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 Modern has 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 awar...
Jun 19, 2025•38 min•Ep. 114
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...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 113
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 e...
May 22, 2025•44 min•Ep. 112
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 Fabri...
May 08, 2025•44 min•Ep. 111
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 Hoosi...
Apr 24, 2025•50 min•Ep. 110
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 ...
Apr 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 109
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 b...
Mar 27, 2025•54 min•Ep. 108
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—B...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 107
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 ...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 106
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 ...
Feb 13, 2025•27 min•Ep. 105
Meet Our Guests Allison Rainboth grew up in Glendale, CA, just 10 minutes from the Rose Bowl (where she learned to drive in the parking lot!). She pursued graduate studies in biology at UCLA before moving to Wisconsin in 1992. Today, she and her husband are passionate about maintaining their historic home, and she shares her space with three beloved cats. Vickie Coleman , the oldest of three girls and an admitted Army brat, was born at Fort Benning, GA. Her childhood was filled with travel, livi...
Jan 30, 2025•58 min•Ep. 104
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 proc...
Jan 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 103
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 ...
Jan 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 102
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 ne...
Dec 19, 2024•28 min•Ep. 101
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...
Dec 05, 2024•39 min•Ep. 100
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 icon...
Nov 21, 2024•53 min•Ep. 99
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 bee...
Nov 07, 2024•41 min•Ep. 98
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 Chicag...
Oct 24, 2024•40 min•Ep. 97
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 con...
Oct 10, 2024•31 min•Ep. 96
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 th...
Sep 26, 2024•41 min•Ep. 95
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...
Sep 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 94
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 n...
Aug 29, 2024•36 min•Ep. 93
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’...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 92
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. Throu...
Aug 01, 2024•57 min•Ep. 91
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 dre...
Jul 18, 2024•35 min•Ep. 90
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 exemplif...
Jul 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 89
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 ...
Jun 20, 2024•23 min•Ep. 88
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: W...
Jun 06, 2024•39 min•Ep. 87
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 Litt...
May 23, 2024•52 min•Ep. 86
(: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...
May 09, 2024•44 min•Ep. 85
