Sew & So...

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 Metropol...

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...

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 wh...

(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...

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...

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 whe...

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 t...

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 an...

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 ch...

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...

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 sew...

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 ...

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 Bash...

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 Clo...

(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...

(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, cir...

(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 tou...

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 ...

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 ...