457 - Karen Swerling - There are Always Five Solutions to Every Problem
Release Date: 03/23/2025
470 - When in Doubt, Go to the Library
Sew Much More
Running a custom workroom means wearing all the hats—fabricator, business owner, problem-solver, and sometimes… Google detective. But what if you didn’t have to figure it all out on your own? In this episode, Ceil DiGuglielmo (your friendly industry Librarian) shares the real value of having a trusted place to turn for answers. You’ll hear stories from Library members, learn what kind of support actually moves the needle in your business, and discover why community and curated resources make all the difference. Whether you’re a long-time member of the Curtains & Soft Furnishings...
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469 - Listener Favorite - Annette Faber
Sew Much More
Annette Faber is the owner of which provides custom window treatments, bedding, and other soft furnishings to interior designers. Kaylee’s Creations exists to support interior designers by providing exceptionally crafted soft furnishings. They strive to be part of the design team and to make their part of the process both enjoyable and stress-free for their client. They will go above and beyond to make sure that their client knows that they care about their business and how they are a reflection of them. Annette is a resident of Greenville, SC and is a wife, mother to 4 children...
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468 - Selina Scott - Community Over Competition
Sew Much More
Selina Scott is the owner of , a custom workroom and upholstery studio in Beaverton, Oregon. While her business is only three years old, she has 19 years of custom fabrication experience from her employment at a workroom in Portland and then working on the side while being a stay-at-home parent. She enjoys sewing all kinds of things for herself and family, gardening, knitting, and camping road trips. and Links and Resources; (Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and...
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467 - Bree Bacon - Your Elite Energy
Sew Much More
Bree Bacon is a dynamic business leader, speaker, and author with over two decades of experience at leading organizations. She holds an MBA from Duke University and a BA in Business/Economics and Music from Wheaton College. A survivor of stage three, triple-negative breast cancer, Bree brings grit, grace, and deep gratitude to her mission: helping people rise above burnout and tap into their personal best capacity. Her debut book, Your Elite Energy, launches June 2025. In physics, energy is the capacity to do work; elite means the best or most effective....
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466 - Madison Stauffer - I Feel Like Architecture and Upholstery go Hand in Hand
Sew Much More
When Madison Stauffer graduated from Kent State in 2021 with an architecture degree, she decided to combine her sense of design and love of vintage furniture with her fledgling upholstering skills. Enter in Canton, Ohio, where she’s worked for three years. Among her other duties, she helps customers find the perfect fabric for their specific pieces, with considerations given for durability, the furniture’s original character, how it will be used, and how a fabric will lay across it. She also creates vision boards to help customers visualize fabric combinations and help them make...
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465 - Listener Favorite - Cathy Cohane
Sew Much More
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464 - Burnout, Boundaries and Working Smart
Sew Much More
Today's episode is dedicated to our mental health as we work so hard on our businesses. Resources and Links; Mental Health Resources; Meditation apps; Calm, Happier, Headspace, Insight Timer (Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money. I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you!)
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463 - Listener Favorite - Robin Reynolds
Sew Much More
Robin Reynolds started her drapery workroom, , in 2007 when her last child was completing high school. Robin's clientele has grown principally by word of mouth amongst private individuals and commercial interior designers. Robin and her husband reside in Norman, OK. Links & Resources; The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;
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462 - Amy Sadera - I Have Honed in on The Type of Client I Want to Work With
Sew Much More
Amy Sadera began Windows By Amy in her home in Phoenix, MD in 2017; focusing on window treatments, cushions, and pillows. Coming off a career in engineering to raise her children, Amy wanted to have a creative outlet, source of income and the flexibility that owning a workroom provided. She builds relationships with retail clients that involve designing, fabricating and installing her luxury custom products. Outside of the workroom, Amy enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband, two children and pets. You can find Amy on and The Sew Much More Podcast is...
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462 - Jenny Lilly - I Want to Be Close to The Client
Sew Much More
Jenny Lilly is an interior artisan and designer specializing in window treatments and other soft home furnishings. She operates a full-service fabrication studio from Hickory, NC known as . She creates one-of-a-kind window treatments, bedding ensembles, table coverings, and pillows, while also offering blinds, shades, and shutters. Her clients are drawn to the inspiration, couture details, and functionality her creations bring to their homes. When Jenny is not creating with her hands, she enjoys a worthy cup of coffee, outdoor activities, and traveling alongside her...
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Karen Keech Swerling worked in Hollywood as a costume designer for three decades. She and her husband were looking for a change of pace in retirement, so eight years ago they traded their house in Malibu for an early 1900s Victorian in Richmond’s museum district. Keech Swerling converted the basement into a studio for her nonprofit, Richmond Really Sews!, and she offers free classes to anyone with a desire and a passion to sew.
You can find Karen on IMDb
Richmond Really Sews on FB and Instagram
Links and Resources;
Claire Schaffer Coture Sewing Techniques
Shirtmaking - Developing Skills for Fine Sewing by David Page Coffin
(Some of the links I provide, specifically to Amazon and a few others, require me to let you know that if you use those links and make a purchase, I will make some money. I won't make a million dollars, but I might be able to get a cup of coffee, so thank you!)