Sew Much More

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 of Directors on a new Strategic Plan as well as rebranding the organization.

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 served first as Secretary, before recently becoming the President. Keaven still lives in Portland with her husband and their two dogs.

Keaven is on Instagram

Links and Resources;

(Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money. I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you!)

Spruce Upholstery by Amanda Brown and Grace Bonney

Upholstery: A Complete Courseby David James

The planner I use is from Laurel Studios.

Keaven uses the Commit 30 planner.

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

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 backsides of those items.” Sewing had begun for Rachel at the age of 11 and 4-H sewing programs, but it was not until 17 years later that the entrepreneurial bug bit hard and spawned a new vocational life trajectory! Rachel is on Instagram Links and Resources; Price Your Work with Confidence by Kitty Stein

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 obsession and she considers it a privilege to be able to make a living doing what she loves.
Deb has a blog that is dedicated to documenting what they do every day: they enjoy showing off the gorgeous fabrics they work with, and the window treatments they make from them; discuss the design and fabrication process; and share information about some of their resources, colleagues, and inspiration.

Today Deb is sharing her journey to overcome pain in her body and to make it last longer so that she can continue to do what she loves!

Links and Resources;

(Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money. I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you!)

Isotoner Compression Gloves

Jamie Terral is the owner ofWorkroom 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 onInstagram,Facebook, andPinterest Huston Area Work Custom Drapery Association Links and Resources; The Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library WCAA 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

Sharon Coppede is the owner ofCustom 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 [email protected] Sharon is onFacebook,LinkdIn,Instagram Price Your Work with Confidence by Kitty Stein

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 ownsAZ Draperies and Pillowsand 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 onFacebookandInstagram

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

Mary is the owner of Bucks County Window Décor. She has been inbusiness 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 newlywed so that she could have custom window treatments for her own home, which gradually started her business, as friends and neighbors asked her to create treatments for them.

Mary recently came back to the window treatment industry after a 4-year break working for a martial arts franchise where she learned the importance of systems, and processes and doing the same thing the same way every single time.

Mary is married to her super supportive husband of 34 years and has 2 grown children and 1 in college.Mary still enjoys sewing for fun, cooking for her family, playing with her black Lab, reading, and listening to podcasts. She is the current Vice President of the NJ/SEPA Chapter of the WCAA.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decoratingjunkie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckscountywindowdecor/

Links and Resources;

Never Split the Difference - Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Kobalt Tape Measure

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 Resource Library Merril Y Landis, LTD Angel's Distributing, LLC National Upholstery Association Workroom Tech

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 findJulia's Ruler here.