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“The Handbag Fairy Godmother” Emily Blumenthal joins us on this episode to talk about her amazing journey to turn handbag design into a full-time international business. Seeing content opportunities for product extensions, Emily founded the Handbag Awards, and Handbag Designer 101 the podcast, the book, and the Masterclass.

Our guest today is Linda Diak of Linda Diak Quilts in quintessential Vermont. Leading a life of resilience and resolve, Linda along with her husband Tom have weathered some notable challenges. Join us for this incredible conversation full of ups, downs and ultimate joys as Linda takes us from how she learned to sew, to becoming a recipient of the WomensNet Amber Grant…and more!

What’s a “fully lit-up life?! Well, you’ll have to join us for this special conversation with Tina VanDenburg to find out. Her amazing journey is one of taking risks, lessons learned, and freedom found. Her travels took her from Michigan to Alaska and back before she found her passions and settled into a life she cherishes.

Summary: Yvette Todd We once again cross the pond for this episode and go a little different direction. Sure, our guest is a sewist, but her specialty is more focused on helping other sewists organize their sewing lives. Join us for this wonderful opportunity to get to know Yvette Todd and the terrific work she and her husband do with their creation Stash Hub.

It’s our 75th episode…settle in with us for a special conversation with the amazing Susan Khalje – of Susan Khalje Couture and the longest contributing author to Threads Magazine. She is well-known for her wedding gown and evening wear couture as well as being the founder of the Couture Sewing School in 1993. Join us for this provocative journey into the world of couture sewing.

Enjoy this personal conversation with Sarah Veblen who owns and runs Sarah Veblen Clothing Originals just outside Baltimore MD. Sarah began sewing as a teenager with the dream of having a sewing business…that dream came true when she started her business in 1985. Sarah has a Certificate in Fashion Design from Baltimore City Community College and a BA in German Literature from Stanford University. She is an active member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, the American Sewing Guild, and the Haute Couture Club of Chicago.

Join us as we get to know 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.

Kenneth D. King, the world-famous haute couturier joins us for this compelling episode that’s sure to both challenge and inspire you. He talks about the people who had deep influence on his life’s direction, what is was like on his journey to be his authentic self and the A list stars for whom he’s designed some amazing creations. We’ll even get a sneak peek at his new book. With his warm heart and sharp wit, Kenneth shares many of the intimate and turning points in his life.

Join us as we travel to Ajijic, Mexico to visit with Catherine Stephenson, the owner and name behind Catherine Stephenson Couture for 35 years… who supports the industry as a business owner, entrepreneur, educator, mentor, and friend.

Celebrate Sew & So’s 70th Episode with as we travel across the pond to meet Philippa Naylor, sewist, quilter, textile artist, author, and teacher. Yorkshire, England, Philippa’s hometown is the site for this conversation over a lovely cup of tea. Hear her stories of inspiration, great travels to Saudi Arabia – she lived there for many years too – her myriad quilting awards, and the chance meeting that changed her life.

Sew & So goes to the circus as we sit down with Maritza Atayde The Assistant Director of the Gamma Phi Circus. Gamma Phi Circus is celebrating their 94th year as an organization at Illinois State University and is the oldest and longest running collegiate circus in the United States Gamma Phi Circus alumni can be found within such organizations as Cirque de Soleil, Disney Cruise Lines, Shrine Circuses, Circus Kingdom, and Kelly Bros. Our Guest Maritza Atayde is a 4th generation circus performer and owner who has performed with her family's circus Circo Atayde Hermanos, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Big Apple Circus, George Carden International Circus, as well as in musical theater. She has worked for Gamma Phi Circus since 2013 and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2020. Maritza oversees the creation of all costumes for the circus, choreography, and aerial arts.

In this episode, we meet Abby Riba – owner of the ViviLux line of sewing lighting products which she herself designed and created. From Chicago, Abby now lives in Clearwater, Fl. A self-taught sewist specializing in one-of-a-kind bridal and eveningwear – Abby has a knack for identifying a need for sewists…then creating the right product to fill that need. Her first company to do this was Kandi Corp – maker of the then totally innovative DIY hot fix crystals. Join us as Abby takes us along on her incredible journey through both personal and professional challenges and triumphs!