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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association   I enjoyed talking with Cheryl so much and I recently noticed that she has moved her location and I thought it would be fun to listen to her again!

Sew Much More

279 - Cheryl Meiklejohn Re-release

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Cathy and Mark Schulz own Silk Mountain Creations of Carmel, Indiana.  Cathy started the business in 2001 and Mark joined her a little later.  They have built the business from there and have built an award-winning business.   Links and Resources; The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

278 - Cathy and Mark Schulz of Silk Mountain Creations

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association   Michelle Moldowan of C'est Jolie Designs styles inspiring spaces, makes houses feel like homes, and owns and operates a custom drapery workroom in Castle Rock, CO. She delights in walking alongside homeowners as they plan and execute home projects from minor changes to whole house remodeling, as well as designing and fabricating bespoke window treatments across the country.   Using a design process carefully cultivated over 10 years in the industry, Michelle prides herself on listening carefully to homeowners to truly understand their lifestyle and design a space that not only meets theirs needs but tells their unique story. Michelle promises to have something on her Instagram account!   Links and Resources; A Well Designed Business Podcast Elki's Roman Shade class Ann Johnson ripple fold Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Bible Footprints of a Pilgrim: The Life and Loves of Ruth Bell Graham Quickbooks and Minutes Matter Ghant charts for estimating Speed Pleating from Workroom Marketplace Döfix Quickbooks Merrill Y Landis Minutes Matter  

277 - Michelle Moldowan - I Learned to Not Be Afraid of Figuring It Out

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Heidi Wenger Yoder is the owner of Smithland Custom Interiors in Harrisonburg, VA. which is celebrating 20 years of operation.  Heidi's husband, Brent, is an invaluable member of her team as chief installer and cornice board fabricator.  Her three teenage children pitch in on occasion as directors of recycling, dust bunny chasing, and van loading. Heidi is passionate about helping her clients live more fully in their homes and creating beauty in the process.   Heidi is on Instagram  and Facebook   The website below is currently under construction by Kate the Socialite and should be up and running soon My old site, www.seamslikehomeva.com, is still up. For my 20th business birthday, I re-branded and re-named the business.   Links and Resources; (I use some affiliate links and appreciate it if you choose to use them) Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life  by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans Kanban board Kate The Socialite    

276- Heidi Yoder - Know Yourself and What You Need

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association Lea Tran is an ethnic Chinese, former "Boat People" refugee from Vietnam. A Villanova University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, a female scientist turned successful entrepreneur and business owner in the Greater Philadelphia Region, where she called home for thirty-five years. She has morphed from carrying the stigma of the "refugee" label to a chemist who synthesized the compound that became a cocktail drug to treat HIV-AIDS in 1998. A successful business owner who created luxury custom drapery for countless homes in the Mainline area from 2005-2015. In 2019, Lea brought her story to the TEDx stage and then published her harrowing boat journey during the pandemic in 2020 "I Did Not Miss the Boat- Memoir of a Vietnam Hoa Refugee." where she depicts the struggles of an adolescent girl who was being tugged on one side by a culture of duty & tradition and on the other by a new land of personal opportunity & freedom. She delivers her powerful message of courage and hope during challenging times in her keynote speeches to inspire her audience to find opportunities in the midst of adversity. As a transformation coach, Lea works with her clients to build their confidence, help them get out of their comfort zone, rediscover their brilliance, and proactively creating opportunities that will propel them forward. Lea believes in kindness and giving back to help the underprivileged to rebuild their second chance in life. Her aspiration is to help people overcome the trauma of war, poverty, and social isolation. Lea and her husband reside in Florida. Currently, she serves as a board member of Refugee Film School (a non-profit branch of MSRI- Malaysia Social Institute Research). She is also an avid Toastmaster and an active member of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce in Central Florida.     Links and Resources; I Did Not Miss the Boat The Alchemist by Paul Coelho The Glass Castle: A Memoir Jeannette Walls Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear Educated: A Memoir  by Tara Westover Attitude Is Everything: Change Your Attitude... Change Your Life! by Jeff Keller Canva Evernote Podcast app   Lea is on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin Lea will be speaking at the Custom Workroom Conference in October of 2022

OT Series - 275 - Lea Tran - I Did Not Miss the Boat

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 Trading Up Consulting, LLC National Upholstery Association   Rhonda Shanahan, owner of The Whimsical Chair, learned to sew growing up in Iowa from her grandmother and mother. They taught her their passion for sewing and creating with beautiful fabrics. Rhonda received her degree in fashion merchandising. After college she moved to Kansas and worked in retail sales and display. When Rhonda got married and started her family she was able to stay home with their 3 kids. Once her kids all started school she had extra time during the day. There was an upholstery class through her local extension office in Wichita Kansas so she decided to give it a try. Her first project was a wingback chair and she was hooked. She worked on several pieces for her own home. It was wonderful to be able to restore and refurbish antique and vintage chairs. Rhonda and her family moved to Colorado in 2012 and she continued to learn with upholstery education online. Friends and family started asking if she would do chairs and settees for their homes. This was the start of The Whimsical Chair. Links and Resources; Kim's Upholstery The Funky Little Chair Professional Upholsterers Network on Facebook link to estimate page on Rhonda's website QuickBooks Cognito forms National Upholstery Association Crest Leather Upholstery education Louise Cornick  

274 - Rhonda Shanahan - I'm Kind of a Big Dreamer

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   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association Today's podcast is about mindset and I love learning more about it. Links and Resources; The University of Michigan Two for You Series Carol Dweck -  

273 - The Mindset Podcast

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   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Since 1994, Laura Nelson has been the owner of Sew Nice, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, specializing in soft and hard window treatments, slipcovers, and other soft home furnishings.  Sew Nice is a Woman-Owned Business Entity (WBE) with the State of Indiana; Laura is a WFCP Workroom Specialist and active member of WCAA, currently the program chair for the Indiana Chapter and Secretary for the Board of Directors.   A graduate of Purdue University in Restaurant Management, Laura worked in university foodservice management (Notre Dame, Valparaiso, and Purdue), mostly in catering, before changing career paths to start a workroom.   

272- Lara Nelson Re-Release

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   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association     Carly Melcancon redesigns and revives once forgotten upholstered furniture into one-of-a-kind western statement pieces using vintage Mexican textiles, rugs, and hair-on hides. Carly is on Facebook and Instagram.   Links and Resources; (I do use some affiliate links and appreciate it if you use them, no worries if you choose not to!)   Enneagram Test Kim's Upholstery Profit First Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki E Myth Revisited Michael E. Gerber Goal Digger podcast 212 The Extra Degree: Extraordinary Results Begin with One Small Change by Sam Parker Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Gretchen Rubin Getting Things Done by David Allen Professional Upholsterers Network on Facebook      

271 - Carly Melancon - I'm Too Deep In Now To Turn Back

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   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   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 workroom is in a separate casita in her home.  Cristina is on Facebook and Instagram 

270 - Cristina Alamdari - We Are Always Looking For Something More

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   Trading Up Consulting, LLC   National Upholstery Association   Wooo Hoooo!!!  The Sew Much More Podcast is 5 years old!!! I hope you will indulge me in a short walk down memory lane as I celebrate 5 years of podcasting!

269 - Happy 5th Anniversary to the Sew Much More Podcast!

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA The Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC Trading Up Consulting, LLC The National Upholstery Association   Christi Adams is the owner of Christi’s Windows LLC in Chandler, Arizona. . She works with designers in the Phoenix area, and also with select retail clients. She is passionate about creating the extraordinary. Working closely with designers with like passions has pushed her past the “fear” barrier and on to creating some amazing “works of art” for windows. Christi started her business in 1986. She wanted to start a home-based business that would allow her a flexible schedule while she raised her children. She loved to sew and had an eye for design, so she decided to peruse window treatment fabrication. She teamed up with a local designer and began learning the art of window dressing. Most of her education came from any fabrication book she could get her hand on, advice and consultation with her designer and trial and error. She was able to study design, color, and scale, but fabrication technique was a real challenge. There was very little help for a beginner in the industry. When Cheryl Strickland began her newsletter and education conferences in 1993 a whole new “window” of opportunity opened up for her. As she learned from the pros, her confidence grew, and the work improved. Christi is a master at engineering difficult, large-scale window treatments. Attention to detail is first priority. Open communication between herself, the designer, and the client bring the finest results. Christi feels blessed to be part of an industry where we can learn from each other and celebrate success together. She served several terms as President of her local WCAA chapter. She is also past president of the Phoenix Association of Workroom Professionals.   Links and Resources;   Custom Workroom Conference Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Michele Williams - Scarlett Thread Consulting

268 - Christi Adams - I've Learned How to Run My Business, Not Let it Run Me

In this Opportunity Thinking Series episode, I talk with Jeanelle Dech about utilizing personal strengths and the importance of timing in recognizing good-fit opportunities. Jeanelle shares a personal project that has brought more joy and meaning to her life and how my podcast example helped propel the project forward. We encourage everyone to go to www.ThoseBoysontheHill.com to learn more about the podcast and book of the same title. Once there, be sure to subscribe to and read the blog which features book excerpts and related content.     Mentioned links: Catching Up with Lea Tran Ron Howard on Smartless Those Boys on the Hill is available on Buzzsprout, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, and most podcasting platforms. Preview of Episode 3 – Iszel’s Smile  Episode 7 – Talking Trauma with Tracie  Episode 9- Black and Blackish with Cody (Jeanelle’s youngest brother)       

267 -Opportunity Thinking Series with Jeanelle Dech Asking Better or Different?

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA The Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC Trading Up Consulting, LLC The National Upholstery Association   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.  Sharon went to Sew What conferences as a student and then, over time, went as a presenter.   After a few more moves and when they moved to Charlotte, NC in 1996, Sharon's goal was to get out of the basement and into a space and Custom Window Treatments, Inc., a “to the trade workroom” came about. She targeted high end designers and she now has a thriving business with a staff. Her company fabricates not only for local designers but designers throughout the country contact CWT for their customers moving to the area.   Sharon's specialty since the beginning was working with silk and English Bump Interlining.  Silk has pretty much been replaced with linen as trends come and go.  But their customer service and quality have always stayed.     Links and Resources; You can contact Sharon - sharon@customwindowtreatmentsinc.net Sharon is on Facebook, LinkdIn, Instagram Price Your Work with Confidence by Kitty Stein

266 - Sharon Coppede - I Didn't Know I Had a Gift

The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by; The Workroom Channel Scarlet Thread Consulting The WCAA The Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC Trading Up Consulting, LLC The National Upholstery Association Sue Sifakis started SUESEWN in 1995. She attended Cheryl Stricklands's week-long class on how to run a drapery business in 1994.  She also attended CHF classes and was on an advisory committee for the CHF magazine a few years. She was part of the Alumni showcase in 2010. She has also attended Slipcover Networking Workshops as well as numerous conferences to learn more. Sue has been a member of the Eastern Massachusetts WCAA Chapter since 2006 and she has held officer positions such as Secretary, Vice President, and President. Links and Resources; Deb Barrett Custom Workroom Conference WRT Podcast Episode 21 - Building Relationships to Build Your Business Qigong 

265 - Sue Sifakis Re-realease

An interview style podcast with people in the Custom Home Furnishings industry.

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Sew Much More

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