Episodes
We are a family from Ukraine who have been living and working in the UK for over 17 years.  Our backgrounds were unrelated to the interior design business. But we always love craft , had ambitions, and lots of ideas.  Our shared passion and belief in each other led us to start Kott Soft Furnishings.    Our busy working studio is nestled in the beautiful countryside of Hampshire,  UK.    I’ve worked as a curtain maker for over 10 years and it's my absolute love and passion.    After...
Published 05/05/24
Published 05/05/24
Laurie Gutberlet began her business in February 2020.  Her one-person, small workroom is located in the Atlantic Coast region of Bethany Beach, DE.    The catalyst for Laurie's “startup” is largely due to the relationship built and training received from Susan Woodcock at Workroom Tech.  Laurie has a life-long love of sewing and always thought about doing professional work.  She figured “If not now, when?”  Her company name—SeaGlass Seams, LLC—is largely based on her location.  My work to...
Published 04/28/24
In this OPPORTUNITY THINKING episode of the Sew Much More Podcast, Ceil DiGuglielmo joins Jeanelle Dech in her office at Adaptive Textiles in West Chester, PA. They talk about the origins and growth of the textile printing business and the launch of KLIMAKA STUDIOS https://klimakastudios.com/, a new collection of workroom-centric fabric and wallpaper, featuring artists collaborations and engineered designs.    You can watch this episode of the Podcast on YouTube here.
Published 04/21/24
The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    
Published 04/14/24
Amber De Lagarza's Time Blindness Podcast   Gretchen Rubin - The One Minute Rule and Will Future Gretchen Thank Me?   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   Merril Y Landis, LTD   Angel's Distributing, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    
Published 04/07/24
  Will Linn is the Head workroom manager at Marquis Design Group in West Palm Beach, Florida. With over 15 years experience in the world of Fashion and Interior Design, he manages the day-to-day operation of the shop, building and upholstering beds, ottomans, cornices, and walls for Marquis Design Group as well as pillows, roman shades and drapery. As a native Florida resident, he loves spending his time, when not working, at the beach and theme parks. Having graduated from Mount Ida...
Published 03/31/24
Renee Gurganus is a native of Augusta, Georgia and now lives in beautiful Wilmington, NC.  With over 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit  and for-profit sectors, Renee brings a wealth of knowledge to the WCAA. Previously she was the Executive Director of a community organization in Murrells Inlet, SC, where she lead the organization in a new Strategic Plan that they continue to use today.   After becoming the Executive Director of the WCAA, Renee began working with the Board...
Published 03/17/24
Keaven Willa Hartt was born in Bar Harbor, Maine, and grew up in the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont. She moved back to Maine in 2010 to attend the Maine College of Art, in Portland, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Woodworking and Furniture Design, with a self-directed thesis on Sustainability Through Upholstery. Keaven founded her upholstery business, Willa Hartt, in 2019. She joined the National Upholstery Association in 2021, and was nominated to the Board of Directors, where she...
Published 03/10/24
Rachel began her business in 2004 on the dining table of her mother’s living room after a fluke encounter with a family friend at the local bakery.  Who knew that croissants would be the catalyst to begin a soft furnishings business? The seed had been planted several years after visiting a stranger's home and noticing custom bedding, draperies, and floor-length round tablecloths. “I remember thinking …’hey I wonder if I could do that!’ after a sneaky examination of the undersides and...
Published 03/03/24
Deborah Cronin is the owner of Leatherwood Design Co is a custom window treatment fabrication studio, located in Ossining, New York, in the breathtaking Hudson River Valley. Deb and her team work to the trade and delight in fine fabrics and workmanship. It's an understatement to say they love what they do! Begun as a part-time pillow and cushion workroom in 1987, in 1999  Leatherwood Design Co, became a full-time workroom creating window treatments. Fabric and sewing has been Deb's life-long...
Published 02/25/24
Jamie Terral is the owner of Workroom Creations by Jamie LLC.  With encouragement from Jamie's husband, Bob, and Susan Woodcock, she made her hobby and love for sewing into a soft furnishings workroom, where she uses beautiful fabrics and trims to sew amazing home decor.  Jamie is a window coverings specialist that is honest, reliable, and dedicated to the client that she serves.  Her tagline and mantra is "So Much Fabric, Sew Little Time!" Jamie is on Instagram,  Facebook, and Pinterest ...
Published 02/18/24
Sharon Coppede is the owner of Custom Window Treatments, Inc. In 1982, when her children were 4 and 2 yrs. old, Sharon joined a neighborhood cottage industry in Plymouth, Mass. as a seamstress for aprons, toaster covers, and tab top drapes stenciled on the lead edges.  She realized she had a gift for making window treatments and when she moved to our next assignment in Virginia, she built a 4 x 8 table in the walk-out basement and that is when she started making draperies for customers. ...
Published 02/11/24
Cristina Alamdari was born in Colombian and moved to the US almost 30 years ago. She lives in Phoenix AZ and she has 3 beautiful children, her husband is Iranian, and they have a unique family of combined cultures and religions.  Cristina enjoys traveling and learning. She has been working in the industry for 24 years, and as a business owner for 22. Cristina owns AZ Draperies and Pillows and it is a mix of 80% retail 20% designers. She offers in-home consultations for window coverings.  Her...
Published 02/04/24
Mary is the owner of Bucks County Window Décor. She has been in business since 2007, offering custom drapery and soft treatments, fabrics, hardware, blinds, shades, and shutters to both retail clients as well as designers.  Her company is full-service and offers complete project management including measuring, ordering, fabricating, and professional installation.   After 8 years of working in the legal and corporate world, Mary left to stay home with her first baby.  She learned to sew as a...
Published 01/28/24
I am so happy to be celebrating 5 years of being the Librarian at the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library!!   I couldn't have done this without the help and guidance of Jeanelle Dech, and so many people in our industry who have contributed to the content within the Library. And I am so grateful for the Sponsors of the Library; The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings...
Published 01/21/24
Today's episode of the  Podcast is a re-release of my interview with Julia Hash of JSH Designs.  Julia needed to solve a problem in her workroom and realized, she probably wasn't the only one who needed this solution.  I think you will find her ruler is really amazing!   Links and Resources; Profit is a Choice Podcast episode with Julia Hash You can find Julia's Ruler here.
Published 01/14/24
Barb Flynn started sewing as a young girl making drapery panels out of bed sheets for her and her sister's bedroom. Always having a mind on figuring life out and solving problems, Barb studied history and psychology in college and became a Paralegal after college.  She worked in the law field for many years after raising 4 children, but always had her hand in sewing, whether it was for friends, their home, or a small number of clients. More recently, over the past several years, Barb took...
Published 01/07/24
Jayna Manzelli graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Biology and began a career in Pharmaceutical Quality Control. Experience gained in analysis, equipment, procedures, organization, specifications, and personnel management became relevant when Jayna began her new custom workroom business. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating beautiful things, Jayna opened JM Custom Creations in 2008. JMCC is a to-the-trade workroom, specializing in draperies, Roman shades, top...
Published 12/31/23
Julie Wood, owner of The Leading Edge, began her career as an Art Educator. An avid interest in interior design led her to enroll in the Interior Design program at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. While at NHIA, her love of fabric and sewing translated perfectly into a career creating window treatments. Since she launched her business in 2006, she has specified her services largely to the interior designer. Julie enjoys assisting designers in creating spaces for clients that far exceed...
Published 12/24/23
I look forward to this episode with Michele Williams!  We hope you enjoy hearing it as much as we enjoy recording it.   Scarlet Thread Consulting Metrique Solutions
Published 12/17/23
Cara has had a needle and thread in her hand since she was six. While raising her three children, she ran a sewing business from 2005 to 2021, where she focused on children's clothing items, bedroom soft furnishings, and accessories. Always with a taste for decorating, Cara rebranded her business, Threaded Hive Interiors and Antiques, in January 2021 focusing solely on custom-sewn/fabricated soft furnishings, interior decorating, and styling with antiques. Cara lives in the Kansas City...
Published 12/10/23
Shari Walla learned her love of sewing as a young child from her mother. Initially, she worked as a draftsman in the automobile industry. She started working for Accent Custom Drapery LLC  21 years ago, eventually became a partner. When her business partner, Karen Miceli, retired in 2018 she became the sole owner. She is married and has three adult children. In her spare time, she loves spending time in northern Michigan, fly fishing, and knitting.     Shari is on Facebook and Instagram ...
Published 12/03/23
Julia Fields worked in the bridal industry for more than five years, making wedding dress dreams a reality. Since joining Savannah Window Fashions, she has had the opportunity to transfer her skills into all things custom for our clients homes! In her free time, she loves to write, crochet, and experiment with new recipes for the team to try. 
Published 11/26/23