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, Mary learned to sew…she tells us how and why! And lovingly shares this special connection with her mom.

(11:15) Within a two-year timeframe, Mary realized she loved sewing, quit her job in New York, started Needle Sharp…and learned her mom had cancer…so she moved back home. Learn also how Needle Sharp got its name – and why it caused her some unforeseen challenges.

(14:05) She talks about the blind courage she found to move forward.

(16:28) Mary shares her process for providing a subscription service for her company Needle Sharp 

(18:20) What’s it like to run into someone wearing one of her creations? She shares the excitement!

(19:09) How have the last 10 years been the most challenging and rewarding in her life? She takes us on this journey.

(20:12) Mary talks about her mom and how she was inspired by her and how she honors her legacy.

(22:25) What words of advice does Mary have for beginning sewists? “Have a beginner’s mind.

(22:34) What’s next, what’s her dream? And will she ever design her own fabric?

(25:36) And…what didn’t I ask that she wanted to share? Hear about her favorite book Caesar’s Last Breadth by Sam Kean

(27:25) To contact Mary go to her website at needle-sharp.com and on Instagram @needlehsharp.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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. 

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She attended the University of North Texas, where she earned her degree in Fashion Design and Fibers. 

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R'Bonney is the lead sewing instructor at Magpies & Peacocks, a Houston-based nonprofit design house that is dedicated to using "Fashion as a force for good" through sustainability and community impact. She combines her latent for design with caring for the environment in her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.

(1:46) R’Bonney tells us how she learned to sew by watching her mom and shopping at thrift stores. R’Bonney tells of one of her favorite projects – the big purple gown with puffy sleeves…a Halloween costume.

(3:35) She tells us how important the sewist community is to her and why.

(5:10) She’s always upbeat and positive…she lets us in on her youth, parent’s influence and how sports, music, church, and ballet influenced her outlook.

(7:39) Travel is a big part of her current life as Miss Universe. She tells us what it’s like to be Miss Universe!

(10:57) R’Bonney takes us back to the beginning and on her journey to becoming Miss Universe.

(16:00) She talks about how she became passionate about sustainable fashion.

And the documentary ”A True Cost” which opened her eyes to clothing consumption worldwide.

(17:50) Magpie and Peacocks name – a truly unique identifier – has an interesting story which R’Bonney shares with us.

(18:45) She explains ethical sewing practices and sustainable fashion as she exemplified with her Miss Universe Cape. She also explains how we as individuals can support sustainable fashion.

(23:09) The MAKR Program with Magpies and Peacocks is very important to R’Bonney. She tells us about this effort and why it means so much to her.

Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!

(25:04) She tells us a story of one of the women who went through the MAKR Program and how it changed her life.

(27:10) She talks about being the first Filipina-American to hold the Miss Universe title and how she leverages this position for the advancement of Asian Americans.

(28:40) If Not Now When if her motto – she tells us why and what it means to her.

(30:40) What’s next for her after Miss Universe?! Listen and find out!

(31:11) Is there a question we didn’t ask?!

To reach out to R’Bonney, you can find her at Instagram @rbonneynola, or the email connected to the Instagram account. 

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

(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 BERNINA 790 Pro

(10:18) Claudia Stauber, VP/Marketing BERNINA International joins us to explain the new BERNINA campaign “It’s a Big Day”. In addition, we got to know her a little better!

(15:04) Annette Varner, Brand Manager of BERNINA International, added her input to the work of building this new campaign.

(17:07) Michaelynn Rose, VP/Marketing BERNINA of America, jumps in to talk about BERNINA’s new products.

(18:04) Some of our favorite Sew & So moments are to catch up with past guests on this podcast. We talked with Sarah Caldwell (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode31-sarah-caldwell-from-frogs-to-frodo), Sarah Joiner (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode54-sarah-joiner), Sue from Sookie Sews (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode50-sue-overy-pruitt) and Sylvain Bergeron (https://weallsew.com/author/snbergeron/) who will join us on a future episode

(25:10) The cosplay market is a new focus for BERNINA in the coming year. Carolyn Kinder Brand Manager for bernette tells us how this came to be and how Yaya Han became the name/face of this project. She also talks about the importance of this community.

(28:40) Then Yaya Hahn herself joined us to talk about her love of sewing, how the dream of working with BERNINA began and how it resulted in the bernette 79 Yaya Han Edition.

(35:34) We got to visit with three companies who are partners to BERNINA and who each provide quality products that make sewists’ jobs easier. Horn of America (https://www.hornofamerica.com/), OESD (https://embroideryonline.com/oesd/) and Fat Quarter (https://www.fatquarter.com) 

(39:04) Bob Negan, a popular retail expert known as one of the most innovative consultants, speakers, and trainers today, sat with us to talk about the courses he teaches to BERNINA Dealers during BERNINA University (https://whizbangtraining.com/).

(41:15) As the event progressed, we got to visit with even more past Sew & So guests, Joe Vecchiarelli (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-28-joe-vecchiarelli), Marissa Marquez (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-26-marisa-marquez), Gail Yellen (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-14-gail-yellen) and Pam Mahshie (https://www.sewandsopodcast.com/episodes/episode-9-pam-mahshie)

(49:33) Dealers came to Dallas from around the world because of the importance of this event. Thomas and Chris from Switzerland joined us to talk about their establishments.

(50:45) Phillip Ueltschi of the Ueltschi family who owns BERNINA, talked with us about what’s new with his family and BERNINA and BERNINA University.

(52:47) Christy Burcham – VP Education and Training at BERNINA of America ran down all the new products.

(53:29) After 4 long days, Phillip Ueltschi brought it all home at the closing ceremony. He talks about the family feeling that BERNINA brings to their dealers and customers…and introduced his son Felix – the 6th generation. 

Thank you for joining us for stories of innovation, risk taking and meeting new friends at this year’s BERNINA University 2023!

Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 literally started with almost nothing.

(5:35) What’s her fashion style? It varies from very feminine to Korean inspired streetwear. She goes into detail on this with us.

(6:21) What sparked her interest in Anime and Manga…escapism! Learn what started all of this. 

(7:39)  She moved to the United States much to the dismay of her parents. She takes us with her on this journey with her. In 2005 she quit her “day job” and became a costume artist full time.

(12:06) She persevered through some pretty tough times – sewing was what got her through this. She shares how she found her strength.

(13:16) Her love for the cosplay community is notable. She describes this community, shares why it’s so very important to her and explains her personal growth within the community.

(18:09) DragonCon in Atlanta is a huge expo for those in the cosplay community. It’s especially important to Yaya as she met her husband Brian there 23 years ago. Today they are business partners and live the dream together.

(21:16) Find out who is her favorite cosplay character.

(22:13) How did she build a 3 million + community of followers – she shares her secrets.

(26:17) Having met thousands of fans – Yaya is always energized by these engagements. How important is this to her? She lets us know and even shares a specific instance at ACon.

(29:00) BERNINA University’s new campaign is “It’s a Big Day”. Yaya walks us through her relationship with BERNINA, her role in this campaign and how she worked with them to create the bernette 79 Yaya Han Edition. She also describes all the amazing features of this machine and why it’s perfect for cosplayers.

(41:21) Yaya has a new book on the market called Yaya Han’s World of Cosplay. She tells us of the genesis of this work which is the history of cosplay told through her story and all it contains on tips and tricks on how to be a professional cosplayer.

(44:30) Learn in the midst of her busy schedule, what Yaya does for fun.

(45:43) What inspires Yaya? “Everything”! She unpacks this for us.

(45:28) What’s next and what’s her dream? Besides “living it right now”, she shares what the future looks like for her.

(48:20) Her final point is asking the sewing community to embrace cosplay. There are misconceptions out there about this community which she addresses. In fact, she explains how in many ways we are all cosplayers, just in different spaces.

To reach out to Yaya, go to her website Yayahan.com, Instagram as #Yayahan and Facebook is Yayacosplay. She invites all to reach out!

Be sure to subscribe to, rate and review this podcast on your favorite platform!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 grandfather for sewing her first Barbie dress - she shares this story. In addition, she talks about the female lineage in her family that inspired, mentored, and encouraged her sewing. She also talks of her sewing plans for her three granddaughters. 

(7:00) Then, Cookie transitioned to fabric art during a difficult time in her life - she shares this story.  A Communion of Sprits; African American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories by Roland Freeman created a tipping point in her creativity and she opens up about how this happened.

(10:46) Cookie talks about her personal connection to the attack at Mother Emanuel Church and how she used her quilts to help heal the city. Her art to her is a meditative prayer. 

(13:21) What’s the Divine Feminine and what does it mean to her? She shares the meaning of this and how it led to her work with mermaids.

(16:15) Cookie does a lot of curatorial art to foster introspection, communication and provide education. She walks us through her process for this, and how we can celebrate our sameness and be inquisitive about our differences. She shares stories about her work “A Dialog in Black and White” and how she believes her ministry is to bring people together.

(10:25) “I want to make art that challenges people to feel. Art that makes them soar and annoys.” Cookie explains how this drives her creations. She also talks about Henrietta Lacks and “The Immortal Cell” and the art she created to celebrate this amazing woman. She also talks about how she artistically captures the physicality of Serena and Venus Williams, and Simone Biles in her work.

(32:58) In addition to her work, she donates her time and talent to serve in many ways which she tells us about. She also shares news about her current project “Quilted Hugs”.

(39:20) Cookie believes that there is a shift in the art community and sewing that is moving from utilitarian out of necessity to art that celebrates. She explains her position on this shift invoking Bisa Butler and Michelangelo!

(46:00) Right before the podcast was recorded, Cookie had the “Best Weekend Ever” in her curating the exhibit “Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America”. This is a wonderful story here about the genesis of this exhibit of 150 pieces and the effect is had on the art community. She talks of the contributions of Dr. Lauren Davis and Dr. Henry Drewal to this event. The event exceeded her expectations and dreams!

(56:47) What’s her dream?   To keep encouraging people to quilt. She will move forward with this at The Kindred Spirits Conference. She also has a show coming up in November where she’ll display her Quilted Hug project. She wants to learn the longarm too!

(59: 43) What didn’t I ask? About her granddaughters!!!!

(1:00:33) To reach out to Cookie email her at Cookiesews1960@gmail.com and her website www.cookiesewsquilts.com. And Instagram @cookiwsews. 

(1:01:54) Oh, and by the way, how did we find Cookie for Sew & So? Learn that here!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

(10:46) Cookie talks about her personal connection to the attack at Mother Emanuel Church and how she used her quilts to help heal the city. Her art to her is a meditative prayer. 

(13:21) What’s the Divine Feminine and what does it mean to her? She shares the meaning of this and how it led to her work with mermaids.

(16:15) Cookie does a lot of curatorial art to foster introspection, communication and provide education. She walks us through her process for this, and how we can celebrate our sameness and be inquisitive about our differences. She shares stories about her work “A Dialog in Black and White” and how she believes her ministry is to bring people together.

(10:25) “I want to make art that challenges people to feel. Art that makes them soar and annoys.” Cookie explains how this drives her creations. She also talks about Henrietta Lacks and “The Immortal Cell” and the art she created to celebrate this amazing woman. She also talks about how she artistically captures the physicality of Serena and Venus Williams, and Simone Biles in her work.

(32:58) In addition to her work, she donates her time and talent to serve in many ways which she tells us about. She also shares news about her current project “Quilted Hugs”.

(39:20) Cookie believes that there is a shift in the art community and sewing that is moving from utilitarian out of necessity to art that celebrates. She explains her position on this shift invoking Bisa Butler and Michelangelo!

(46:00) Right before the podcast was recorded, Cookie had the “Best Weekend Ever” in her curating the exhibit “Celebrating Black Mermaids from Africa to America”. This is a wonderful story here about the genesis of this exhibit of 150 pieces and the effect is had on the art community. She talks of the contributions of Dr. Lauren Davis and Dr. Henry Drewal to this event. The event exceeded her expectations and dreams!

(56:47) What’s her dream?   To keep encouraging people to quilt. She will move forward with this at The Kindred Spirits Conference. She also has a show coming up in November where she’ll display her Quilted Hug project. She wants to learn the longarm too!

(59: 43) What didn’t I ask? About her granddaughters!!!!

(1:00:33) To reach out to Cookie email her at Cookiesews1960@gmail.com and her website www.cookiesewsquilts.com. And Instagram @cookiwsews. 

(1:01:54) Oh, and by the way, how did we find Cookie for Sew & So? Learn that here!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

(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 a key part of this…so is the quilting community. (11:13) She shares the story about the business she had with her dad.

(13:08) Alex has an intense appreciation for quilts and quilt design. She tells the story of Lucy Hilti and the influence she had on this love.

(17:00) Alex describes her work and her brand.

(18:17) Alex and Ricky Tims the power duo behind thequiltshow.com…how did they meet – Alex tells us this story along with what it’s like to work with him and the genesis of streaming for them.

(25:19) “Every guest will bring you a gift…you just don’t know what it is.” Alex tells us about what this means to her shows and which episode is her favorite and why.

(28:49) A recent cancer survivor, a third generation in her family to have cancer, shares her story or fear, courage, and the unknowing journey through her health challenges. She shares her words of encouragement for those travelling the same journey.

What inspires her (37:52) she tells us! And what she’s doing now to reignite her creativity. (39:55) What’s next…what’s her dream? If she were to write her personal script…it wouldn’t have been written the way her life went.

Want to reach out to Alex? Write to her at alexandrsn@gmail.com.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 them. An interesting perspective shared as well is the fact that Cosplayers are in every fabric of life, and you might not know they are into cosplay!

Of course, as we always do at events, we found a non-profit, ExtraLife and talked with them about their mission and their work.

Equally as fun, we met-up with Desi Desu – a previous guest on this podcast – and found out what she’s been up to since we visited last.

We visited with Maggy Urso from BERNINA of America and talked about BERNINA’s/bernette’s commitment to the cosplay community. We met a quilt vendor – Sew Quiltable and spent considerable time on Artist’s Alley talking with noted author Art Baltazar.

Fabricator Adam Catt shared his C2E2 stories, talks about his fabrication work and how his whole family is involved in C2E2.

Jedimanda spent time with us talking about this event and why she so loves this community (Listen for a special episode with Jedimanda coming soon).

While the exhibits, artists, vendors, celebrities, and costumes were certainly pervasive and mainstays of the event. It was truly more about inclusion, belonging, being who you are and cosplaying who you dream of being. The respect, recognition, and acceptance we saw and experienced really set C2E2 apart as something magical. To a person…this was not lost…

And that’s C2E2 2023– a home for geeks, nerds, introverts and all who want to fit in. It’s a place to go to be you and to be among friends old and new!

Be sure to subscribe, rate and review this podcast! If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 create together.

Chawne Kimber, (@cauchycomplete) the internationally known 2023 keynote speaker at QuiltCon and respected quilter whose work can be found in the Smithsonian Museum, tells of the genesis of her art, her purpose, and her love for the quilting community.

Latifa Saafir, the 2022 keynote, recounts her 2022 keynote, tells how she started the LA MQG, and shares her thoughts on modern quilting as well as her personal quilting storytelling journey. www.latifasaafirstudios.com

Lisa Woolfork, of Black Women Stitch recounts her personal journey in founding this organization. An Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, Lisa’s work was shaped by personal experience and her work toward a better future for black sewists is notable. Hear also of her adventures with her “little Bernette 33” sewing in transit across the country. www.blackwomenstitch.org

At the age of 13, Sara Trail became a powerhouse in the quilting community. She tells us how she learned to sew, wrote her first book at 13, released her first DVD at 15, attended UC Berkley and Harvard and became the Executive Director of the Social Justice Sewing Academy. Sara’s story is not to be missed! www.sjsacademy.org.

Finally, Peggy Martin, President of the Brown Sugar Stitchers shares her own personal sewing journey, the mission and the work of the organization founded in 2000, how the group got their name and their special relationship with the Gee’s Bend Quilters. www.bssquiltguild.com

Six strong women with six different experiences, stories and impact on their sewing community. It’s their passion for preserving the past, celebrating the present and fighting for a better tomorrow that makes them formidable as individuals and invincible together.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 disappoint! He also talks about the many doors that being a designer opened for him.

(14:01) Nick answers the question…” who are you”?

(15:26) Beyonce, Katy Perry, Heidi Klum, Carrie Underwood…he’s designed for them all! Oscars, Emmy’s SAG awards…he talks about what’s it like to work with the famous. And all of this led to his very own line on QVC!

(20:04) Endearingly humble, his work ethic remains intact, and he has never forgotten how he got to where he is today – listen to what continues to inspire him. He takes this a step further in words of wisdom for aspiring designers…find your voice!

(22:17) Nick walks us through the Sewing and Stitchery Expo and points out the things that made a big impression on him. This was his first time visiting this event after several invitations…he shares why he wishes he had attended years earlier.

(26:43) The genesis of Nikolaki, his fashion brand’s name – Nick shares the story! It was born out necessity and in a rush.

(28:18) The Red Carpet is a place where outfits must be perfect. Learn how Nick deals with the little imperfections that stars experience travelling to the event. And, what’s it like to do interviews on the Red Carpet…let Nick tell you.

Finally, what’s next for him and what’s his dream? He also reaches out to and encourages the next generation of designers to take a chance and push themselves! “The world is starving for creatives!”

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 Becky Groves of Project Linus tell about how they’ve delivered more than 9 million blankets to children in need since 1995 (www.projectlinus.org)

Visit with Kali Basi as she tells of the origins and work of Conscious by Kali, (https://www.consciousbykali.com) an organization that works to help human trafficking survivors. And then Leslie Unruh of Sew Powerful (www.sewpowerful.org) shares the story of her organization and how sewing a purse can keep a girl in school.

Then settle into your front row seat for a night of fun, prizes and an exclusive fashion show hosted by Nick Verreos. Learn how he constructs dresses for stars such as Beyonce, Katie Perry, Heidi Klum and more. 

As always, we catch-up with past Sew & So guests. This time we caught up with Pam Mahshie, Aaroica Cole, Amanda Carrita and Joe Vechiarelli.

As this event looks forward to a 40th year anniversary celebration in 2024, Janet and Ann take us back to the year 2001…to the highest attendance ever…and the big earthquake.

You won’t want to miss this exclusive journey through one of sewing’s premier events, where everyone learns, shops and in always among friends.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 together, and she shares a very special story you won’t want to miss about a devotee of this event. She also talks about an interesting challenge this year’s event faced.

Chawne Kimber, this year’s keynote speaker and renowned activist/artist talks about her experience at this year’s event.

Black Women Sewist had a prominent voice, and they shared their perspectives on the progress that’s been made – and what’s still left to be accomplished. Latifa Saafir explains her POV, Aleeda Crawley describes the MQG focus for the coming year - and by the way…don’t touch the quilts! She also acknowledges volunteers.

Lisa Woolfork talks about community and safety, the genesis of Black Women Stitch, and sewing on Amtrack on her way to QuiltCon.

Peggy Martin, President of the Brown Sugar Stitchers shares the story about this group’s founding and how this group got its name.

Next, meet Uzoma Samuel, a first-time quilter from Nigeria. Learn about his family, his process, how he sees fabric as paint, and his long journey to finally getting to QuiltCon. Sara Trail – a friend of Uzoma’s, tells how they met on Facebook and how she worked tirelessly to help him.

One of our favorite things to do is to catch up with past Sew & So Guests. At QuiltCon we talked with Becky Glasby from the National Quilt Museum (Episode 24) and Marisa Marquez from Brewer (Episode 26). Becky shares updates from the Museum and what we can expect coming up this year and Marisa tells us what she’s been up to since her episode.

And…oh the shopping! One thing that everyone loves at QuiltCon is the selection of vendors – listen as we learn about Sew Creative Lounge, String and Story, and Moda/United Notions. 

Louise Duffy from BERNINA exudes the energy of this event and talks about the Georgia stores she works with.

The days were full…and long. The mood is upbeat…inclusive, realistic, and hopeful. It was all about much more than quilting and sewing. It was about the interwoven stories of those who quilt and sew and the effects they have and will have on each other. It was about yesterday, today, and the promise of a better tomorrow. It was about community. And it’s this community that makes sewing and quilting so very much more. This was QuiltCon 2023. Thanks to all who shared their stories with us for this special episode of Sew & So!

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

(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 to knit and tells us why and how. Then, she practiced and created her first sweater…then she dove right in and created The Beauty School Top from Poison Grrls knowing nothing about how to buy yarn and needles…with the help of YouTube.

(12:07 - 15:05) She tells us the definition of a “frog” pile, and why it’s important. “Vintage Inspired” is her named style…she explains why and how Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor inspire her creations.

(15:35 – 18:28) Sarah shares with us what it took for her to move to 100% online teaching when the pandemic hit after building a large successful in-person following at Pintuck and Purl. Starting with a beginner sewing class that was a hit, she not only taught sewing but began to build a large, vibrant online community. She shares why online is a little challenging and how she addresses that. Also, what the real plusses are of online sewing classes.

(18:30 – 19:58) Sarah fondly talks about the community that grew during the pandemic and how she’s still in shock that people still want to learn from her. Her students in her very first class are still with her and though she’s not met them in person, they’ve become a part of each other’s sewing family.

(21:10 – 24:30) Sarah takes us through how she grew her passion for teaching and why she chose this vocation over being a flight attendant. Sarah, who also teaches chemistry at the collegiate level, explains the similarity between sewing and chemistry. 

(24:38 –30:02) She tells us how she curates her personal wardrobe with trial and error or sewing exploration being the driving force. She opens up about her streak of misses and how they influenced her successes. She also counsels to make what you want, no matter what people say.

(30:07 -32:42) Sarah wraps up this episode by speaking about her dreams, plans for the future, and asking the question she wished we had asked!

You can reach out to Sarah on Instagram @TheLilacElk, TheLilacElk.com and she teaches all classes through PintuckandPurl.com

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 another, or infuse more color into something, or create something that’s distinctly you. Sarah shares some of her own projects and says that an upcycling project can be anything from turning old flannel shirts into a wreath to painting a picture frame or turning a bed frame into a bench. Whether simple or complex, you’re taking something old and turning it into a wonderful creation that’s borne from your imagination. 

Her suggestion for those just getting started is to go to a local thrift store and look around to see what you feel drawn to. She also encourages aspiring upcyclers to check out Pinterest or YouTube for inspiration, and shares that, as a vlogger, she loves getting emails from people who share photos of their finds, be it a window or a funk flannel shirt. (2:25-17:19)

Sarah’s love of flannel likely began in the early 90s when grunge was the rage and flannel was virtually a social icon. Having done several flannel projects on her blog, she was excited when she was approached by a publisher who wanted to create a book about flannel crafts. Crafting with Flannel  is full of creative and engaging craft tutorials, designed to motivate and inspire.  

Another great source of inspiration is her website and blog, Sadie Seasongoods, which is about, “Living a firsthand life using secondhand things.”  Sarah loves traveling, and many of her blogs are about projects that came out of her travels and the discoveries she made at thrift shops along the way. Through her travels, she also discovered a new phenomenon called “creative reuse.” These creative reuse stores and organizations are popping up everywhere and are like craft thrift shops. Sarah describes them as having oodles and oodles of great crafts and art supplies and strange items that have been donated. 

She is excited that more people are taking an interest in upcycling, and the implications that could have for our planet.  “I think there are just an unlimited number of ways that we could all kind of take a breath and look at our impact and our footprint.” (17:25-25:58)

Sarah is committed to living a more creative, less disposable life and this podcast exemplifies her passion and vision.  If you’re ready to be inspired, kick back and listen, and then keep the inspiration going by connecting with Sarah at sadieseasongoods.com, on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also email her at Sadieseasongoods@yahoo.com  

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 I found out that I really like sewing.” 

On a whim, she applied for an internship at Yale School of Drama, and much to her surprise was accepted. It was there she created her first dress, a big fancy bustle dress with a huge collar and lag mutton sleeves. While there, she discovered her love for pattern-making and sewing. After completing her internship at Yale, Brooks Ann received her MFA in costume production at the University of North Carolina. (2:33 - 14:45)

Although she loved her time in New York, she realized that neither she nor her boyfriend (now husband) were the hustle and bustle type. Upon leaving, she took a brief hiatus from sewing. Then, at a Thanksgiving dinner, her husband’s sister got engaged. She got so swept up in the moment, she offered to make her wedding dress. Then she made another, and another, and another…including one for her own wedding.  Suddenly realizing she was now a wedding dressmaker, she put together a portfolio of her designs and made herself a website. In 2009, she started a blog and really got into the sewing community. (22:14-32:58)

For the past nine or so years, Brooks Ann has been teaching and blogging, where she develops her own easy-to-follow, beginner-friendly methods for creating pattern blocks. Her blogs are about custom sewing. There’s no fashion formula. No fashion textbooks. She shows people how to sew for where they’re at, with no sizes, no pear or apple ranges. She loves the puzzle-solving, the detective work, and the fact that she’ll never stop learning new things. The best part?  Through her blogs, sewists can go on that journey with her. “It’s a place where everyone can just be themselves. So it's really empowering. And it's pretty magical.”  (33:00--44:49)

So what’s next for Brooks Ann? Building a dream studio from a broken-down 1920 farmhouse that’s on their property. This story and the many others she shares in the podcast are fascinating. Have a seat and take a listen. 

The best way to get in touch with Brooks Ann is to go to brooksann.com, and link to her blog. From there, you can also link to her other three websites and her bridal website. You’ll also find her at brooksanncamper@Instagram.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 always striving for that next level of creative excellence. When she was contemplating starting her own scrapbooking company, she was contacted by the creative director at Echo Park. He asked if she’d be interested in working with them to create a sister company. It was out of that conversation that Carta Bella was born. All the designers reported to her, and all design works went through her. As the creative director, she got to focus on all things creative, while Echo Park dealt with all the business aspects. It was a perfect arrangement. (:24-13:21)

Always evolving and aspiring to reach the next level, Carina has worked for a variety of entities over the years—always from home, always on her own terms. She currently has eight shops on the Internet and a Design Suite where she teaches aspiring designers to make their mark and make money. Her one-year program is different from other classes because she believes that if you want to have a successful design company, you have to understand how cells work and how money work.  In addition to doing creative critiques, she also gives a lot of business advice. She believes that learning how to make money is creative in its own way. 

When it comes to business and design, Coco Chanel is one of the great inspirations of Carina’s life. “What I love about her is that when everybody was going one way, she was going the opposite way.” Carina believes that this very approach is the key to success and that when you’re going your own way, “You’re building something so different, so unique, so valuable, that people can't help, but want to know what you are doing.” 

Carina wants her students to have big dreams, and she wants to help them realize those dreams. So she pushes them to know what fulfills them, what makes them happy, what makes them light up when they wake up in the morning. Helping her students and watching them succeed makes her feel successful.  

Any way you look at it, Carina is a big dreamer. And a lot of those dreams are coming to fruition: a book,  a 40-ft by 8-ft mural, and a design agency. But of all her dreams, her biggest one of all is to help thousands of women dream big and become financially free. 

As you listen to the podcast, you learn that Carina’s classes and podcasts are devoted to creative dreamers, designers and sewists who want to learn, evolve, and grow with a community. For those of you who love design and are podcast listeners, there’s, “Making Design with Carina Gardner.  If you’re more interested in sewing you can hang out with her at her You Tube channel, youtube.com/karinagardner. Either way, spending time with Carina is time well spent. 

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 marketplaces around the globe for her job. Her final job, before launching Sookie Sews was at VF Imagewear, where she was the Technical Designer for Harley Davidson. (2:17-18:02)

Although she started designing hoop projects long before she started her business, she’s recently been focusing on them more. The entirety of each project is created on an embroidery machine, perhaps with a little hand stitching or hardware added at the end. As she talks about her projects, passion, and the progression of her career, she shares how the pandemic changed the way she did things. Sue and her husband Joey were home together a lot more, and he would challenge her to take a fresh look at things. “I love him for challenging me like that, because it really made me better, and he continues to challenge me now.” 

According to Sue, his inspiration during that time breathed new life into her business. 

She goes on to say that he's very good at color. She’ll sketch something and he’ll kind of help her put it together. The company was recently rebranded, and Joey helped with the video for the design rebrand. According to Sookie, “We're a good little team and I hope we get to work together more and more in the future.” (18:02 to 25:30)

Before meeting Joey, Sue ran her business from top to bottom, without any help. And while she gets some insights and assistance from Joey, she is basically a solo entrepreneur. She thrives on the sense of empowerment it gives her. She does her own artwork and concept design, digitizes her own embroidery projects, writes her own patterns and instructions, creates the graphics for her serger patterns, and makes all the prototypes. “I'm kind of proud to be a solo entrepreneur, it's very comforting. I have control over the things that I want and when I need help, I'm comfortable asking for it.”

There are exciting future projects in the works, from growing her YouTube channels to working on some virtual classes and video courses with her husband. As she shares her story, her passion and enthusiasm shine through, and when she says, “I’m living my dream,” there’s no doubt that she will continue to do so.  

If you’d like to share Sue’s passion, you can go to SookieSews.com, @Sookiesews on Instagram, and on her Facebook page. You can also subscribe to her weekly newsletter, The Weekly Beehive

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 studied their work for a long time, especially those who’ve created Amish quilts. She tries to shine a light on the amazing work that’s come before; work that was art even though it wasn’t considered such at the time. Seeing the Gee’s Bend quilts exhibited at the Whitney Museum shifted her perspective on quilts. She’d always been told that quilts could not be art, but the exhibit turned that belief on its head. (4:41- 11:09)

Carson graduated from the fine arts program at Boston University in 2000.  While she had many wonderful professors and valued her time there, she also learned that there was a biased hierarchy in how art was viewed: oil is for serious painters, acrylic for hobbyists; watercolors are for old ladies, and anything functional isn’t art. She sensed this was wrong, and the show at Gee’s Bend in 2002 confirmed it. She also shares how, over the years, her attendance at QuiltCon helped her grow and expand and become part of a vital community.

As she continues to share her personal journey, we learn how her perspective on quilting has changed over the years. We also learn about the influence Mark Rothko and nature have on her work; how shifts in color push and pull you through a piece. Ultimately, Carson wants people to feel her work. According to her, one of the best comments she’s had regarding her work is when a woman told her that when she saw her work, she stopped and took a deep breath. (12:00-22:39)  

She shares that her goal of working with Hermes goes back to her early career when she was working in New York and had transitioned from interior design to quilting. “Out of the blue, I get an email saying, “Are you interested in collaborating with Hermes on a quilt?”  

To date, Carson has worked on two collections with Hermes. Both are based on designs and artwork by Gianpaolo Pagni. The first one is a series of three whole-cloth quilts, with gold stitching on creamy white cashmere.  The most recent one is a more colorful pieced quilt. 

Her evolution as a fabric artist is fascinating and inspirational, from her early interest in decorative arts and architecture to the world’s most influential design fair in Milan. Whatever she’s creating, Carson focuses on sustainability and works towards a zero-waste practice. (22:39 – 30:40)

You’ll love her story and her  work.  If you’d like to reach out to Carson, you can reach her via email, at Hello@CarsonConverse.com. You’ll find her amazing work at CarsonConverse.com and on Instagram at CarsonConverse.

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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-19 Hope Project, founded to honor Frontline Workers and to memorialize those lost to the pandemic, and shares stories of their work. www.hopequilt.org

11:49 Learn how Wrap Ukraine in Quilts became an “accidental success” in their efforts to make and provide quilts for people affected by this war. Gina Halladay and Beth Hawkins share this inspiring story.  www.wrapukrainewithquilts.com

18:47 Coordinated by the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Ovarian Cancer Quilt Project seeks to build awareness about ovarian cancer through the artistry of quilting. Lisa Smith takes us on a journey through the evolution of this group and the critical work they do. www.ovarianquilts.com

26:01 Enlisting volunteers in more than 120 chapters to make bright pillowcases for children in more than 330 hospitals. Houston Chapter Coordinator Sheila Kristynik tells us about Ryan’s Case for Smiles and how families who have a child going through cancer treatment can find more general information on how to cope. www.ryanscaseforsmiles.com

28:48 Reacquaint yourself with Shelancia Daniel of The Creativity Shell, who we met in August of 2021 on this podcast, as she brings us up to speed on what she and The Creativity Shell have been up to since our first meeting. www.creativityshell.org

34:34 Finally, we meet Suzanne DiCarlo of Quilts of Valor…a non-profit that awards quilts to service members and veterans who have been touched by war. www.qovf.org

Once again, the community of sewists has come together to serve the greater good. Our thanks to all who took the time to share the stories of their organizations. If you want to learn more about any of these, you can go to our website for their contact information.

If you know a non-profit organization you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com  or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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 what it takes to make Quilt Festival happen.

And finally, we catch-up with some old friends who have been guests on this podcast. Kaffe Fassett/Brandon Mably (July 2022), Margaret Jankowski/The Sewing Machine Project (April 2021), Shelancia Daniel (Creativity Shell) (August 2021), Bill Schroeder III/Paducah Quilt Week (June 2022), Joe Vecchiarelli/Dancing With the Stars (March 2022).

Christy Burcham Director of Training and Education at BERNINA checks in with us as well to sum up the overall experience.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Quilt Festival for yourself

If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com  or complete the form on our website.

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. 

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. 

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.

Linnca believes that sewing is a universal language and that it’s a great equalizer. Her explain this belief. Sewing is also a survival skill for her, she describes how the flow through her hands settles her. 

She founded the Sewing Labs with two others who she knew for many years when they all saw how sewing can rise people up. She explains that their classes are open to all, and their workforce development program teaches sewing, industrial sewing machine operators and they partner with businesses in the community to place people into jobs. She then shares stories of a few people who have turned their lives around through the Sewing Labs’ program. In total…they have 200+ people per year complete their program.

Linnca talks about the overall impact that sewing has on our overall economy – basically the majority of the items we touch and use every day. She adds that sewing doesn’t get the respect that other skills/professions get and that it should be raised up to that level if one is an amazing sewist. Hear her passion for working on the respect and recognition that sewing deserves. 

Linnca then reaches out to the clothing and fashion houses and challenges them to become more intimately involved with sewists and not take them for granted.

During the pandemic, sewing grew. Linnca addresses this benefit and tells her ideas for keeping this momentum going. Volunteer KC is a current recipient of this redoubled efforts. She Talks about the “Sewcials” they host locally to perpetuate this effort.

When asked about her dream – she replies that she’s currently living it. Hear more! She also gives props to her sister and her team for their work and emphasizes community to raise each other up!

You can call Linnca for more information at 816-888-3051 or email her at Linnca@thesewinglabs.community. She and the Sewing Labs can also be found in Instagram and Facebook. Tell her you heard her story on Sew & So!

If you know someone you think has an outstanding story – a story that should be shared on this podcast, please drop a note to meg@sew&sewpodcast.com  or complete the form on our website.

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

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.