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 play...
Apr 25, 2024•45 min•Ep. 84
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 ...
Apr 11, 2024•32 min•Ep. 83
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 fo...
Mar 28, 2024•25 min•Ep. 82
(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! (6:16) Karen sewed on ...
Mar 14, 2024•37 min•Ep. 81
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 fuel...
Feb 29, 2024•41 min•Ep. 80
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...
Feb 15, 2024•41 min•Ep. 79
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! ...
Feb 01, 2024•44 min•Ep. 78
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 le...
Jan 18, 2024•48 min•Ep. 77
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...
Jan 04, 2024•29 min•Ep. 76
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 sewin...
Dec 21, 2023•44 min•Ep. 75
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 drafte...
Dec 07, 2023•44 min•Ep. 74
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 nume...
Nov 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 73
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 tel...
Nov 09, 2023•53 min•Ep. 72
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 o...
Oct 26, 2023•54 min•Ep. 71
(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...
Oct 12, 2023•51 min•Ep. 70
(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 reall...
Sep 28, 2023•48 min•Ep. 69
(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 ab...
Sep 14, 2023•36 min•Ep. 68
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 t...
Aug 31, 2023•29 min•Ep. 67
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 ...
Aug 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 66
(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-co...
Aug 03, 2023•57 min•Ep. 65
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 ...
Jul 20, 2023•53 min•Ep. 64
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 ...
Jul 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 63
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...
Jun 22, 2023•30 min•Ep. 62
(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. ...
Jun 08, 2023•44 min•Ep. 61
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...
May 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 60
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...
May 11, 2023•37 min•Ep. 59
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 t...
Apr 27, 2023•35 min•Ep. 58
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…b...
Apr 13, 2023•34 min•Ep. 57
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...
Mar 30, 2023•50 min•Ep. 56
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 share...
Mar 16, 2023•35 min•Ep. 55
