Advertise on podcast: Sew Powerful Podcast

What does a humble New York City street cart have to do with some of the most beloved fabrics in quilting today? In this episode, Scott Fortunoff, President and Co-Owner of the Jaftex Companies, traces four generations of family grit and hustle that turned a single pushcart into one of the leading wholesalers of premium fabrics. With his down-to-earth storytelling, Scott takes you inside the company he runs alongside his brother and business partner, Gregg Fortunoff, sharing the lessons, surprises, and family ties that keep it thriving.

Behind the Stitches: Michaelyn Rose Shares Bernina’s Heart In this episode, we meet Michaelynn Rose, Vice President of Marketing for Bernina and Brewer. With more than 25 years of experience in digital marketing, Michaelyn has been a driving force behind Bernina’s growth. We will talk about the company history, philosophy, and new products being introduced. Michaelyn even spills the beans on how to enter the Bernina contest to win a trip to Paris. Bernina has been a partner of Sew Powerful, and we talk about why that is so meaningful for Michaelyn personally, and for Bernina as a company. Listen as Michaelyn’s passion and professionalism come together for an interesting and engaging conversation with a key industry leader.

Meet Sweet Pea: Creativity from Brisbane to Your Sewing Room Sweet Pea’s talented SEO and Content Manager joins us all the way from Brisbane, Australia—bringing contagious enthusiasm for the full Sweet Pea product line. With thousands of delightful designs to explore, you’ll be inspired to dive right into their website and start stitching. While Sweet Pea is best known for their stunning in-the-hoop creations, their quilting projects and specialty items are equally impressive—and sure to spark your creativity. As a proud Silver Sponsor of the Sew-A-Thon, Sew Powerful is excited to continue this meaningful partnership with Sweet Pea, a company that shares our passion for serving others.

Get a guided tour of Baby Lock USA and Canada from Maddie Murphy. As the Social Content Specialist, Maddie knows the inner workings of the company and provides the fascinating history and a glimpse into the future. We also get a good feel for the capabilities of the terrific prize Baby Lock has donated to the 2025 Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon.

Meet Devin Head, Regional Sales Manager for KAI Scissors. KAI Scissors is one of the sponsors of the 2025 Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon, as they have been for the past two years as well. In this episode, learn the history of KAI Scissors, and the fascinating array of products they offer. Devin shares his unlikely KAI connection and how Sew Powerful and KAI Scissors came together.

Meet Petrina Cude, the powerhouse behind East Texas Sewing Center. This beloved sewing hub has been serving the community for an incredible 41 years — and Petrina has been part of that story for 32 of them. Three years ago, she stepped into ownership, carrying forward the legacy of Sharman’s while infusing her own passion and vision. In this episode, you’ll hear how Petrina is keeping the joy of sewing alive for East Texas and beyond, why she believes so deeply in building community through creativity, and how East Texas Sewing Center’s Silver sponsorship of the 2025 Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon is helping change lives. Get ready for a conversation filled with heart, history, and inspiration.

In this episode of the Sew Powerful podcast Jan Cancila sits down with Verna Camfferman, one of the Colorado Sisters, to discuss how they became involved with Sew Powerful - and how they’ve worked together to sew more than 10,000 Sew Powerful Purses.

Special guest Dr. Jim Blessman joins Jason in this special conversation announcing the launch of the Sew Powerful Purse program launch in South Africa.

Join us as we share a behind the scenes look at the 2024 Sew Powerful Retreat in Quitman Texas.

Reflections on missions trips by Sew Powerful Podcast

The Gardens Of God, and The Sew Powerful Parables.

Gardens, and the Convoy of Hope Children’s Feeding Initiative. [unfortunately the recording quality was poor in this conversation at some points, but we decided to use it.]

Kicking off the new season of the podcast. Introducing Dana Buck. Reflecting on the first 15 years of Sew Powerful ministry.

In this concluding episode of Season 1, Sew Powerful co-founder Jason Miles gives the background information behind his first Quarter presentation. He recaps Events, Chapters, the Facebook Group, the Purse Count, Funding, Expenses, and we talk about the new shipping option. In addition, Jan and Jason take a short walk down memory lane recounting the many great experiences in the previous 98 episodes of Season 1 of the Sew Powerful Podcast. There will be a Season 2. Dates TBD.

Besides her Sew Powerful CFO duties, Sue Kirby has taken on the role of Manager, National Shows and Events for 2022. In this episode, Sue announces the dates and places for upcoming quilt shows where Sew Powerful will exhibit. She also recaps the shows we have already complete. Along with host Jan Cancila, Sue shares experiences and tips for attending the shows. Finally, listen for a checklist of all the reasons you will want to participate in an upcoming quilt show with Sew Powerful. Scattered throughout are mentions of the many volunteers without whose help and dedication we could not participate in these shows.