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to go to the Sewing Educator Alliance website click http://www.sewingeducators.com

2006 SQE Professional Educator Yearbook

Professional Educators Are Your Key to Sales Through Education!

African Folklore Embroidery
7258 Pondera Circle
West Hills, CA 91307
Phone: 1-818-999-6094
E-mail: info@aflembroidery.com
Web site: www.aflembroidery.com
African Folklore Embroidery is for those who love needle crafts, quilting, fiber arts, stitching, color and creativity. Even beginners are stunned by their results. In these workshops, students experience Africa by learning about the history and culture of the Ndebele Tribe in South Africa through African Folklore Embroidery.
Using colorful African threads and beads against a black background, students embroider images of Ndebele life as they learn about the lifestyle and customs of this fascinating culture and community. Students can also embroider on kits with designs of African lions, elephants, and giraffes and learn about African wildlife. African Folklore Embroidery promotes cross-culture creativity and expands the imagination.
Classes are taught by Leora Raikin, a South African native who now lives in Los Angeles, CA. She has taught over 3,000 adults and children the art of African Folklore Embroidery. She was taught this creative and multicultural art by her mother.

Jo Andrews
Wool Shop Country Store
Route 4, Box 90
Grant City, MO 64456
Phone: 1-660-564-2444

Esterita Austin
Esterita Austin Art Quilts Ltd.
58 John St.
Port Jefferson Sta, NY 11776
Phone: 1-631-331-3429
E-mail: esterita2@aol.com
Web site: www.esteritaaustin.com
International award winning quilt maker, designer and teacher, Esterita Austin, studied for her MFA in graphics and photography at Pratt Institute. Her work has been exhibited in the American Museum of Folk Art in New York City. Esterita’s quilt “The Well” was a prize winning piece in the museum’s international competition “Quilted Constructions: The Spirit of Design.” Esterita has been a guest speaker at the museum’s lecture series “Artists Speak.” Her award-winning piece is featured in the American Museum of Folk Art magazine “Folk Art.” Esterita’s work has been widely published in magazines as well as books on fiber arts. The use of textural and dimensional imagery has given Esterita’s stone series a unique style. She brings creative energy to her workshops, stimulating the imagination and invigorating the soul.

Donna Babylon
Windsor Oak Publishing
1910 Snydersburg Rd.
Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 1-410-876-3121
Fax: 1-410-848-3293
E-mail: donna@moresplashthancash.com
Donna Babylon’s entertaining seminars reflect her personable, easygoing manner as she shares her practical approach to decorating. Seminar attendees leave with a newfound confidence to tackle their own decorating projects. Her seminars provide ideas, inspiration, and techniques on all aspects of home decorating. She has thousands of DIY ideas in her toolbox that help audiences create the room of their dreams.

Marci Baker
Alicia’s Attic
1031 Conifer St. #6
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 1-970-224-1336
Fax: 1-970-224-1362
E-mail: info@aliciasattic.com
Web site: www.aliciasattic.com
Recognized internationally for her expertise in quilting, Marci Baker enjoys sharing ideas that simplify the process of sewing and quilting. Her Qtools™ and Know Before You Sew™ products provide easy-to-follow solutions for common sewing and quilting problems. All types of projects are successfully completed with the wealth of information she offers. Enthusiasm and inspiration can be seen throughout her lectures, workshops, and books. She has been featured on HGTV’s Simply Quilts, NBC’s The Jane Pauley Show, Redbook, and has published in numerous quilting magazines. Marci, her husband, two boys, their snake, and bearded dragon currently live in Fort Collins, CO, where they enjoy the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Sue C. Barnabee
Creative Creations
21795 E. Barnabee Road
Farmington, IL 61531-9373
Phone: 1-309-647-0111
Fax: 1-309-647-0166
E-mail: scbarn@worldnet.att.net
Sue Barnabee is a professional seamstress and educator who has taught all phases of sewing to young people and adults throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her areas of expertise range from fitting to alterations; infant to men’s wear; basic sewing to couture; machine embroidery and embellishments to wedding attire; home dec to quick and easy serging. Her business, Creative Creations, began in 1987. Her current focus is on education and custom sewing for businesses, publications, and the individual.

Shirley Biehl
Shirley’s Sewing Stuff
11426 S U.S. 231
Dale, IN 47523
Phone: 1-812-683-3377
Fax: 1-812-683-3377
E-mail: ssssb@webtv.net 
Shirley Biehl travels extensively showing sewers how to use Fasturns™ to make their sewing easier. A seasoned sewer, she loves to amaze everyone with how simple and versatile sewing with “tubes” can be. She has had several articles published on a variety of topics, including “Sewing the Fast and Easy Way.”

Kim Boyles
Miss Kim Creates
7208 Green Meadow Lane
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
Phone: 1-405-830-7416
E-mail: miskimcreates@cox.net
Kim Boyles is a Martha Pullen Licensed Beginning Sewing Teacher and a Licensed Serger Teacher who loves to inspire others to express their creative talents no matter what their skill level. She has taught at several locations in Oklahoma City and in Stillwater. She is available for seminars, classes, or demonstrations anywhere in the USA.

Marcie Brenner
Sew Beary Special
1025 East 28th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Phone: 1-718-951-3973
E-mail: sewbeary@aol.com
In her more than 25 years of teaching, Marcie Brenner has conveyed her love of sewing and quilting, demonstrating her extensive knowledge with a sense of humor whether she’s working with beginners or pros. She has taught at local and national level sewing and quilting shows and from junior high to university level courses. For the past 13 years she has run her own sewing school and quilt shop, with classes covering all phases of sewing, quilting and home dec. Additionally, she is employed in the garment industry as a technical designer and was a technical writer for a pattern company. She has an A.A.S. in applied apparel design and patternmaking from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a B.A. in home economics and women’s studies from Brooklyn College, with Graduate courses in education. Marcie is available to travel nationally and internationally.

Kay Brooks
R & K Consulting/
RNK Distributing
918 Rox Ridge Lane
Caryville, TN  37714
Phone: 1-865-426-8435 
Fax: 1-865-426-4602
E-mail: RandKConsulting@aol.com 
Web sites: www.handsonsewingschools.com  & www.rnkdistributing.com
Kay Brooks, vice-president of RNK Distributing, exclusive distributors of Floriani Products has become known for her passion for embroidery. She has developed and created new products for sewers of all kinds to help make them more successful in their hobby. Kay has taught embroidery, sewing and quilting seminars across the U.S. and has appeared on numerous television segments pertaining to sewing. Before starting RNK with her husband, Ricky, she owned a sewing machine retail business for 14 years and became acquainted with most brands of sewing, quilting and embroidery machines as well as having one of the most extensive educational programs offered to sewers. Her expertise along with a relaxed personality makes her class fun, informative, to the point and creates a workshop type atmosphere.

Ricky Brooks
R & K Consulting/
RNK Distributing
918 Rox Ridge Lane
Caryville, TN  37714
Phone: 1-865-426-8435 
Fax: 1-865-426-4602
E-mail: RandKConsulting@aol.com   
Web sites: www.handsonsewingschools.com  & www.rnkdistributing.com 
Ricky Brooks has been a part of the home sewing industry for 30 years. He and wife Kay developed one of the largest single location sewing stores in the world. Since selling their business in October 2001, they have dedicated themselves to teaching others the secrets to their success -- one of which is conducting hands-on sewing schools.

Maddie Bushman
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Avenue
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
maddie@janome-america.com
Maddie Bushman is an educator for Janome America. She taught a selection of serger classes at the 2003 Janome Institute and taught Cover Pro classes at the 2005 Janome Institute. She was also a featured educator at the Love2Learn school in Muscle Shoals, AL. Prior to moving to New York, she taught classes in Florida for many years. She teaches embroidery for the beginner/intermediate, Digitizer 10000, Digitizer Pro, Customizer 10000 (Plus), Customizer 11000, garment construction, pattern fitting, quilting, home dec and crafts. Several of her projects are featured on the Janome Web site and in Janome Digest. She enjoys teaching various classes for the American Sewing Guild as well. She has also been a television guest several times on Kaye’s Quilting Friends and Quilt Central TV. She has traveled throughout the United States and Central America teaching and promoting the benefits of owning Janome sewing/embroidery machines and sergers.

Sheryl Capps
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-757-399-3532
E-mail:
sheryl@janome-america.com
Sheryl Capps is fulltime educational coordinator and has been with Janome America for 10 years. She is a certified Martha Pullen Janome Heirloom Sewing Instructor. She has taught at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion for five years and has been a guest on the Martha Pullen TV show for three years. She has taught sewing, embroidery and software classes and seminars all over the nation. Sheryl has adapted a method of teaching that people dearly love, and her talent has impressed even the most advanced sewers/embroiderers. She has been published twice in Designs in Machine Embroidery, and seven times in Janome Digest. Her designs are also featured in the following Martha Pullen books: The Australian Blouse Book, Lovely Lingerie, Fancywork magazine and Sew Beautiful.

Mary Carollo
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: mary@janome-america.com
Mary Carollo is an accomplished seamstress and ran a custom sewing business from her home for 18 years. She taught generic sewing seminars before joining the Janome staff, to promote sewing and get other people as excited as she was about the creativity and accomplishments derived from sewing. Mary worked in a sewing machine sales/repair shop for four years and then opened her own sewing machine and fabric store for seven years.
She has been with New Home/Janome for over 13 years. During this time she has participated as an instructor at every New Home Institute. Mary has prepared introduction classes for the education department and subsequent dealer introduction and training classes on many machines. Her contributions have been used in Janome Digest, Janome Web site, Designs in Machine Embroidery and other magazines.
Mary’s skills allow her to instruct and teach on any of Janome’s products. Her long-time history as a dealer and educator allow her to assist a wide range of customers and dealers.

Cindy Chock
Palmer/Pletsch CSI
300 West 55th St.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 1-212-246-9662
E-mail: c.chock@att.net  
Web site: www.cindychock.com 
Cindy Chock, a theatrical costumer (from Miss Piggy to the Metropolitan Opera) and Butterick Patterns designer, offers small hands-on sewing classes in New York City that range from basic beginner to fitting pants and skirts to sewing curtains and pillows. She also offers three- and five-day “New York Odysseys,” that include shopping in the Garment District, sewing and fitting, learn wardrobe building from a Broadway stylist, eating in trendy restaurants and seeing the sites of NYC. Visit her Web site for class and tour dates and prices.

Pam Clarke
Design With Lines
4922 East Union
Spokane, WA 99212
Phone: 1-509-747-0315
Fax: 1-509-624-0383
E-mail: sales@homestitches.com
Web site: www.homestitches.com 
A noted machine quilter, teacher and artist, Pam Clarke has been machine quilting and creating her own quilting designs since 1986. Designs with Lines, a company started by Pam in 1988, has several stencils and sketchbooks available with hundreds of sketches to guide machine quilters in creating a style of their own. Pam’s work can be seen in several published magazines and books. She has been creating her own stencils for several years, and her technique is used for home machine quilting as well as the longarm machine quilting. Pam owns Log Cabin Dry Goods www.logcabindrygoods.com, a quilt shop that carries longarm supplies, fabric, and has five longarm rental machines.

Trevor Conquergood
Stitchitize Embroidery Design Service
313 Ontario Ave.
Saskatoon Sk. Canada S7K1S3
Toll-free phone: 1-800-667-2587 (North America)
Toll-free fax: 1-877-933-2585
Worldwide access: 1-306-956-3475
E-mail: trevor@stitchitize.com
Trevor Conquergood is a second generation embroidery designer and has been digitizing since 1984. He is the author of the online Stitchitize Embroidery Design Learning Studio and manager of the Stitchitize Design Team, producing over 40,000 embroidery designs. Trevor has experience with many types of digitizing software and his teaching is non-software specific. Classes are meant to be a fun and inspiring experience.

Connie Crawford
Fashion Patterns By Coni
P.O. Box 370
Hansville, WA 98340
Phone: 1-360-638-2629
Fax: 1-360-638-0296
E-mail: fashionpatterns@centurytel.net  
Connie Amaden-Crawford is a nationally recognized fashion specialist, educator, and author of sewing and pattern textbooks that are used in fashion programs throughout the world. Connie is an inspiring lecturer with 35 years of experience in apparel manufacturing and 23 years as a college professor of sewing, patternmaking, and draping. She has been a featured author in Sew News, Threads magazine, and a columnist for Sew Beautiful magazine for several of their issues. Connie’s career spans everything from fashion name dress designing to patternmaker, design consultant and college professor.

Pamela M. Damour
Damour Designs
495 Point Au Fer Rd.
Champlain, NY 12919
Phone: 1-518-297-2699
Fax: 1-518-297-2109
Cell 1-518-569-9222
E-mail: decor8d@aol.com
Web site: www.pamdamour.com
Pam Damour, known as the “Decorating Diva,” co-author of the best seller Pillow Talk, and national spokesperson for Rowenta and Warm Company, offers couture quality home dec sewing education. Pam’s teacher certification program trains teachers how custom workrooms create all those great looks. Pam’s 25+ years as a decorator and 20+ years as an educator give her the expertise to make her students feel like pros!

Janet Dapson, BA, CSI
Fabrications LLC
P.O. Box 708
Richland, MI 49083
Phone: 1-269-629-0190
Fax: 1-269-629-0191
E-mail: janet@fabricationsonline.com
Web Site: www.fabricationsonline.com
Janet Dapson is a Palmer/Pletsch Educational Associate and Certified Sewing Instructor, specializing in bodice/skirt/dress/pant fitting techniques and tailoring. She offers classes in garment fitting and construction at her specialty fabric store (Fabrications) located near Kalamazoo, MI. Besides regularly scheduled classes, individual instruction and special programs for groups are available. Group programs may be conducted at Fabrications or at a group’s meeting place. Presentations ranging from one-hour lectures to all day hands-on sessions are available. For more information, visit www.fabricationsonline.com , call 1-877-629-0190, or e-mail info@fabricationsonline.com.

Sandy Davis
Sandy Davis School of Sewing
3907 Yardley Ct. Unit 207
Louisville, KY 40299
Phone: 1-502-931-8576
E-mail: sandysews2@insightbb.com
Sandy Davis has over 40 years of sewing experience and 12 years of teaching experience. She is a Certified Palmer/Pletsch Beginning and Fit Instructor, a Martha Pullen Licensed Beginning Teacher and a Licensed Serger Teacher, a member of the American Sewing Guild, currently serving as president of the Louisville KY Chapter. She has been a volunteer sewing teacher through a program offered by the University of KY Cooperative Extensive Service since 1992. Sandy loves to teach beginners how to sew and is developing a seminar on how to combine sewing with scrapbooking and card-making.

Shelley Doyal
Ocala Sewing Center, Inc.
16850 S. Highway 441 Ste. 304
Summerfield, IL 34491
Phone: 1-352-307-4360
Fax: 1-352-307-4365
E-mail: ocalasewingctr@earthlink.net
Shelley Doyal has a degree in fashion merchandising and design. As a certified educator for Wild Ginger Software, her expertise lies in creating fashion garment patterns that fit. Her seminars include one-day lecture demonstrations or two-day hands-on sloper fitting classes. Each seminar is geared directly to your store or group needs. Incorporated into these seminars or, as a stand alone program, is color analysis and garment choices for different figure types.

Linda Everhart
Among Friends
1710 NW 59th Terr.
Topeka, KS 66618
Phone 1-785-246-0711
Fax: 1-785-246-1711
E-mail: Linda@quiltingamongfriends.com
Linda Everhart travels extensively including Ireland, England, & Wales to teach and lecture. One look at her breathtaking quilts and you’ll want to make your own. Linda credits God for giving her a new quilt making technique trademarked FUSIQUE®; fused reverse appliqué. Lead lines are created without bias lines. Transform one solid background fabric into two delightful quilts. What a slick trick! Amazing and easy! Even the beginning quilter can produce a sophisticated configuration design on a quilt, which no longer takes years to perfect! Her Among Friends’ pattern God Bless America was featured on Simply Quilts, Episode #805. Linda says her bags are packed for travel nationally and internationally.Visit her Web site at www.quiltingamongfriends.com  for scheduling workshops.

Diane Faulkner
Diane Faulkner Custom Clothing
323 Calm Ct.
Powder Springs, GA 30127
Phone: 1-770-421-1127
Fax: 1-770-421-1127
E-mail: sewfine@bellsouth.net
Diane Faulkner’s love of sewing is evident in her enthusiatic style of teaching. Her 25+ years of experience in her own successful Custom Clothing business has made her an expert in all areas of sewing: garment construction, fitting, wearable art and much more.
Diane is always learning and looking for ways to make sewing easier and more enjoyable and is known for her classes and expertise in the use of all makes of sergers. Recently she has entered the world of embroidery and digitizing using both Artista and 3D Embroidery software and has become a Pfaff Certified Educator.
Diane is also a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Instructor, an Educator Member of VDTA/SDTA, HSA, SEA, and a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers (PACC), a national organization of sewing experts. Diane will travel nationally and internationally. Fee schedules are available upon request.

Nancy Fiedler
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
nfiedler@janome-america.com
Nancy Fiedler worked 19 years for a Janome dealership in Illinois. During that time she managed the remote store, sold machines, developed and taught sewing, serging, embroidery, software, and technique classes for all skill levels. In 1996 Nancy became a regular contributor to Janome Digest, Janome On-Line and participated in projects for two project books published by Janome. She has also been a regular contributor to Creative Machine Embroidery and their special interest issues. Other magazines she has contributed to are Designs in Machine Embroidery and Clotilde’s Sewing Savvy. Her projects have also been published in Serger Savvy, Sewing Smart with Fabric, Sew It Easy with Fleece and Flannel, Pattern Free Sewing, Sewing Basket Fun and two more hard cover books yet to be released all published by House of White Birches. In 2000 Nancy published her own patterns under the label “Just Fiddlin’ Around.” These patterns include wearable art, quilting and three quilting/plus embroidery. Nancy joined Janome as an educator in 2004.

Caryne Finlay Mount
P.O. Box 3103
Livermore, CA 94551-3103
Phone: 1-925-443-1138
E-mail: caryne@kimonodesign.com
Web site: www.kimonodesign.com
Caryne Finlay Mount has designed and sewn all her life. She is basically self taught in sewing and surface design. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in art history (1987). Her main coursework at the university focused on textile design, costume history, museum principles and practices and historical costume and textile conservation and restoration. Caryne’s areas of specialization are adult and youth beginning sewing, surface design and costuming (ballet tutu in particular). She has given workshops on the subjects of creativity, Shibori dyeing and sewing technique/Japanese-style vest. She will travel nationally and internationally to teach.

Donna Flatley
Sew Many Memories
40 Daisy Hill Dr.
Oakdale, CT 06370
Phone: 1-860-447-8868
E-mail: dkflatley@myeastern.com 
Donna Flatley is a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor, specializing in fit, and pant fit. In addition, she is a Martha Pullen Licensed Husqvarna-Viking Instructor teaching a variety of heirloom classes and a Home Sewing Association Trained Sewing Educator (TSE). With over 40 years of sewing experience and over 10 years of teaching experience, Donna has developed a number of classes on specialized techniques, beginning sewing and heirloom techniques. She teaches both individuals and small groups and is willing to travel nationally and internationally.

Marilyn Gatz
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
mgatz@janome-america.com
Marilyn Gatz began to sew as a young adult, unhappy with the fit of ready-to-wear clothing. Excited and inspired by her first efforts, she studied to hone her tailoring skills and began creating clothing for her husband and four sons. This led Marilyn through a sewing career that would wind itself cheerfully through Stretch & Sew, Chilton Book Company, Sulky and finally to Janome America Inc. During the course of her career, Marilyn has taught classes on tailoring, machine arts, machine guide, painting on fabric, embellishments, fashion sewing. She has been a contributor to several Chilton books and a guest designer for Mary Mulari’s More Sweatshirts with Style.

Gay Gerlack
Sewabration
18 Dickson Lane
Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 1-925-228-6717
Fax: 1-925-370-1267
E-mail: sewabration@aol.com 
Web site: www.sewabration.com 
Gay Gerlack is the owner of Sewabration, a line of patterns. She has taught for MEEC; CEC; the Sew, Quilt and Embroidery Festivals; the Sewing and Stitchery Expo; chapters of the American Sewing Guild; retreats and sewing centers. Gay is a regular contributor to Embroidery Journal and has had two articles appear in Threads magazine this past year. Gay’s classes and projects are quick, fun and easy and are appropriate for children through adults.

Dianne Giancola
Dianne Giancola Communications
14 Westover Ave.
Stamford, CT  06902
Phone: 1-203-325-3286 
Fax: 1-203-359-2418
E-mail: diannesews@aol.com 
Dianne Giancola has been working in the home sewing industry for over 25 years. She specializes in sewing notions. Dianne enjoys writing, teaching and demonstrating. She has appeared on many TV shows including Sew Perfect, Decorating With Style, Home Matters, The Carol Duvall Shop, Aleene’s Creative Living and Sewing With Nancy.

Debra L. Green
Olfa North America
11834 Garfield Rd.
Hiram, OH 44234
Phone: 1-330-569-3173
Fax: 1-330-569-7130
E-mail: greendl@worldkitchen.com
Web site: www.olfa.com
Debra Green has over 15 years of business experience in the sewing industry, including the development and management of sewing education and training programs for the corporate offices of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. and Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines. She has also spent 10+ years designing and creating custom made quilts for her company Green Thumb Designs. Debra has a Master’s degree in organizational management and communication and is currently the director of education with Olfa North America, where she works to inspire others to be more creative. She loves to teach quilting and apparel sewing classes and has made numerous television appearances to promote the joy of sewing. Debra encourages everyone to learn to sew as a means of creative expression.

Valora Hammond
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
vhammond@janome-america.com
Valora Hammond has been sewing since she was eight years old and found a great piece of fabric in her grandmother’s closet. This has led to a life filled with pursuing her passion of sewing and embellishment from working at a fabric store, to making costumes for stage shows, to being published in the Janome Digest. She has received her B.S. in education and garment construction.

Joan Hinds
Fancywork and Fashion
P.O. Box 3554
Duluth, MN 55803
Phone: 1-218-728-7966
Fax: 1-218-728-7966
E-mail: joan@fancyworkandfashion.com
Web Site: www.fancyworkandfashion.com
As the author of 12 sewing pattern books for the popular 18-inch doll, Joan Hinds’ latest book is a pattern book for baby dolls called Sew Baby Doll Clothes. She specializes in classes and seminars on pattern drafting for dolls and embellishment techniques including embroidery, decorative stitching, smocking, heirloom sewing, ethnic costume and folk art design, etc. Sewing for dolls can help beginning customers (and those whose skills may be “rusty”) discover the joy of sewing!

Jody Hooker
Husqvarna Viking
7682 S. Fitzgerald
Fremont, MI 49412
Phone: 1-231-924-0036
E-mail: tjhook@triton.net 
Jody Hooker is a designer, freelance writer, and contributing editor to a number of sewing magazines. She has appeared on popular how-to television shows and is a Licensed Martha Pullen Instructor and Husqvarna Viking Educator. For more detailed information on Jody’s classes and workshops e-mail: tjhook@triton.net  or call 1-800-301-1110, extension 2114.

Fred Lebow
RNK Distributing/
Floriani Products
P.O. Box 1240
Marion, MT 59925
Phone: 1-406-854-2322
Fax: 1-406-854-2320
E-mail: flebow@rnkdistributing.com  
Fred Lebow is the non woven guru and developer for Floriani sewing, embroidery, and quilting products, a Tennessee-based company (RNK Distributing) company that offers sewing aids, thread, interfacings and unique embroidery stabilizers to the embroidery, craft, home sewing, and quilting markets. Fred has been developing nonwovens and interlinings for the sewn products market for 29 years.
For the past 19 years, he has focused on embroidery stabilizers including the development of a unique line of high-quality products that is in widespread use in the commercial and home embroidery industries. The Floriani line is the cream of the crop. It represents the latest in non-woven technology

Joi Mahon
Dress Forms Design Studio, LLC
4614 Polk St.
Sioux City, IA 51108
Phone: 1-712-239-9921
E-mail: joi@dressformsdesign.com
Web sites: www.dressformsdesign.com  and www.dressformskidz.com
Joi Mahon is an award-winning designer with a degree in apparel design, merchandising and production from Iowa State University. She owns and operates two businesses, and recently acquired a patent on a functional child’s garment that is being licensed by a national company.
Joi writes a monthly column for SQE Professional™ and is working on writing a creative sewing book. Dress Forms Design Studio, LLC is her custom design studio where she focuses on freelance designs companies, designs couture bridal gowns for individual clients as well as offering styling and fitting services.
In the fall of 2005 she branched out into Dress Forms Kidz with her own ready-to-wear line of kids clothing that is manufactured and sold by catalog, online and in stores around the country. Her specialties include draping, patternmaking, and product development, and she teaches classes on these as well as creative marketing for businesses, sewing as a professional business, draping for kids, interfacings, sewing kids clothing, basic textiles, and other topics. Classes are customized to the needs of each group. Joi is a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers.

Janet Malwitz
And Sew Forth
4809 Erie St.
College Park, MD 20740
Phone: 1-301-345-7382
Fax: 1-301-345-7382
E-mail: bobandjanmalwitz@yahoo.com
Janet Malwitz is a Palmer/Pletsch Educational Associate and Certified Sewing Instructor, a Martha Pullen Licensed Pfaff and Viking Instructor, and a Cotton Theory Licensed Teacher. She is experienced in teaching fit, pant fit, tailoring, machine embroidery and a variety of heirloom classes from baby bonnets and christening gowns to Victorian heirloom garments embellished with machine embroidery, that are so in vogue currently. Janet’s Cotton Theory classes teach students the unique techniques that allow them to make completely reversible projects such as placemats, totes, table runners and other home dec items. It’s like getting two for the price of one! With over 10 years teaching experience and extensive professional training, Janet knows how to motivate students and get them excited about a wide variety of sewing.

Linda Matthews
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
lmatthews@janome-america.com
Linda Matthews is an educational coordinator for Janome America. Originally from Australia and now a permanent resident of Florida, Linda has been sewing since she could reach the pedal on her mother’s treadle machine. She has a background in dressmaking and decorative sewing and ran her own dressmaking business in Australia for many years. Since arriving in the U.S. a little over four years ago, she has found her passion in quilting using color and contemporary quilting techniques as an integral part of her design. Her area of expertise is in art quilts with an emphasis on decorative free motion quilting. Linda’s quilts have been shown at national quilt shows and sometimes travel with touring exhibits. Linda enjoys teaching and passing on her knowledge, encouraging creativity and inspiring imagination in her students.

Julie McEathron
McEathron Quilts
609 N. Eagle Pass Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone: 1-785-550-5312 or
1-785-842-4780
E-mail: info@mceathronquilts.com
Julie McEathron is a life-long seamstress and has been creating custom quilts for the last four years. Julie loves teaching beginner skills in quilting and sewing to both adults and children. She teaches basic sewing, basic and intermediate machine quilting, pattern drafting, and pattern alterations. She teaches regularly at Stitch-On in Lawrence, KS. Contact Julie for detailed class list.

Joan McKenna
1520-B Granite Hills Dr.
El Cajon, CA 92019
Phone: 1-619-588-2244
Fax: 1-619-279-2278
E-mail: mckenna@gothere.com  or jmckenna@sdccd.edu
Web site: www.sdce.edu
Joan McKenna has a BFA in costume design from Syracuse University. Currently, Joan teaches sewn product home-based businesses and sewing fundamentals to her students at San Diego Community College District, Continuing Education. Master classes are taught at Central Sewing Centre in San Diego. In her master classes, she has taught everything from “How to Slipcover your Dress Form” and “Industrial Sewing Techniques” to “Victorian Corsetry.” If you have any questions concerning your sewing machines (either home or industrial) this is the place for answers and/or more equipment that fits your needs. Check out www.centralsewingcentre.com .

Lyla J. Messinger
L.J. Designs
7689 Barnsdale Rd.
Reno, NV 89511
Phone: 1-775-853-2207
Fax: 1-775-853-2217
E-mail: lyla777@aol.com
Web site: www.LJDesignsonline.com
Fashionable design and detail using sewing machine and serger techniques are Lyla Messinger’s trademarks. She is known for her constant flow of innovative ideas and simple concepts that are applicable to a myriad of projects. Seminars are presented using samples and visuals, followed by how-to instructions for accomplishing the task. Workshops include seminar information, with the added feature of a hands-on approach. Techniques featured are simple and doable for the beginner to the advanced.

Barbara Mix
3029 E. Leonora
Mesa, AZ 85213
Phone/Fax: 1-480-641-5309
E-mail: b.mix@cox.net 
Barbara Mix worked in the sewing industry in many capacities over the last 30 plus years. She is a certified Quilt In A Day and Stretch and Sew Instructor. She was also a multi-line sewing machine dealer in Moreno Valley, CA, and the lead sales and product trainer for one of the major sewing machine companies. She has authored publications on sewing in general, copying designer lingerie and beginning quilting. She has taught classes to consumers, teachers and store staff on everything from garment construction and fit to quilting, sergers, embroidery and sales. Her areas of expertise are in education (especially garment construction and fit), staff management and sales.

Annie Moody
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
amoody@janome-america.com
Annie Moody joined Janome America in November, 2005, and she has experience in sales, marketing, academia, engineering and the insurance business. Annie attended Elgin Community College in Illinois where she studied business, psychology, and real estate. Two of Annie’s favorite passions are sewing and quilting. She owns a MC7500 and MC10001 and has attended quilt shows in Houston, Paducah and Nashville where her “crazy quilt” was on display. Sewing is Annie’s passion and addiction. Whether the quilt or garment is bold bright colors or tone-on-tone elegance with machine trapunto Annie enjoys creating using Janome’s top-of-the-line sewing machine. Annie’s quilts have been exhibited at shows at the local and national level. Annie has been a guest on Kaye’s Quilting Friends. She loves her current position as an educational coordinator with Janome America.

Mary Mulari
Mary’s Productions
P.O. Box 87
Aurora, MN 55705
Phone: 1-218-229-2804
Fax: 1-218-229-2533
E-mail: marym@marymulari.com
Mary Mulari, author and national sewing personality, is known for her clever projects, easy but classy accessories and inventive applique techniques. Her popular seminars feature her books, patterns, fabrics designed for Marcus Brothers Textiles, and applique/embroidery cards. Your customers know Mary from her frequent guest appearances on Sewing With Nancy. Seminar sponsors can take advantage of Mary’s reputation and experience to plan a profitable, special sewing event. Books and products are available on consignment.

Tracy Munn
Sew Simply
86 Laurel Lane
Black Mountain NC 28711
Phone: 1-828-669-3978
Fax: 1-828-669-3978
Website:www.sewsimply.com
E-mail: twmunn@charter.net, gosew@charter.net , mail@sewsimply.com
Tracy has been a seamstress for 45+ years and is the author of Sewing Simple Slipcovers, Sterling Pub. Co. She is the director of The Sew Simply Academy, Black Mountain, NC. A Trained Sewing Educator thru the Home Sewing Association, a local TV personality on craft segments and a presenter of seminars and workshops at sewing expos. She loves to share her talents and skills with fellow sewing enthusiasts. Her areas of specialization: slipcovers in particular but also all forms of home decor - window treatments, pillows, etc. The Sew Simply Academy offers classes to all skill levels, beginner to advanced, in any area of interest.

Luveta Nickels
Junk Jeans People
16184 422nd Ave.
Clark, SD 57225
Phone: 1-605-532-5625
Fax: 1-605-532-5465
E-mail: luveta@itctel.com
Web site: www.junkjeanspeople.com
Luveta Nickels specializes in recycling old blue jeans, but teaches all areas of sewing. She will introduce “All Bleached Up” techniques using her private label power drill and stones. Perfect for machine embroidery enhancement. You get a bonus when Luveta visits your store because her products can be worked on consignment. She is well versed in multi-brand machines and is anxious to work with individual stores. She promotes sales and return business after leaving her audience in awe! Luveta has appeared many times on PBS TV with Kaye Wood, Nancy Zieman, and Sue Hausmann. Her students have lightheartedly given her the title of “Denim Diva” and her classes are overflowing with information. She welcomes travel across the globe.

Mary E. Orens
Pins & Needles
121 E. Warren Ave.
Sewell, NJ 08080
Phone: 1-856-464-2151
E-mail: meorens@yahoo.com
A NJ certified K–12 home economics teacher, Mary Orens has a B.A. in home economics, specializing in clothing and textiles and interior design. Currently, she is teaching sewing at Collingswood HS in NJ, and running her 18-year-old custom sewing business- Pins & Needles - specializing in alterations, and offering private, group or customized lessons in all sewing and needlecrafts. A member of SEA, PACC & SAGA, she is currently writing books on specialized alterations. 

Susan Pfaff
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: spfaff@janome-america.com
Susan Pfaff is a life-long sewing enthusiast, having learned to sew at the age of seven, and her passion is sharing her love of sewing with others through her demonstrations, workshops and trunk shows. Susan was a creative consultant for Pfaff and was also a retail sewing machine dealer. Through both, she has taught classes in beginning sewing for adults and children, creative machine sewing techniques, computerized sewing and software, garment construction, fit, heirloom sewing, and quilting. However, her favorite and most popular classes, beginning serger and creative serging techniques, and her proficiency and enthusiasm for the serger have earned her the nickname, “the Serger Queen.” She received her degree in management with a minor in home economics education from Purdue University, is a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Instructor in Serger, Fit, Tailoring, and Couture Sewing, and a Martha Pullen Licensed Teacher. Her sewing has been featured in Sew Beautiful magazine and was featured on PBS’s America Quilts creatively, and in the show’s companion book, and has presented classes at the Pfaff International Dealer Convention.

Linda Piechowski
Linda Maries
2900 Wyldewood Rd.
Oshkosh, WI 54904
Phone: 1-920-426-9037
E-mail: piec@execpc.com
Linda Piechowski will work with business owners or expo/events coordinators to design classes and/or lecture topics to present. All skill levels can be addressed in areas of apparel sewing, pattern fitting, costuming, and craft sewing. Beginner skill level can be addressed in quilting. Home dec topics she is most knowledgeable in are traverse drapes, curtains, and accessory pillows. Linda is a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers (PACC), Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructors (CSI), Home Sewing Association/Trained Sewing Educators (HSA/TSE), and the Sewing Educators Alliance (SEA).

Ann Poindexter
Adell’s Enterprises, LLC
404 S. 3rd
Odessa, MO 64076
Phone: 1-816-230-7473
Fax: 1-816-419-1056
E-mail: sewadell@aol.com
Ann Poindexter has a Master’s in education. Her mother first taught her on a treadle the love of sewing. She is retired and has taught classes for various stores. Her classes are based on fitting, silk ribbon embroidery, pattern changing, purses, curtains, how to use machine feet, and serger techniques. She also teaches kids to sew for two junior colleges. She is teaching at Sew Design & Profit in April in Pomona, CA. Ann is a Martha Pullen Instructor and member of the ASG, SEA, HSA, and PACC.

Janet Pray
Islander Sewing Systems
1385 Clyde Road
Highland, MI 48357
Phone: 1-248-889-5091
Fax: 1-248-887-6020
E-mail: islandersewing@comcast.net 
Janet Pray has an educational background in business and fine art. She is a fiber artist, fiber arts teacher and sewing instructor. Janet has exhibited her award-winning works across the United States. In 1998, Janet produced patterns for three of her most popular coat and cape designs and in 2002, the first of a series of professional shirt patterns. All of her patterns include revolutionary pattern guides designed with the Islander Sewing Systems™ techniques.

Kathy Ruddy
Unique Patterns
10306 64th Pl. West
Mukilteo, WA  98275
Phone: 1-425-743-6885
Fax: 1-425-353-0240
E-mail: kathyruddy@earthlink.net 
Kathy Ruddy, vice-president of Unique Patterns, is an international sewing celebrity, educator, pattern designer, serger and fitting expert. She is the star of 10 serger and sewing videos and author of 12 serger and sewing booklets. Her specialty is “Comfortable Clothes that Camouflage.” In addition, Kathy designs for Unique Patterns, and is a contributing writer for Threads, Sew Beautiful and her own company newsletter.

Jan Saunders-Maresh
Naked Room Solutions
4420 NW Dahlia Dr.
Camas, WA 98607
Phone: 1-360-903-8976
Fax: 1-360-833-9553 or
1-360-254-2375
E-mail: jsmaresh@yahoo.com
Web site: www.nakedroomsolutions.com
Jan Saunders-Maresh is the best-selling author of 14 books including Sewing for Dummies and Sewing for Dummies, Second Edition (Wiley, 2004) and founder of an innovative company called Naked Room Solutions…at your door home décor. As a nationally recognized author, journalist, speaker, and television personality, her experience as the education director for both a national sewing machine company and fabric chain, has given her a solid foundation in business, design, and marketing the line of affordable, do-it-yourself home décor products. Jan has a B.A. degree in home economics and secondary education from Adrian College of Adrian, MI, and a minor in business from the New York Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY. Jan and her family reside in Camas, WA.

Cynthia Scott
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail: cscott@janome-america.com
Cynthia Scott is a real inspiration to all. She is known for her selection of bold color, good fabric, and great design as her favorite ways to express herself. It shows in all her sewing projects; whether it’s her colorful quilts, creative clothing or clever home decor. Having won ribbons for her work on both a local and national level, she has had her work featured in national publications, books, and on PBS TV shows Quilt Central, and Kaye’s Quilting Friends.

Lujean Seagal
1634 Kent Place
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Phone: 1-805-497-2111
Fax: 1-805-497-4558
E-mail: LuSeagal@yahoo.com
Web site: www.Lujeanquilt.com
Lujean Seagal completed studies for her B.A. in fine arts with an emphasis in textile design at Long Beach State University. Her early years were devoted to creative weaving and graphic design. Subsequently she migrated toward quilting. Lujean teaches at quilt shops and has a vast amount of resources for inspiration and knowledge in all phases of quilt making. She has delivered lectures and workshops at quilt guilds in Southern California for the past five years. Her areas of specialization include borders, color, and design.

Margo Shaw
Janome America, Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax: 1-201-825-1488
E-mail:
mshaw@janome-america.com
Margo Shaw’s life-long sewing hobby started as a young girl making doll clothes, but her first memory of a sewn article of clothing was actually a hand-sewn skirt for herself with stitches that could only be measured by the inch—each stitch crudely meandered its way up the uneven sides of her fabric and she had left no opening in which to put it on, but that didn’t stop her from beaming with pride. She had created something for herself by sewing pieces of fabric together and she had had fun doing it. She carries that same enthusiasm with her today as she sews on her Janome sewing machine; her stitches are straight, her fabric is even, and yes, she has left an opening for unique ideas, creative technology, and fun techniques. Margo has experience in teaching, management, graphic design, advertising, and in the sewing industry where she served as manager of advertising and sales promotions for another sewing machine manufacturer prior to her being a Janome educator. She is mainly a garment sewist and a very fortunate one to have been able to turn her beloved hobby into a career.

Patsy Shields
RNK Distributing
381 S. Fern St.
Sellersburg, IN 47172
Phone: 1-812-246-4079 
Fax: 1-812-246-9406
E-mail: patsysews@earthlink.net 
Patsy Shields began working in the sewing industry in 1983 with a major sewing machine company. Since that time she has also done Sew Better Seminars through Chilton Book Co., pants fitting and blazer construction seminars, Sew Exciting Seminars with Sulky of America and is currently working with Floriani Stabilizers and Walter Floriani, a fifth generation embroiderer. Patsy travels presenting educational seminars, one- and two-day serger workshops for groups and shops as well as workshops in free motion quilting along with numerous other quilting and embellishing techniques and also teaches at various embroidery retreats. She has written articles for several publications, including Sew News, Sulky of America publications, Sew Fancy by Martha Pullen, Creative Machine Embroidery, Sewing Savvy, and she also has her own video on ribbon embroidery by machine. You can see Patsy at consumer embroidery retreats around the country, quilt shows and other national sewing events. She travels internationally as well as nationally to educate and inspire your customers.

Marie Stevens
Janome America Inc.
10 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Phone: 1-201-825-3200
Fax:1-201-825-1488
E-mail: marie@janome-america.com 
Marie Stevens was born and raised in Liverpool, England, where she started sewing in her early teens. She came to the United States when she married and has lived here since.
Marie became a Janome educational coordinator in 1996. Prior to this, she had owned her own quilt and heirloom sewing shop and carried the New Home line of sewing machines, so it was a natural move to become an educational coordinator for Janome. Her areas of expertise are heirloom sewing and quilting. She is a Martha Pullen licensed Heirloom teacher and has taught at the Martha Pullen School in Huntsville, AL. She introduced the Quarterly Quilter to the Janome Digest readers when the Digest was first published. This ran for approximately two years at which time it was continued on the Janome Web site.

Linda Stewart
Linda Stewart Costume Designs
49 Claremont Circle
Bristol, VA 24201
Phone & Fax: 1-276-669-3299
E-mail: LStewartCouture@bvunet.net
Linda Stewart has over 20 years experience as an alterations specialist. She offers career-oriented classes for alterations specialists. “Advanced Alterations for Professionals” and “Specialty Alterations: Bridal and Formalwear” are offered as two- to three-day intensive workshops. Her classes will be the subject of her first book on CD which will be available in the fall of 2006. Linda is an award-winning bridal and formalwear designer. She has been chosen a 2006 Bernina Fashion Designer. In 2004 she was awarded “Best Workmanship” and “Audience Choice” in the Threads/PACC Stripe Garment Challenge. Linda is a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers and currently serves as the director of PACC Academy.

Janis F. Stoney
Sew Unique
1563 Tangerine Rose Dr.
Las Vegas, NV 89142
Phone: 1-702-432-9315
E-mail: stoneyjf@co.clark.nv.us
Janis Stoney has a college education in sewing and has designed and made clothes for her family for many years. However, for the past seven years she has specialized in heirloom sewing by machine. Currently she enjoys teaching heirloom classes for a local Viking dealer. Janis creates her own projects and instructions for beginner to advanced sewers.

Barbie Swanson
2502 NW Lake Jeffery Rd.
Lake City, FL 30255-4772
Phone: 1-386-755-0179
Fax: 1-386-755-2528
E-mail: Barbie@fabricartshop.com
Web site: http://fabricartshop.com
Barbie Swanson is a fiber artist, teacher, designer and inventor. She creates specialty hand-dyed and painted fabrics and yarns. She has developed techniques for stress free tool free paper piecing and of chain paper piecing. She has also designed a technique and quilt style she named “Florida applique.” She devises new fabric designs through her exploration and development of individual and unique techniques. Any fiber is welcome in her creations. Barbie will always tell you that there are two criteria for making quilts and fiber sculpture: having a meaning or message and having a highlighted effect that invites you to look closely at it, as well as seeing the impact from afar. Barbie teaches and lectures in local, regional, and national venues. She is also a Sulky Certified Educator.

Linda Teufel
Dragon Threads Ltd.
490 Tucker Dr.
Worthington, OH 43085
Phone: 1-614-841-9388
Fax: 1-614-841-9389
E-mail: Linda@dragonthreads.com
Linda Teufel received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in fashion design from Pratt Institute in New York and worked for many fashion designers, including Koos. In Ohio, she earned a home economics teaching certificate from The Ohio State University. She is the author of Koos Couture Collage, Fabric Origami, and Images on Fabric. She is also the owner of Dragon Threads Ltd. and has published books by other sewing and quilting specialists. Linda has created many projects for quilting/sewing magazines, has designed several embroidery cards and has worked with many of the sewing machine companies. She travels and teaches internationally.

Linda Lee Vivian
2480 Riniel Rd.
Lennon, MI 48449
Phone: 1-810-621-4665
Fax: 1-810-621-3985
E-mail: linda@lindaleeoriginals.com
Web site: www.lindaleeoriginals.com
Linda Lee Vivian is known by many as the “Serger Lady.” She makes learning how to use a serger, an easy, yet creative experience. Many years ago, Linda recognized an educational need in the exploding world of serging. She had a lofty goal that she could teach everyone in the USA how to use their serger, without fear. In the past 18 years she has successfully taught thousands of students to be comfortable with their challenging sergers in serger/sewing classes and through her many published patterns and books.
Linda also writes for newsletters and sewing machine company publications. Her designs have appeared in numerous publications. She completed work as co-author on a book for Rodale Press titled Serger Secrets and has written two serger brand specific books.
She also created a generic workbook for all sergers titled “Make Friends With Your Serger.” Linda made numerous guest appearances on PBS and DIY Network television shows. She teaches seminars nationally at sewing expos, retailer training conventions, and numerous stores and guilds across the country.
She has a pattern line for serger enthusiasts that include patchwork clothing, accessories and home dec patterns and easy pieced serger quilts. These are sold in sewing shops all over the world.

Linda M. Visnaw
2721 Via Palma Dr.
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406
Phone: 1-928-453-1942
Fax: 1-928-453-1786
E-mail: lmvdesign@citlink.net
Web site: www.lindavisnaw.com
Linda Visnaw has been sewing since age seven. She has appeared on America Sews with Sue Hausmann and taught throughout the country including Sewing Expos in Puyallup, WA, and Novi, MI, Houston International Quilt Market, Spring Market, The Road to California Quilt Show, and Husqvarna Viking Conventions. Linda’s work has appeared in Sew News, Total Embellishment Newsletter, as well as books, and other publications. Her series of Threads & Inks Together DVD and CDs, and her Signature Series 97 for Cactus Punch make working with Tsukineko Inks and Fabrico Markers fast, fun, and easy.

Kaye Wood
Kaye Wood, Inc.
4949 Rau Rd.
West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: 1-989-345-3028
E-mail: kayewood@kayewood.com 
Quilts can be easy! Kaye Wood has eliminated the “slow downs” in making quilts. Over 75 percent of geometric quilts designs can be made using the Starmaker Master Templates, as shown in her books and on her PBS-TV program, Kaye’s Quilting Friends. Kaye’s seminars, taught internationally, take you through this Starmaker process. She specializes in tips and techniques to make cutting and sewing pieces fun and more accurate.

Sheila Zent
eXpresSew DIY projects for teens and tweens
611 Frederick St., 2nd floor
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 1-717-637-8497
Fax: 1-717-637-9773
E-mail: sazent@sun-link.com
E-mail: groovegirl@expressew.com
Web site: www.eXpresSew.com
Sheila Zent is dedicated to sharing the fun of sewing with teens and tweens. She writes and publishes eXpresSew sewing patterns. Her Web site www.eXpresSew.com  is the best site for DIY sewing and fiber craft projects.