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Seamwork

Seamwork Radio: Sewing and Creativity

In 1999, Kristine Vejar took her first trip to India. There, she met the Rabari, a small community that changed her perspective and direction for the future. In this story told by contributor Jessica Yen, Kristine shares what she learned, and how that informed the direction of her growing business, A Verb for Keeping Warm.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 A Verb for Keeping Warm • , Kristine's multi-faceted business.
 The Modern Natural Dyer • , Kristine's book

Creative Community with Kristine Vejar

In 2008, sewing blogger Melissa Fehr revealed something on her blog: she'd been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. Soon, she'd need a complete bone marrow transplant. In this episode, Melissa shares how her relationship with her body changed before and after this life-changing experience – and how this relationship eventually led her to designing her own patterns.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Fehr Trade • , Melissa's blog and patterns
 Be The Match • , the US National Marrow Donation Program
 British Bone Marrow Registry

Beating the Odds with Melissa Fehr

In September 2015, Marie wrote a post on her sewing blog called "Loving a Person, Not Their Gender." In that post, she talked about the experience of having her partner come out as transgender. In today's story, we talk to Marie and her girlfriend Charlotte about that experience, and what came after.
 
Editor's note: At the end of this episode, the name of Marie's blog is misidentified as Diary of a Sewing Fanatic, another lovely sewing blog. Marie's blog is called A Stitching Odyssey. We apologize for the error.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Loving a Person, Not Their Gender • , Marie's blog post from September 2015.
 A Stitching Odyssey • , Marie's blog
 Marie on twitter Marie on Instagram Charlotte on Instagram

Loving a person, not their gender with Marie of A Stitching Odyssey

Have you ever wished for a way to just punch in your measurements somewhere and get a pattern that's drafted just for you? That's the idea behind makemypattern.com, a menswear-focused website created by Belgian sewist Joost De Cock. Joost went from only sewing a few curtains and pillows to making his own wardrobe to creating this incredible online service in the span of just a few years. In this episode, we talk about his learning process and resources he recommends to improve your own sewing.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Make My Pattern • , Joost's pattern site
 All Things Joost Joost on twitter

The Learning Process with Joost De Cock

Felicia Semple is the creator of The Craft Sessions, an incredible sewing retreat she created to help teach women to find joy and meaning – not perfection – in the practice of craft. In this episode, I talk to Felicia about her path to creating the sewing retreat she dreamed of, and how the "head stuff" around sewing and creating has affected her life.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 The Craft Sessions • , Felicia's blog
 The Craft Sessions Retreat • , where you can learn more about attending the event
 The Craft Sessions Manifesto • offers an overview of Felicia's philosophy

The "head stuff" with Felicia Semple

Talking publicly about money is a little bit taboo for most of us. And yet, it motivates and influences much of what we do with our lives, how we spend our time, and how we cope with feelings.
 
In today's episode, designer Heather Lewenza of Closet Case Files opens up about how money and spending have shaped her life and career, and led her to the world of home sewing. From working in an auto factory to designing shopping centers to running her own business, see how Heather's relationship with money has transformed her thinking over time.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Closet Case Files • , Heather's company
 The Bombshell Swimsuit The Ginger Jeans The Clare Coat The Morgan Jeans

Let's talk money with Heather Lewenza

Jacqui Palhegyi is the blogger behind Birds of a Thread, a sewing and ethical fashion blog. She's always been passionate about issues of social justice. But it was on a trip to Egypt with her husband that an encounter forever shifted the way she thought about how her clothing was made – and what she could do about it.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Birds of a Thread • , Jacqui's blog
 The Colette Violet blouse

A Shift in Mindset with Jacqui Palhegyi

Jennifer Wiese had a dream. The founder of Brooklyn sewing studio Workroom Social wanted to create a weekend-long sewing event that brought a spirit of play and fun to sewing. In 2015, she hosted Camp Workroom Social, an overnight sewing camp for adults. She talks about why being present and open to imperfection is always better than fretting over mistakes – in sewing and in life.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Workroom Social Camp Workroom Social

Open Up with Jennifer Wiese

Gretchen Jones is the controversial winner of season 8 of Project Runway. Her singular style won the show, but her bold and ambitious personality led her to be cast as the season's villain. In this interview with contributor Heather Lewenza, Gretchen talks about what led her to put herself out there on television, what life was like after sudden fame, and how she's discovered her true career path through it all.
 
Just a note, this recording does have several words that you may not find appropriate for young listeners.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Follow Gretchen on Instagram Follow Gretchen on Pinterest A Closet Tour with Gretchen Jones • by Heather Lewenza, in this month's issue of Seamwork Magazine
 Project Runway Season 8 The Neutral Territory • , an experiment in dressing within a focused palette
 Heather Lewenza of Closet Case Files • , our intrepid reporter!

Design, Fame, and Villainy with Gretchen Jones

Many of us are familiar with writer's block, that creative emptiness that hits you when you have all the freedom in the world and a blank page. But what about the opposite: when you face tough times and a lack of freedom, but discover in that an unstoppable will to create?
 
Creating something from nothing is Leah Price's passion. After spending ten years in what she describes as almost complete isolation, caring for her two children with special needs, Leah discovered a deep and abiding creative energy in repurposing what is unloved and wasted.
 
Related links from this episode:
 
 Other Boxes • , Leah's blog
 Our Social Fabric • , the textile recycling initiative in Vancouver, where Leah is a board member.
 Our article on Our Social Fabric • in Seamwork Magazine.
 Copying Complex Garments • , an article by Blossom Jenab in Threads Magazine

The Opposite of Creative Block with Leah Price

In this re-run episode, Sarai and Haley explore the second step in the Sewing by Design process: Build Your Practice. They'll share 4 ways to build a sewing practice you really love.

Re-run: Build Your Practice

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