474 - Opportunity Thinking Series - Beth Allen - Teaching Women to Screw. and Hammer too!

Jonathan Bennet, owner of Unsprung Upholstery is originally from Martinsville, VA.  He caught the sewing bug from his great grandmother at a young age. He moved to Richmond, VA on a whim in August of 1989 and earned a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. Directly after graduation, Jonathan taught in the Fashion Design department as an adjunct professor for 13 years. He started his first workroom job in 1997, learned how to make various types of window treatments, cushions, pillows, and more;  since then, he has done freelance workroom client projects in his home for over 25 years. Jonathan opened Unsprung Upholstery LLC in August 2019 and will continue this beautiful journey for the rest of his life!   Website:  UnsprungUpholstery.com IG:  UnsprungUpholstery FB:  Unsprung Upholstery Company   Links and Resources; The Custom Workroom Conference Window Covering Association of America Scholarship Info

LInks and Resources;   Ann Johnson's Three Strikes Article     The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

    With over 30 years in the interior design industry, Bob Gallic has founded and led multiple successful firms specializing in custom upholstery, window treatments, and automated shading. His work spans major markets from New York and Miami to Chicago and Vail. Bob maintains close collaborations with clients and interior designers, working discreetly and efficiently to bring design visions to life while exceeding expectations every step of the way.   Workroom Services is on Instagram   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Rhonda Shanahan, owner of The Whimsical Chair, learned to sew growing up in Iowa from her grandmother and mother. They taught her their passion for sewing and creating with beautiful fabrics. Rhonda received her degree in fashion merchandising. After college she moved to Kansas and worked in retail sales and display. When Rhonda got married and started her family she was able to stay home with their 3 kids. Once her kids all started school she had extra time during the day. There was an upholstery class through her local extension office in Wichita Kansas so she decided to give it a try. Her first project was a wingback chair and she was hooked. She worked on several pieces for her own home. It was wonderful to be able to restore and refurbish antique and vintage chairs. Rhonda and her family moved to Colorado in 2012 and she continued to learn with upholstery education online. Friends and family started asking if she would do chairs and settees for their homes. This was the start of The Whimsical Chair. Links and Resources; Kim's Upholstery The Funky Little Chair Professional Upholsterers Network on Facebook link to estimate page on Rhonda's website QuickBooks Cognito forms National Upholstery Association Crest Leather Upholstery education Louise Cornick     The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Stacy McAleer is the founder and executive director of The Cavanagh House, a vital resource to Baltimore and its surrounding areas, dedicated to helping individuals gain financial stability through the trade of upholstery and sewing. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and over 35 years as a self-taught sewer, Stacy brings both clinical insight and hands-on expertise to her leadership. Committed to helping revitalize the upholstery and sewing industries in Baltimore and throughout the U.S., The Cavanagh House serves as a feeder of skilled workers to the industry. Under Stacy’s guidance, the organization not only provides hands-on training but also fosters economic independence and long-term career pathways for its participants. A proud resident of Reisterstown, Maryland, Stacy continues to drive innovative solutions that uplift individuals and strengthen communities across the region.   You can find The Cavanagh House on Instagram. The Cavanagh House YouTube Channel Here is their Who We Are Video

Skye Livingston fell in love with fabrics and sewing at a young age and earned her BFA in Fiber Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. Her journey to the soft furnishings world came by happenstance after a decade of navigating through fine arts, non-profit administration, education, and production dyeing and sewing.    While her first business (Hello Hue Studio) has been relegated to the back burner as she builds up her custom soft furnishings business, Livingston Textiles LLC, she still finds time to occasionally indulge in natural dyeing and teaching those skills to others.    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 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!)   Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big - Bo Burlingham   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

Links and Resources; Brendan Burchard Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port 12 Months to $1 Million: How to Pick a Winning Product, Build a Real Business, and Become a Seven-Figure Entrepreneur by Ryan Daniel Moran   (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!) Beth is offering a $10 discount to any listeners who order an apron.  Go to - www.handyhipster.com  and use the code SEWMUCHMORE10OFF

Donna Redmond is the owner of Undercover Sewing.  She has been a member of WCAA since 2016 and participates in ongoing professional education.  Donna loves to work with both to the trade interior designers and local homeowners.  Donna is always striving to provide high-quality window treatments, cushions, and/or pillows that transform a house into a special place for special people.  You are special!   Links and Resources; Association of Sewing and Design Professionals Women's Business Association of Maryland Susan Woodcock's Craftsy Classes Custom Workroom Conference Window Covering Association of America Comfortex Workroom Tours on the Library Ann Johnson's books on swags Susan Woodcock's book M'Fay manuals Kim's Upholstery Calendly EZ Pleat   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech    

  Jan Marie Larson is a silversmith. She makes sterling silver thimbles and sewing tools one-at-a-time by hand.  Her journey from Iowa farmer’s daughter to Fashion Designer/custom tailor to missionary in Africa to Organic Crop Inspector (while being a mother of 4) all culminated with an older neighbor calling up and saying: “I need help, you can learn this”.  Jan Agreed.  She learned silversmithing.     Jan's work can be found on the following Social Media sites; TikTok: @thimbles.for.you Instagram: @thimblesforyou Facebook: Thimbles For You YouTube: @thimblesforyou Pinterest: @thimblesforyouchatelainestoo Threads: @thimblesforyou Twitter/X: @thimblesforyou   Links and Resources;     Jinny Beyer website   The Sew Much More Podcast is sponsored by;     Klimaka Studios   The Workroom Channel   Scarlet Thread Consulting   The WCAA   The Curtains and Soft Furnishings Resource Library   National Upholstery Association   Workroom Tech