the group shifted its focus from medical workers to farmworkers, indigenous reservations, migrants at the borders, incarcerated people, and poor communities that were impacted and that had no other source of support. The fact that many of these people were victims of systemic racism was not lost on the Auntie Sewing Squad.
To provide support for The Auntie Sewing Squad volunteers, the group has started “Auntie Care.” It has partnered with Hollaback for bystander intervention training and is also providing self-defense training for many of its volunteers. Kristina explains that while the actual pandemic is winding down, the racial pandemic continues. She and the Auntie Sewing Squad are committed to helping fight it through labor and fabric. Because of assimilation and loss of her native language, Kristina feels that she lost connection to her heritage. She re-discovered that connection through sewing. When she was with her grandmother, and her grandmother started adding stitches to what she was working on, Kristina realized that sewing was a language they shared — a language that can provide a bridge to the past and the future. (40:00 -43:19) Kristina shares how the group has taught everyone to be generous with each other, and she talks about the power of generosity. Her book, The Auntie Sewing Squad Guide to Mask Making, Radical Care, and Racial Justice will be released in the fall and chronicles the evolution of The Auntie Sewing Squad. A cross between anthology, memoir, and visual record, it shines a light on the power of community. In addition to the book, she’s also re-working “Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord” for the stage. It will be premiering in New York this coming fall. Kristina’s generous spirit, and her belief that giving more to others is a way to create more power for yourself, are both brought to life in her work and in this interview. As you listen, you’ll find yourself thinking about ways you can create a better world. If you’d like to reach out to Kristina or find ways to support the Auntie Sewing Squad’s efforts, visit auntiesewingsquad.com 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. | |||
| 01 Apr 2021 | Jinny Smanik - Telling Stories with Fabric | 00:18:38 | |
A mother of three and grandmother of four, Jinny starts this casual conversation by talking about how her love of family runs deep. Whether it’s her own family stories that remind her of her roots, biblical stories that help ground her in her faith, or stories of quilters that affirm her creativity, the common thread that runs through all of her families is the power of shared stories. When woven together, these stories create a new fabric of life. Jinny’s mom taught her to sew on an old Singer treadle sewing machine. What began out of necessity became a passionate calling. She shares her memories of learning how to sew and quilt, and how her art evolved over time. She talks about how each machine has its own song that it sings, its own tenor that tells you when something is going right and when it isn’t. Every stitch has its own story. (3:38-4:29) Like many quilters, Jinny finds comfort and warmth in the quilting community. Although she moves frequently, the quilting community keeps her connected. She says, “When you go into a quilting shop with something you’ve created, it always sparks a connection.” For her, this connection runs deep. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, she went from running a family and working full time to being on a journey of healing. When she shared that she had cancer with her watercolor quilting group, she started receiving cards from women sharing their own healing journeys. Often, the cards also contained scraps of fabric that were part of their personal stories. Ginny took those scraps and created a quilt about her own journey with cancer. When she shared the finished quilt with her husband, he asked if she had intentionally made a cross in the center of it. She had not. The fact that it organically happened affirmed Ginny’s belief that quilting creates its own kind of spiritual connection. The quilt was also a reminder of the support Jinny received from each of her families, especially the quilters. You can see this wonderful quilt in the book With Sacred Threads: Quilting and the Spiritual Life by Susan Towner-Larson and Barbara Brewer Davis. (6:00 – 8:46) Jinny shares her love of quilting, all forms of quilting. From water color quilting where you paint with fabric by piecing together fabrics of different hues and shades, to bright modern quilts, to historical quilts that echo the history of the colonial era. Being in a quilting group that creates revolutionary quilts is particularly rewarding for her. She talks about the beauty of creating quilts from scraps of other women’s stories to create a new story. There is, as she explains quite eloquently, something warm and beautiful about telling stories with fabric. (8:55-11:17) As quilting groups have been pulled apart due to Covid, Jinny believes that looking back and remembering history is a way to look forward. As an example, she cites how people on the plains were separated, and yet they continued to create and piece quilts to stay warm. She encourages quilters who are feeling isolated to join a Zoom quilting group, to use the art of quilting as a way to stay connected while reaching out and helping those in need, whether it’s people in hospitals, or those living in shelters. Jinny deeply believes that quilting can help us express ourselves and share stories that uplift one another in a deep and meaningful way. Be sure to tune into Jinny’s podcast to learn more about telling stories through quilting. If you’d like to reach out to Jinny to share your journey or learn more about hers, feel free to email her at Virginia.smanik@gmail.com 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. | |||
| 26 Sep 2024 | The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show Celebrates 20 Years and Honors the Legacy of Nancy Zieman | 00:40:44 | |
Join us for this special episode as we travel to Madison Wisconsin for the Great American Quilt Show which began largely in thanks to the late Nancy Zieman. Nancy hosted Sewing With Nancy on PBS Wisconsin for 35 years and inspired hobbyists across the country to sew, quilt and embroider. What started as an instructional program filmed in her home in 1982 became the longest-running sewing and quilting education show on public television.
This amazing event draws more than 15,000 attendees over the course of three days and enjoys the help of more than 430 volunteers. It features 150 vendors and over 100 unique educational workshops, lectures and presentations. The numbers speak for themselves, this is a notable and must attend event. We’ll visit with educators, vendors, exhibitors, a special event host, an appraiser and Deanna Springer who is paramount in carrying on Nancy Zieman’s legacy.
(1:30) We begin this episode talking to Deanna Springer, head of Marketing at Nancy Zieman Productions. She shares with us the genesis of this amazing event. She explains the health issue that changed her life with her mother’s encouragement, how 4H played a part in her life and where it all went from there.
(5:05) Deanna shares her thoughts about how this show has grown and evolved. Hear why she and Nancy “held their breath” the first year! Oh, and how she taught Bucky Badger how to sew.
(6:35) Meet Amanda Balistreri, PBS Wisconsin Expo Manager who runs this event as she walks us through all of the behind scenes planning that goes on for this show.
(7:52) Amanda explains exactly what an Expo Manager does for an event like this, and shares some of her biggest challenges.
(9:25) How does one become a volunteer for this show? Amanda explains and tells us how to sign up!
(9:57) Lina Owen from Blue Bell Designs who came to Milton, WI from Columbia talks about her seminar and the topics she taught. She calls this “My Community” and talks about the importance of representing the Latino Community as a whole.
(11:00) Lina talks about her impression of how this event has involved. Then listen as she further explains her commitment to the Latino Community and why this show is important to her.
(13:38) Educator, artist and presenter Maday Delgado, who was born and raised in Cuba, Talked with us about what’s important to her about being at the show and what it means to her to share it with her young daughter. She identifies this event as creative and a great outlet for many sub-communities.
(14:48) Maday explains how her childhood in Cuba fostered her love for and commitment to sustainability.
(15:30) Meet Allison Rainboth an AQS certified appraiser and judge who starts out by explaining to us how one becomes a certified appraiser. She also provides advise about preserving and caring for quilts.
(20:03) Ann Wanke who has been attending this event for 18 years has seen a lot of change…and she was a keynote speaker whose presentation takes attendees through the history of this event.
(21:07) Why does Ann think this show is important and where is it headed?
(23:06) Meet sisters Diane Neilson and Peggy Joyce and learn why they were attending the show
(23:25)Next, meet mother and daughter Stacy and Hanna West. Not only do they exhibit at this show, but they get to spend cherished time together.
(23:55) Jessica Barrera from Sallie Tomato a past guest on this podcast shared why it’s important for her to be at this show.
(24:20) Linda Z, long time industry pioneer and store owner shared the evolution of the show, her experiences and why it’s important to her. Here her impression of Wisconsin people.
(25:18) Then Linda tells us why she is truly a pioneer in this industry.
(26:08) Another vendor, Lynn Schmidt from A Different Box of Crayons lets us in on why she has a special affection for this show. And Lynn, how has this industry involved?!
(27:17 ) Modern quilter Melissa Mason Talks about her personal experiences with the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show community.
(28:27) Are you familiar with the YouTube Show Quilting with Nancy? Whether you are or not, please meet Nancy Roelfsema and learn what she loves about this event. And she talks about the evolution of the industry
(30:09 ) While we are at these events, catching up with past guests is a favorite of ours. First season guest Margaret Jankowski reminds us of her work with The Sewing Machine Project and what’s new for them. (31:58)It’s always fun to both catch-up with longtime friends of this podcast, and to make new ones. We met Rick and Gwen Wershal from Lindenhurst, IL… And their brand-new friends who they just met at this year’s show, Daniel and Joyce Colby From Yorkvile, IL (33:37) A new introduction for us this year was the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts. Melissa Wraalstad, executive director, tells us about this amazing place and one of their most impressive exhibits. Find out how to learn more about the museum. (36:28) Pam Mahshie “The Serger Lady” from BERNINA reminisced about her personal relationship with Nancy Zieman and the impact she had on the industry, the community and those who quilt and sew. The profound impact and reverence held for Nancy Zieman shone brightly as so many gathered at the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show’s 20th anniversary. Nancy’s humility and grace touched every facet of her life, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire and educate. It is a profound honor for us to carry forward her spirit, bringing you the vibrant tapestry of creativity and community she cherished so dearly. In celebrating this event, we celebrate Nancy—a beacon of kindness and a guiding star in the quilting world. Our thanks to all who took time from their day at this year’s Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to share their stories and experiences. A special thanks to Tara Lovedahl from PBS Wisconsin for her support of this episode.
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.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 16 Mar 2023 | QuiltCon Atlanta 2023 - In the Aisle and Behind the Scenes | 00:35:26 | |
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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 31 Aug 2023 | Mary Grabenstatter, Needle Sharp – The Worst of Times, the Best of Times | 00:28:46 | |
Show Notes: Mary Grabenstatter (1:40) Mary shares her story about why arts and crafts were important to her as a child. Hear about the origami birthday party and her favorite crafts!
(3:20) Studying French and Film in college and working at Barnes & Noble her early adult years were filled with many experiences…starting with being a chemistry major. Hear about her adventures!
(7:07) When The Hunger Games was first released, Jennifer Lawrence came to the bookstore. Hear how this event closed the whole store down!
(7:50) At the age of 32, Mary learned to sew…she tells us how and why! And lovingly shares this special connection with her mom.
(11:15) Within a two-year timeframe, Mary realized she loved sewing, quit her job in New York, started Needle Sharp…and learned her mom had cancer…so she moved back home. Learn also how Needle Sharp got its name – and why it caused her some unforeseen challenges.
(14:05) She talks about the blind courage she found to move forward.
(16:28) Mary shares her process for providing a subscription service for her company Needle Sharp
(18:20) What’s it like to run into someone wearing one of her creations? She shares the excitement!
(19:09) How have the last 10 years been the most challenging and rewarding in her life? She takes us on this journey.
(20:12) Mary talks about her mom and how she was inspired by her and how she honors her legacy.
(22:25) What words of advice does Mary have for beginning sewists? “Have a beginner’s mind.
(22:34) What’s next, what’s her dream? And will she ever design her own fabric?
(25:36) And…what didn’t I ask that she wanted to share? Hear about her favorite book Caesar’s Last Breadth by Sam Kean
(27:25) To contact Mary go to her website at needle-sharp.com and on Instagram @needlehsharp. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 16 Jan 2025 | Michelle Renee Hiatt – American Quilter’s Society. Trust the Process | 00:42:01 | |
Our guest today is Michelle Renee Hiatt, Executive Show Director at the American Quilter’s Society.
Michelle story is a remarkable blend of professional achievements and creative passion. Raised in South Jersey by her single mom and grandmother, Michelle is one of five siblings. After earning her bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing, followed by a master’s in technology from Rutgers, she became a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and built a stellar 30-year career managing operations and process improvement for major organizations like Trump Casinos, Reed Elsevier, Dow Jones, and Moody’s, as well as consulting for technology firms and NYU. Quilting entered her life as a side passion, but her talent for designing and teaching quilting quickly gained traction. She created her own pattern line and taught at shows, retreats, and guilds across the U.S. In 2023, Michelle embraced a new chapter as Executive Show Director at AQS, where she works to inspire quilters of all generations. Key Moments in the Episode: (2:20) How Michelle's grandmother inspired her love of sewing. (3:46) The first thing Michelle ever made. (4:23) Growing up with the unique influence of her mom and grandmother. (5:57) Highlights from Michelle’s corporate career, including leading a critical COVID project at NYU. (12:46) Balancing a full-time career, frequent relocations, and building her quilting legacy. (19:24) Becoming Executive Show Director at AQS—Michelle shares the journey. (22:09) The scale and impact of her role at AQS. (24:25) Michelle’s initiatives to engage the next generation of quilters. (27:04) Surprises during her first months at AQS: “As fabulous as I expected it to be!” (28:33) Exciting changes and innovations under Michelle’s leadership. (32:17) Involvement with Sew on the Go and Studio 180, and what they represent. (35:25) Twice a year, Michelle hosts a Mystery Quilt series—an event you don’t want to miss! (38:03) Learn more about Michelle’s mystery quilts at sewonthego.net. (38:33) What’s next for Michelle, and her ultimate dream. (39:22) Michelle’s parting message: “I’m a quilter first and foremost, just like the community I serve.” (40:28) To connect with Michelle, visit AmericanQuilter.com or sewonthego.net. 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. | |||
| 30 Sep 2021 | Mary Margaret Pettway - Gee's Bend Quilters and the Road to Paradise | 00:28:10 | |
Born and raised in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Mary Margaret is a third-generation quilter. She says that it didn’t matter if you were a boy or a girl: If your mother was a quilter you were going to learn how to quilt. What they did was a way of life and a necessity. They didn’t know what they were doing would be considered art. All that changed in the late 1990s and early 2000s when a man by the name of William Arnett came and bought quilts from everyone in town. It is because of Arnett and the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, which he founded, that the quilts of Gee’s Bend are now in museums. (4:00 – 7:18) A trustee of Souls Grown Deep since 2017, Mary Margaret spearheaded efforts to locate living Gees Bend quilters with works in the collection or their heirs to help them get representation for the copyrights through a partnership with the Artists Rights Society. “I would rather sew than do anything,” says Mary Margaret, “and making quilts is my favorite thing to create.” One of her favorite Gee’s Bend quilts is hanging in the High Museum of Art in Alabama and was the inspiration for the skirt worn by First Lady Michelle Obama in her official portrait. (14:47-16:40) Mary Margaret continues to advocate for the citizens of Gee’s Bend. She was instrumental in establishing the Gee’s Bend Resource Center and is dedicated to helping quilters get access to the marketplace. She tells them, “Show the world what you can do. It’s one thing to say yes, I can quilt. Yes, I can sew. But it’s another to show me.” (17:55-20:22) Quilting America, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal showcases the rich history of quilting and talks about a new exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This exhibit features pieces from Gee’s Bend quilters. A teacher at the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, Mary Margaret loves what she does. Whether she’s teaching children how to sew an apron or a pillow, or teaching women how to sew or hand quilt, she takes them through the process, step by step. Her commitment to her craft and her community is inspiring. According to her, “Gee’s Bend is a 17- or 19-mile ride from Alberta down a road that looks like it leads to nowhere, when actually it leads to paradise.” (23:39-24:20) After listening to our candid conversation about life, quilting, and the power of community, you’ll likely want to connect with Mary Margaret to learn more. You can reach her at marymargaretpettway@gmail.com 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. | |||
| 04 Jul 2024 | BERNINA University 2024 - Behind the Scenes and Introducing the New B990 (#It’s a BIG Day!) | 01:02:53 | |
BERNINA University is the annual dealer conference hosted by BERNINA…this year in Detroit, MI. Detroit, with its rich history of industry and music, embodies a resilience and creativity that inspires us all. Just as the city has reinvented itself through sheer determination and ingenuity, BERNINA continues to evolve, driven by passion and tenacity From the engineers who craft the cutting-edge machines to the dealers who bring them to your sewing rooms, every member of the BERNINA family exemplifies the hard-working spirit that defines both Detroit and the BERNINA brand. Join us as we explore new innovations, share stories, and connect with the incredible individuals who make BERNINA the leader in sewing excellence. (1:10) Paul Ashworth, President of BERNINA of America once again opened the festivities in the first day ceremonies, followed by Christy Burcham, BERNINA of America VP of Training & Development. Christy had the honors of introducing BERNINA’s new B990 swing machine…but well…we’ll get to that in a minute! (2:22) This year BERNINA Owner & Chairman Hans Peter Ueltschi was also on hand to welcome those who had traveled to this gathering. Kai Hillebrandt CEO of BERNINA had a few words to share as well. The excitement grew as the B990 was introduced…but well, we’ll get to that in a minute! (5:20) How did Pam Mahshie and Julian Collins feel about the atmosphere…magnetic?! (5:50) So, the new BERNINA B990 was the unequivocal star of the show. We had the unique opportunity to sit down with four people who were instrumental in bringing it to market…over the past 15 years. Meet Andi Goddard Product Manager, Johannes Schuster VP of Product Management BERNINA International, Sarah Caldwell Education Manager BERNINA International and Christy Burcham VP Education Training for BERNINA of AMERICA as they share the behind-the-scenes process that made this all happen. (17:07) Michaelynn Rose, VP of Marketing for BERNINA of America shared the marketing program that she and her team created and brought to life to introduce the B990 and Mr. Ueltschi shares his thoughts on the machine and how he feels about the team that made this all happen. (21:19) Hans Peter Ueltschi then spent time with us to share his thoughts and feelings about this amazing machine and the team that built it. (23:50) While BERNINA was making this all happen, the bernette line was also hard at work developing and launching their new straight stitch machine the b08. Hear world renown speed sewist Toni Smith (Quiltoni) explain this marvelous machine and tell us why and how she does what she does! (29:30)Then, hear bernette Product Manager Carolyn Kinder talk about her second year at bernette and the creation of the b08. (32:28) BERNINA sister companies were also in the house with new and exciting news about their new offerings. We spent time with Kristen Wermers, VP at ironing system company Laurastar, Jeremy Jefferies from fabric company Benertex and Quilting/Sewing supply company Brewer’s president, Steve Jeffery. (35:40) During the event, we were actually able to track down BERNINA of America President Paul Ashworth, in between the time he was spending with the dealers, to get his impression of BERNINA University! (36:44)As at each BU, we get the opportunity to catch up with previous Sew & So guests. This year we had abundant opportunities to speak with several of them. Enjoying his very first BU was acclaimed sewist Julian Collins.
(37:41) We then found Leanne Pressley and Sue O’Very to learn what they’ve been up to.
(39:47) Pam Mahshie and Gail Yellen, who recently starred in the BERNINA Joy of Serging Series have each been hard at work since we last checked in with them.
(42:09) Quilt and fabric designer Amanda Murphy, who has been a part of the Sew & So family since she was the guest on our 2nd episode, has been doing a LOT in the past several months.
(44:29) And finally, Joe Vechiarelli got us caught up on his work with Dancing with the Stars, Disney and Dolly Parton
(47:54) It was fun to catch up with Rebekah Hood VP of Sales for BERNINA of America after her first full year with BERNINA, and to be introduced to Daniela Thrier BERNINA International’s brand-new VP of Marketing who had the good fortune to attend her first BU as an observer.
(53:44) So, what did the crowd think of the new B990? Well, it’s unanimous that it’s a game changer!
(56:04) Philipp Ueltschi, BERNINA’s Chief Digital Officer couldn’t have been more pleased with the overall event!
(56:26) As in all good things, BU too had to end. So, at the closing ceremony, perianal favorites, Paul Ashworth, HP Ueltschi and Christy Bercham summed up the whole experience for the crowd…along with a little dancing to Motown music!
As we wrap up this special inside BU episode from the vibrant heart of Detroit, we can't help but feel inspired by the energy and creativity, that defines the BERNINA community. From our interviews with BERNINA dealers and Sew & So guests to our conversations with the BERNINA team and the exciting introduction of new sewing machines, it's clear that BERNINA University is more than just an event – it's a celebration of innovation, passion, and dedication.
We've heard amazing stories of creativity and perseverance, shared laughs, and even shed a few tears as we connected with the incredible individuals who make BERNINA the leader in sewing excellence. It's moments like these that remind us of the powerful bond we share and the collective drive that propels us forward. It’s what inspires us, what excites us and what connects us to this community.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 22 Jun 2023 | Amanda Carye - Quilting Since Forever | 00:29:36 | |
Amanda Carye, the owner of Broadcloth Studio and the co-host of Quilt Buzz has been quilting “since forever”. On this episode she shares her journey outside her comfort zone and shares her adventures in starting both her business and podcast
Show Notes Amanda Carye, who owns Broadcloth Studio and hosts the Quilt Buzz Podcast has been quilting for her whole life. From Boston, she currently lives in New York City. (1:30) Amanda tells all about learning to sew, and how her grandmother taught her to hand sew. (3:09) What is it about quilting that keeps her coming back to this craft? She explains how sewing always seems to take precedence over all other crafts. It had something to do with puzzles and meditation! (6:10) Amanda takes us through her journey of the “unexpected upside” of her business. It was the overall community of quilters that made a major difference in how she saw her work. (9:02) In 2020 social media became a lifeline for many, but Amanda was way ahead of the curve…so what did she do? She started her Quilt Buzz podcast! (10:00) What’s the hardest thing Amanda does? Find out here. (11:24) Life balance is paramount for her – learn how she does this while doing so much. (14:11) How did she name her company? She shares this story. Then learn about her podcast Quilt Buzz! (18:10) Amanda talks in depth about her new book, what inspired her to write it and her goals for her readers. (23:57) What excites Amanda about her days? Hear that here! And what’s next for her? She let’s us in on her “going off road”! Want to contact Amanda? You can reach her at @broadclothstudio and Broadclothclothstudio.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 18 Mar 2021 | Julane Sullivan - A Hobby That Got Out of Control | 00:43:29 | |
Julane began sewing in middle school and loved it. “A hobby that got out of control.” is how she describes her passion for sewing in this insightful podcast. It began when she was doing community theater; budgets were limited, so she sewed her own costumes as a hobby. Then she began to collect costumes. Before long, word of her talent spread, and she was sought out to create costumes for school theatrical productions. She then took over a theatrical costume company, while still working full time. 15 years ago Julane began doing costuming full time. Her company, All Dressed Up Costumes in Batavia Illinois, was 3,500 sq ft when she bought it. Now it’s over 10,000 sq ft. As Julane shares the process of costuming for an entire production, you hear the passion in her voice. “Inspiration,” she says, “can come from a lot of different sources.” But one thing we learn that the story is always the star. Before you start envisioning costumes, you have to immerse yourself in the play and familiarize yourself with place and mood, and motive and time period. After that, you dive into the characters: their temperament, their motives, their relationships. (4:20-7:46) After she’s thoroughly familiarized with a play, she gets together with the production team, and everyone bounces ideas off each other. The director’s feedback is especially important. If there are fairies in the piece and the director says he/she wants them to reflect a darker natural feeling, you may use the earth, and bark and leaves of the trees as inspiration. If the fairies need to be magical, glitter may be added to create a more ephemeral feel. The biggest challenge in working as a costume designer on a big production is, as you might imagine, communication. Because she loves things that are pretty, she said her favorite things to create are elaborate French Restoration ball gowns. She describes the process of creating a luxurious Regency ballgown for a client who needed a gown for a formal ball. They shopped for the plush fabric and embellishments together, and she compared the completed product to something out of Bridgeton, saying, “We don’t wear those gowns now. I wish we wore those gowns now. I think I was born in the wrong century.” (14:38 -16:35) When people tell Julane they can’t sew, she tells them that It’s not them, it’s the equipment. When discussing the importance of a quality sewing machine, she uses the analogy of a carpenter, saying that if they have the right hammer, the right wrench, and the right set of drills, they get their job done well and get it done efficiently. But with the wrong equipment, they struggle. Her advice is to invest in the best machine you can. She describes in fascinating detail what other tools and equipment one needs to create costumes. (28:22- 34:32) If you’re an aspiring sewist, interested in creating costumes, or just want to get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the wonderful world of costuming, you won’t want to miss this podcast. You can connect with Julane by calling 630-879-5130 or emailing info@alldressedupcostumes.com...facebook You can also follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pg/alldressedupcostumes/about/ ) and Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/alldresseduphfx/?hl=en) 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. | |||
| 30 Jan 2025 | Vickie Coleman & Allison Rainboth – Quilt Appraisers. For What It’s Worth! | 00:58:25 | |
Meet Our Guests
Both Vickie and Allison are accomplished quilters, educators, and passionate advocates for preserving quilt history. Episode Highlights(2:15) How did Vickie and Allison first learn to sew? Their stories may surprise you! Connect with Our GuestsVickie Coleman: bluegrassquiltappraisal@gmail.com Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss future episodes! Follow Sew & So Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 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. | |||
| 02 Sep 2021 | Tristan Detwiler - Surf's Up! | 00:39:43 | |
From his dorm room to his mom’s garage to a storefront workshop at the Platform in Culver City, Tristan continues to pursue his passion, with surfing and travel as his inspiration. According to Tristan, “After an hour in the water, I get out and I’m ready to create.” Tristan launched STAN in 2019, and In March of 2020 Rowing Blazers wanted to add his designs on their website. His 18 one-of-a-kind blazers sold out the same morning they debuted. A month later, he was invited to show a spring/summer collection at New York Men’s Day. The story of how he found fabrics, created 20 jackets in two weeks and rented a 1972 VW Bus to create a video for his Fashion Week debut is delightful. His runway collection was a hit, and he was invited back to present a fall/winter collection. (5:00 – 11:20) Tristan talks about the happenstance meetings that have informed his work. One example he gives is meeting his friend Claire at a sewing shop in Encinitas, San Diego. “This lady came up to me and said, 'What’s a good-looking young surfer dude like you doing in a sewing shop?'” They became fast friends, and before long he was a member of the Bumann Quilters of Olivenhain. As it turns out, one of the member's husband’s great-grandfathers was an original founder of the Olivenhain Colony founded in 1886. The story of the quilting group and the multi-generational 450-acre homestead created the backdrop for his latest collection. (11:46-16:30) A modern storyteller of ancient textiles, Tristan’s favorite part of his sustainable brand is discovering unknown places around the world and unveiling their cultural textile stories for a new generation. Known for his originality and authenticity, Tristan currently has several collections in the works. One of his creations will be featured next to a look by Ralph Lauren at the upcoming Met Gala. When asked what his dream for the future is, he replied, “I feel like I’m living the dream. If I can keep doing this, I can be happy for a long time.” (31:00-39:43) Once you listen to this riveting podcast, you’ll want to follow the career of this amazing, authentic talent. To reach Tristan and to stay in the know about his creations, visit @stansclothing on Instagram. 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. | |||
| 21 Dec 2023 | Susan Khalje - Sewing's Equivalent to Gourmet Cooking | 00:44:18 | |
Show Notes: Susan Khalje
Susan Khalje joins us for this episode of Sew & So to take us into the world of couture sewing. Owner of the eponymous Susan Khalje Couture, she is also the longest contributing author to Threads Magazine. www.threadsmagazine.com Author of Bridal Couture and Linen and Cotton she also hosted Sew Much More on HGTV, teaches internationally, and hosts annual trips for groups of couture enthusiasts to Paris and London.
(1:39) Susan learned to sew in high school when sewing was a part of the school curriculum…her grandmother helped too!
(2:57) The first few things she sewed were definitely products of the times! She explains…
(4:10) What exactly is couture? “Sewing’s Equivalent to Gourmet Cooking!” And…she explains why loving the entire process is so very important.
(5:20) Chez Cez et Bez https://www.taunton.com/contributors/susan-khalje/ where Susan trained was a turning point for her. She tells us the story of her transformation. She, Cez and Bez formed a trio of powerful committed couture sewists. And the pace…it was “lovely” and exhilarating!
(8:24) Post Cez et Bez Susan went to a ready to wear company knowing that if she wanted to be on her own, she needed to learn more about the business. And…learn she did!
(10:09) Susan lived abroad for many years in Afghanistan then Amsterdam. She tells us about this experience and her ultimate return to the States. First, there was a call to Nina Hyde Fashion Editor at the Washington Post to seek career counsel. This started her down the road of wedding dress couture.
(12:24) Her escape from Afghanistan turned out to be more than she has anticipated – she explains.
(13:23) Susan has a wonderful process for designing wedding dress couture…she walks us through it all!
(16:42) And her favorite creation…? 17th century lace and a detachable train.
(18:24) Who were her well known clients? Mrs. Rockefeller, Lauren Bacall, Kitty Carlisle, Mrs. Richard Rodgers to name a few! Cez et Bez were quite the designers…Susan tells us about them.
(19:53) Susan shares her feelings about couture sewing and why she loves it so very much.
(21:13) She takes us through the 5 elements of couture sewing. Design, Fabric, Fit/Proportion, Engineering, and Construction.
(22:47) Susan and Kenneth D. King did a You Tube video called “the ethics of wearing vintage couture.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg9olZ3I56Q&t=73s She explains why they felt the necessity to do this!
(25:35) Why does Susan say she’s a good example of figuring out how to carve your own path and do what you love to do? And she explains how her international field trips began.
(29:20) Susan has a sewing club that has created quite the community – so she takes us through its creation… and the myriad ways to stay connected.
(33:32) Susan hosts international couture trips to Paris, in fact she just returned from one. Walk the streets of Paris with her and she takes us through their adventures. She talks about the company Leclerc whose influence has transcended the ages. And…the art of giftwrapping!
(40:06) What’s next for Susan? More of the same for sure…with a small twist! Her dream?! To have shared what she has been lucky enough to live.
(42:11) And, what didn’t we ask?! Listen here!!
(42:47) To reach Susan, to www.susankhalje.com and susan@susankhalje.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 23 Jun 2022 | Mae Burrows - From Betsy Ross to Audrey Hepburn | 00:28:23 | |
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 info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 11 Nov 2021 | Leah Pitkin - A Dream Come True – Vintage Little Lady | 00:44:11 | |
Leah’s passion for fashion began when she was a young girl. When she was in the fifth grade, her mother enrolled her in a summer sewing class. Leah loved it and begged her mom to enroll her in another class. Unfortunately, none were available, so her grandmother became her teacher. Her first major creations were three hand-sewn A-Line dresses for herself, her sister, and their friend. Once they all had their dresses on, they decided to try them out on a friend’s trampoline. According to Leah, “One jump and a toe touch and them suckers split all the way down the side.” She laughs, saying that from that moment on it was, “game on.” (4:44-9:11) Leah’s grandpa used to say to her, “Baby, you’re only as good as your tools.” After buying a very cheap machine when she was just starting out, Leah learned firsthand that having the right equipment can make a world of difference. She admits to being a perfectionist and says that now she always makes sure she has the right tools to ensure that what she creates looks professional. ( 13:45 – 16:18) Leah started out sewing and doing pattern testing for several leading pattern companies. After about five years, she became a designer for Violet Field Threads. Soon, however, she knew it was time to dive in and follow her dream of designing her own patterns and opening her own company. The company’s name, Vintage Little Lady came from her telling her little girls, “You look like a vintage little lady,” every time one of her daughters put on one of her creations. She talks a lot about the ins and outs of starting a company and her process of making her dream come true. “When a dream is written down with a date, it becomes a goal, then it’s broken down into steps which becomes a plan, then it’s backed up by action, which becomes a reality. And the action for me is diving in.” (17:45 – 21:30) Leah talks in-depth about the process of creating a pattern: the vision, the research, the designing, drafting, checking, re-designing, re-drafting, re-checking, and doing it all again until everything is perfect. Then she explains that you have to fit the models, style their hair, and do the fashion shoot. The process she says, takes 6 to 8 weeks of very long days, with a lot of back and forth. A lot of trial and error. (24:30 – 34:26) The Vintage Little Ladies store has been up for over two years, and Leah has no plans for slowing down. When you listen to the podcast, you’ll be engaged, uplifted, and 100% inspired. If you have questions or would like to share your inspiration, you can reach out to Leah and her team at vintagelittlelady.com 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. | |||
| 28 Sep 2023 | Maritza Atayde – Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus Fate and a Chihuahua | 00:47:59 | |
(2:28) Maritza shares the beginnings of her sewing learnings and her journey of improvement. She takes us through her progression in costume creation and how she was affected by the events of 9/11. She even “almost” had an opportunity to meet Mikhail Baryshnikov.
(15:21) She grew up in a circus family and gives us a first-hand account of what it was like. She also shares some of the superstitions held by circus performers. Also, circus “hand balancers” once looked down upon are now held in really high regard. She explains how this happened. (18:13) At 13 she started performing with the circus as an aerialist. How do people learn to do this? She explains!
(20:38) Celebrating her 10th year with Illinois State University’s Gamma Phi Circus, Maritza shares how she connected with them and became a part of this phenomenal institution.
(31:18) Maritza mentors student sewists in the costuming department for Gamma Phi. She tells us about the early stages of her involvement and how she grew this program and enhanced the sewist’s skills.
(34:30) There are many hidden secrets in circus costumes. The average person in the audience never sees or knows about there, but Maritza gives us the super scoop! You’ll be on the inside and never look at these costumes the same again!
(36:18) Special stories about behind the scenes? Hear them right here. (And that little Chihuahua – yep…that’s her in the background!)
(39:43) Over her 10-year tenure with Gamma Phi the student participation has more than doubled. She tells us about this.
(40:30) What’s her dream? Hear it here! She also talked about how some of her students have pursued their dreams.
(45:00) Want to reach out to Maritza? You can at Matayde@yahoo.com. And don’t forget how hard these kids work juggling all they do!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 27 Mar 2025 | Harvey Fierstein - Life Only Changes When You're Brave Enough to Say Yes | 00:53:52 | |
Today we have a very special guest. From the stages of off-Broadway to the bright lights of Broadway, from his unmistakable voice to his performances in 30+ movies, Harvey Fierstein has spent a lifetime telling stories that matter. With four Tony Awards to his name—two for writing, two for acting—his work in Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles, and Hairspray has redefined representation on stage. But beyond the accolades, there’s the man: a Brooklyn-born artist whose journey has been shaped by family, resilience, and an unyielding belief in telling the truth. Harvey also has a deep love for sewing and costume design. Before becoming famous Fierstein studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and worked as a costume designer in the off-off-Broadway world. He has spoken about his passion for sewing in interviews, reminiscing about how he used to design and create costumes for drag performers and theater productions which helped shape his deep understanding of theatrical presentation and character development. His early work in costume design was part of his immersion in the vibrant New York theater community of the 1970s, where he collaborated with experimental and LGBTQ+ artists. Even as his career in theater took off with Torch Song Trilogy and Hairspray, sewing remained a part of his life. He has mentioned that working with fabric and creating garments is a meditative and creative outlet for him. His appreciation for costume design also extends to his theatrical work, where he often acknowledges the impact of great costume designers in bringing characters to life. So today we go beyond the footlights to explore the moments that made him—his early days, the influence of his parents, why Ridgefield, Connecticut became his adopted hometown and, why sewing has been an anchoring thread in his life. (2:15) We welcome the inimitable Harvey Fierstein! He shares how he first picked up sewing—starting with an industrial machine in his father’s handkerchief factory—before setting his sights on becoming a Disney animator. But, things changed for him and as Harvey puts it, “Life only changes when you’re brave enough to say yes.” (5:27) A deep dive into Harvey’s quilting journey, from discovering HGTV and Alex Anderson to creating story-driven quilts today. His first quilt? Alex Anderson’s Strips that Sizzle! (9:25) Growing up in a conservative Jewish household, Harvey learned the power of storytelling from his family. Education, art, music, and Broadway were all part of his upbringing, shaping the creative force he became. (11:45) Family isn’t just who you’re born to—it’s also who you find. Harvey talks about his “found family” in the theatre, the people who call him “mama” and “papa,” and what it means to always be true to yourself. (13:32) Ever wonder what a Harvey Fierstein Stitch & Bitch session looks like? He spills all about his quilting experiments and creative process. (16:03) From bold colors to playful designs, Harvey shares his favorite fabrics and how he keeps things fresh alternating between challenging and just plain silly projects. (20:15) Picking a favorite quilt is like picking a favorite child—but Harvey gives it a shot! (23:20) The costumes that left a mark: Harvey reflects on the magic of theatrical costumes, the collaborative art of design, and why theatre itself is an act of faith. (27:07) Favorite roles—on stage, in film, and yes, even Death to Smoochy! (30:30) Writing his memoir I Was Better Last Night was a journey in itself. Harvey shares what inspired him to put his life on paper. (31:20) When did he finally feel accepted? And what really led him to move Torch Song Trilogy to Broadway? It’s not the story you think! (32:31) A mother always knows! The moment Harvey’s mom saw her own earrings on him during Torch Song Trilogy—and her priceless reaction. (34:00) What’s the secret to his success? According to Harvey, it’s all about taking that unexpected fork in the road. (38:38) The quilting class that changed everything: What Harvey learned from Kaffe Fassett, Brandon Mably and Liza Lucy. (39:10) Quilting vs. theatre—two creative worlds, two very different communities. Harvey compares the two. (40:54) The key to keeping every performance fresh? Harvey reveals how he does it. (43:06) Why Bridgefield, CT has been home for 40 years—and how Harvey’s house reflects is unique perspective on life and art. (46:00) “As much as it hurts, tell the truth.” Harvey explains how this philosophy, shaped by his father, has guided his life and career. (47:25) What’s next—what’s left on Harvey’s bucket list? (52:18) Want to connect with Harvey? Find him on Facebook and Instagram!
Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss future episodes! Follow Sew & So Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 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. | |||
| 27 Oct 2022 | Tula Pink - Being Tula Pink | 00:43:56 | |
Tula Pink grew up in California, graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and worked briefly as an exhibit designer for museums in SoCal. She eventually joined the music industry as an Art Director designing album covers for numerous notable artists. After about 5 years, she left her job… and California…landing in the Midwest. Tula's main function in life is fabric design which she says she lives for. Her signature designs have been adapted to fabrics, woven ribbons, paper products, needlepoint kits, embroidery patterns, and sewing machines and can be found in independent fabric shops and retailers all over the world. Tula comes from the "more is more" school of design where there is never enough space and always room for that one last thing. Tula starts out explaining how she taught herself to sew pre-YouTube and that it was a great stroke of luck that she discovered quilting. Her encouraging parents and grandmother’s involvement were paramount in her development. Entering a quilt fabric shop for the first time she was struck by what she saw, and she knew she had found her place. An illustrator by nature – she was brought to fabric design because she couldn’t find the fabric she wanted. She simply designed her own! Listen to why she’s grateful that she didn’t come to this in the digital and tech age. Also learn why she “lives” for design. Tula’s dark sense of humor has carried far – hear her explain this and share how and where she hides animals in her designs. Her style has also been described as “moderntional” – learn what this means! Additionally - her quilts look different in color and in black and white. Learn how to see them in two different ways. She sees her job as serving the community she created. She doesn’t simply follow her own whims…she creates fabric that people use to create their creative potential. The “paint” that people use to create their vision. She in essence, works for them. Tula explains why she feels this way. Her passion for her work and the joy she feels in collaboration with others is notable. In the course of the conversation, Tula talks about her belief in the commercialization of art and its democratization. She sees the magic in access for all. And…for her, the work she does is all about the interaction! A history buff who loves to read all she can about famous women in history – Marie Antionette, Queen Elizabeth, etc. Listen to this fascination and how their stories affect her work. She talks about one of her first fabric collections that pays homage to Queen Elizabeth I. And, as a bonus…hear what she thinks her biography would say about her! Tula Pink is a family business, and her brother Cameron works with her doing all the online work. Her mom also owns IHeartTulaPink. She explains the family dynamics and what things look like for them day-to-day. She points out that there was great evolution and change moving from California to the Midwest as a family in businessand she’ll share their secret ingredient for success in working together. She points out that an “insane” number of businesses in this industry are family businesses which is super interesting to her. Tula tells us what it means to be a BERNINA Ambassador, what it means to her, and how it changed the way she works. How many BERNINA machines has she designed for them and how many does she own?! Listen to find out! Tula was credited by Kaffe Fassett in a previous Sew & So Podcast, as being the spark that led to his relationship with BERNINA. She tells us how they met, how he inspires and influences her, and the importance of their friendship. You won’t want to miss her talking about what’s next for her and her ultimate dream…so much to look forward to. What didn’t we ask that she wanted to talk about?! Listen to her closing comments to find out! What to reach out to Tula? You can do so through social media…Instagram (tulapink) and Facebook (Tula Pink) and be sure to tell her you heard her story on Sew & So! If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com 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. 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. | |||
| 14 Sep 2023 | Abby Riba - The Clothes Horse Goes Snoop Shopping | 00:36:06 | |
(2:25) Abby shares why she initially didn’t like sewing when she took her first course in high school. But reading Vogue magazine turned this around for her as she wanted the fashion she saw in the magazine – but couldn’t afford. She also talks about how her children were the genesis of her learning to sew for uniquely sized people. And she talks about how her unique talent for doing what “just made sense” helped her get through tough sewing situations.
(5:48) Listen as Abby shares what it is about sewing that means so much to her.
(7:44) She is a wizard at creating tips and tricks for sewing. She shares just a few of them here.
(10:43) Abby founded Kandi Corp in 2001 by identifying the need for DIY hot fix crystals. She shares the story of founding this company and, how it all started with her own cancer diagnosis.
(15:520 After selling Kandi Corp, Abby saw the need to create better lighting for sewists, so she founded ViviLux Lighting. Hear how she identified the need for these products and how she and her husband Dave founded and grew the company!
(20:49) What’s it like to work with her husband? Easy and hard at the same time…hear why!
(23:28) Abby tells us how she named her products ViviLux. Then she explains her unique technique for identifying the need for and developing new products.
(25:25) Abby introduces us to the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, their charter and how they help each other.
(29:43) She tells us about her love of “snoop shopping” and how this serves as her inspiration.
(31:30) What’s her dream? Going to Japan has long been a burning desire for her to visit to learn their ancient sewing techniques.
(32:50) Abby shares the story about her own personal battle with cancer and gives some very wise and pointed health advice for all of us.
(33:35) Abby gives great credit to her husband to her husband for all she’s accomplished.
(34:41) To reach Abby you can email her at Abby@abbydesigns.com and be sure to put PODCAST in the subject line.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 09 Jun 2022 | Bill Schroeder III and AQS - All in the Family | 00:25:52 | |
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 bill.schroeder@americanquilter.com. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 28 Mar 2024 | Jessica Barrera - Sallie Tomato | 00:25:15 | |
Designer, author, educator, and entrepreneur Jessica Barrera is our guest in this episode of Sew & So. Born and raised in Wisconsin, she learned to sew at an early age. She studied entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.
When not running her growing company, she enjoys coffee, being a mom, coffee, home decorating, travelling and black and white movies!
(1:20) How did she learn to sew? Her mom taught Jessica when she was 5 years old. The first thing she made?! A quilt for her American Girl Doll! (1:56) Who/What inspired her to sew…and keep going? It was her mom who worked for Nancy Zieman! And all of her many moms who worked for Nancy. (3:12) In college she started her pattern and supply company on the side. Learning marketing and teaching she was aiming for a “real job” ...but she also wanted to follow her heart. When she graduated her business was so strong she could continue. Hear how her mom’s suggesting charted her new course! And how supplies grew as an offering! (5:12) Entrepreneurship was her area of study at UW…which course meant the most to her? She tells us here! (6:10) What’s the Puppy Pillow? This pivotal project helped her company grow, and it was her first pattern. (7:05) How did she name her business Sallie Tomato? She shares that story with us here! (7:36) Jessica loves black and white movies and Cary Grant! (7:51) She uses her patterns to attract new generations of makers while still serving an older demographic. She walks us through how she does this. (9:09) Jessica talks to us about the uniqueness of the new generation of sewists. Pinterest and Instagram are notable drivers in how they make decisions. Fabrics and upcycling too! (9:58) Sallie Tomato is successful and growing. To what does she attribute this to? She tells all here! It all boils down to community and collaboration! (11:13) What unique things does Jessica bring to the table. She shares her special niche. (12:05) In 2018 Jessica switched from selling items she created to selling instructions – this changed her life. Listen as she walks us through this evolution. (12:58) What would she have done differently? Well…not much. And the toughest part of her business…?! (13:57) She believes very strongly in sustainability and shares seventeen tenants on her website. Jessica walks us through a few of these. (15:50) She provides suggestions for all sewists on how to support sustainability. (16:12) Jessica LOVES her hometown – Fox Lake, WI. Learn why it’s so special and how her business has helped it flourish! She events invites all of us to visit. She also tells the story of how she acquired her location and dreamt of it since she was a little girl! (18:30) Jessica loves to travel. As a family they camp in the Midwest and enjoy all that’s around them. She shares this love with us. (19:26) She loves many things…what don’t we know about her?! Besides being a mom of two boys…?! (20:35) What’s next for her? Learn it here! (21:20) What didn’t I ask? The pride she feels about the two books she’s written! (22:10) Cork fabric is important to her. What is this and why does it mean so much?! (23:21) You can find Jessica on Instagram and YouTube…all social media too! If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 24 Oct 2024 | Lynn Schmitt - Risk Taker, Rule Breaker - Living in the World of Why Not | 00:39:49 | |
Lynn Schmitt’s journey began in Chicago, where she cultivated her love for art. After attending Bradley University as a Fine Arts major, she went on to graduate from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and Roosevelt University with a BFA in Interior Design. For 30 years, Lynn thrived as a commercial interior designer, contributing to high-profile projects like O’Hare Airport’s Delta Concourse (now Terminal 3), international endeavors in Kuwait and Egypt, and numerous commercial spaces across Chicago.
In 2005, while working at A Touch of Amish, a quilt shop in Barrington, IL, Lynn shifted gears. Her first quilt pattern was published in Fons & Porter’s magazine in 2006, and in 2010, she launched her own studio, A Different Box of Crayons. Lynn quickly became known for her fresh approach to quilting, blending unexpected fabrics and techniques to push the boundaries of traditional design. Her work has appeared in multiple quilt publications, and she’s contributed to several quilt books, including projects for Needl’love.
When Lynn isn’t designing, she enjoys an active lifestyle, embracing everything from knitting and kayaking to cross-country skiing with her husband, Gerry Gallagher. She’s also eager to dive back into her early love of painting through upcoming mixed media art classes. Today, she calls Glen Ellyn, IL home, where her creative spirit continues to inspire those around her.
Episode Highlights:
Contact Information:
Don’t forget to subscribe, review, and rate this podcast on your favorite platform. Visit sewandsopodcast.com for more episodes and information. 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. | |||
| 07 Nov 2024 | Lina Owen – Growing the Latino Quilting Community and Staying True to My Why | 00:40:54 | |
Introduction: Lina Owen, a passionate quilter and entrepreneur, shares her journey from Colombia to the United States, her quilting inspirations, and how she’s empowering the Hispanic community through her love of quilting.
Early Beginnings (1:42): Despite only starting four years ago, Lina has made incredible strides. Learn how she transitioned from other creative mediums to quilting, inspired by her entrepreneurial parents. With top-quality tools and a supportive family, Lina’s journey has been extraordinary.
Learning from the Best (7:21): Lina credits her quilting teachers from YouTube, including Missouri Star Quilt Company (www.missouriquiltco.com) and Love Jenny (www.lovejennyblog.com), for shaping her skills. She candidly shares why quilting felt daunting at first but continues to captivate her.
Influential Figures (8:40): Lina discusses the impact of Melanie Hamm (www.melaniekhamm.com) and Kimberly Jolly from Fat Quarter Shop (www.fatquartershop.com) on her quilting journey.
Upcoming Bilingual Quilting Book (11:17): Lina is co-authoring a bilingual quilting book with Laura Raquel Duran (www.marygoroundquilts.com), set for release in Fall 2025. Her mission is to make quilting accessible and culturally resonant for the Hispanic community.
Latina Quilting Leaders (12:57): Lina highlights prominent Latina quilters like Veruschka Zarate (www.prideandjoyquilting.com), Vanessa from Crafty Gemini (www.craftygemini.com), and Carolina Oneto (www.carolinaoneto.com), who are joining her initiative to celebrate and grow the community.
Moving to the US (13:47): Lina opens up about moving to the US due to unrest in Colombia, her journey from Florida to Wisconsin, and the resilience her family demonstrated. Quilting became a vital source of community and belonging.
BlueBelle Designs (19:07): Discover the story behind BlueBelle Designs, named in honor of her experiences and triumphs, including being a breast cancer survivor.
Health Journey (21:05): Lina shares updates about her ongoing health journey, battling both MS and cancer, and how she maintains her resilience.
Podcasting Adventures (22:09): Lina talks about relaunching her podcast, Las Quilteras, in September 2024, co-hosted by Laura Duran. She also teases upcoming episodes and guests.
Spanish Language Quilting Retreat (27:00): Lina recounts the success of hosting the first-ever Spanish language quilting retreat with Missouri Star, detailing how it felt to see her dream come to life and the retreat’s highlights.
Future Plans (30:13): Exciting news: Lina is planning more retreats and previewing her 2025 Latino Sew Along.
Latino Quilting Traditions (32:34): Lina explains how Latino quilts stand out with vibrant colors and the exuberant expression of “yelling” during the creative process.
Community Needs (34:36): Lina emphasizes the importance of access for the Latino quilting community, advocating for more resources and recognition from companies.
What’s Next (36:20): Lina embraces going with the flow as she looks forward to more creative endeavors.
Wrap-Up (38:00): We covered it all this time, but Lina is always full of surprises!
Contact Information (38:27): Connect with Lina on Instagram at @QuiltingwithLatinas and @blue_belledesigns. Stay tuned for her 2025 book, Quilting With Latinas. 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. | |||
| 16 Sep 2021 | Lindsey Kurowski & Stacey Gilfillan - Inn The Works | 00:54:10 | |
As we begin our casual conversation with Lindsey and Stacey, we learn that Lindsey has four full-time jobs, which doesn’t leave much time for sewing. Lucky for her, Lindsey’s mom Stacey comes from a long line of sewists and has been an avid quilter since 1991. The two share a charming story about an heirloom quilt Stacey made Lindsay for her 30th birthday; a quilt her dog soon discovered. After taking a few deep breaths, Stacey patched the corner and embroidered, “Finn was here,” creating an additional layer of fond memories. As the conversation continues, we learn that Lindsey took her life savings to buy an abandoned lodge and renovate it. Her friend Mark, a TV developer, made a reel about it; that one reel caught the attention of Chip and Joanna Gaines, which is how she ended up with a show on Magnolia Network. She talks about the fun and the challenges of renovation TV and attributes her success to her amazing team, which she brought with her from Knotty Pine. (15:19-22:00) Lindsey places a high value on aesthetics and customization, which is why she also reached out to her mom. Stacey shares that when she got the call, she and her husband drove their 30-foot RV, “Elvira” out to California. Thinking she’d just be there to make one set of curtains for one show, she only brought along a few clothes, her BERNINA® 550, and a handful of supplies. The director was so impressed with her work, he asked her to stay on for the remaining five episodes. (24:25-28:19) She’ll also be bringing her expertise to season two of Inn the Works. In addition to working on the show, Stacey is part of an active quilting community in Texas, where she is doing some amazing work and educating people about the true monetary value of quilts. She also shares some surprising statistics about the quilting industry. ( 31:04 -38:30) As the conversation continues, Lindsey reflects, “I’m just trying to take a moment like Ferris Bueller and take a look around, because it all happens fast.” As Lindsey and Stacey head off to renovate an abandoned 42-room motel in the Berkshires, you can kick back and tune into the podcast to hear more about their fascinating adventures. You can contact Lindsey via Instagram @lindseykurowski, and at knottypine.co; you’ll find Stacey on Instagram @stazzinaro or by emailing stazzinaro@gmail.com 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. | |||
| 19 Jan 2023 | Carina Gardner - The Art of Dreaming Big | 00:34:27 | |
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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | Justine Seymour - The Key Is Observing! | 00:44:32 | |
Born in the United Kingdom, Justine began her first career as a model at 16. From created performance art costumes for artists, plays, and television commercials while earning her master’s degree in Design at the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School. Seymour designed the wardrobe for the Apple TV+ adaptation of The Mosquito Coast. Her award-winning costume design in the Netflix hit miniseries Unorthodox, was nominated for an Emmy and won the German TV Award for Best Costume Designer. She did the costuming on many films including Mission Impossible II, Moulin Rouge, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Son of the Mask, The Sessions, Backtrack, All-Nighter, and Destination Wedding. And she’s designed episodic television shows for various networks including Netflix’s Messiah and Medal of Honor; TNT’s I Am the Night; and Amazon Studios’ One Mississippi. Justine begins by telling the story of how she began to sew at age four because of her grandmother. (3:00). Sewing was something she took too quickly through sewing costumes for her dolls. The Waldorf school curriculum had a profound effect on her creativity (5:59). There she sewed entirely by hand perfecting her craft. It gave her the ability to think outside the box and quickly find solutions. Listen to her fascinating story about her modeling career and her costuming for artists, plays, and television commercials throughout the 1980s and early 1990s (7:30). Justine talks in-depth about her costuming experiences for two features Women of the Movement follows Mamie Till in her fight for civil rights and True Spirit, which is based on Australian Jessica Watson’s memoir about her journey as the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world (11:30). Justine treats us to a behind-the-scenes explanation of the processes she uses to costume for a production. Her meticulous approach to detail and inclusion of the actors in the final look. While in grad school she was the only costume designed but worked in the art department and learned the technique of aging fabrics. Enjoy her story about Moulin Rouge and her contribution to the soft furnishings in one of the key scenes. She also shares her experience on-set on this film...and the moment at which she knew that costuming was what she wanted to do (18:29). Known for authentically building character through costume (29:30) Justine talks about how she earned this reputation through her costuming work on Unorthodox on Netflix. Travel with her into the Satmar community of Williamsburg, The Bronx New York as she shares her adventure in preparing for this production for which she won many costuming awards. (29:54) Justine has words of advice for those who are interested in following in her footsteps (36:55). A road that she’s traveled for the past 22 years...she’s learned that observing is the most important skill to have. What makes an outfit fantastic?! And finally, what’s next for her...what’s her dream? Listen at (40:10)! If you’d like to get in touch with Justine, you can learn more at www.justine-seymour.com and connect with her on Instagram, @justineseymourcostumedesign. 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. | |||
| 28 Apr 2022 | Mimi G - Never Say Never | 00:44:47 | |
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 info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 13 Mar 2025 | Inside BERNINA’s Annual Dealer retreat: A Gathering of Passion, Creativity and Community | 01:06:25 | |
Just about 40 miles west of Chicago, nestled in a quiet office and industrial park, you'll find the headquarters of BERNINA of America. In one building, the heart and soul of the business hums—sales, marketing, operations, and so much more—where a dedicated team works passionately every day to bring BERNINA’s incredible sewing machines to dealers and customers across North America. But just a stone’s throw away, in a building filled with inspiration and creativity, lies something truly special—BERNINA’s Creative Center. On a chilly, grey January morning, we stepped inside and were immediately welcomed by the warmth of community. A small gathering of women from BERNINA dealers across the country had come together, as they do each year, to share stories, sewing tips, and business ideas—all while strengthening the bonds that make this community feel like family. In this special episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with four groups of these remarkable women to learn more about their journeys, their businesses, and their dreams for the future. Their passion and camaraderie are truly what make BERNINA more than just a brand—it’s a family. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and join us as we take you inside the very essence and meaning of BERNINA’s Creative Center. We started off the morning with a duo eager to be the first to talk with us. Meet Alyssa McDonnel of Aurora Sewing Center, New York https://www.aurorasewingcenter.com/ and Jessica Whitley 0f Byrne’s Sewing Center, Pennsylvania. https://www.byrnesewing.com/
(2:18) So, what inspired these ladies to open their dealerships? As in many things BERNINA, it’s all in the family. (3:30) What gave them each the courage to step in and take over the businesses? Did they each sew? (4:03) How about some stories about their first days/months in business? Were tears a part of it all? (5:37) What were their biggest challenges and triumphs? Machines, staffing, anticipating the market and getting enough sleep! Pinterest helps a lot! (7:06) How has the industry changed during their tenure in business? Virtual business, (8:35) What aspects of being a BERNINA dealer mean the most to them?
(10:55) What is it about BERNINA that makes customers so loyal? Quality, the standards, creativity.
(11:55) And what are their hopes/dreams for the future?
BERNINA began and remains a family-owned business. And so many families…generations of them…are now part of the BERNINA family. Meet mother and daughter Marilyn Gattinella from Close to Home in Connecticut https://www.closetohomestores.com/ and Denise Lopez from Nuttall’s’ in Salt Lake City, Utah https://www.nuttallbernina.com/
(13:47) What inspired each of them to open their dealerships? Hear their remarkable stories and how Denise married within the sewing community having met her husband at BERNINA University.
(16:58) What special memories do they have from their days as a dealer? How about the days they had 67 990’s delivered and had to enlist their sons to help get them ready?!
(19:06) What are Marilyn and Denise’s takes on the evolution of the industry? Many things and especially to Marilyn…what’s old is new again! And of course, technology and social media!
(21:37) Have they had to adjust in their businesses to keep up with things? Reaching out into the community to different community gathering places to meet people where they are.
(22:58) And the joy and fulfillment of being a BERNINA dealer? Well, most of them watched Denise grow up…it’s truly family.
(25:15) What are their hopes for the future? For Marilyn, for their sons and their children to continue and thrive. For Denise to see the whole family continue and thrive as well. Many next generations to come!
Across different states and generations, the passion for sewing unites BERNINA dealers in unique ways. Jess Rediske Red-Roxy Quilt Company, Iowa https://www.redroxyquiltco.com/ and Jenny, The Sewing Palace, Montana, https://www.thesewingpalacebernina.com/ share their experiences—some strikingly similar, others uniquely their own.
(28:35) Each of these women share their stories of how they decided to open their stores.
(31:11) How about the memories of their early days. Working with mom would be at the top of the list!
(32:44) And how have they seen the market change? From primitive feeling, to color, to reaching the younger generation through social media!
(34:09) And how have they addressed these changes? Going out into the community! And using the tourism aspect of the Northeast corner of Iowa.
(36:35) Why do each of them love being a BERNINA dealer?
(38:20) What are their hopes for the future?
(39:16) Is there anything we didn’t ask that they wish we had asked? They both agreed that this is an industry that’s made up of many powerful women who come together to help each other!
In the spirit of collaboration and community, we handed the mic to Maggy Urso, BERNINA’s Marketing Manager for social media. With her lively energy and deep connection to the brand, Maggy guided a spirited conversation with sisters Tracy and Debbie of Linda Z’s Sewing Center https://www.lindazs.com/ (Linda’s Daughters) along with Dari, a cherished member of the Nuttall’s’ Dealer family. https://www.nuttallbernina.com/
(41:05) Maggy leads off with asking the sisters how they got into working with their mom Linda Z.
(42:50) And did Tracy and Debbie want to really do this? Well…30 some years later it seems so.
(43:39) And how did Dari get into the business? Born into it as well! And talked about it forever!
(44:45) How about some memories from the early days? Debbie starts out by telling us about Grandpa Cooper. And hiding in the lingerie tents. Dari – early bird Saturdays, the yellow tickets, donuts, Easter Eggs…and inventory.
(47:30) Biggest challenges and triumphs? Getting everyone to agree and keeping up with growth.
(49:05) How has the industry changed? Drawers and drawers of patterns, push button sewing, embroidery cards, sergers, and a “crazy” amount of change.
(51:00) What gives each of them the most fulfillment? Giving to the community and getting so very much in return!
(52:15) What makes BERNINA unique and why are so many so passionate? It’s in the generations of families.
(43:54) Hopes and dreams? Keep growing and within the family.
Even distance couldn’t keep us from hearing the heartwarming insights of Dori's mom, Rhonda Lopez Nuttall’s’ Sewing Centers, https://www.nuttallbernina.com/ who joined us remotely from Salt Lake City, proving that the BERNINA family knows no boundaries. (55:10) What inspired Rhonda to get into the sewing business?
(58:10) How had the sewing industry changed during Rhonda’s tenure? The evolution of quilting was a big part of this. And it’s no longer an industry of need.
(1:01:00) Proudest moment? Seeing her kids become a part of the family business. And then there was the day at BERNINA University when she received a standing ovation from her peers. (1:03:02) What’s her hope and vision? That people in her market continue to look to them for their needs well into the future.
As our time at the BERNINA Creative Center came to a close, it was clear that what makes this space truly special isn’t just the machines or the materials—but the people. The passion, the dedication, and the unwavering support these women share for one another and for BERNINA are what transform a brand into a beloved family. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared their stories with us—your insights, laughter, and wisdom made this experience unforgettable. And to our listeners, we hope you’ve felt the warmth, creativity, and inspiration that radiates from the BERNINA community. 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. | |||
| 02 Mar 2023 | Sarah Joiner - Make What You Want! | 00:34:43 | |
(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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 18 Aug 2022 | HollyAnne Knight - Quilting Circle Gone Viral | 00:36:56 | |
When HollyAnne was caring for her babies and in the throes of post-partum depression, quilting was what she did to “feed her soul,” and her online quilting community was her soft place to land. Once she discovered modern and modern-traditional quilting, she quickly fell down the rabbit hole, and upon watching a free motion quilting class online, her passion took on a life of its own. “Something about it really spoke to my soul. It really reminded me of the motion of brushstrokes and Impressionism and modern Impressionist paintings, which was always my favorite era of art.” While she was building a small business selling t-shirt quilts through her Etsy shop, she continued her exploration of modern quilting, going to her first QuiltCon in 2017. It was there she witnessed free-motion quilting in person. She describes her time there as magical and managed to pass out a box of business cards to start building community. The event, which she refers to as a “breath of fresh air,” was the thing that set her education company String and Story into motion. As a result of her passion, commitment and love of teaching, the community quickly attracted an international following. (3:46 -10:35) HollyAnne soon created a blog on Instagram followed by Quilting Rock Stars, a String & Story community on Facebook, which attracts people from around the world. “What started as my little feeble attempt to just have a place to talk to other people who liked quilting, turned into a real community where folks would share about stuff going on with their families, their health challenges… and it's been incredible.” She talks about the power of community, and how this virtual community has been a lifeline through some very dark times. (13:30 – 17:38) HollyAnne views her live String & Story sessions on YouTube and her Rock Stars group as an old-time quilting circle gone viral. It’s a place where people can pull up a chair, tell stories and be real. “I really believe that if I can be leading with love, and how I lead my community, then we can navigate all the hard things that are gonna come our way.” (13:30 – 24:54) As she continues to share her journey with us, HollyAnne talks about making quilts for kids with cancer, the genesis of String & Story, her inspiring Rock Stars, and her new store in Duluth. During this casual conversation, her humanity and love of quilting shine through. You won’t want to miss it! You can connect with HollyAnne at stringandstory.com, on Instagram and her Quilting Rock Stars group on Facebook. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 07 Dec 2023 | Sarah Veblen - Designing From the Inside Out | 00:44:19 | |
Sarah Veblen from Sarah Veblen Clothing Originals has led a life dreaming of owning hew own business and in 1985 it all came true. Now an Haute Couture mainstay, she shares her story of taking chances and achieving her dream!
(2:28) Sarah shares her story of learning to sew…her mom said she was already sewing circles around her by 9th grade. She also explains what it means to be a “thinking sewer”.
(4:30) Why does she feel that sewists shouldn’t blindly follow instructions? The person who drafted the pattern and the one who wrote the instructions don’t know anything about the specific sewist and their unique needs and skills. She works with her students to individualize each product.
(7:26) Sarah shares her story of when she worked as an Executive Secretary and how that had an impact on her sewing skills.
(8:40) Sewing her daughter’s clothing had a profound impact on how she sews…she explains…!
(10:40) What inspires her today?! Well, it’s fabric…she tells us why.
(13:49) Sarah has a degree from Stanford…how has she applied this education to her career today? It was the rigorous amount of writing she did throughout college that prepared her to use language, write and edit. Then when David Coffin from Threads Magazinewww.threadsmagazine.com called…she was all ready to go!
(16:32) In all the work she was doing…she decided to add teaching to her repertoire. Loving the fitting part of the process was the imputes for this…she explains. She also tells us how creating custom clothing is extremely stressful as you are creating something that doesn’t exist!
(20:25) Sarah shares a story about how her guidance helped an unenthusiastic bride understand what she wanted and then alter her wedding dress to make is just perfect.
(23:50) She loved the complexity of garment making. What does this mean to her and how does this inspire her work?
(26:20) Sarah discusses the importance of fitting a garment correctly. “When we feel right in our cloths, we are more relaxed in ourselves, and this allows us to be more creating and react better.”
(29:15) How do garments enrich our lives? By releasing our creativity and giving us a fuller rounder life. She explains this premise in depth.
(31:51) What’s important for sewists to keep in mind when they sew? Have fun with it – Sarah tells us what this means to her. And, she explains how to know when it’s time to reach out to someone for help!
(34:28) When asked to tell us about her 5 grandchildren Sarah lights up…sharing what they do together and what’s important! Are there future sewists in the group? You bet there are! And they all call her Sassy!
(37:38) What’s next for Sarah and what’s her dream? Retiring…probably not quite yet. Her focus in cutting back just a little is to develop a legacy of information that will be available in perpetuity. @Sarahveblenliving originals channel on You Tube.
(40:00) And what didn’t we ask her that is important to her…find out here!
(41:26) Sarah can be contacted at sarah@sarahveblen.com, www.saranveblen.com and she will do her very best to personally respond to all correspondence.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 13 Apr 2023 | Nick Verreos - From the Little Boy Sketching Under the Tree to Project Runway | 00:34:02 | |
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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 29 Sep 2022 | Desi Dessu - The World of Cosplay | 00:23:28 | |
Cosplay, the art of combining costume and role play, grew out of the practice of costuming at science fiction conventions. Over the past couple of decades, it has really taken off and become its own subculture. Desi believes cosplay can be inspired by Japanese anime characters, a Western comic book character, a Disney character, whatever inspires you. “It's literally just, I love this character so much that I want to express my love by actually dressing up as them.”
Desi was a huge Sailor Moon fan and was following news on the Sailor Moon website in early 2000 when she discovered the world of cosplay conventions: a place where she connected with like-minded people, and her passion blossomed. She took her love of drawing and character design to the next level and began sewing costumes. She reminisces about ‘covert’ costume making at Jo Anne Fabrics before cosplay was mainstream. Desi also talks about the importance of revisiting those older costumers in your portfolio because sometimes we take for granted the knowledge, we’ve accumulated that could help someone else.
She shares stories about her own evolution, and how she continually pushes her designs. A couple of examples she shares is taking a character you’ve cosplayed many times and finding a new way to express how you love the character, or maybe you really love a character but want to give the costume a different aesthetic. Desi’s style leans toward the soft, fanciful, and elaborate. She is currently working on an X-Men costume that will reflect her style. (5:26-14:23)
You can hear the enthusiasm and pride in her voice as she talks about the talented people in the cosplay community. She advises for those who are new to cosplay is to, “start with something you love.” She also feels that finding people you can socialize and cosplay with is important. Cosplay cons are a great place to build those connections. A typical day at a con is different for everyone. For Desi, it involves getting up early and getting the makeup on, then focusing on costuming. Often, checking out the lighting, going to scheduled photo shoots, and possibly meeting up with a cosplay group. Cosplay groups form naturally, whether it’s from a shared passion for Disney princesses, a certain anime, or a new movie that’s coming out. Today, Desi is purely digital, designing her whimsical creations using Procreate® on an iPad. (15:01-21:20) Cosplay and Desi have both come a long way in the past twenty years, and no doubt will continue to evolve over the coming years. Whether you’re new to cosplay or an avid cosplayer, this one-on-one interview with Desi is not to be missed. You can connect with Desi on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at Desi Dessu. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 03 Mar 2022 | Joe Vecchiarelli - Keeping America "Fit"! My Life in the TV Studios and in Peoples' Homes | 00:42:20 | |
SHOW NOTES: (1:50) Joe takes us through his early work with his father and his easily found interest in the studios. He talks about entertainment and fashion and how these two industries merged for him. (3:13) Joe meets Mr. Spock on the set of Star Trek. It’s this meeting that led to Joe’s lifelong career. His courage and moxie led the way…with a little help from his friends! (9:00) Learn about the beginning and early days of Vecchiarelli Brothers. (10:40) Joe initially knew nothing about fashion. He tells us about Helen Joseph Armstrong and how she taught him everything he needed to know…tutoring him 2 days a week for 2 years! (12:00) Joe is approached by the executive producer of Dancing With the Stars to help them with the genesis of the series. 23 seasons later, Joe’s proprietary method for dealing with dancers’ weight loss is still being used! (15:35) How did Joe begin working at America’s got Talent? He tells you…! (16:20) Joe explains how he branched out from studio work to providing fit forms for home use. It was one phone call that changed things forever. (22:20) Joe takes us through the secrets to creating custom body fit forms for home use. (24:42) Joe tells the story of how he first met and began to work with Dolly Parton. Still one of his most very favorite celebrities. Learn about the big mistake he made when fitting Drew Scott from Property Brothers. (29:15) What’s a typical day like on the set of Dancing With the Stars and how do they manage more than 300 garments a week. Joe takes behind the scenes for a special look into this perennially popular show. Learn how many crystals are sewn into the garments and the step-by-step process for doing this. (32:55) What’s the most important thing that sewists need to know abut fitting? It all begins with the center of gravity. (36:22) What’s next for him...what’s his dream? (38:06) And finally, what makes him happiest?
If you’d like to get in touch with Joe, go to sales@frencheuropean.net and put “Sew & So podcast” in the subject line. Find him on Facebook and Instagram. 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. | |||
| 11 May 2023 | C2E2 Chicago - 2023 | 00:36:56 | |
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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 29 Feb 2024 | Cristina Arcenegui Bono - My 40 Cousins - My Inspiration | 00:40:30 | |
Travel with us to Andalusia, Spain for an amazing conversation with Cristina Arcenegui Bono whole cloth quilter extraordinaire!
(2:27) How did Cristina learn to sew? Well…she never really did!
(3:15)Who is her inspiration? How about her 40 cousins?! And wait…there’s more!
(5:16) Cristina started out her career in the Travel & Tourism industry in London…to help improve her English. She shares that story here.
(7:05) Cristine used to frequent haberdashery shops www.libertylondon.com which fueled her love for textile art. It all began when she came to London and the first thing she did was to visit the museums. And then there’s the story of how she learned to cross-stitch because she became very ill.
(10:10) The movie How to Make an American Quilt was a springboard for her ambitions, hear the story here…it was all about community!
(13:07) Her work is stunning…many of which are made for the sole purpose of entering contests. She shares a story of one these competitions, the quilt and what made this so meaningful.
(16:40) Her quilts are based on the illustrations of Johanna Basford www.johannabasford.com, Daira Song @daria486, Rita Berman @rite.berman and Svete Dorosheva www.svetsdorosheva.com. She explains her focus on children living authentic childhoods! (20:50) Her signature quilts are pictorial whole cloth quilts. She explains what this is. And, what it’s like to listen “incognito” to people experiencing her quilts at exhibitions.
(24:43) Patchwork quilts weren’t popular in Spain at the turn of the century. Why? She explains. www.SpanishPatchworkAssociation.org
(27:35) in 2005 she bought her first longarm and opened her quilting business. How’s it going?! She tells us here.
(29:54) The pandemic opened a whole new world for Cristina teaching on line. She talks about the positives that came into her life!
(32:10) What inspires her? Her childhood…and her cousins! Traveling means a lot as she saw her first hummingbird…and a Zebra. Not to mention all those she gets to meet on the road. When she taught in California and needed to then get to Houston, she took a train to experience the country – the trip of her life… including a sunset in Arizona.
(36:04) What’s her dream? To get published in a magazine and to teach in Korea and Japan. Why there? She explains!
(38:06) Finally, what didn’t we ask?
(28:23) Want to contact Cristina? Facebook Cristina Arcenegui Bono, Instagram @cristinaarceneguibono, and www.crisarcbono.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 15 Aug 2024 | Jennifer May Nickel – Storytelling Through Costumes, this Sewist Shares the Behind the Scenes Explanations of TV Costume Creation | 01:00:42 | |
Settle in with us for a back-stage tour of exactly how costumes are designed for tv shows. Learn how a certain look is achieved and how moving to LA during the writer’s strike was a “terrifying” time for our guest who moved there for the first time to find work!
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Jennifer May Nickel completed her undergrad studies at East Stroudsburg University, did summer studies at St. Edmund’s College/Oxford University and earned her MFA in costume design at Carnegie Mellon.
She’s worked on numerous films and commercials for many large, well-known companies. She won the Elizabeth Schrader Kimberly Costume Design Award, The Cecilia Cohen Award for Excellence in Theatre and the WCDAC Achievement award.
She loves to travel the world collecting fabric and vintage clothing along the way. Jennifer currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Jean-Paul Nickel
(1:58) Jennifer learned to sew in a “multitude of ways” She begins this episode by telling us these stories.
(6:03) Calling herself “A theatre kid who thought she’d go into acting” until a professor saw her work and steered her toward design, Jennifer tells us about this amazing change of course in her life.
(9:36) Precocious as a child…well yes, she admittedly was. She tells us more!
(12:30) Jennifer moved to LA during the writer’s strike…when there was “absolutely no work to be had”. This “terrifying experience” Steeled her resolve and prepared her for the coming events of Covid. She shares this experience with us.
(16:17) So how does one become a costume designer for tv shows? Well, it’s not exactly an easy experience…she walks us through her journey.
(23:04) Jennifer loves to “flex her down and dirty apocalyptic design skills” What exactly does this mean, and how does it relate to the show “The Walking Dead”?! Also learn Hollywood’s secrets to making costumes look distressed and worn! And how does a Kind Bar make mud on shoes?
(29:00) Jennifer takes us through the whole process of designing costumes for a tv show! How long does it take from idea to the actual completion of costumes?
(41:50)So, what does Jennifer think is the best thing about what she does, and why does she love working in television so much?
(42:48) And of course we asked, what’s the hardest thing about what she does? Maybe working 15-hour days?!And by the way, how about the amazing experience of being at O’Hare Airport to film at 3am?!
(48:45) What’s she working on currently? A variety of projects…hear about them here! And see them on billboards around the country! Oh, and Wrestle Mania too!
(50:17) What’s next for Jennifer?! There’s some cosplay involved, and a special award sponsored by BERNINA too!
(53:58) What’s her dream? Well, it involves working with her husband.
(55:06) IS there a question didn’t ask that she wished I Had asked? Why, yes there is! How about traveling and fabric shopping? And a dress made entirely of Nickels. Go figure!
(59:04) How can you reach Jennifer? Instagram @jennifermaydesigns, and Twitter @jmndesigns
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 17 Aug 2023 | R'Bonney Gabriel, Miss Universe 2023 - If Not Now, When?! | 00:33:16 | |
R'Bonney Gabriel is an eco-friendly fashion designer, model, and sewing instructor based in Houston, TX, and New York City who also happens to be the current Miss Universe titleholder. Born in Houston, TX she became the 1st Miss Universe of Filipino descent. As the first Filipino American to win Miss Universe and Miss USA, much of her platform is about embracing her culture. She is a voice for Asian-Americans, opening the door for more diversity and representation in society. She attended the University of North Texas, where she earned her degree in Fashion Design and Fibers. R'Bonney is the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based nonprofit design house that is dedicated to using "Fashion as a force for good" through sustainability and community impact. She combines her latent for design with caring for the environment in her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.
(1:46) R’Bonney tells us how she learned to sew by watching her mom and shopping at thrift stores. R’Bonney tells of one of her favorite projects – the big purple gown with puffy sleeves…a Halloween costume.
(3:35) She tells us how important the sewist community is to her and why.
(5:10) She’s always upbeat and positive…she lets us in on her youth, parent’s influence and how sports, music, church, and ballet influenced her outlook.
(7:39) Travel is a big part of her current life as Miss Universe. She tells us what it’s like to be Miss Universe!
(10:57) R’Bonney takes us back to the beginning and on her journey to becoming Miss Universe.
(16:00) She talks about how she became passionate about sustainable fashion. And the documentary ”A True Cost” which opened her eyes to clothing consumption worldwide.
(17:50) Magpie and Peacocks name – a truly unique identifier – has an interesting story which R’Bonney shares with us.
(18:45) She explains ethical sewing practices and sustainable fashion as she exemplified with her Miss Universe Cape. She also explains how we as individuals can support sustainable fashion.
(23:09) The MAKR Program with Magpies and Peacocks is very important to R’Bonney. She tells us about this effort and why it means so much to her. Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!
(25:04) She tells us a story of one of the women who went through the MAKR Program and how it changed her life.
(27:10) She talks about being the first Filipina-American to hold the Miss Universe title and how she leverages this position for the advancement of Asian Americans.
(28:40) If Not Now When if her motto – she tells us why and what it means to her.
(30:40) What’s next for her after Miss Universe?! Listen and find out!
(31:11) Is there a question we didn’t ask?!
To reach out to R’Bonney, you can find her at Instagram @rbonneynola, or the email connected to the Instagram account.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 02 Jan 2025 | Threads of Valor: Lexie Millikan's Journey in Art, Quilting, and Leadership at the Quilts of Valor Foundation | 00:30:24 | |
Our guest today is Lexie Millikan, Executive Director of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Lexie is an artist, educator, and curator. She received her BFA, with a focus in fiber, installation, and social practice, at the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO. Along with her work with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, she also has an active studio practice in which she teaches classes, exhibits her own artwork, and continues to learn more about art and craft.
Lexie has worked extensively with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and through this has met makers throughout the world.
A non-profit sheworked for, The Yeiser Art Center won the Governor’s Award in the Arts, , for community programming and she was twice nominated for Young Leader of Western Kentucky.
Lexie makes her home in Marion Kentucky and when not working she enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband and hiking with their dogs.
(2:00) How did Lexie learn to sew and who was her influence? Well, first of all…she didn’t learn this craft until she was in college.
(2:37) Lexie shares her quilt making approach and talks about improvisational piecing. Learn also about her fabric choices.
(3:35) What’s her favorite quilt and how did she create it? Well…think doilies!
(4:25) Lexie has a degree from the Kansas City Art Institute. Walk with her through her education and how her learnings influence her work today.
(6:42) Lexie is a teacher. Hear about the courses she teaches, why she’s chosen these focuses and how you can find out more about joining her.
(8:17) Lexie has worked extensively with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Learn about this program and her work with them throughout the world.
(10:03) Through her work with UNESCO, Lexie has met makers throughout the world. Hear about some of these adventures in Mexico, South Korea and Spain.
(13:30) Quilts of Valor was founded in 2003. Lexie tells us the story of its genesis…it all started with an actual dream.
(14:38) How did Lexie become the Executive Director of Quilts of Valor…she shares this story. Then, she explains more about the organization and her leadership role.
(16:23) Why is the work of Quilts of Valor so important to the individuals that have been “comforted”? Lexie walks us through their mission and fulfillment.
(17:15) Want to learn how the Quilts of Valor program works? Learn more here.
(18:32) Hear a firsthand accounting of a few of the memorable moments when veterans receive their quilt.
(19:56) Because Lexie’s sister is in the military her work is very personal. Lexie shares their story, talks of her sister’s service and talks about the sacrifices that military families make on a daily basis.
(22:32) She helps us understand how to support military families. It begins with kind words of encouragement
(23:31) What’s next for Lexie?
(24:55) And…what’s her dream? Think a vibrant studio practice.
(25:34) What question didn’t I ask? Lexie shares the story of how her parents were such a strong influence early on.
(28:00) How can you reach Lexie? www.lexieabra.com and lexie.millikan@qovf.org.
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. | |||
| 08 Jul 2021 | Dr. Karen Nyberg - Space, Time, Sewing Continuum | 00:29:33 | |
In this enlightening and aspirational conversation with Dr. Karen Nyberg, we learn how she combines her experience in space with her passion for textile art and design—especially as it relates to conservation and sustainability. Karen’s mom taught her to sew at the age of six, and she made her first shirt complete with interfacing before she was 10. When she wasn’t making her own clothes, Karen was drawing with pencil and charcoal. Eventually, she started mixing her art with fabric. When she got into college, she stopped sewing clothes and started using her artistic talent to make gifts for people, including blankets, quilts, and pillows. By college, Karen knew she wanted to be an astronaut, and she knew engineering was the best route to get her there. Why she decided to choose mechanical engineering as her discipline is fascinating. One of the reasons is because of the drawing. The whole design process appealed to her, and she believes that the things she learned as a young girl would prove to be beneficial to her in mechanical engineering: learning to use a pattern, following directions, understanding how tolerance is built up in sewing, and learning patience. Like sewing, mechanical engineering is the coming together of the left brain and right brain. (4:46- 6:46) After her first trip to space in the space shuttle Discovery in 2008, she launched on the Soyuz Spacecraft in 2013 and lived on the International Space Station for 166 days. Only a small allotment of personal stuff was allowed: she brought a little fabric, needles, a magnetic needle case, and some thread. Although she really didn’t have a plan for them at the time, when the International Quilt Festival put a call out around the world for people to submit star-theme quilt blocks, she created a 9-inch quilt block. It was one of 2400 quilt blocks submitted from around the world that were sewn into king-size quilts and showcased at the Festival. They are currently being housed at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. (7:05 -8:27). While she was on the International Space Station, Karen made things out of upcycled things that were already on the space station. Her first creation was a dinosaur for her son, made from fabric that lined the food containers, and an old t-shirt she cut into strips and used as filler. This dinosaur later became the inspiration for the fabric she designed for SVAHA USA, a STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art & Math) inspired clothing company. Being on the Space Station sparked a new level of creativity for Karen. She says, “Seeing the earth from space forever changed how I look at the earth and think about how we live on the planet.” She talks about seeing the earth from that unique vantage point, and how you see that there are no borders on the countries, everything is interconnected, and how it’s evident even in the cloud patterns. She uses the analogy that Earth is our spaceship, we are all crewmates, and our primary focus is to maintain the health of the spaceship because that’s how we survive. She describes seeing Earth from space as the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. She shares how her creative process evolved while there, and why she is committed to sharing her experience with others through her art, which is based on photos she took while in space. (11:56-14:43) Karen talks about the creative process of working with the designers at Robert Kauffmann Fabrics to create a signature line of fabric; with Aurafil Threads to design “Earth Views,” a line of curated threads that will be released this summer; with Svaha USA on her “Dinos in Space” collection. Karen has also started a new online store for her artwork, which can be accessed via her website, karennyberg.com (15:30-21:05) Karen’s perspective on sewing is fascinating, and her description of how sewing is different in space can be seen on YouTube and heard in this spellbinding interview, that’s rich in discovery. You can connect with Karen at: karennyberg.com, and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 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. | |||
| 14 Oct 2021 | Amanda Carita - Self-Made Fashion for All! | 00:38:19 | |
Amanda Carita began her sewing adventures at age 5 on her grandmother’s hand-crank sewing machine, and although she prefers the modern technology of her BERNINA 850, she still has her grandmother’s machine. She talks about her those early years; her family’s history in textiles, and what it was like growing up with four generations of women in the same house, and how it created such a strong bond between them. She shares a similar bond with her current sewing community. Amanda talks about going to Los Angeles with both her sewist friends and by herself in search of fabrics. She’d find a couple of yards of this fabric or a couple of yards of another, but never enough for what she needed. Then she’d find patterns she liked, but she didn’t like the fabric they were printed on. Not one to give up, Amanda was determined to find a way to get what she wanted. And thus, So Sew English was born. Today, she has fabric sources and printers in multiple countries as well as talented designers she can rely on. “I come up with the ideas for prints on the fabric and then I find the right people who can bring it to life.” (6:00-10:53) When asked about sewing every day, her response is delightful. “I regularly get up and sew what I’m going to wear that day… I’ll come down and make myself a cup of tea, and make myself a top while I’m drinking my tea… I don’t like to have idle hands.” For Amanda, there’s no such thing as a typical day. After sharing some wonderful examples of her daily adventures and demands, she ends with, “There’s never a dull moment. I love the fact that every day is different. I love flying by the seat of my pants.” (15:49-17:36) Another thing she loves is her community of sewists. As she talks about how it’s grown and evolved, there’s a sense of pride in her voice. The community and her company embody her love of sewing. “Sewing is healing. Just being able to pull out your machine can be very tranquil, and a time for reflection or letting the mind wander. Mentally, it’s great. It keeps you on your toes.” (20:12 -24:25) In listening to Amanda’s story unfold, it’s evident that she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. If you’d like to reach out to Amanda after listening to her uplifting podcast, you can reach her at sosewenglish.com, and her Facebook page. 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. | |||
| 26 Oct 2023 | Catherine Stephenson - The Hidden Profession | 00:53:42 | |
Our guest in this episode is Catherine Stephenson who lives in Ajijic, Mexico. The owner and name behind Catherine Stephenson Couture, she’s been in the sewing world doing what she loves for more than 35 years.
Originally from Portland OR, she travelled to Madison WI to earn her BA in textiles and clothing from the University of Wisconsin. Returning to Portland after that, she opened her business and worked to create the Custom Clothing Guild that eventually became the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers (PACC). All of this led to…well, let’s let her tell you her story!
(3:06) Catherine tells us how she began to sew and who inspired her as a youth, then in Madison, WI as a high school sophomore. Then, when she went to the University, there was a sewing program that enticed her to attend there. AND – a textile chemistry lab. Then, she talks about the ready to wear industry and why it wasn’t for her.
(9:26) What initially took her to Madison from Portland. Well, there was a connection there from the beginning.
(10:26) She was taught in a system that funneled people into the ready to wear industry. Why? Catherine explains!
(12:36) Catherine talks about fast fashion and where it’s going…what our culture supports. (14:42) Catherine talks about what it took to found the Custom Clothing Guild of Oregon in January of 1992…to her…is was easy peazy!
(20:02) Catherine explains the quality standards and how they are implemented industry wide by the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP) (31:01) She talks about Linda Stewart and how together they developed the Master Sewing & Design Certification Program.
(24:10) Catherine talks about her own career and the long-term relationships she has with her clients. It’s the specialness of each unique piece. It’s all a symbiotic process and price range/timing is a part of it! And, why she’ll only do special events now.
(30:40) Why did she close her business? Well, global warming had a little to do with it…as well as a special culture in the Ex-Pat community of Ajijic. They are a part of building Mexico’s first co-housing community. What is this? She explains!
(34:00) Both Catherine and her husband are artists. She talks in depth about their work and his world renown Spotify channel!
(37:31) Ajijic Chic is her line of “Easy Fit Clothing for Lakeside Living”. Catherine talks about how she envisioned this, made it happen and how she brings her creations to her customers.
(43:17) Fast Fashion? Oh yes, she does have an opinion about it. She takes us through her thinking. And what this has done to the value of sewing.
(48:10) What didn’t I ask? Catherine talks about her association’s relationship with the Department of Labor to develop and run a 2-year apprenticeship program to teach people to sew and eventually get into the job market. There is also a non-profit that people go through to contribute to this program.
You can reach Catherine on her website which is www.cscouture.com, or email her directly at Catherine@cscouture.com Her husband Allen’s library on Mixcloud can be found at https://auralfixations.allanstephenson.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 15 Sep 2022 | Teresa Coates - The Things That Make Me Happy | 00:32:30 | |
Although Teresa comes from generations of makers, she was the first to pursue quilting as a career when she, as she puts it, “stumbled into the quilting industry.” It began in 2011 when she joined the crew at the Fabric Shop Network and then became editor of Websense magazine. Teresa started out making garments using patterns from The Big Four. From there she discovered Indie pattern makers and vintage patterns, and really started working with non-traditional fabrics like painted canvas and double chiffons, and other weird fabrics and piecing them together to make different types of quilts. After coming on board with Shannon Fabrics, she began specializing in Shannon’s Cuddle® fabrics, a 100% polyester microfiber plush fabric. Today Teresa uses these fabrics to create unique quilts, crafts, home décor, and apparel. (2:12 – 11:11) As she continues talking about her journey, she shares how a trip to Vietnam in 2007 with her children changed everything for her. After volunteering at several orphanages there, Teresa continued her outreach work. It’s a fascinating story of bringing caring and hope to young Vietnamese children, and of working with others in the sewing community to provide much-needed goods to Vietnam orphanages. Because of the profound impact it had on her, Teresa hopes to return to Vietnam within the next couple of years. (11:11 – 15:24) Meanwhile, Teresa is traveling the US with her partner, videographer, and RV driver Hawke who is working with her to bring Shannon Fabrics’ Sew Together Tuesdays to live audiences across America. On the road ten out of the last twelve months, they’ve been to 43 states, where Teresa has taught in all kinds of beautiful and charming quilt shops, met all kinds of interesting people, and experienced countless joyful moments. She talks about the range of different shops and fabrics and creative focuses, from heirloom sewing to embroidery, traditional quilting to modern clothes. She also shares the one thing that all of these shop owners have in common, which is their deep love for the industry. According to Teresa, her time on the road never stops being entertaining. Her connection to the myriad of people she meets on the road continues via her Facebook group, “I Love Cuddle® Fabric.” She loves what she does so much, she plans to continue teaching and hopes to add more pattern-making into her creative endeavors. “I get to teach. I get to learn. And that’s the thing that makes me happy.” (22:07-30:04) Be sure to listen in on our casual conversation with Teresa for inspiration, insights, and a lot of smiles. If you’d like to connect with Teresa, you can reach her at Teresa@Shannonfabrics.com or at her I Love Cuddle® Fabric Facebook page. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, or what to comment or just say hello - drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 06 Jun 2024 | Amanda Richline - Unshattered | 00:38:54 | |
Join us for this amazing episode which takes us into through the life experiences of Amanda Richline their Product Manager & Creative Lead at Unshattered. Amanda shares her deeply personal story of addiction, recovery and building an amazing future for herself, her children and the women she works with at Unshattered. This organization is dedicated to working with women to end the addiction relapse cycle by providing pathways toward economic independence and sustained sobriety.
Show Notes: Welcome to a very special episode of Sew & So. Our guest is Amanda Richline, Product Manager & Creative Lead at Unshattered an organization in Hudson Valley, NY dedicated to working with women to end the addiction relapse cycle by providing pathways toward economic independence and sustained sobriety.
Born and raised in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Amanda was first introduced to the Unshattered program in 2015. Her journey and the story of Unshattered are hopeful and inspiring. Amanda learned to sew as a result of Unshattered. In her time with them she has become a homeowner, is a certified Peer Recovery Advocate, a Yoga instructor certified as a trauma-informed facilitator and is on the verge of receiving her bachelor’s degree with honors. She is a mom of three amazing kids and recently celebrated 7 years of continuous sobriety.
(1:50) How and why did Amanda learn to sew? She shares her story.
(2:47) What was Amanda like when she was a little girl growing up in the Poconos? And hear how a move in the 5th grade changed her life trajectory. Hear her story here!
(4:17) Amanda has shared her story all over the country. She tells us here about her struggles and recovery. Tales of bullying, medical emergencies that led to pain killer addictions, graduating from high school while pregnant and while 2015 was the worst year of her life. And finally in a moment of sheer desperation…she found the path to recovery!
(10:51) But her story of recovery wasn’t a straight path. She openly shares what happened. And how she turned things around for good. New home, certifications and a college degree.
(14:35) Now a product manager and creative lead at Unshattered, Amanda explains her work responsibilities.
(16:55) What is it about sewing that is so very therapeutic for her? Amanda shares this feeling with us.
(17:55) Amanda is a peer recovery advocate and a yoga instructor with special training. She talks about how she uses these special trainings to come along women as they are coming out of recovery programs.
(20:40) She is also a trauma informed facilitator. What is this and what does she do? She explains!
(21:40) What does she like to create while sewing? Well…it’s custom bags she designs and created for clients!
(23:25) What is Unshattered? Amanda explains their mission and the work they do.
(25:25) How did Unshattered get started? Amanda tells us this story and how Kelly Lyndgaard found her calling to start this organization…
(28:07) Who are the partners who support Unshattered and who believe in them walking their journey with them? Find out here.
(31:30) What’s the process to teach women new to the program how to sew? Well, Amanda is personally developing a documented plan to replace teaching on the fly!
(34:37) What’s next for Amanda in her incredible journey? Owning her own business is in her future as her dream! But there’s more…
(35:58) Is there a question we didn’t ask that she wished that we had asked?
(37:12) How can you reach Amanda? amanda@unshattered.org. Or on Instagram. Let her know you heard her episode on Sew & So
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 06 Jan 2022 | Becky Glasby - National Quilt Museum | 00:49:28 | |
Becky loves all aspects of quilting—from choosing the pattern to cutting the fabric, to stitching and piecing and mixing up patterns and colors. She also loves machine quilting—especially free motion quilting. Because she doesn’t have to follow a set pattern and can basically do whatever she wants, she feels that it enhances her ability to create and be artistic. She compares free motion quilting to handwriting. “Whether it's meanders or stipples, or swirls or squiggly lines, you know whatever it is you're creating it's not always going to look exactly the same from one person to the next…like handwriting, you have your own speed, your own density of the quilting.” And as Becky explains to her students, like handwriting it takes practice. (6:56 -11:02) She speaks in-depth about the inspiration she gets from the exhibitions at the museum and the artists she’s met through her work there. She explains that it’s impossible to pick just one quilt or artist, or exhibit that stands out because there’s always something new and exciting happening. She loves meandering through the museum and talking to the guests about the quilts and exhibits. Becky is involved in a lot of different things at the museum, from the youth program to the school block challenge to the junior quilter’s club, to meeting artists and being involved in social media. The creativity and jumping from one project to another keeps things fun and interesting. One of her favorite aspects of the job is teaching the next generation of quilters at quilt camp, which is held every June. Some are beginners, many of whom are learning about quilting and using a sewing machine for the first time. The intermediate group is using machines to do binding and learning other techniques. Because they’ve been in the program for four or five years, it’s exciting to see how their personalities evolve and how they’re reflected in their quilting. The advanced quilters get to do free quilting and put their own spin on the patterns provided. You hear the pride in Becky’s voice as she talks about being able to pass the skill in this art form onto to the next generation and watching them grow with it from year to year. (18:37-22:22) An international destination for quilters, The Quilt Museum is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. The process of selecting artists and pieces to be exhibited in its contemporary collection is fascinating, and quite involved, as there are two side galleries with at least three rotating exhibits at any given time. As a non-profit organization, most of their more than 660 quilts are donated; about half our hand-stitched, half-machine sewn, with others using a combination of both techniques. 97% of the work exhibited is by women artists. The museum has between 40,000 to 50,000 visitors from around the globe each year; many of them are in the spring for Quilt Week. Another global attraction is the online Block of the Month Club. Started in 2018, it currently has 21,000 members globally. As Becky talks about the wealth of programs offered by the museum, its growing community of passionate quilters, and the many little-known facts about the museum, you can see that this is a woman who is 100% dedicated to celebrating contemporary quilters and their work. (37:49-44:52) Be sure to join us for this fascinating podcast, brimming with possibilities, potential, and passion. Becky’s contact information is on the museum’s website, quiltmuseum.org. You can also connect with Becky and the museum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 18 Jul 2024 | Ann Brauer - It Floated Away | 00:35:24 | |
Ann Brauer’s work has been featured in numerous museums, institutions and private collections including the American Museum of Art + Design, the Lodge at Turning Stone in Verona, NY, the Federal District Courthouse in Springfield, MA and Pat Metheny.
When born on a farm in Illinois, her grandmother made a postage stamp quilt made from feed sack cloth which Ann slept under for years and always found different patterns and fabrics she used to create the overall design. She sewed her first doll dress at 5 and made it known to her mother that to spend time together, they would have to do so at the local fabric shop.
Ann quit sewing in college, then took it up again after graduation. Working as a lawyer post education she used some quilting techniques to write complex citations!
She has won numerous awards, been featured in myriad publications and had created several commissioned pieces.
(2:28) Ann tells us about the special quilt her grandmother made for her when she was born.
(3:17) She sewed her first doll clothing at 5 years of age with the help of a family friend and shares that story with us. (4:02) In high school Ann created costumes for musicals…she tells us about her favorite costume creations and why she chose to do this. And then…there was 4H!
(5:42) Ann loved to create from Vogue patterns…the challenge was so much fun, but she didn’t wear her creations.
(6:57) After college Ann took to quilting as she would hang out in the fabric shops in Boston’s Chinatown. It was her roommate that got her going. And, her first quilt…an Ohio Star!
(8:44) What’s her favorite quilt?
(10:00) While practicing law, Ann used quilting techniques to prepare her briefs. She explains this unusual approach.
(11:46) At age 30, Ann found a cabin, moved there and decided to see if she could support herself as a quilt maker. How did that work out for her? Find out here!
(17:20) Ann talks about life and quilt creation during the Art Quilt movement and described her quilts which are on display in various museums.
(19:43) How did the events of 9/11 affect hew work? It definitely increased the traffic into her studio.
(21:01) Ann tells us why she chose to locate her studio in Shelburne Falls, MA.
(22:44) Tropical Storm Irene managed to uproot Ann’s beloved studio and float it down the river. Ann was out of town as was her husband…she wasn’t worried. But then she got the phone call.
(30:22) So, what’s Ann creating today?! And what’s next?
(32:19) What’s her dream?
You can reach Ann at www.annbrauer.com and on Instagram @Annbrauerquilts. Or visit her at her studio…the address is on the 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. | |||
| 10 Apr 2025 | Beth Donaldson – The Quilt Index | 00:40:34 | |
Our guest today is Beth Donaldson, quiltmaker, quilt book author, and Associate Director of the Quilt Index www.quiltindex.org an online repository of quilt information housed at MATRIX: Center for Digital Humanities & Social Sciences at Michigan State University (https://matrix.msu.edu/),East Lansing, Michigan. Born and raised in suburban Detroit, Beth made her first quilt in 1974. She taught quilting beginning in the 1980’s and has written two books on quilting, Block By Block, and Charm Quilts and co-authored two others, Quilts and Human Rights and Quilts and Health. She’s taught, lectured and run quilt retreats…and in 1997 got a job in the quilt collection at the MSU Museum where the Quilt Index was developed.Beth has since retired from the MSU Museum but still works on the Quilt Index which now contains 96,860 entries. Beth has two adult children, one grandson and she and her husband of 45 years make their home in Lansing, MI. Hello Beth and Welcome to Sew & So (2:05) Beth’s mom and sister both sewed…Beth learned from them and especially her7th grade Home Economics class. This first quilt had 5 later! After 5 years is collapsed under its own weight. Favorite quilt…1873 “We Wish You A Merry Christmas Mrs. Haft!”
(2:56) 1974 as a high school junior, Beth and her friends created their first quilts. (5:15) Beth is deeply involved in the quilting community starting in 1984 with the Kansas City Quilt Guild. Elected VP…she served for a month until the President left, and she stepped up to run the guild. “When you volunteer, you make friends!”
(6:50) Beth talks about the special moments she holds from her teaching. Quilters may not say yes…but they sure know what they don’t like! (8:00) Beth explains machine quilting as-you-go. (9:43) Beth taught classes in her sister’s historic hotel in Petosky, MI. She explains how this came to be and why her classes became so popular so quickly. Learn why she hired, fired and then rehired herself as a teacher for these classes. (11:22) Beth explains how she came to work for the Michigan State University Quilt Index. It began with “Quilt Documentation” and the American Quilt Study Group. In 1984 Beth got involved with the Michigan statewide project…after documenting she volunteered to help choose which quilts would go into the quilt books. What happened after that? Listen here to find out! (16:10) How did Michigan State University become the location for keeping the Quilt Index? (17:28) How is all of this documentation coordinated? Learn about the MATRIX system at Michigan State. Also, learn how the documentation data differed from state to state and why…if you don’t ask the question, you won’t get the answer! Learn the enormous complexities involved in finding and coordinating quilt records. Do you have records you think might be of interest to Beth? Email her at donald20@msu.edu. Of find her contact information on the Quilt Index webpage. Have a quilt to submit – go to the Quilt In (24:10) Did you know that Rosa Parks and Susan B. Anthony were quilters? Learn about their work and that of Ruth Clement Bond who designed quilts in the 1930’s as they worked on the TVA in the 1930’s…known as The Lazy Man Quilts. Learn how the phrase Black Power was used for the first time. Also hear about the Sears Century of Progress Quilts. Marikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman’s book on this contest talks of the 25,000 entries. Do you know Bertha Stenge, the queen of quilting in the 1940’s? learn about her here too! (28:30) Want to learn how to use the index? Beth explains how…right here! www.quiltindex.org . Hear her tips and tricks for navigating the site. (35:40) Her favorite thing about the quilt index? It’s not curated…they want everything! (37:05) What’s next for Beth? Find out here?! (37:58) What’s next for The Quilt Project? So very much…learn about it all here! Questions about the Quilt Index? Reach out to Beth at donald20@MSU.edu. On the Quilt Index site…fill out the contact form and that will go right to Beth as well Thank you for joining the fascinating episode about Beth and The Quilt Index. If you reach out to Beth, be sure to tell her you learned about The Quilt Index on Sew & So.
Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss future episodes! Follow Sew & So Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 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. | |||
| 24 Jun 2021 | Julian Collins & Monica Tetteh - Sewing Change | 00:45:46 | |
This fascinating podcast features the individual and shared journeys of two exceptionally talented sewists who learned to sew through watching videos, reading, and attending “YouTube University.” Both love bold fabrics and prints that echo their heritage. Both create from the heart. With roots in Ghana, South Africa, Monica was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Dallas, Texas. She took up sewing on the tenth Mother’s Day after her mother’s death as a way to feel more connected to her. Although her mother was an avid sewist, Monica never thought she’d be bitten by the sewing bug. Her passion for fashion proved otherwise. She’s the founder of Project Sew, an in-person, all-day sewing meetup inspired by Project Runway. She’s also the host of a monthly sew-along on Instagram called, Sew your View. Julian’s passion for sewing is also on full display. A public health worker in Cincinnati, Ohio he brings joy to the world through his colorful menswear creations. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including Sewn Magazine and Sew News. Julian is a BERNINA® Ambassador and a Laurastar Ambassador. When he’s not sewing, he loves connecting with people throughout the sewing community. His Facebook group Sew Manly addresses men’s inclusion in the sewing space, including sis gender and transgender. Although he’s done a little bit of everything, Julian loves to focus on classic menswear with a bold take of fabrics and prints—especially Ankara fabrics and other African textiles. With her strong roots in Africa, Monica is also drawn to its bold and vibrant prints. She started out creating long cascading dresses and what she refers to as “fun glam.” Today, she’s focused on creating women’s fashion and resort-style wear. Their shared affinity for Ankara fabrics and other African textiles isn’t the only thing Monica and Julian have in common. (4:46 – 6:20) Monica shares how the death of George Floyd made her realize the need for action. She put together a Zoom call of black makers in a show of solidarity. They shared their own stories and discussed ways they could highlight the voices and talents of black makers and ensure they got credit for their creations. Monica and Julian marvel at how a three-hour call ended up becoming a full-blown coalition with a mission to bring about cultural transformation in the sewing and crafting industry. As a result of their work, change is starting to occur. Machine companies, like BERNINA and Janome, are open to having discussions on building diversity. Craft and fabric stores are beginning to show different genders, body shapes, and ethnicities in their advertising. Thousands of creators are joining the movement and using their energy to create a crafting world that is inclusive of all people, all races, all nationalities, all bodies, and all genders. (13:49- 19:31) In their words, “This is a movement, not a moment.” Companies looking for makers that are willing to go out and speak or get involved in other ways can visit blkmakersmatter@gmail.com or they can go to the @blkmakersmatter Instagram page, where there’s a link to a makers’ list of allies and businesses who support the initiative. (24:50-25:50) During the conversation, Monica and Julian explore what it means to truly be an ally; how it’s getting involved in the work, having a conversation with your circle of influence, building connections, and working for social justice. In their words, “This is a movement, not a moment.” Each person needs to realize that there are multiple roads in this journey, not everyone is on the same road, and that we all need to be respectful of that. Even in our discomfort, we all need to move together in unity. To really appreciate the depth and breadth of the commitment and passion of these two amazing artists and activists, you need to tune in and catch this casual conversation. To learn more or to reach out to Monica and/or Julian, go to: blkmakersmatter@gmail.com To connect with Monica, visit Monica@Thatsewmonica.com, Thatssewmonica at YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Etsy To connect with Julian, go to Julian Creates on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube, and “Sew Manly” on Facebook 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. | |||
| 10 Nov 2022 | Linnca Stevens & The Sewing Labs- Sewing for a Better Tomorrow | 00:30:54 | |
Linnca Stevens is the co-founder of The Sewing Labs – a non-profit in Kansas City, MO whose mission is to create a community and teach sewing toward employment, entrepreneurship, and enrichment. Hear Linnca’s biographical journey toward where she is today and why she started the Sewing Labs. Her grandmother Margaret, a Swedish immigrant taught her to sew and as a young child, Linnca was eager to learn! Enjoying making several types of garments, she works with mixed fabrics and recently created a jacket out of KC Chiefs t-shirts and even a Dolly Parton quilt. Linnca believes that sewing is a universal language and that it’s a great equalizer. Her explain this belief. Sewing is also a survival skill for her, she describes how the flow through her hands settles her. She founded the Sewing Labs with two others who she knew for many years when they all saw how sewing can rise people up. She explains that their classes are open to all, and their workforce development program teaches sewing, industrial sewing machine operators and they partner with businesses in the community to place people into jobs. She then shares stories of a few people who have turned their lives around through the Sewing Labs’ program. In total…they have 200+ people per year complete their program. Linnca talks about the overall impact that sewing has on our overall economy – basically the majority of the items we touch and use every day. She adds that sewing doesn’t get the respect that other skills/professions get and that it should be raised up to that level if one is an amazing sewist. Hear her passion for working on the respect and recognition that sewing deserves. Linnca then reaches out to the clothing and fashion houses and challenges them to become more intimately involved with sewists and not take them for granted. During the pandemic, sewing grew. Linnca addresses this benefit and tells her ideas for keeping this momentum going. Volunteer KC is a current recipient of this redoubled efforts. She Talks about the “Sewcials” they host locally to perpetuate this effort. When asked about her dream – she replies that she’s currently living it. Hear more! She also gives props to her sister and her team for their work and emphasizes community to raise each other up! You can call Linnca for more information at 816-888-3051 or email her at Linnca@thesewinglabs.community. She and the Sewing Labs can also be found in Instagram and Facebook. Tell her you heard her story on Sew & So! If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com 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 www.sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our guests. 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. | |||
| 23 Nov 2023 | Kelly Dempsey - When You Think It’s Falling Apart…It’s Really Falling Into Place | 00:34:23 | |
Our guest today is Kelly Dempsey – a sustainable fashion designer and Project Runway Season 14 runner-up. She has become a leading voice for sustainability and equitability in the fashion industry and has been featured on Good Morning American and in Marie Claire. Born and raised in Munsen, MA, Kelly taught herself to upcycle when she was 9 years old. Bullied in school, she used these experiences to eventually launch a terrifically successful career. Her passion for upcycling has led her to numerous opportunities - several of which are her courses on sewing and upcycling. When not teaching or creating, Kelly loves to be in nature. She currently lives in Boston with her boyfriend of 10 years. (1:34) How did Kelly learn to sew? As a 9-year-old she started to experiment! As a kid she would shop at the secondhand store two doors down and since she was in a small town…she inevitably ended up buying her school mate’s clothes. This led to some pretty intense bullying. So…she experimented and learned to make her own clothing. (3:45) In the bullying she experienced, Kelly said it ignited her to be strong. Listen as she gives advice to those who are being bullied today. (5:17) And then there’s “Kelly from the Deli” who stared on Project Runway. Here’s her story about this adventure. And…she got a surprise email to be on the show. (7:10) While on Project Runway, Kelly took Tim Gunn to the Deli where she had worked. She had often dreamed of this…and 10 years to the day she first thought of it…he was there! (8:00) How did she finally get to be on the show. Well after sleeping in her car many times…she never gave up. She takes us on the journey. (9:30) She was he only self-taught designer on the show…she explains how this felt and how it motivated her! (10:28) Kelly takes us behind the scenes of Project runway and shares with us the different requirements. And how she had to put her life on hold for the duration of filming the show. (13:30) Kelly talks about fast fashion and how it adds to pollution worldwide. 1 in four people in the world are garment workers…and most are women. She describes the conditions they work in. (18:20) What can we as consumers do with the clothing we no longer need? Kelly explains the theory of shopping our closets. She also talks about her “Mittens for Good” initiative sponsored by BERNINA. (20:58) Kelly explains upcycling and how to get started. (22:44) Mettler Thread https://www.amann-mettler.com/en/ and Kelly just completed one of her very favorite upcycling projects. She talks about this and some of her other favorite projects. (25:06) She takes us through the process she follows to create her courses. (26:11) Kelly’s heard “NO” many times…she tells us abut how she worked her way through a few of these times. Starting with sending 50 emails a day! What you’re seeking is seeking you! (28:14) So, what’s next? How about being an ambassador for the New York Fashion Act?! https://www.thefashionact.org/ But wait...there’s more! (30:00) What’s her dream?! (30:28) And what didn’t I ask? Well, how about her being on a billboard in Time Square during New York Fashion Week?! There was definitely Karma involved! (31:55) To reach out to Kelly go to her Face Book and Instagram. Lots of links on Instagram! Also www.Kelleydempsey.com.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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 www.sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our guests. 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. | |||
| 13 May 2021 | Corin Wright - When You See a Chance…Take It! | 00:42:24 | |
Corin’s love of sewing began as a teenager when she enrolled in her high school’s fashion textiles program. It was here that she learned how to drape, draft and sew on an industrial machine. Knowing she wanted to be a fashion designer, Corin received a BA in Fashion Design at Norfolk State University. Unable to find work in the industry when she went to New York, where she went on to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Styling. Corin’s first internship was with the trade publication DNR, where she was afforded the opportunity to actually do work an assistant stylist would do. It was through this internship that she got her first freelance styling job for a trade show. Although sewing always came naturally for Corin, and she excelled at it, she used to say she hated sewing. Once she discovered tailoring, however, she realized it wasn’t sewing she hated, but the type of sewing she had been doing. “What I do love is tailoring. It’s fast. It challenges my brain. I do it. I’m done with it, and then I can move onto something else. [8:12 – 10:10]. The joy comes in not knowing what challenge each tailoring assignment will present. Corin shares that when she’s tailoring on set for a Broadway show, she feels like she’s walking into something new every day. She likes not knowing what kind of fabric she’ll be working with or what type of tailoring she’ll be doing. Once she discovered the thrill of tailoring and re-constructing garments, she knew she’d found her niche. Her story of how she originally got into Broadway and TV is fascinating; how she managed to get into the wardrobe union, and then tour with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey Dance Company. After 9 years of touring domestically and internationally with Alvin Ailey, she was ready to be home. (13:50 16:34) After returning to New York, she started stitching and dressing on Broadway, and then became an on-set tailor. Because she excelled at what she did, she continued to be referred for jobs. She was on an e-commerce job when a stylist asked her to take her place working with a celebrity performer. Then that stylist referred her. And then another. And another. “That’s how it works,” says Corin, “whether it’s Broadway or TV on on-set tailoring, it’s showing up and being the best person you can be. (19:05 -20:18). Speaking of celebrity, Corin’s story about some unexpected on-set tailoring for Maria Carey’s Christmas show. “All I Want for Christmas,” is not to be missed. Armed only with two safety pins, she was able to fix an outfit malfunction, and do a little free-styling with Mariah. You can hear the delightful and amusing story on the podcast (29:13-33:55), and then watch the actual event on Instagram. Styling for Broadway isn’t the only thing Corin excels at. Her passion for dressing women from all walks of life is evident as she talks about the Style Haven experience: an online store, brick and mortar fashion and accessory boutique, and a 24-ft. traveling boutique truck that provides women with an immersive styling experience. How does she successfully juggle being a swing dresser on Broadway, taking on tailoring gigs, and running a successful retail operation? Planning. Lots of planning. You can learn more about Corin on Instagram @Stylehaven, shopstylehaven.com, or by emailing her at hello@thecorinewright.com 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. | |||
| 26 May 2022 | Visiting the National Quilt Museum During Quilt Week 2022 | 00:44:12 | |
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 info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 06 Jul 2023 | Cookie Washington - The Divine Feminine | 01:03:46 | |
Cookie Washington, born in Morocco, is a fourth-generation needle worker, award winning textile artist and guest curator of the African American Fiber Arts Exhibit which is part of the North Charleston Arts Festival.
Her passion for fiber art is infectious and she comes from a long line of sewists dating back to her great-grandmother.
She’s been selected as one of 44 master quilters to create a quilt for Barak Obama’s inauguration and has been featured in documentary films.
(2:28) At four years old, Cookie was paid 50 cents by her grandfather for sewing her first Barbie dress - she shares this story. In addition, she talks about the female lineage in her family that inspired, mentored, and encouraged her sewing. She also talks of her sewing plans for her three granddaughters. (7:00) Then, Cookie transitioned to fabric art during a difficult time in her life - she shares this story. A Communion of Sprits; African American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories by Roland Freeman created a tipping point in her creativity and she opens up about how this happened. (10:46) Cookie talks about her personal connection to the attack at Mother Emanuel Church and how she used her quilts to help heal the city. Her art to her is a meditative prayer.
(13:21) What’s the Divine Feminine and what does it mean to her? She shares the meaning of this and how it led to her work with mermaids.
(16:15) Cookie does a lot of curatorial art to foster introspection, communication and provide education. She walks us through her process for this, and how we can celebrate our sameness and be inquisitive about our differences. She shares stories about her work “A Dialog in Black and White” and how she believes her ministry is to bring people together.
(10:25) “I want to make art that challenges people to feel. Art that makes them soar and annoys.” Cookie explains how this drives her creations. She also talks about Henrietta Lacks and “The Immortal Cell” and the art she created to celebrate this amazing woman. She also talks about how she artistically captures the physicality of Serena and Venus Williams, and Simone Biles in her work.
(32:58) In addition to her work, she donates her time and talent to serve in many ways which she tells us about. She also shares news about her current project “Quilted Hugs”. (39:20) Cookie believes that there is a shift in the art community and sewing that is moving from utilitarian out of necessity to art that celebrates. She explains her position on this shift invoking Bisa Butler and Michelangelo!
(46:00) Right before the podcast was recorded, Cookie had the “Best Weekend Ever” in her curating the exhibit “Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America”. This is a wonderful story here about the genesis of this exhibit of 150 pieces and the effect is had on the art community. She talks of the contributions of Dr. Lauren Davis and Dr. Henry Drewal to this event. The event exceeded her expectations and dreams!
(56:47) What’s her dream? To keep encouraging people to quilt. She will move forward with this at The Kindred Spirits Conference. She also has a show coming up in November where she’ll display her Quilted Hug project. She wants to learn the longarm too!
(59: 43) What didn’t I ask? About her granddaughters!!!!
(1:00:33) To reach out to Cookie email her at Cookiesews1960@gmail.com and her website www.cookiesewsquilts.com. And Instagram @cookiwsews.
(1:01:54) Oh, and by the way, how did we find Cookie for Sew & So? Learn that here!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.
(10:46) Cookie talks about her personal connection to the attack at Mother Emanuel Church and how she used her quilts to help heal the city. Her art to her is a meditative prayer.
(13:21) What’s the Divine Feminine and what does it mean to her? She shares the meaning of this and how it led to her work with mermaids.
(16:15) Cookie does a lot of curatorial art to foster introspection, communication and provide education. She walks us through her process for this, and how we can celebrate our sameness and be inquisitive about our differences. She shares stories about her work “A Dialog in Black and White” and how she believes her ministry is to bring people together.
(10:25) “I want to make art that challenges people to feel. Art that makes them soar and annoys.” Cookie explains how this drives her creations. She also talks about Henrietta Lacks and “The Immortal Cell” and the art she created to celebrate this amazing woman. She also talks about how she artistically captures the physicality of Serena and Venus Williams, and Simone Biles in her work.
(32:58) In addition to her work, she donates her time and talent to serve in many ways which she tells us about. She also shares news about her current project “Quilted Hugs”. (39:20) Cookie believes that there is a shift in the art community and sewing that is moving from utilitarian out of necessity to art that celebrates. She explains her position on this shift invoking Bisa Butler and Michelangelo!
(46:00) Right before the podcast was recorded, Cookie had the “Best Weekend Ever” in her curating the exhibit “Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America”. This is a wonderful story here about the genesis of this exhibit of 150 pieces and the effect is had on the art community. She talks of the contributions of Dr. Lauren Davis and Dr. Henry Drewal to this event. The event exceeded her expectations and dreams!
(56:47) What’s her dream? To keep encouraging people to quilt. She will move forward with this at The Kindred Spirits Conference. She also has a show coming up in November where she’ll display her Quilted Hug project. She wants to learn the longarm too!
(59: 43) What didn’t I ask? About her granddaughters!!!!
(1:00:33) To reach out to Cookie email her at Cookiesews1960@gmail.com and her website www.cookiesewsquilts.com. And Instagram @cookiwsews.
(1:01:54) Oh, and by the way, how did we find Cookie for Sew & So? Learn that here!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 14 Apr 2022 | Sarah Caldwell - From Frogs to Frodo | 00:41:54 | |
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 info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 20 Dec 2021 | Sew & So Christmas Holiday Special 2021 | 00:19:27 | |
After hearing how the dedicated teachers at North Charleston High School created a Makerspace for their students, BERNINA and Craig Conover from Bravo TV, Southern Charm, and the owner of Sewing Down South, decided to outfit the space so that NCHS scholars could dream, create and pursue their passion. This story of creativity and hope began when Ms. Connell, an art teacher at NCHS and founder of the school’s Makerspace, noticed that there was a lot of interest in sewing and fashion. After receiving a donation of fabric, she had the students experiment with sewing pillows, and from there the idea of a Makerspace started to take shape. Ms. Connell has teamed up with Ms. Murray, a team member and librarian at NCHS to further develop the program. Meanwhile, Ms. Clegg, who runs the Liberty Hill STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Initiative in the North District, has also jumped in to help. Thanks to the participation of several partners including Boeing and CCFC, the Makerspace has expanded to additional schools in the northern district and will now include grades K-12. As these dedicated professionals share their stories and the evolution of a Makerspace program for aspiring scholars, the excitement is palpable. According to Ms. Clegg, the machines donated by BERNINA, and the other partnerships they’ve formed will be the foundation for the Makerspace in the area, which will help these young scholars learn life skills and artistic ways to express themselves. BERNINA credits Craig Conover’s sewing journey as the initial source of their inspiration to get involved with this amazing local effort—so when BERNINA donated 12 Bernette machines to NCHS, Craig Conover accompanied them. He provided words of support and encouragement, while also presenting them with a challenge to create. Craig shares that he was bullied a lot growing up, and that sewing was one of his outlets for dealing with it—although he mostly did it in the privacy of his home. He also talks about how, when he was growing up there were no Makerspaces, and goes on to say, “Having a space in the school where you can explore your creative side comfortably and encourage each other, it's just great.” Craig’s ability to escape negative feelings through the act of sewing and his realization that there’s beauty in imperfection informed his decision to start Sewing Down South. He talks about his journey of starting the business with his business partner Jerry Casselano, how sewing is therapeutic, and how the machines that were donated will enable young scholars to bring a lot of joy to people. He knows that while the pressure about gender norms isn’t as great as it used to be, kids still aren’t really introduced to sewing and cooking. He also knows that a lot of them don’t have a sewing machine at home, so they don’t have the chance to discover their talent. He shares his excitement at the prospect that Programs like Makerspace can really help students discover a talent they didn’t even know they had. (5:26-9:23) We talked to so many wonderful individuals at this event; professionals who are committed to helping these students grow and evolve their passions. As Ms. Clegg so aptly states, “What's special about our scholars is a lot of people sell them short… We not only want to show our neighborhoods, our cities, our state, and the world that our scholars can fly, we want to prove to them that they can fly.” Craig and his partner Jerry are providing an opportunity for these young scholars to do just that. They shared their support of them and put forth a challenge that could result in some young scholars having the opportunity to sell their creations from the “creator’s corner” in their store. His show, and his store, are about breaking down gender stereotypes and showing boys and girls that they can succeed at anything they want, from sports to sewing. “Let’s get out of the shadow,” he encourages them, “let’s have fun and connect,” (15:43 – 17:56) Talking with all of the wonderful people in this podcast proves that good still exists and that it’s this good that will shape the futures of the young scholars at NCHS. If you want to be uplifted this holiday, listen to this special podcast and share the power of love, giving back, and helping our students understand that they can do more than just walk through this life…they can fly! If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@soandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 25 May 2023 | Jedimanda - My Life in Cosplay | 00:37:58 | |
Jedimanda is a professional seamstress, author and avid costumer. She’s been features in numerous publications, won awards for her costuming, and loves travel as much as she loves cosplay.
At (1:54) she tells us why C2E2 Chicago is her vary favorite convention…and shares the story of how she learned to sew…and how this led to her first job in college. She takes us through her Senior thesis project and how she made things work to her liking.
(5:34) Jedimanda provides a detailed description of the costume she wore during our interview and how she took this idea from imagination to reality.
(6:42) How did she discover and get into cosplay? She shares her journey. And how many costumes has she made…listen to find out.
(10:12) Convention competitions are a part of every event – she walks us through the specifics of how these work. And opens up about how it feels for her when she participates in one., also talking of how special she feels to interact with other participants.
(14:47) Why does she attend conventions? Her friends play a big part in this for her.
(16:09) After college, Jedimanda worked for the Louisville Ballet, her love and appreciation for theatre grew exponentially during this time. Hear how this shaped her future.
(17:34) She has a deep love and works with SheProp! – a female centered; non-binary LGBTQ centered Facebook Group founded by her good friend Beverly Downing. Jedimanda talks about this group, their work and why it’s important to her.
(21:00) How did she choose the name Jedimanda? She tells us the story. And what’s her brand? At (21:59) she tells us.
(23:03) Her brand-new book – her second- “Level-Up Creative Cosplay” recently launched. Hear the myriad topics she covers in this terrific new venture.
(25:20) Her 9 to 5 is leading marketing at the Speed Museum in Louisville, KY. Jedimanda calls this her dream job…learn how cosplay was instrumental in her landing this position. Also, learn who she calls her favorite artist.
(28:37) What inspires her and what does the cosplay community mean to her? She lets us in on this!
(32:32) What’s next for her in her competitions and the possible road to the world event in Barcelona? She will take us along with her on that road. Her dream? To be interested, open, and humble.
(35:00) And finally, she shares her biggest tips for someone wanting to start in cosplay. If you want to reach out to Jedimanda, you can do so on all social media mostly on Instagram and TikTok as Jedimanda.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 09 Nov 2023 | Kenneth D. King - The Universe Just Might Say Yes | 00:52:47 | |
Born in Salinas Kansas and eventually raised in Oklahoma, Kenneth knew at a very young age who he was and what he wanted to do. He just didn’t understand the road he would travel to get there. He earned a BS in fashion merchandising from Central State University in Wilberforce, OH and learned pattern making in San Francisco from Paris trained Simmin Sethna Kenneth has sold to boutiques across the country such as Maxfield, Wilkes Bashford, and Ultimo. His work has appeared in music videos and television commercials…he designed for Geena Davis, Cloris Leachman, Bernie Taupin and Elton John He’s also been featured on the red carpet for the Oscars. His creations are in the permanent collections of the De Young Museum in San Francisco, the L.A. County Museum of Art, The Oakland Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of New York and teaches around the United States and online. He’s a Contributing Editor and author to Threads Magazine, has courses on Craftsy and Burda, and has written many books on couture sewing techniques. Kenneth currently lives in New York with his husband Andrew Marley. (2:19) Kenneth takes us back to his childhood, talks of his parents and the people who have powerful influences in his life. He tells us when he started and what he liked to sew. His move to Oklahoma was traumatic, but he used this to fuel his resolve.
(6:44) Why did Kenneth choose to sew as an outlet? He explains… And he introduces us to Estelle. (7:55) His grandmother was his champion in his finding himself. He introduces us to her. (9:55) Who is Norma and how did she influence Kenneth? He talks us back to their meeting in 1983 and shares this story… (13:36) Kenneth expounds on the influence that San Francisco’s Beaux Arts architecture had had on his work.
(15:00) How does Kenneth feels about beauty in creativity in today’s modern design? Pretty strongly as he explains. And don’t use the word “edgy”! As part of this, he takes us inside San Francisco’s famous Opera house and describes the reopening gala performance.
(19:12) Kenneth’s creations are not just worn, they are a part of the whole experience. He explains what this means…the person wearing it is the star!
(20:14) He has developed several techniques to make his creations more wearable and comfortable…he shares a few of these secrets.
(21:40) And what took Kenneth to San Francisco…? He takes us on this fortuitous journey.
(22:55) Mariano Fortuny www.fortuny.com had a technique that greatly influenced Kenneth as did Swarovski www.swarovski.com. Hear about these influences and how he created a chair slipcover for Swarovski.
(26:32) And how did Elton John get one of Kenneth’s footstools? This is quite a story…hear it here! Elton John also owns a lot of “the good stuff” See several of Elton’s videos featuring Kenneth’s creations https://www.kennethdking.com/copy-of-what-s-new.
(30:52) Now a part of pop culture…he has created for red carpets and many A List stars. He shares a few of the stories of how this came to be. And how does it work today…he shares the process and why is doesn’t work for him now.
(32:29) The Orchid Broach which he created in 1987…but didn’t wear until his wedding day in 2016 is an important part of his life. Learn why. And hear the story of how he met his now husband. And…then there’s the famous evening embellishment vests – a signature style of his.
(40:36) Doll Couture: The Story of Lolawww.lolatheshowgirl124.com is Kenneth’s upcoming new book. The story of how this tome came to be is a wonderful as the book itself. Kenneth shares the backstory and gives us a sneak peek at the book’s plot.
(44:06) And what’s the best decision he ever made?! His answer to a pointed question steered the course of his life.
(47:10) What’s his dream and what’s next? Well spy clothes and his Screen Play.
(50:50) To reach out to him go to www.kennethdking.com and at Instagram @Kennethdking If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 03 Aug 2023 | Bernina University 2023 - Sharing the Joy | 00:57:14 | |
(2:39) The opening ceremonies raised the excitement of the crowd – kicked off by Paul Ashworth – President of BERNINA of North America. (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-22-paul-ashworth) He was followed by several more BERNINA luminaries…Christy Burcham - VP Training and Education BERNINA of America, Claudia Stauber – VP Marketing BERNINA International, and Kai Hillebrandt – CEO BERNINA Textile Group.
(5:12) Then Yaya Han (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode64-courage-cosplay-yaya-han) namesake of the new bernette 79 Yaya Han edition took the stage.
(8:42) Hear the first impressions of those who tried out the brand-new BERNINA 790 Pro
(10:18) Claudia Stauber, VP/Marketing BERNINA International joins us to explain the new BERNINA campaign “It’s a Big Day”. In addition, we got to know her a little better!
(15:04) Annette Varner, Brand Manager of BERNINA International, added her input to the work of building this new campaign.
(17:07) Michaelynn Rose, VP/Marketing BERNINA of America, jumps in to talk about BERNINA’s new products.
(18:04) Some of our favorite Sew & So moments are to catch up with past guests on this podcast. We talked with Sarah Caldwell (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode31-sarah-caldwell-from-frogs-to-frodo), Sarah Joiner (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode54-sarah-joiner), Sue from Sookie Sews (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode50-sue-overy-pruitt) and Sylvain Bergeron (https://weallsew.com/author/snbergeron/) who will join us on a future episode
(25:10) The cosplay market is a new focus for BERNINA in the coming year. Carolyn Kinder Brand Manager for bernette tells us how this came to be and how Yaya Han became the name/face of this project. She also talks about the importance of this community.
(28:40) Then Yaya Hahn herself joined us to talk about her love of sewing, how the dream of working with BERNINA began and how it resulted in the bernette 79 Yaya Han Edition.
(35:34) We got to visit with three companies who are partners to BERNINA and who each provide quality products that make sewists’ jobs easier. Horn of America (https://www.hornofamerica.com/), OESD (https://embroideryonline.com/oesd/) and Fat Quarter (https://www.fatquarter.com)
(39:04) Bob Negan, a popular retail expert known as one of the most innovative consultants, speakers, and trainers today, sat with us to talk about the courses he teaches to BERNINA Dealers during BERNINA University (https://whizbangtraining.com/).
(41:15) As the event progressed, we got to visit with even more past Sew & So guests, Joe Vecchiarelli (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-28-joe-vecchiarelli), Marissa Marquez (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-26-marisa-marquez), Gail Yellen (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-14-gail-yellen) and Pam Mahshie (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-9-pam-mahshie)
(49:33) Dealers came to Dallas from around the world because of the importance of this event. Thomas and Chris from Switzerland joined us to talk about their establishments.
(50:45) Phillip Ueltschi of the Ueltschi family who owns BERNINA, talked with us about what’s new with his family and BERNINA and BERNINA University.
(52:47) Christy Burcham – VP Education and Training at BERNINA of America ran down all the new products.
(53:29) After 4 long days, Phillip Ueltschi brought it all home at the closing ceremony. He talks about the family feeling that BERNINA brings to their dealers and customers…and introduced his son Felix – the 6th generation.
Thank you for joining us for stories of innovation, risk taking and meeting new friends at this year’s BERNINA University 2023!
Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 28 Oct 2021 | Deanna Springer - The Legacy Carries On | 00:45:15 | |
Deanna’s love for all things sewing began when she was a young girl when she was nurtured by her mom, her grandmothers, and 4H. She talks fondly of the many memories she has of growing up among sewists, including how, every Christmas Eve she and her three sisters would listen to the hum of the sewing machine from the other room, and awaken Christmas morning to find new robes hanging on their doors. These priceless memories of creating and sharing gifts from the heart played an important role in her career choice. In 2007 Nancy Zieman and Deanna started Nancy Zieman Productions (NZP), where they worked side by side for 10 years. After launching NZP, they launched a new blog, social media channels, and over 40 sewing and quilting products, including tools, patterns, and books. The NZP team also produced 12 seasons of “Sewing with Nancy” with Wisconsin Public Television. Upon Nancy’s passing in 2017, Deanna continued to carry her legacy forward through a variety of venues, including the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, and the spring travel circuit. As Deanna puts it, “It’s a way to share our love of sewing with the world.” Another way, she and her sisters share that love is the Stitch It! Sisters video series. Part of the Nancy Zieman production blog, Stitch it! Sisters also has its own YouTube channel. (7:30-12:55) Now in its 17th year, Deanna talks about how the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show began, and how it continues to be a great opportunity for people to share their love of quilting. She is also in charge of the Annual sewing event, Sew Quilt Create. Throughout our conversation, Deanna is passionate about celebrating her craft and her mentor. (18:55 – 22:47) As the conversation wraps up, Deanna talks about the many barriers Nancy broke through in the ’70s and ’80s, and how she really changed the industry. It’s evident that Deanna shares many of her friend’s traits as well as her drive and vision. (30:41-37:30) Case in point: this fall, Deanna will be opening the Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio in Beaver Dam, WI. You can reach Deanna at stitchitsisters.com, nancyzieman.com or at her many social sites. And of course, you can stop by the new store when it opens. 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. | |||
| 21 Jul 2022 | Kaffe Fassett & Brandon Mably - Color As a Life-Enhancing Force | 01:02:37 | |
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 info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 13 Feb 2025 | Linda Z’s First-Ever Fall Festival of Sewing, Embroidery, and Quilting: Behind the Seams | 00:26:31 | |
Join us as we uncover how this one-of-a-kind event came to life and why it’s already a must-attend gathering for sewing, embroidery, and quilting enthusiasts. Episode Highlights: (1:18) Meet Linda Z – Hear from Linda herself as she shares how the idea for Fall Fest was born and what it took to make it happen. (4:20) Family Legacy – Linda talks about her daughters Tracy and Debbie, her grandson Nick, and how they’ve shaped the future of the business. (5:41) Behind the Scenes – Tracy and Debbie reveal the planning process, unexpected surprises, and standout features of the festival. (10:43) Key Takeaways – What did they hope attendees would gain from this event? (11:50) Educators Spotlight – Meet Sylvain Bergeron and Alexis Galloway, two of the top industry instructors. (15:14) Ricky Tims Interview – The legendary quilter and musician shares why he felt compelled to participate, his unique Locomotion technique, and what’s next for him. (18:50) Attendee Voices – Hear firsthand experiences from festivalgoers Nita Davis, Lisa from Ontario, and Loretta Turner. (19:50) BERNINA’s Commitment – John Carr, BERNINA’s District Manager, explains why this event was a must for BERNINA and previews their exclusive courses. (17:51) Vendor Insights – OESD’s Barb Michielicheck and Laurastar’s Emily Dunlop discuss their latest products and why Fall Fest was the perfect venue to showcase them. (23:14) Ricky Tims’ Closing Thoughts – How did he sum up the magic of this event? (23:48) The Big Question: Will There Be Another Fall Fest? – Linda Z reflects on the success of the event, shares her biggest takeaway, and teases what’s next. Linda Z’s first-ever Fall Festival of Sewing, Embroidery, and Quilting was a labor of love, embraced with gratitude, and a memory to last a lifetime. A heartfelt thank you to Linda Z and her incredible team, as well as the educators, vendors, and attendees who made this event truly special. If you’re already dreaming of Fall Fest 2025, mark your calendars—the countdown has begun! For more information on the 2025 Fall Fest, go to www.lindazs.com 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. | |||
| 05 Jan 2023 | Sue O'Very-Pruitt - Living the Dream | 00:29:40 | |
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 Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 07 Jul 2022 | Michelle Morris - We See You! | 00:24:31 | |
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 michelle@thatblackchic.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 16 Feb 2023 | Sarah Ramberg - Everything Old is New Again | 00:30:55 | |
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 Sadieseasongoods@yahoo.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 04 Mar 2021 | Amanda Murphy - Creating Quilts, Stretching Boundaries | 00:32:49 | |
This casual conversation with Amanda Murphy takes us on an inspired-filled journey, from her humble beginnings as an aspiring tween sewist to a professional graphic designer to the twist and turns that led her to the career she loves and excels at today. Although her parents weren’t in creative fields, Amanda considers them to be her greatest influencers as they were always supportive of her creative endeavors, and they instilled in her the belief that she could do and be whatever she wanted. It was her parents who time and time again encouraged her to dive into her passions and see where the journey took her. To this day, Amanda’s mother continues to show her unwavering support. Amanda’s love of fabric and working with her hands goes back to when she was in elementary school. It all began with what Amanda refers to as, “an atrocious pink lace dress” she made for her mother; although her mother saw the imperfections in the dress she never let on. Much to Amanda’s amazement, her mother actually wore the dress. Years later, when she brought the subject up in conversation, her mother admitted that she had only worn it once. Laughing, Amanda continues with her story, “But she faked it. She seemed pleased with it at the time. That’s what I mean about parents being important influencers.” (5:27-6:20) After she had kids herself, Amanda took a few years off from her industrial and graphic design career. During that time she created a book of designs and sent them to a fabric company on a whim. As it turns out, the company loved them and her career in quilting began. She didn’t realize, until years later, how influential her original career in graphic design had been until she started applying those skills when working on her website or drawing patterns. In our conversation, Amanda shares that for her, the experience of creating is far more important than the end product. It’s about the joy of making and creating. (7:25-8:10) She says the fact that her career allows her to do a broad range of things keeps her job interesting. Whether she’s buying fabric, writing patterns, sewing, acting in the capacity of a BERNINA Expert or Quilting and Longarm Spokesperson or teaching, Amanda’s heart and mind are consistently engaged. Amanda loves helping others stretch their boundaries, and to try new things that take them out of their comfort zone. (9:22-9:50) She shares how exciting it is when students try something they saw her do and didn’t think they could do, and then they accomplish it. She talks about her love of teaching and how it informs her design by helping her to think in a different way. She also reveals that when she began teaching, it was way out of her comfort zone, but now it is one of her greatest sources of inspiration. Another example of Amanda stepping outside of her comfort zone is when she created an exquisite all-gold quilt for Bernina’s 125th anniversary. Her 35-plus year journey in this profession, is rich in discovery and accomplishments. Her explanations and explorations of free motion and ruler work quilting and going from handwork to machine are both fascinating and enlightening. Amanda describes in detail how free motion and ruler work are the yin and yang of quilting, and how they work together to bring life to a piece. (11:08-15:15) As much as she loves the amazing things computerized quilting systems allow her to do, Amanda still loves the imperfection and look of hand touch. During our time together Amanda talks about the importance of community and of having mentors and people to bounce ideas off and who you trust for feedback, because sometimes people can see things in you that you can’t see yourself, (19:45-23:48). Her descriptions of the creative process during this podcast are poetry in motion; a poetry these words can’t do justice to. Be sure to tune in and listen to this amazing artisan as she shares her journey with us. You can learn more about Amanda at blog.amandamurhpydesign.com (https://blog.amandamurphydesign.com). You can also check out her Facebook group, Quilting With Amanda Murphy (https://www.facebook.com/groups/free.motion.quilting.idea.book/ ), her Pinterest page (https://www.pinterest.com/amdfabrics/amanda-murphy-design-quilts/), and numerous YouTube videos. 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. | |||
| 01 Sep 2022 | Leah Kate Nicoll - Fashionable Yet Functional | 00:54:20 | |
While at the University of Alabama, Leah Kate got a lot of experience with leotards, both as a dancer and as part of the costume department. What she found was that rarely did they properly fit all women’s body types. Knowing that one of the first rules of dancewear is that it should enhance movement, not burden it, she set out to create styles that were functional, comfortable, and fashionable. Within her first eight months, she was featured at two sold-out shows at New York Fashion Week. Leah’s passion for design was ignited when she was nine years old and involved in a local hip-hop dance theater. She realized that one of the ways she and the other dancers expressed themselves was through what they wore, so she started drawing designs for leotards in her notebooks. “I was probably designing five or six a week or something like that. And I had no ability to make them yet, but I definitely had vision.” It was her senior year of high school, when started to develop her skills: working with steel boning and patterning, she created a beautiful stretch corset. Leah realized that regular flat patterns didn’t work for a dancer with her build: long torso, athletic build, full bust measurement. She fully developed the skills to make clothes in college, but it wasn’t until after she graduated and inherited a 50-year-old Serger that she was able to develop a prototype. Soon after, she purchased a BERNINA L 890 with air-threading capabilities. At that point, she had the resources she needed to launch her company. [2:00-22:00) And wow, what a launch it was! Leah Kate shares her experience of receiving the call to help choreograph a dance fashion show for EDM artists DRMAGDN and Sh!tty Princess in collaboration with fashion designer Hicham Bens of The Royals Paris (personal designer for the Moroccan Royal Family). About halfway through the process, DRUMAGDN asked her if she wanted to launch Leahtards. As if that wasn’t exciting enough—Leahtards opened the show. She choreographed, performed, and launched her brand at New York Fashion Week. She also shares some of the highlights of her illustrious dancing career. A video of the Fashion Show Week performances is currently in the works, as the momentum of Leah Kate’s success keeps building. Leah Kate’s mission is to provide dancewear and costumers that make dancers feel good about walking out onto the stage for rehearsal or performing in her own words. “I want to be a refuge for my dancers, and my customers so that they feel like themselves, they feel that they've expressed themselves fully, and they're not judging themselves, and therefore, they really don't care if anybody else is.” [24:19-51:56] To say that Leah Kate is an entrepreneurial powerhouse would be an understatement. As she details her experiences, the energy builds and her passion and enthusiasm are palpable. Be sure to tune in to listen to this amazing success story. You can connect with her by going to her website, Leahtards.com or by emailing her at LeahKatenickel.com If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 05 Dec 2024 | 100th Episode – Celebrating 100 and Featuring Bisa Butler in Episode #1 | 00:39:22 | |
Over the years, we've been honored to host iconic figures like Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably, who revealed how color can be a life-changing force, and Tula Pink, who welcomed us into her imaginative, boundary-pushing world. We heard from Alex Anderson, who reminded us of the importance of claiming space for our creativity, and Amanda Murphy, who inspired us to stretch the boundaries of traditional quilting.
This journey has introduced us to countless other inspiring voices: astronaut Dr. Karen Nyberg, who shared her love for quilting in space; Michael Thorpe, whose bold textile art challenges conventions; and the incomparable Gee’s Bend Quilters, represented by Mary Margaret Pettway, whose work connects us to a rich heritage of storytelling through fabric.
We've also learned from quilting luminary Ricky Tims, who shared his unique blend of music and quilting, costume designer Justine Seymore and Julian Collins, who creates fashion with purpose. Mimi G brought her vibrant energy and DIY spirit, while Deanna Springer reminded us of the enduring legacy of Nancy Zieman and the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. We’ve brought you behind the scenes at Quilt Week in Paducah, BERNINA university, C2E2, QuiltCon, The Sewing and Stitching Expo, Houston Festival, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show and The National Quilt Museum.
And our guest list goes on: Gail Yellen with her expert sewing techniques, sustainable designer Tristan Detweiler, creative advocate Kristina Wong, and reality star Craig Conover from Southern Charm who we accompanied to North Charleston High School as he donated BERNINA sewing machines to their maker space. We've heard from visionaries like Jean Wright from Sew Sisters, Amanda Richie from Unshattered and fabric artist Cookie Washington, each of whom has left an unforgettable mark on our community.
As we reflect on these first 100 episodes, we are profoundly grateful to each guest who has shared their time, talent, and insights, and to each of you who have been with us on this journey.
So now, let’s celebrate by taking you back to February 18, 2021, to where it all began with a replay of our very first episode featuring the incredible Bisa Butler. Here is Sew & So episode #1…
This podcast explores Bisa Butler’s fascinating journey, which began with her getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at Howard University. Realizing painting was not her passion, she went on to Montclair University to pursue a Master in Teaching. It was there, while making a quilt in her first-ever fibers class, that she had an artistic epiphany; she realized she could do what she loved, express her creativity in a way that moved her deeply, and tell the countless untold stories of African Americans.
Each pivotal step in her journey is described in fascinating detail. She talks about learning to sew from her grandmother; a black woman, and wife of an Emissary, who found herself transported to Morocco. She and her husband had to attend many formal events, and since they couldn’t afford to buy the refined clothing, one was required to wear, her grandmother would pore through fashion magazines and create replicas of designer outfits. The scraps of fibers and fabrics from those outfits can be seen in Bisa’s portraits of her grandmother and grandfather. She explains how using little bits of their lives helped inform her work.
Butler describes her work as “excavating the soul, where her own spirit has a conversation with someone who has long passed. The process begins with a portrait. By gazing into the eyes of her subject and really looking at the lines, creases, scars and the expression in their eyes, she can ‘hear’ their unspoken story. She spoke of the improvisational nature of private quilts and their ability to tell the personal experiences of her people (21:20 – 24:21).
As she details her journey through galleries and museums, Butler recounts the bias that was shown towards artists who use cloth in their art. But through all the rejections and dismissals, she kept at it, slow and steady, until her work exhibited at a New York gallery. After that, her work began getting accepted at more galleries and museums.
Her fiber and fabric creation, The Storm, the Whirlwind, and the Earthquake features a life‐sized representation of abolitionist and social reformer Fredrick Douglass whose magnetic gaze pulled her in. This piece is a powerful example of how Butler’s painterly textiles convey a sense of shared humanity were on exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Her textile creations were exhibited in the European Painting Gallery Space at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. This is the first time a living artist has been showcased in this space. Her work iwasalso featured in Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance at the 21C Museum Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio.
It was a joy to learn about the strides fiber, fabric and quilting artists have made, and we owe much of it to Bisa Butler. Her personal story of using textiles and the medium of quilting to celebrate her heritage and her community and her powerful art is a great inspiration to us all. This is one story you don’t want to miss, so make sure you catch the podcast.
You can learn more about Bisa Butler and view some of her amazing works of art at Bisabutler.com
If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop me a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com or complete the form on this website.
Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform. 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. | |||
| 23 May 2024 | Bonnie Browning – Stories of My Life and Adventures at AQS. (Bonnie Retired after 40 years at AQS following Quilt Week 2024 where this interview was recorded) | 00:51:59 | |
We are live and in person today at the American Quilt Society’s Quilt Week in Paducah KY with our very special guest Bonnie Browning – AQS’s Executive Show Director.
Bonnie learned to sew - taught by her mom -at a young age. She made her first quilt top in 1979 in a Welcome Wagon Group in Burlington, IA. She finished her first quilt in college.
Bonnie has won numerous awards with her quilting, including a third place at the 1986 AQS Quilt Show & Contest, Paducah, Kentucky. That quilt, A Little Bit of Candlewicking, is now in the collection of The National Quilt Museum (NQM). In the early 1980s, Bonnie was a member of the DBQs, a group of seven quilting friends in Dubuque, Iowa. The DBQs were the first group to develop a quilting challenge and publish the process in the Spring 1986 issue of American Quilter magazine.
After becoming an NQA certified quilt judge in 1986, Bonnie began teaching and judging for quilt guilds and conferences across the U.S. and every continent except Antarctica. In 1999 Bonnie represented McCall's Quilting on the committee to select the Best 100 Quilts of the Twentieth Century. Bonnie became a Certified Teacher of Zentangle Art in 2011 and has since combined her love of drawing and quilting into Zentangle quilting designs.
Bonnie served as a technical director for the AQS quilting television show, American Quilter that aired in 2005 on Lifetime Real Women. She has appeared on numerous TV shows and has written 13 books – one of which was a cookbook. Bonnie was named a Duchess of Paducah in April 1996.
And after 40 years…and a full rich life giving so very much to quilters worldwide…Bonnie plans to retire after this year’s AQS show!
2:42 – How and why did Bonnie learn to sew? She takes us back to her youth!
4:03 – Why did Bonnie begin to quilt? It all began with America’s bicentennial and a few long-term goals and her husband’s transfer with JC Penney.
7:20 – So, what else about Bonnie’s youth is worth noting? She tells us about making ornaments at Christmas.
8:28 – Bonnie’s quilt “A little bit of candle wicking” now hangs in the National Quilt Museum. She walks us through its history and how she felt in the moment she found out she had won.
11:27 Who are the DBQ’s? Bonnie tells us their story! And…their efforts were the genesis for national quilt challenges.
14:00 – What is Zentangle and why is Bonnie an expert in this art? She walks us through this wonderful story.
17:22 Bonnie has judged quilts on 6 of 7 continents…which once specifically stand out for her?
18:22 – In 1999 Bonnie represented McCall’s quilting in choosing the 100 most influential quilts of the 20th century. Her this story from her unique and personal point of view. https://www.amazon.com/Twentieth-Centurys-Best-American-Quilts/dp/B000AMPHWE
21:29 – What’s Quilt Camp for Kids? Bonnie tells us of this very special opportunity for kids through the National Quilt Museum.
24:21 – Bonnie has decided to retire after the 2024 AQS Show. How did it all begin for her in 1994. Bonnie takes us back through time to 1994 to recount those special days.
27:24 – What was it like in the early days?
28:43 – 2011…Easter Sunday…the big flood. What a story of Plan B!
35:55 – What else during her tenure made a deep impression. Well…it was hurricane Katrina and 10,000 quilts. And of course…9/11.
40:36 – Why had Bonnie decided to retire now? She shares her reasons and her plans for the future.
41:45 – What does she want her legacy to be? She shares this with us here.
43:43 – And…what’s her dream? Well, she’s not moving away from Paducah any time soon – although there is a lot of travel in her future!
45:20 – What question didn’t I ask? There is a wonderful story of her trip to Japan…
50:34 – How can you keep in touch with Bonnie? www.bonniebrowning.com
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 05 Aug 2021 | Shelancia Daniel - Sewing Hope for the Future | 00:39:40 | |
In our casual conversation, Shelancia shares that her first-born, Elijah, is on the spectrum, and that much of her work since his birth has been trying to find ways to connect and create with children—especially those who are not within the standard deviation. Located in Houston, Texas, and Rochester, New York, Creativity Shell teaches classes in sewing, textile arts, cooking, building, and other trades. These classes are held in their private studios, as well as libraries, ABA Therapy Centers, the Juvenile Justice System, and homeless shelters that have rescued children from human trafficking. Shelancia talks about her family’s time in Nigeria. While her son Elijah didn’t do well in the British education system, he seemed to thrive in hot humid environments and he loved chasing crabs. She used this outdoor activity to teach her son mathematics and how to count. One day, when the students in Elijah’s class were sharing what they loved most, he stood up and said, “My name is Elijah and I like chasing crabs.” This defining moment was the catalyst for Creativity Shell and its unconventional, outside-the-box, hands-on approach to learning. [6:55 – 9:45] Based on the belief that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to education, Creativity Shell has four pillars that it works from. They are a sense of possibility, mutual responsibility, creative learning, and positive interaction. Shelancia shares that it’s been her experience that one of the greatest challenges children face is that they are completely addicted to instant gratification. If something doesn’t happen quickly, fast, here, and now, they don’t believe it’s possible, so they lose hope and focus. The team at Creativity Shell weans children off their addiction by having them start with an instant gratification 10-minute project where they actually complete something. As their confidence builds, they work up to a 10-hour-plus project like making a quilt or something more involved. [9:52 - 11:53 ] “When children come into our group they’re learning how to sew, and how to cook and do crafts, but the most important thing of all is that they’re learning about themselves. At the end of the hour, a kid who may have never sewn anything before is like, 'Wow, I made something.' As they start making bigger and better things, they start feeling better about themselves." Shelancia and her team are always looking for and creating opportunities outside the studio where children can continue to grow and learn. At the annual Munchkin Market, kids get to sell things they’ve made and keep the money from their sales, which teaches them about business, crafting, selling, and value. Another great event is the Creativity Rocks Fashion Show. Shelancia lights up when she talks about how excited the kids are about it, and how they are already thinking about what they’re going to make for next year’s show. “This,” she says, “is their Olympics.” They’ve worked really hard, they’ve made their outfits, and they get to rock it down the runway with hundreds of people cheering them on. Talk about a confidence builder! [17:35-18:49] Giving kids a sense of community and belonging is especially important for kids that are homeless, or victims of sex trafficking who often feel like they’re all alone, or the “only one.” In this podcast, Shelancia shares many heart-warming and eye-opening stories that drive home the importance of community, of being there for children in need, and of providing a place where children can feel safe, accepted, and free to create. Creativity Shell not only provides that space, it also teaches kids the elemental skills they need to survive. [26:25- 30:12] Shelancia attributes the amazing success of Creativity Shell to her passionate and committed team. In just five years, they’ve grown to the level of a 10-year-old organization. And their aspirations don’t stop there. Tune in to hear these inspiring stories, and to learn more about Shelancia’s plans for the future. If you’d like to connect with Shelancia and her team, learn more about the Love Bug campaign, or donate money, fabric, or craft items, visit creativityshell.org. In Rochester, visit creativityshellroc.org. 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. | |||
| 01 Feb 2024 | Linda Diak - Stronger | 00:43:52 | |
Only coming to quilting 5 years ago, Linda Diak has had a life full of creativity. She’s raised and sheered her own sheep for fibers to spin. She’s crafted knitting needles and crochet hooks, and beautiful bespoke art quilts. Her newfound love for quilting began at a chance opportunity to sit down at a long arm and well…let’s let her tell you more.
(2:00) How did she learn to sew? Her grandmother was a tailor and furrier who took the reins. However, it wasn’t easy because grandma did it faster! Her mother was a maker too.
(3:45) Marietta Jones was quite an influence on both Linda and her grandmother. Founder of the Shuttle Craft Hand Guild in the 1940’s and 50’s whose focus was on bringing hand weaving back to America. Looms were everywhere in her home. Linda tells us her story.
(5:49) At 18 years old, Linda went to Atlanta to go to design school and where this ended up was not initially apparent to her. The first of many twists and turns.
(9:00) A heard of sheep, guard llamas, dogs, cats and more. Linda tells us how this menagerie came to be, how she crafted fibers and the evolution of her company to DyakCraft.
(12:35) Linda takes us through the process of creating fibers from sheering the sheep to spinning the fibers. It’s not easy…learn more than you ever thought was involved!
(15:32) And how did Grafton Fibers become DiakCraft…yet another unforeseen twist!
(19:00) What was the impetus for Linda to begin to create art quilts? Yet another life event led her to this new endeavor.
(20:54) How does she choose the subjects of her quilts? She shares this with us here. (21:50) What are her favorite creations? Baskim Farms for one! Hear about this organization and the wonderful sustainable work they do.
(24:08) Sitting down at a long arm five years ago at Waterwheel Quilt Shop in Londonderry, VT was life changing. She knew in this moment that quilting would play a large part in the rest of her life.
(25:30) The Rutland Plywood Company played a part in yet another life changing event. Linda tells us this story.
(29:40) What’s her favorite creation? It’s the thing she just finished making!
(30:55) The recipient of a recent WomensNet Amber Grant, Linda tells us about the history of this award and how she won this recognition.
(33:12) What inspires Linda? Nature, animals, color, lines and the work of others!
(43:50) Linda’s mother had a great influence on her. A director of nursing in Youngstown, OH her pragmatism and common sense was instilled in Linda. This sense of self and independence has served Linda well. And her father…his influence was paramount as well.
(38:00) Linda is involved with VINE rescue. She tells us about this organization, their work and how she supports them. Hear the story of the travels of Tiki the Emu!
(41:26) What’s next and what’s her dream?!
(42:30) You can reach Linda at www.lindadiakquilts.com and linda@lindadiakquilts.com. Facebook and Instagram as well! If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 14 Mar 2024 | Karen Nyberg - "I Did It - I'm Here" | 00:37:29 | |
(2:04) Karen brings us back up to speed on how she learned to sew. Her mom was the influencer on her – one of six children who learned to sew at the age of 6! Hear how this all began for Karen.
(4:03) Were any of her sewing skills applicable for her training and life as an astronaut? Yes, they were…she explains here.
(4:55) How did Karen get into the space program? As a kid she started to proclaim that she wanted to be an astronaut! She put it out there and made it happen!
(6:16) Karen sewed on the space station in 2013. Hear what she created and what it took to do this in her “free time”. She also explains why it was tough to get into her “creative space”. She talks about the Quilts Inc./NASA Quilt Block Challenge and the resulting quilt of 28 blocks.
(9:57) Where are these items now? She tells us!
(10:51) Is sewing in space different than sewing on earth? Yes, it is in many ways!
(14:07) So, since we last talked Karen put together an exhibit for the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY. www.quiltmuseum.org She tells us what she put together and what else will be displayed.
(16:35) What was her inspiration for curating this exhibit?
(17:37) How long does it take to put together an exhibit of this type? She takes us through the journey.
(18:44) Karen put together two portraits to celebrate women in space that was on exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center… Valentina Tereshkova and Sally Ride Karen tells us about this exhibit and why it’s important.
(21:00) Karen has a partnership with Osom Brand www.osombrand.com a textile recycler who she met through Instagram! Hear this story and the Scrap Cycle Program
(24:03) Anything else she’s been up to? Well, she had two fabric lines. Earth Views with Robert Kauffman and Orbital Sunrise!
(25:38) Karen now shares what it takes to be an astronaut and what it’s like to be in space. Today, there are more than 18,000 applications for the space program. She is also on the astronaut selection board, so she shares what they look for in candidates.
(29:10) She takes us inside the two-year training program!
(30:11) What’s it like to blast off and go into space? She shares this with us…launching on the shuttle and on Soyuz. In 8 minutes, she went from earth to travelling 17,500 miles per hour!
(32:26) Karen’s husband Doug Hurley is an astronaut. Does their son Jack want to follow in their footsteps? And does he sew?
(34:38) What’s next for Karen? New fabrics and a new textile art piece.
(35:46) Is there anything we didn’t ask?
(35:59) How do you reach Karen? www.karennyberg.com, Insagram @astrokarenn and Facebook @Karennyberg If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 20 Jun 2024 | Paris Green - A Positive Heart | 00:22:54 | |
Paris Green – a current BERNINA Ambassador - is one of the principals of the Couture Beauty and Sewing Academy. She also designs for and leads the online site Scarves and More By Paris. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Paris began sewing at age 4. She became serious about her sewing at age seven and entered her first sewing competition at 9 years old. She won the Kid’s Beginner Sewing division that year. At age 10 she became BERNINA’s youngest sewing ambassador to share kid-friendly tutorials via the We All Sew blog.
In her spare time, Paris loves to sing and write songs, sketch, make jewelry had teach other kids how to do the same. She is home schooled, had two brothers and is…13 years old!
(1:34) How did Paris get interested in sewing at 4 years old? Well, her mom certainly had something to do with it. And why did she think it was a fun thing to do?
(2:55)What is it about sewing that she loves so much…it’s calming, serious and deep!
(3:44) At seven years old she became “serious” about sewing…and entered her first competition at age 9. She tells us this story and her love for “Project Runway”.
(5:08) During Covid Paris made and distributed 100 masks to the less fortunate in her community. She certainly embodies the spirit of service!
(7:27) This year she will repeat this effort, but this time by making and distributing scarves.
(8:04) What are her favorite things to sew? Squish Mellows come to mind! She tells us all about it here!
(8:14) Paris started a company called Scarves & More. She tells us how this came about. And…she’s quite the businessperson!
(10:20) At one point, Paris lost her whole business and had to rebuild it from nothing. She takes us through what happened and her resilient comeback.
(12:06) The Couture Sewing and Beauty Academy www.thecbsacademy.com is a business Paris runs with her mo. She tells us all about it.
(13:08) In her free time, Paris does many things. But what’s her favorite…studying the Bible with her dad.
(14:08) Paris is a BERNINA Ambassador. How did she get involved and what does she do as an Ambassador?
(15:11) This July 27th she’s hosting a charity event called Sew Pretty supporting Dress A Girl Around the World www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com. She tells us all about the event.
(16:14) What’s important for other kids to know about Paris? For one…she’s led by her faith with the help of her parents
(17:43) What’s important for kids to know about sewing? Well, it’s different things to different people!
(18:29) What’s next for her? Perhaps becoming a doctor! And maybe becoming a nurse first.
(20:02) What’s her dream? In addition to medicine…there’s singing and becoming a worship leader.
((21:33) How can you reach out to Paris? On Instagram @samby.Paris
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 20 Jul 2023 | Courage + Cosplay = Yaya Han | 00:52:53 | |
Born in China, raised in her early years in Germany, Yaya moved on her own to the United States in 1998 while still a teen. It didn’t take her long to make a name for herself in the cosplay community. Now a successful designer, model, author, tv personality and social media influencer with more that 3 million followers.
(2:24) Yaya tells us of how she learned to sew out of necessity through getting involved in cosplay 24 years ago. Using a $40 sewing machine she prepared to go to her very first expo the 1999 Anime Expo in Anaheim, CA. She literally started with almost nothing.
(5:35) What’s her fashion style? It varies from very feminine to Korean inspired streetwear. She goes into detail on this with us.
(6:21) What sparked her interest in Anime and Manga…escapism! Learn what started all of this.
(7:39) She moved to the United States much to the dismay of her parents. She takes us with her on this journey with her. In 2005 she quit her “day job” and became a costume artist full time.
(12:06) She persevered through some pretty tough times – sewing was what got her through this. She shares how she found her strength.
(13:16) Her love for the cosplay community is notable. She describes this community, shares why it’s so very important to her and explains her personal growth within the community.
(18:09) DragonCon in Atlanta is a huge expo for those in the cosplay community. It’s especially important to Yaya as she met her husband Brian there 23 years ago. Today they are business partners and live the dream together.
(21:16) Find out who is her favorite cosplay character.
(22:13) How did she build a 3 million + community of followers – she shares her secrets.
(26:17) Having met thousands of fans – Yaya is always energized by these engagements. How important is this to her? She lets us know and even shares a specific instance at ACon.
(29:00) BERNINA University’s new campaign is “It’s a Big Day”. Yaya walks us through her relationship with BERNINA, her role in this campaign and how she worked with them to create the bernette 79 Yaya Han Edition. She also describes all the amazing features of this machine and why it’s perfect for cosplayers.
(41:21) Yaya has a new book on the market called Yaya Han’s World of Cosplay. She tells us of the genesis of this work which is the history of cosplay told through her story and all it contains on tips and tricks on how to be a professional cosplayer.
(44:30) Learn in the midst of her busy schedule, what Yaya does for fun. (45:43) What inspires Yaya? “Everything”! She unpacks this for us.
(45:28) What’s next and what’s her dream? Besides “living it right now”, she shares what the future looks like for her.
(48:20) Her final point is asking the sewing community to embrace cosplay. There are misconceptions out there about this community which she addresses. In fact, she explains how in many ways we are all cosplayers, just in different spaces.
To reach out to Yaya, go to her website Yayahan.com, Instagram as #Yayahan and Facebook is Yayacosplay. She invites all to reach out!
Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 24 Nov 2021 | Ricky Tims - As You Quilt, Life Unfolds | 00:42:22 | |
Ricky began designing and making quilts in 1991 and has been named one of the 30 most distinguished quilters in the world. He was selected by the readers of Quilters Newsletter Magazine as the most influential person in the quilting industry and was profiled on CBS Sunday Morning. Ricky is passionate about sharing his creative experience and enthusiasm and encourages individuals to cultivate self-expression, to reach for the unreachable, and to believe in the impossible. His discovery story is rich in details. As he takes us on his journey, he shares that he was smitten with the process of quilting from the moment he made his first quilt in the privacy of his home. He says, “I wasn’t aware of the “quilt police” when I made my first quilt…and while it was pretty pathetic in many ways, I wouldn’t be where I am without that first quilt, so I’m not ashamed of it, and I usually display it when I’m doing my seminars.” When new quilters come across his path, Ricky tells them that he doesn’t want them to be perfect and that they should simply enjoy the process, knowing that through the process they’re going to get better. Ricky believes that making a quilt is a journey and while you’re making the quilt, life unfolds, and as it does, those events, those moments, go into the quilt. Whether it’s a struggle or a celebration, those memories are fixed in the quilt so that when you look at it, you’re not just seeing a quilt but remembering the things you experienced in life. (7:02-11:40) Ricky refers to himself as a creative soul and shares that he’s happiest when he’s creating. His first creative outlet was music; he learned to read music before he learned the alphabet. Then photography and quilting came along, and now he does all of them. Ricky doesn’t want to be a “one-trick pony,” and wants people to engage with him whether he’s talking about quilting or music or photography or things that happen in his day-to-day life. His overall message is one of inspiration and positivity, and he genuinely believes that we can all be more than we ever imagined possible. “I want my legacy to be that I’ve inspired people, entertained people, and hopefully educated them along the way.” Ricky waxes eloquently about the ebb and flow to creating, and how different art forms inform and influence one another. He believes that quilters can become better artists through photography, saying that photography can teach us to see the world through new eyes, and once we do, we’ll never see it the same way again. (17:45 - 21:28 ) Whether he’s sharing the adventures of “Lizzy Albright and the Attic Window,” his young adult novel set in the 1960s, his special bond with ravens, or his pull to live in the mountains, one thing is clear: Ricky is passionate, colorful and inspirational. When you listen to the podcast, you’ll learn that his theme is “Carpe Diem,” and you’ll understand that he not only seizes the moment he embraces each and every one of them. (35:20-37:14) To keep the inspiration going, visit rickytims.com, or check out his Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter pages. 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. | |||
| 02 Feb 2023 | Brooks Ann Camper - A Wrinkled Dress | 00:48:38 | |
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 meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 22 Dec 2022 | Carson Converse - Catch Your Breath | 00:34:03 | |
Carson Converse is not a minimalist by nature, although she does value simplicity. She also loves doing intricate detail. She describes her process as reductive art because she often starts by throwing a lot of fabric and inspirational images on the wall and then expanding and contracting until the piece feels quiet and still. In her own words, “I want to give the viewer kind of a moment of stillness, maybe an opportunity to catch their breath.” In her work, she likes to shine a light on the women creators who’ve gone before her. and she has studied their work for a long time, especially those who’ve created Amish quilts. She tries to shine a light on the amazing work that’s come before; work that was art even though it wasn’t considered such at the time. Seeing the Gee’s Bend quilts exhibited at the Whitney Museum shifted her perspective on quilts. She’d always been told that quilts could not be art, but the exhibit turned that belief on its head. (4:41- 11:09) Carson graduated from the fine arts program at Boston University in 2000. While she had many wonderful professors and valued her time there, she also learned that there was a biased hierarchy in how art was viewed: oil is for serious painters, acrylic for hobbyists; watercolors are for old ladies, and anything functional isn’t art. She sensed this was wrong, and the show at Gee’s Bend in 2002 confirmed it. She also shares how, over the years, her attendance at QuiltCon helped her grow and expand and become part of a vital community. As she continues to share her personal journey, we learn how her perspective on quilting has changed over the years. We also learn about the influence Mark Rothko and nature have on her work; how shifts in color push and pull you through a piece. Ultimately, Carson wants people to feel her work. According to her, one of the best comments she’s had regarding her work is when a woman told her that when she saw her work, she stopped and took a deep breath. (12:00-22:39) She shares that her goal of working with Hermes goes back to her early career when she was working in New York and had transitioned from interior design to quilting. “Out of the blue, I get an email saying, “Are you interested in collaborating with Hermes on a quilt?” To date, Carson has worked on two collections with Hermes. Both are based on designs and artwork by Gianpaolo Pagni. The first one is a series of three whole-cloth quilts, with gold stitching on creamy white cashmere. The most recent one is a more colorful pieced quilt. Her evolution as a fabric artist is fascinating and inspirational, from her early interest in decorative arts and architecture to the world’s most influential design fair in Milan. Whatever she’s creating, Carson focuses on sustainability and works towards a zero-waste practice. (22:39 – 30:40) You’ll love her story and her work. If you’d like to reach out to Carson, you can reach her via email, at Hello@CarsonConverse.com. You’ll find her amazing work at CarsonConverse.com and on Instagram at CarsonConverse. If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com 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. | |||
| 27 May 2021 | Michael C. Thorpe - Painting with Fabric and Thread | 00:21:17 | |
As we begin our conversation we learn about Michael’s early years and his realization that, for him, quilting isn’t about following a prescribed pattern, but rather about envisioning unlimited possibilities—the same possibilities he sees in life. Having received his degree in photojournalism from Emerson University, Michael started using photography as reference materials for his creations and later moved onto figurative works, which led him to create quilts that were quite different from the mainstream. In Michael’s words, “Photography taught me how to see the world.” (3:45-5:20) Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence are two artists Michael identifies with aesthetically. It was their abstract depictions of African American life that inspired him to continue to create abstracts of his daily life. He talks about how portraying everyday mundane scenes in an abstract way can capture the feeling and beauty of the moment. Michael goes on to explains how the freedom of not saying no guides him in his life and his art. He doesn’t want his creations to be stalled by questioning whether he should do x or y or z. Instead, he wants to go with the flow of the moment. Looking down the road, he wants to be able to look back and say, “Wow, I tried it all, I did it all.” (7:20 -8:34) Everything in his life up to this moment has impacted him in some way and he takes that into every part of his quilting. That includes all the pieces of fabric fans send to him for his art. According to Michael, “Each fabric I get, I can think of the person who gave it to me and how without that fabric the work wouldn’t have come together.” One of Michael’s favorite techniques is meandering quilting, where the stitching never overlaps. As he quilts, he thinks about the word meandering and how it applies to traveling and exploring with no pre-determined destination. He quilts in broad “brush strokes, with the fabric being the paint and the stitching the paintbrush that creates very fine detail work. He calls it painting with fabric and thread, which for him is a meditative and therapeutic process. As he approaches his first solo gallery show, Michael still can’t wrap his head around the fact that he can make a living off his art and fully support himself doing what he loves. “I can’t lie,” he says, “it’s super fun.” (13:53-14:32) As he started preparing for his upcoming show, he stepped back and thought about how being a working artist living in NYC was something that was beyond his wildest dreams. Each piece in his new show will speak to the theme of wildest dreams. At the precipice of his career, Michael knows that his love of quilting will always be with him. He’s also ready to expand his art practice into other mediums. Like Picasso, he wants to excel in them all. His goal is to create a show that represents all different disciplines, and that feels like there are fifteen artists represented when in reality, it all him. We’ve no doubt he’ll accomplish it. If you want to be inspired, you won’t want to miss this podcast. To learn more about Michael or to reach out to him personally, simply stop by michaelcthorpe.com 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. | |||