Our guest today is Bianca Weber—founder and owner of Dynamics Fashion, a German sewing and fabric shop offering patterns, accessories, and online tutorials. Bianca grew up in a small village in southern Germany and has carved an extraordinary path: she is not only an entrepreneur but also a commercial pilot and currently studying aerospace engineering.

A multi-talented creator, Bianca contributes sewing tutorials to the BERNINA blog, specializing in activewear, overlock and cover stitch techniques, and inspires others through her social media presence.

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, when she’s not flying, studying, or se...

Our guest today is Maddy Ballard, sewist, journalist, author. Born in Syracuse, NY, to a Texan father and a Chinese-New Zealander mother, she grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where she lived until she was 22. She then moved to England to pursue a postgraduate degree in English literature at the University of Oxford. Working in England as a journalist after her degree ended, she returned home during Covid, which is when she learned to sew. 

After a couple of years working in Auckland, Maddy moved to Wellington to pursue a master’s in creative writing, which...

Our guest today is Thadine Wormly, quilter, artist, proud mother of 4! Originally from Brooklyn, she moved to Flushing Queens in the 1970’s. As a young girl she loved making doll clothes…and learning from her mother how to crochet and knit. Following a move to Miami, FL Thadine took Home Ec in Junior High which allowed her to continue her love of working with fabric. A graduate of the Barbizon Modeling School, she modeled in numerous shows  often designing and  making her outfits.

While working in the fur market in New York City for 16 years, she lea...

In this episode of Sew & So, we sit down with four of those “sewing fairies”—Jaime David (Education Project Manager), Megann Freese (Educator), Hayley Grzych (Educator), and Fabian Renteria (Associate Educator). Together, they pull back the curtain on what it’s like to be behind the scenes of one of fashion TV’s most iconic shows. From early call times and prepping challenges, to watching contestants “make it work” in real time, the team shares stories of intensity, camaraderie, and unforgettable creative energy.

Whether you’re a Project Runway fan, a sewist, or just curious about how TV magic comes t...

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome TaMara Howard of Folk Quilts, an extraordinary artist, educator, and storyteller whose quilts speak volumes about heritage, identity, and innovation.

Born in Virginia and raised in Maryland, TaMara began her quilting journey in 1996—without even owning a sewing machine. Inspired by the colorful stories of her great-grandmother, Maggie V. Folk McClellan, TaMara pursued quilting as a craft and calling. What started as personal exploration has evolved into a full artistic practice, fusing African and American textile traditions with contemporary design.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Indu...

Our guest today is Phyllis Elmore, a remarkable woman whose story is as unforgettable as the quilts that helped shape her life.

Phyllis is the author of Quilt of Souls, a powerful and deeply personal memoir that has touched readers across the country. 

Born in the Detroit and raised by her grandmother Lula in rural Alabama, Phyllis found herself immersed in a world of deep wisdom, quiet strength, and generational resilience. It was there, surrounded by women who stitched their pain, perseverance, and history into quilts, that Phyllis discovered healing—and the true meaning of fami...

We begin with a reflection on the roots of sewing in Salt Lake City, stretching back to the arrival of Mormon pioneers in 1847. For these early settlers, sewing was not a pastime but a necessity—a way to preserve life, create comfort, and build community. Their quilts, made from scraps of old clothing, flour sacks, and church shirts, stitched stories of faith, hardship, and hope. Today, that legacy lives on—not only in museum collections but in the humanitarian efforts of modern Relief Society members and in the passionate quilting community that continues to grow.

Against this rich...

In this episode of Sew & So, we sit down with Kristine Frailing, founder of The New YorkSewing Center, a vibrant, hands-on sewing school with two locations in New York and virtual classes that reach students in all 50 states. A fashion designer, entrepreneur, and mom, Kristine brings her passion for sewing and empowering others into everything she creates.

Kristine shares how her love for sewing began with her great aunt and blossomed into a fashion career that took her to top names like Ford Models, J. Mendel, Gurhan, and David Yurman. She later launched her own clothing line...

At times we have the opportunity to deviate a little from the tried-and-true conversations this podcast has become known for as opportunities occur for us to sit down with a very special person, perhaps not known as a sewist or quilter, but as someone who has made an indelible mark in the world of creativity. Our guest today is a woman whose life and work have helped shape some of the most iconic spaces and moments in American design history – and whose personal story is just as remarkable as her professional one.

Tania McKnight Norris was born in...

Our guest today is Amy Barickman. Born in Michigan, raised in Iowa - Amy graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Fine Arts, only wishing it was with an emphasis in textiles versus glass blowing.

Always drawn to boutique fashion as well as upcycling and vintage, Vintage Made Modernhas been a theme of many of the books and patterns she produced over the more than 30 the years of product development with the brand she founded in 1990, Indygo Junction. 

She is the author of the award-winning book; Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide...

Today we’re threading together sewing, and fate with some of the extraordinary people behind one of the most innovative and visually striking films of the year—Sew Torn. It’s a thriller. A dark comedy. And a stitched-together cinematic wonder that explores how every decision unravels a different destiny.

In Sew Torn, Barbara Duggen—‘The Mobile Seamstress’—stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong. Faced with a suitcase full of cash and two injured men, she must choose what’s next Each decision plays out in a unique timeline, with wildly different and increasingly dangerous consequences. The result is a stor...

Today we welcome quilt artist Barbara Ann McCraw. Actually…we welcome her back as we met Barbara in person and interviewed her at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah at her exhibit Life Stories during Quilt Week in 2024. While our conversation was a component of a compilation of stories…we felt that she had so much more to share, hence she joins us today.

Barbara grew up on the south side of Chicago and later attended Illinois State University where she earned a degree in English. In 1986 she earned a degree in medical technology and worke...

Our guests today come to us from the world of fabric design as we welcome Pat & Walter Bravo from Art Gallery Fabrics- Textile Manufacturer in Miami, Florida.

Both born in Buenos Aires Argentina, Pat got the sewing bug beside her mother as she sewed…as she dreamed of painting her world with fabrics.

As Pat created a gallery in their home with quilts, their son named it an Art Gallery and an idea was born. So, Pat and her husband Walter turned this passion into a company and Art Gallery Fabrics was born.

In this special family-themed episode we're delighted to welcome sisters Sue Nickels and Pat Holly, renowned figures in the quilting community. Both have dedicated more than four decades to the art of quilting, earning numerous accolades and inspiring countless enthusiasts worldwide.​

Pat Holly was born in Lafayette, Indiana, during her father's tenure as a flight instructor in the Korean War. Though the family relocated to Michigan when she was just six weeks old, Pat proudly embraces her Hoosier roots. She pursued biology at the University of Michigan and later worked as an electron microscope technician at the An...

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 retre...

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...

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 immedia...

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 Ren...

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 o...

Meet Our Guests

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 a...

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 th...

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 curren...

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 c...

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 o...

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.missou...

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 fir...

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 pas...

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...

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 c...

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 Cho...

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 fil...

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...

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...

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, sha...

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 l...

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 U...

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 Candlewick...

(: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) Bon...

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...

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...

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...

(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!

 ...

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 cam...

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.

(4:2...

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...

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...

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...

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 grandmo...

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...

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 no...

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 Leach...

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 yo...

(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...

(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 start...

(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...

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...

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 Fib...

(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 BER...

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...

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...

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...

(2:30) Alex takes us back to the beginning of her sewing journey and tells us of the first thing she ever sewed!

(4:47) Alex takes back to her very first quilt studio and tells us of the moment she began to take herself seriously as a quilter. The “Quilt Life” (7:25) became a mantra for her as she found that she really belonged…Alex explains how this happens and what this means to her. What is “The Quilt Life”? She tells us!

(9:34) Over the years her favorite things about quilting have changed. Owning a BERNINA was...

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 inte...

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...

Aleeda Crawley, President of the Modern Quilt Guild shares her personal journey into the world of quilting and tells of how she became president of the guild. The Guild itself is a powerhouse in the world of quilting – she tells us about its purpose and overall work. The Guild can be found at www.themodernquiltguild.com.

Karen Cooper – Executive Director of the Guild drops in to explain how the Guild has taken a stand for DEAI and is committed to being a place where all feel safe in expressing their opinions and coming together as a community to c...

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 disappo...

This exclusive/all-access episode takes you through the 2023 version of SewExpo at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA

In it’s 39th year, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo was back in full force after a two year Covid 19 hiatus.

Hear directly from Show Manager Janet McLoughlin and Education Manager about how they were brought out of retirement to make this all happen.

There are vendors who will talk about their wares and as always interviews with charities and non-profits who use sewing and quilting to serve unique needs.

Hear from Be...

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 t...

(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...

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 a...

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...

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...

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...

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 st...

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...

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 wha...

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.

Li...

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 fabr...

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.

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 ea...

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 boar...

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 n...

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...

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

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

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

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

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

Mee...

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 tha...

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 cl...

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 sew...

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 t...

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 bac...

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

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

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

Although she was a run...

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, an...

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, th...

As the conversation begins, we learn about the individual journeys of Christa and Aaronica, and how sewing has influenced each of their lives. Christy, a plus-size sewist herself and daughter of a tailor, grew up around sewing, and notes that the sewing industry has adapted over the years to be more accommodating to sewists of all sizes. Although she sewed on and off since a young age, Aaronica’s real passion for sewing started when she was pregnant with her second child. For her, quilting is one of the most empowering things ever because you can take unformed pieces of...

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 Armstr...

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...

After living in the United States for seven years, Marisa and her husband moved back to Spain in the late 1990s to help her parents with their sewing machine business. While working at the store, she and her sister introduced quilting to help modernize the business. Marisa also managed the store and taught sewing before returning to the United States in 2019.

It was while she was in Spain that Marisa discovered her love of free motion quilting. Although she’s been quilting for the past 22 years, Marisa didn’t create her first themed art quilt until 2014. She name...

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...

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...