"Detail and craftmanship didn't get in the way of playful exuberance and a great sense of fun."
October/November, 2018
pieced pillows with STRIPES LONDON INTERIORS inside report even MORE comfortable with OVERSIZE 2018 custom workroom conference WRAP UP SPEED adjustable pleating template interview with GRACE MCNAMARA patterning board-mount SWAGS busFIRST AID in the workroom
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Scroll to read full article This article first appeared in Morwenna's blog, The Curtain Guru, which you can read here. The London interiors shows this September were a visual feast. Last week I visited Decorex 2018, Focus/18 hosted by the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, and the London Interiors Show, a new pop-up alongside Focus. Here’s my report on fabric and colour trends for Autumn/Winter 2018. Leopardskin print is dominating the catwalk this autumn, but I found much less of it in interiors fashion, although leopards themselves appear, along with many other exotic creatures. If you would prefer to be surrounded by friendlier animals, then Kit Kemp’s new collection for Andrew Martin features quaint creatures from Medieval manuscripts, and Newton Paisley’s naturalistic drawing of endangered British and rainforest flora and fauna are a delight. The best-selling colours are still neutrals, set off with combinations of indigo blues, fresh greens or peachy pinks. For the more adventurous, tropical parrot colours abound in clashing combinations – bright aquamarine, magenta, and orange, along with last season’s emerald and bottle greens. As a contrast to all this saturated colour, many of the independent brands specialise in clear chalky pastels, as single or duo colour prints on linen. Also, welcome from many of the independent brands are ranges of inventive small geometric prints as a foil to the riot of plants and animals. Linen is a very popular ground cloth for prints, but its big competitor now is velvet. Textile designers are taking advantage of the depth and richness of colour that the pile of velvet provides. Applying both traditional and contemporary designs, many of the independent textile designers focus on printed velvets, including Sarah Hardaker, Blackpop, Timorous Beasties, Monkey Puzzle Tree, and Boho and Co. Florals continue to have a realistic, botanical edge, pulling your attention with elegant drawings from scientific source material. Romo’s Gardenia collection, for example, has been created from the artwork of botanical illustrator Alfred Wise. Solution-dyed acrylic creates a new indoor-outdoor performance fabric, giving outdoor furniture the style and elegance that it has so far lacked, and also making upholstery in kitchens so much more practical. Tough and infinitely cleanable, Perennials at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour show it in elegant stripes, and William Morris weaves, and LINK at Colony also have a range. Both the big fabric houses and the independents display virtuoso complex weaves and constructed fabrics in their collections, including GP&J Baker, A Rum Fellow, Wind NV, and Harlequin. Textile designers continue to enjoy layering deconstructed photographic and architectural source material. Mairi Helena uses images from her walks around the Scottish landscape in her Homelands range, and Blackpop plays fast and loose with Baroque imagery from the Sir John Soane Museum. Anything goes as source material for pioneers of this technique Timorous Beasties, including spooky skeletal images, though they also displayed more restrained examples of their work. All-wool tweeds and checks continue to be popular, both in muted classic and contemporary colourways. Trimmings continue their comeback to interiors fashion, with pom-pom fringes still leading the way. The most useful colours and combinations for autumn and winter interiors? Dulux Colour of the Year for 2019, Spiced Honey, is already making an appearance. Warm and restful, Nicky Haslam’s stand at Decorex was decorated in this honey/amber shade, set off with plenty of white, and GP&J Baker used a warm caramel as a background for their classic prints. Gold or honey was often shown with combinations of teal, navy, and Prussian blue. Darkening to bronze, it was also seen combined with deep purple or blue/black. Possibly the most useful colour combination is shaded indigo blues with peachy pinks. The overall mood of the shows was one of relaxed self-confidence and a sense of not taking life too seriously. Detail and craftsmanship didn’t get in the way of playful exuberance and a great sense of fun. Although colours were intense and bright, they were employed with skill and discretion, and I came away uplifted rather than overwhelmed. Morwenna Brett ran a soft furnishings workshop in London for many years, before becoming a consultant in colour and design trends to the interiors industry in the UK. She’s on the teaching roster at KLC School of Design in Chelsea, London, tutoring both classroom and online students in interior design and textiles. Her first love has always been fabrics and drapes, and she recently decided to return to her curtain-making roots with a new blog THE CURTAIN GURU, devoted to all things to do with creating wonderful window treatments.
London Interiors Insider Report by Morwenna Brett
Scroll to read full article Patterning Board-Mount Swags with Pamela Lin There is no need to purchase M’Fay swag patterns to make this classic window treatment! Instead, learn how to confidently draw perfect swag patterns of your own in this engaging course on PATTERNING BOARD-MOUNT SWAGS with instructor, Pamela Lin. Beginning with an overview of the tools and supplies, Pamela thoughtfully demonstrates every step. She provides reference charts (to simplify the math) and explains how to build time-saving pleating templates and pleating boards for quick and accurate fabrication. Enjoy a self-paced learning experience, pose questions, create your own pattern and swag sample, and post project photos to a private discussion group with direct access to your instructor and classmates. Watch a preview of the course below: Click here to register for the course through The Workroom Channel!
Scroll to read full article Custom Sheer Program with NEW Sample Swatch Set Our MYL Custom Sheer program features ten stock 118” wide Batistes & Voiles and, includes the cost of the Sheer Fabric + Labor. Many styles are offered in this easy-to-price program including Pinch Pleat, Rod Pocket, Tack Top Pleat, Cartridge Pleat, Ripplefold, Sunburst, and others. Please view the program on our website under Workroom-Custom Sheers for pricing (after log-in) or in your Custom Classics binder. Pictured is our moving workroom table that allows the sewing machine to stay stationary while the clamped-down fabric is kept stable on the table allowing the operator to maintain control of the fabric while the table guides the fabric effortlessly through the machine! Our NEW 8”x8” sample deck is available for PRE-ORDER and will make it easier than ever to make fabric selections with ten neutral colorways. These fabrics are always in stock at our workroom making specifying sheers quick and easy. NEW Sample Swatch Set – Item #MS $12 mylmarketplace@mylltd.com www.mylltd.com
Scroll to read full article Take the guesswork (and much of the math) out of calculating pleats and spaces with the SPEED Adjustable Pleating Template. Watch the video below as Ann Johnson, workroom efficiency expert, demonstrates how the template simplifies the fabrication of pleated panels. Use the ruled sections for fixed-width spaces, overlaps, and returns; use the elastic sections for the flexible pleat widths. It's easy to add or subtract pleats and adjust for seam placement, too! The SPEED Adjustable Pleating Template is available for purchase from The Workroom Marketplace. Ann K. Johnson owns Sew Easy Windows LLC, a wholesale workroom in Ohio, established in 1992. She is the author of The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags I & II, and publisher for Kitty Stein's Price Your Work With Confidence! Ann offers private workroom training, seminars, and hands-on classes in workroom fabrication, pattern drafting, efficiency, and pricing. Her topics are always packed with time-saving tips and techniques, delivered in a relaxed and light-hearted style. Find information at seweasywindows.com. Ann is an instructor for The Workroom Channel and Workroom Tech, a webinar instructor for WCAA & the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library, and a speaker for CWC. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Drapery Professionals and WCAA.
Product Demo: SPEED Adjustable Pleating Template Ann K. Johnson
Scroll to read full article The article below is an excerpt from an email that Jean Lawes (pictured) sent to Ceil DiGuglielmo, Michele Williams, and Jeanelle Dech about the joys of podcast listening. Setting the scene: Gloomy, Grey, Rainy Day (Again! How many in a row?) A woman sits alone in her “lower-level” studio with 36 six-inch, 3-finger, Euro Pleats to hand tack Bright Lights, Comfy chair, Marvelous Terko-Satin thread, Alicia’s sharp Tacker Needles and, Band-Aids Bluetooth speaker sits on the table; iTunes - Sew Much More, Opportunity Thinking, & Profit is a Choice Podcasts queued up Yesterday, I listened to 3 different Podcasts featuring all of you, while I sat and did my satisfying hand stitching. (Oddly, I do love to hand tack pleats.) The information and viewpoints that I gleaned from the podcasts were very educational, eye-opening, consoling, and affirming! Very best of all, I had the voices of wonderful friends to surround me for the whole afternoon, which kept me company, lifted my spirits, challenged me to think, and truly touched my heart. Thanks so much for your friendship, and your continued support of our industry! Hugs, Jean Jean Lawes owns HomeStyle Workroom, LLC, a Custom Workroom to the Trade dedicated to the fabrication of exceptional soft home furnishings. First class craftsmanship, attention to detail, personal integrity, and superior customer service are the cornerstone values of HomeStyle. Jean has a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from the University of Delaware, an Interior Design Certification from the Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, and has completed numerous fabrication and business courses offered by the window coverings industry. As a young adult, she was an award-winning seamstress in the Maryland State 4-H program. Her passion for sewing was a loving gift from her Mother. The WCAA has benefitted Jean’s business through wonderful friendships and colleagues, valuable resources and industry partners, as well as significant educational opportunities. She is a member at the National and Virtual levels, serves as Treasurer for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, and Vice-President of the Maryland Chapter. Jean was honored to be the 2017 recipient of the Jill Robson Memorial Scholarship awarded by the Nationall WCAA. Jean is proud to be an entrepreneur with a growing Workroom business, and she is thrilled to be working with outstanding Interior Designers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Listened to Any Good Podcasts Lately?
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Scroll to read full article What is the most challenging part of preparing for IWCE for you and your staff? There is so much that goes into planning for IWCE. First of all, selecting the right location is key. We look for cities that have great Convention facilities with good and reasonable hotel options nearby. The location has to be easy to access nationally and internationally. We research the designer/dealer base in the area. Once the location is secured, we begin working on the educational program and special events. We carefully review all evaluations from the previous year to be sure that our program is strong and relevant to our audience and reach out to the best industry professionals to present at the show. And of course, we always add an element of fun to that our attendees will enjoy what the city has to offer after show hours! How many internal and external staff members does it take to execute a typical show? It really takes a village! In addition to my staff, we hire the general contractor who can bring as many as 20+ staff in, the registration company, the AV company, security, photographers, temporary staff as room monitors and greeters – I can go on and on! My best estimate would be approximately 100 individuals contribute to the success of the IWCE. How many staff hours goes into a typical show? Another tough question as we begin working on the next show within a month of completing the current year’s IWCE. I would say that 50% of my time alone over a period of six months goes into all aspects of planning for the expo. What advice would you give a first-time attendee to enhance their overall experience of IWCE? How about a veteran? For the first time attendee, I encourage them to study the program and everything that is available. Then make a game plan to include taking seminars that would make a difference for their business (we have many excellent topics and speakers). Arrive Thursday evening, so you are ready to take a full day of classes on Friday before the Grand Opening of the Expo on Friday evening from 6-8:30. Take a close look at the exhibitor list and determine what vendors and products you want to visit. Be sure to walk every aisle of the show as there are always hidden gems to discover. Take advantage of the demos in the Construction Zone and other areas of the show. Reserve your spot at the Design & Workroom Competition Awards – you’ll see fabulous winning projects. Download the app! You will receive notifications of what is happening, so you don’t miss anything. On your journey home, think of three things that you learned and want to apply in your business and set these as goals. You will be overwhelmed, so narrowing down a few “must do’s” is essential. I would encourage a veteran attendee to the same! What makes the 2019 show a must see? We have a terrific lineup of seminars and exhibiting companies. Genevieve Gorder will be our keynote speaker! Our seminar presenters are the top in their field, and we have many new faces on the program. We’re hosting a Grand Opening party on the exhibit floor on Friday evening from 6-8:30 and it’s our first time in Nashville! Bring your cowboy boots because we’re having a “Cowboy Boot” contest! Why did you choose the Nashville location for the next show? Nashville is well located and easy to get to. We haven’t been there before, so it’s an exciting new location and the “Music Capitol of the US.” The Gaylord Opryland is a fabulous facility and a great spot to bring the family if you want to stay an extra day or two. Where do you see the industry going in the next year? Five years? Ten years? I’ve been publishing Window Fashion VISION for 32 years and have seen to much change and evolution. Ten years is tough to predict, but I am optimistic about growth for the next couple of years at least. Smart companies who survived the Great Recession have systems in place to be prepared in case the economy takes a turn. Everyone will or should be selling motorization! Home automation will continue to grow exponentially. (We are offering exceptional classes at IWCE for beginners and those wanting to take it to the next level – put one of these on your list!) More digital marketing will be a part of your business, so learn it or hire someone to do it for you. The world is changing quickly – know what’s coming next – you’ll find it all at IWCE!
Behind the Scenes: An Interview with Grace McNamara by Jill Ragan Scully
2019 Window Fashion VISION magazine Design and Workroom Competition Enter Today!
A few years before 1990, Grace McNamara, President of Window Fashion VISION Magazine, wanted to find a way to recognize the artisans in the window coverings industry. While many saw it as a niche market, and one that was small to illuminate, Grace wanted to cast a light on the creatives who worked tirelessly and help them find the validation they deserved. Thus, the VISION Workroom & Design Competition was born. From the beginning, the VISION Competition has been the most prestigious competition in the window coverings industry. Think of it like you would the Academy Awards. While each year is different, there are on average 200-300 entries per year, and each year the staff at VISION does its best to recruit a panel of highly esteemed judges to match the caliber of the entries. In years past, Stephen Pararo, Brian Patrick-Flynn, and Lori Dennis have judged. When reviewing entries, we stand in awe of the talent in this wonderful community and are honored to be a part of it! Photos feature the work of 2018 Design Award of Excellence winner, Lena Kroupnik of Lena Kroupnik Interiors, LLC. Want to know more about how to enter? Download the guidelines and submission forms below: 2019 Design and Workroom Competition Guidelines 2019 Submission Form
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Scroll to read full article This article first appeared as two posts in Deb's blog, which you can read here. Post #1: Oversize continues to be a trend here! After the 350# of shades, before the Norovirus hit in full force, I worked on three hobbled shades for Denise Wenacur. Two were 120"- those were the small ones. The big one was 158"- over 13'. Then I got really sick for real and had to postpone the installation for a week. We finally got there, only to find that the household AND their renovation contractor also had been stricken with Norovirus that same week! I'll write a more detailed post next week, but I've had such a rough time this year keeping up with this blog, I didn't want to wait any longer to show a peek of the product and process. It was a bear to sew- it was both longer and wider than my table- but although this might look like uncontrolled chaos, there actually is order to the mess. The trusswork John built for oversize shades was just big enough to hold the 158" shade! We learned A LOT during the fabrication and rigging with the lovable Rollease 1.5" tube clutch lift system. Though we've used them before, this one was the biggest ever, and I'll detail the process in the next post. I was grateful to have a way to hang the shade to trouble-shoot and dress it in the workroom instead of at the customer's home. Not everything went perfectly smoothly on installation day- I had to take back the two soft cornices that met in the far corner because I hadn't made the right allowance for them to meet. It wasn't hard to modify the soft cornices. We returned the next day to re-install, in plenty of time for a birthday celebration party! I was happy we didn't have to leave the room unfinished. Post #2 There's a lot of detail I'd like to share about the 158" shade featured my last post. The fabric was railroaded - it wasn't perfectly symmetrical in both directions, but nearly, and the repeat was small in either case, so I thought it would be best to have no visible seams. Instead, we seamed it horizontally and hid the seam under a fold. Figuring out the logistics was trickier than I thought it would be! Luckily I got it right, whew. The repeat is just 4.5" so the folds are a little smaller and closer together than I usually plot for hobbled shades. I did catch a break on marking the fabric for sewing the tape and rings. I used a lovely double-wide cotton sateen from Hanes and could see through it just enough to make the marks by pattern instead of having to measure. THAT was a huge plus - it not only saved time, it also assured accuracy. I took the second photo in the slide show to use a pattern placement reference for the subsequent shades The Rollease Skyline clutch on a 1.5” tube provided a strong lift system. After using this tube a lot recently for both clutch AND spring lift systems, I think I will now remember without having to look it up: screw eyes for clutch, NO screw eyes for spring. Another thing I think I finally will remember without having to look it up: for reverse mount hobbled shades, DO NOT put the grommet through the tape! I had to wiggle the tape free out of every grommet to make slight adjustments to the board line. I also finally got smart while making the changes. Rather than removing the staples, I used a blunt instrument to nudge a bit of lining upward and stapled it to the back of the board. Did you see what tool I'm using there? It's our new Milwaukee cordless, battery-operated staple gun! My hands are no longer able to operate an old-fashioned manual staple gun, and the shade was too far away for the compressor hose, so this new toy - I mean tool - came in very handy! The tube, at 158", was too long to use without support safely. Luckily Rollease has introduced a splice - the Easy-Link - which allows the tube to be split in half and spliced. The splice then does double duty as a support bracket. For a fail-safe during transportation, we used cable tie mounts at each end of each tube, just in case the tube came out of the bracket. It can't fall far because it's all strung up to the shade, but it saved some annoyance when it DID happen, and we needed to put it back together. Please note: we snipped the cable ties loose once the shade was installed because they would add resistance to the lift if they stayed in place. There are two types of cable tie mounts: one is all in one piece; the other sticks on then you secure it with a screw- that's the one we wound up using. Oh, and another thing. Remember that I mentioned in the earlier post that the soft cornices didn't quite fit in the corner, and I had to take them back to adjust the ends. I made a piece of welting on "wings" with velcro, and velcroed it in between where the new ends met. I forgot to take a photo of the welt with wings, sorry. I wish I could say that the pattern flowed around the corner because of meticulous planning, but honestly, it was serendipity that the pattern on the two ends created a near match. Sometimes luck is better than skill! It WAS skill, however, and not a bit of luck involved, that the pattern matched precisely from the soft cornice to the shade! And I'll gladly take full credit for THAT, as well as the perfect pleat-to-pattern :) Deborah Cronin, a life-long sewer, has worked in the home decorating industry since 1986. While working in retail sales and management, she was also a part-time workroom, which became full-time in 1999. Leatherwood Design Co fabricates soft furnishings exclusively to the trade. Workroom projects and operations are documented in Deb's blog, leatherwooddesignco.blogspot.com Recently Deborah has been enjoying sharing more about fabrication with other workroom professionals, teaching at venues such as the Custom Workroom Conference, the Custom Workroom Technical Center, and webinars. You can reach Deb at stitchlore@gmail.com
Getting Comfortable with Oversize Part Three by Deb Cronin
Scroll to read full article If you are a creative entrepreneur, you are most likely familiar with the concept of ‘entrepreneurial poverty’ even if you are just now hearing it called that for the first time. Why does this happen when you are working in your passion and doing a job you love? Because we’re not being PAID FAIRLY or not MANAGING EXPENSES as we should. When nothing is left at the end of the day (or month, or year) for you – it is draining. We lose our passion and feel frustrated and depleted. I designed the 5 Day Profitability Challenge to serve our community of creatives to help us become profitable. What if I told you that … In 5 days, you’ll: Get real about what you want for and from your business. Identify the areas of your business that are not serving you well (and how to change them). Interact with me and a supportive community of creative business owners like you. Create a schedule of actions to take toward profitability. AND have a mindset to create the business of your dreams? It is possible and achievable. Trust me. I do this ALL. THE. TIME. And, I can help you do it too. What does the 5 Day Profitability Challenge include? You will receive a 15-page workbook with guided exercises and action items for each day. You will join in a Facebook Community with others who are on the same journey to profitability and freedom. Each day there will be a private video in the Facebook community and on Friday a live Q&A video call with me. You will have access to me through the Facebook group for support as you move forward and kick “worry” in the pants! You will have a different business on Friday than you did on Monday. You will be on a path to profit! What is your investment in this radical change? The decision to focus ON your business from November 12-16, 2018 for 25-30 minutes a day Support others in the Facebook group along the way $47. Yep, that’s all. Seriously, what is stopping you? Only you. Remember - confidence and worry can’t exist in the same space - so let’s replace the worry with a little confidence and become profitable once and for all. Are you ready? I am! Let’s go! Click here for more information, and to sign up! Michele Williams is the owner of Scarlet Thread Consulting. Using her software development and interior design business background, she empowers her clients to charge what they are worth and to have confidence in their financials. Michele is a Profit First certified coach focused on the interior design industry, and she hosts the popular podcast, Profit Is A Choice. You can find more at www.scarletthreadconsulting.com
Scroll to read full article Let’s start by defining a small space. It can be a small apartment or small home, or it can be a small room within a large home. What matters most is that the space itself is modest and the color of everything you choose in the room is of utmost importance! It is a challenge for many, because everything in the room is close to you, making every element visible, which is why every single color matters. Let’s talk about some ideas to keep in mind when creating a color palette with a small space in mind. Light How much light is in the room matters and, if you can bring natural light in, I highly recommend it. An open, light and airy space will feel bigger right away. A room that is darker will automatically feel smaller. Adding high hats to the corner of the room will generally make the room feel larger because the darker corners of the room will disappear. Adding more light to the upper corners also minimizes the shadows in your space. Ceiling Inspiration While you are lighting the corners of the room, the ceiling becomes a valuable part of your room’s color palette. I suggest keeping the ceiling light, but here’s the surprise: white is not always the best choice! There are very pale colors that will not only add light color to your ceiling but personality as well. A very pale yellow or airy blue are excellent choices, and they can make the ceiling in the room fell like it’s decorated! Choosing the Right Wall Color Lighter wall colors will be the popular choice to paint in a small room, but I have a couple of unique ideas for you to try. If you have a room that has lots of trim molding, lighter wall décor, or furniture, you could try a wall color that has some depth to it. Let’s say you have a light to medium slate gray on your walls. If you have a bright white window trim, white ceiling molding, a light ceiling, painted white furniture and lots of lighting, then the walls should have some depth to them to provide contrast. Another idea to try is to add a wall color in a reflective finish to bring light into your space. If your wall or ceiling is perfectly smooth, try adding a pearl finish to your paints rather than a flat finish. The reflective finish will add subtle light to the room that adds visual interest as well. A clever way to add the illusion of space to a room is to add mirrors to visually enlarge the space. Restaurants often add a mirrored wall to make a small area seem to be twice the size. You certainly don’t have to go to that extreme, but any mirror you use will add visual space to your small room. Accent Colors - It's Time to Play! One of the most important goals in designing a small space is to make the room feel like it is enjoyable to be there, rather than being an uncomfortable place to spend time. Basically, it should feel good rather than feeling like the size of the room is a problem. Make that happen by having fun with your decorating! I suggest adding a colorful rug to add color and interest without taking up room in your space; colorful artwork will have the same effect. Lighting, throws, or accent pillows also provide ways to be creative and add colorful accents. If the space feels good, the size of the room becomes far less important! I hope you are inspired to decorate your small space. Try adding lighting, creative wall colors, and colorful decorative elements. If you do it well, the size of your space will not be as noticeable, and the colors will make it comfortable and livable. Try to add some creative elements, and your small space will always be a place you’ll be happy to come home to! Amy Wax is an award-winning color consultant. She works as a residential color expert for clients nationwide. Amy has authored best-selling books on color and helped with color palettes for major paint manufacturers. Ms. Wax served as a Past President of the International Association of Color Consultants of North America and created the award-winning Color911 app. Her color work, app, and Color911 blog have received national recognition. Amy Wax has also received “Best of Houzz” recognition year after year. You can see examples of her work at www.amywax.com
Colors Make a Huge Difference in a Small Space! by Amy Wax
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Pieced Pillows with Stripes by Jill Ragan Scully
Scroll to read full article Start by choosing a symmetrical stripe: Draw a pattern piece the finished size of your pillow. The pattern piece shown is 16 x 16 square. Cut out the pattern piece. Fold the pattern paper in half diagonally, then fold into quarters to create four equal triangles. Cut on the fold lines you made in the paper. Place the long side of each pattern piece on the same stripe, leaving enough room to add your preferred seam allowance. Using this method will create a bullseye effect with the stripe. Using a piece of chalk, fabric marker or pencil; add your desired seam allowance for your pillow. I have added ½ inch around each pattern piece so my seam allowance will be ½ inch. Cut all pieces out. Dry fit your pieces together to ensure accuracy. Sew together two pieces at a time, making sure to match stripes. Press seams open. After seams have been pressed open you can sew the other two sides together to form a square. Press seam open. Straight stitch or serge napped sateen lining to the back side. I start in the center of each side and sew outward to prevent stretching. Add welt cord if desired to the perimeter of the pillow. You can repeat these steps for a two-sided, striped bullseye pillow or add a solid fabric for the backside. Add your desired pillow insert. To close, you can add a zipper or your choice or hand sew closed. Jill Ragan Scully Working as an interior designer, drapery workroom, and upholsterer for over 20 years, Jill has a strong passion for the soft furnishings industry. This diverse skill set is apparent in each room she designs for her clients. Recognizing a need for increased accessibility to a wider variety of products and services for her colleagues, Jill recently founded My Designer Concierge, a virtual design showroom and social media management company to the trade.
A message from Susan Woodcock and Rodger Walker, Producers of Custom Workroom Conference: CWC '18 was a Great Success! This year's Custom Workroom Conference was held October 1-3, 2018 at the Spartanburg, Marriott Hotel and Conference center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. People attended from all over the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Bahamas. Thank you to the instructors - industry pros who shared their knowledge so freely. Education is what CWC is all about, and your classes were filled with "ah-ha" moments, valuable resources, helpful tips, inspiration, and laughter. Every course was top-notch and well received. Thank you to the keynote speakers Kelly Wilson and Lonnie Vanderslice. The keynote address was very meaningful and inspiring. We are honored that you shared your story with us. Thank you to our volunteer staff; Emily Pettit, Robin Jackson, and Mary Dwan, who worked hard to keep everything running smoothly, and to our sales and event manager Emily Moore, for helping to make CWC the best it can be. Thank you to everyone who attended CWC-18. You represent the workroom industry in the best possible way. From "newbies" who are experiencing their very first conference, to seasoned pros... it's very special to see everyone coming together with such excitement and joy. Thank you to the exhibitors. It was a great day, and everyone loved learning about (and buying) your products and services. Your participation is why CWC is one of the best resources for the workroom professional. A special thank you to Hanes Fabrics for being our event sponsor for three years in a row! Thank you to Window Coverings Association of America for hosting your annual party at CWC. The "Totally Rad '80's Party" was a blast. We love seeing everyone cut loose and get down! Our goal with Custom Workroom Conference is to create an experience that will help support small businesses and grow the workroom industry. We hope the relationships made at CWC will benefit you personally and professionally. We are grateful for the opportunity to produce CWC and look forward to seeing you at CWC '19! Stay tuned for details about the next conference by following Custom Workroom Conference on Facebook, or at www.CustomWorkroomConference.com. –Susan Woodcock and Rodger Walker Photos in this article were taken by Susan Woodcock and Emily Moore.
That's a Wrap!
2018
The Deluxe Draw Matic clamping bar shown is at The Custom Workroom Technical Center in Tryon, NC, it is 60 inches wide with six clamps allowing students to work much more efficiently. To view the many uses of the Draw Matic clamping bar, please check out the video by Cathy Tucker as a Product Share for the Workroom Channel: More efficiency in the workroom will ALWAYS result in higher profit margins. Unique Expressions is also your source for :
Scroll to read full article Autumn Treats! Check out the pics that caught our eye this month! Don't forget to use #csfrl -to make sure you get noticed. Photo credits and Instagram links: Donna Hovis: @dbhovis Cristina Alamdari: @azdraperies Rose Mary LeBlanc: @rmlcustomhome Alejandra Canales: @ac_designstudio Katie Peters: @sheltersewingco Amanda Smith: @sewunordinarydrapery Cynthia Bleskachek: @the_funky_little_chair Patti Ayers: @pillowsandpleats (Note: using #csfrl implies permission, so we may use in the Digital Digest - with photo credit and Instagram link, of course - without contacting you.)
The Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library hosts the industry's largest curated collection of educational resources for Custom Home Décor professionals. Membership to the library gives you access to a wealth of downloadable reference materials, videos, live events, and a community of support to help you design, sales, and fabrication skills, and start and grow a business. Already a Library Member? We're excited to announce several new features beginning November 1st: Experience the new Fly on the Wall educational series, featuring FLiP, our adorable fly, presenting video documentaries featuring a workroom professional or student apprentice fabricating a REAL custom home furnishings project from start to finish. FLiP will give you the lowdown from his unique location, on the wall! Enjoy fresh, new perspectives on Kitty Stein’s classic Workroom Operations articles. Kitty’s sage and timeless writings are supplemented by video commentary from current thought leaders in the soft furnishings industry to give a modern perspective. Access select video lessons from the original CHF Academy’s Career Professional Program. The new features will be available for purchase as individual offerings through the Workroom Marketplace or as Library benefits in our brand-new PRO Plus membership level. New Options for Library Membership: Our current PRO-Level membership has been replaced by TWO new options to better suit your needs: PRO Access PRO Access members can participate in all topics of the Conversations & Support forums, and have access to the Library's extensive collection of industry archives including back issues of the Sew What? Newsletter, CHF Magazine, and The Drapery & Design Professional Magazine, and more than 100 hours of archived educational webinars. PRO Plus PRO Plus members will enjoy all of the same benefits of Pro Access members, PLUS unlimited FREE access to ALL of the new features listed above, and other live and virtual events throughout the year. In addition, PRO Plus members are invited to participate in monthly Circle Time webinar discussions of current business and fabrication topics. Current PRO-Level members will be notified when their subscription is up for renewal, and can select the membership level that best meets their needs. Can't wait for your renewal date to experience PRO Plus? Contact sue@csfpro.org to process your upgrade! Not a member yet? Click here to visit the Library today to sign up for the membership level* that's right for you! *The Library still offers our free DIY membership level, with access to the M'Fay Drapery Pattern Support forum and back issues of the Drapery & Design Digital Digest.
Have You Heard the Buzz? New Library Features and Membership Levels
Scroll to read full article Ideally, when draperies are open they should clear the glass of your window. How to you make sure this is going to happen? Figuring stack back. Stack back is the amount of space needed if open panels are to clear the glass completely. Take the amount of stack back and add it to your window opening, this will give you the proper rod width needed. See our stack back chart below. Note: Stacking areas will vary with different weight fabrics. The table is based on average pleating and medium-weight fabrics. Allow additional stacking room for heavier fabrics or extra fullness. *If you have a style that requires more fullness or larger pleats, please do not use this chart. ANDERSON'S STACK BACK CHART Don't see your window opening on our chart? CLICK HERE to see our stack back formulas.
Calculating Stack Back with
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We're mixing it up for this issue's Blast From the Past feature. We searched our archives and found this classic video from Cheryl Strickland, Custom Home Furnishings Academy founder and publisher of the Sew What? Newsletter and Sew What? Magazine. Watch as Cheryl describes her favorite problem-solving technique for pressing the edges when making curved banding.
Join the LIBRARY! seach more than 500,000 forum posts read every issue of the ORIGINAL Drapery & Design Professional Magazine, CHF Magazine, SewWhat? Newsletter, and Sew What? Magazine View more than 100 hours of educational webinars Click here to join today!
Blast from the Past
Here's what our customers are saying: “The main attraction for me to Angels is the quality of service. The phones are answered promptly, never a wait time on hold, and even if the UPS truck is just about to pull up, they always do their best to get an order out fast.” – Carole H. “…More importantly to me, the customer service is of "days gone by"...They know your name, your favorite items...treat you like family!” – Mary H. “Everyone has been a delight to deal with!! Great service, great pricing, great staff. I love that I'm a person & not an account number.” - Karen K. “Once I started using Angel's, I've never purchased my lining anywhere else. They have a great selection, great prices, and wonderful customer service. It doesn't get any better than this.” – Valerie A. “You cannot do any better than Angels. Their customer service cannot be beat. A family run business that is a pleasure to work with.” – Nicole N. “I previously gave a 2-star review. Since then, I heard from Angel's, and they clarified my problem. I ordered another product other than the one I thought I ordered. You did a great job and got me what I ordered in a very timely manner!” – Iva M. “Ralph and the crew have been my main source for drapery linings for over 20 years, and I can't say enough about them. In an industry with so many moving parts to projects, this is one aspect which they have made effortless. Timely deliveries, personalized customer service, and just an overall friendly approach. Unequivocally an industry leader in my book.” – Peg C. “In a business world that is less than efficient, Angels is incredible!! The orders arrive within a couple of days, are always correct, and are always stress-free!” – Karen P. FIND OUT WHY WE OFFER THE BEST SERVICE IN THE INDUSTRY!
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October/November 2018 photo credits: Cover photo : Katie Peters, Shelter Sewing Co., Morwenna Brett, The Curtain Guru Deborah Cronin, Leatherwood Design Co. Liz Kelly, The Workroom Channel Jill Ragan Scully, My Designer Concierge Amy Wax, AmyWax.com l ,
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The Drapery & Design Digital Digest is a collaborative effort between the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library and My Designer Concierge. Together, our mission is to showcase the outstanding work of custom home furnishings professionals, spotlight quality products, and share educational resources.
Content Coordinator
To contribute or advertise in an upcoming issue reach out to: Jill Ragan Scully My Designer Concierge Jill@mydesignerconcierge.com
Publishing Editor
To learn about education at the Library reach out to: Jeanelle Dech Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library Jeanelle@CSFpro.org