In this episode of Sew & So, we sit down with four of those “sewing fairies”—Jaime David (Education Project Manager), Megann Freese (Educator), Hayley Grzych (Educator), and Fabian Renteria (Associate Educator). Together, they pull back the curtain on what it’s like to be behind the scenes of one of fashion TV’s most iconic shows. From early call times and prepping challenges, to watching contestants “make it work” in real time, the team shares stories of intensity, camaraderie, and unforgettable creative energy.

Whether you’re a Project Runway fan, a sewist, or just curious about how TV magic comes together, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and plenty of BERNINA pride.

(:45) Let’s meet :

Jaime David, Education Project Manager

Megann Freese, Educator

Hayley Grzych, Educator

Fabian Renteria, Associate Educator

(1:35) What one word would each of the team members use to summarize their experience on the set?

(3:40) How did each member of the team find out that they would be going to the show?

(6:48) How did this overall opportunity to work with the show come about? And how did the experience unfold?

(12:04) Hear about a “typical” day on the set!

(14:07) How was communication with the contestants monitored to make sure that everyone got the same information and no secrets were revealed?

(16:40) Learn about how each challenge were prepped and how the BERNINA team participated.

(19:11) The team talk about some of the “make it work” minutes.

(21:07) What was the most memorable moment for each team member? You’ll want to pay attention to these answers!

(26:24) What surprised the team members while on the set?

(27:50) Are there any moments they’d like to relive? The team also calls out Nick, David, Rich and Noel for their amazing support!

(33:59) What did this experience teach each of them both personally and professionally?

(36:48) The team represented BERNINA on set. How did this experience affect how they feel about the brand?!

(38:39) Are there any messages the team members would like to send to the contestants?

(41:02) Any questions we didn’t ask that they wish we had asked?

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome TaMara Howard of Folk Quilts, an extraordinary artist, educator, and storyteller whose quilts speak volumes about heritage, identity, and innovation.

Born in Virginia and raised in Maryland, TaMara began her quilting journey in 1996—without even owning a sewing machine. Inspired by the colorful stories of her great-grandmother, Maggie V. Folk McClellan, TaMara pursued quilting as a craft and calling. What started as personal exploration has evolved into a full artistic practice, fusing African and American textile traditions with contemporary design.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo and earned her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business.

Known for her intricate geometric patterns and custom motifs, TaMara creates quilts that are as visually stunning as they are meaningful. Her award-winning work has been exhibited across the country and is part of permanent collections at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and the Heinz History Center. She’s a published contributor to Curated Quilts, PBS Wisconsin’s University Place, and the Modern Quilt Guild Journal, and she has been recognized by the Pittsburgh Foundation and Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council for her contributions to the arts.

Through longarm quilting, engaging lectures, and hands-on workshops, TaMara continues to inspire students and communities alike encouraging each to stitch their own stories while honoring the past. As she beautifully puts it, quilting allows her to “kente weave the threads of past and present” into every piece—a living tribute to her family’s legacy and a gift to future generations.

Also joining the conversation is Deanna Springer, a repeat guest on this podcast. A lifelong sewist, Deanna worked alongside the late Nancy Zieman as VP Marketing for Nancy Zieman Productions, and carries on Nancy’s legacy through the NZP Blog, and the new Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio & Quilt Shop. She launched the Stitch it! Sisters video series and is a co-founder of The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. Deanna also serves as the moderator and creative guide for the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, curating meaningful experiences for quilters of all backgrounds.

This episode is a forerunner of the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, taking place September 4–6, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. This beloved annual event brings together thousands of quilters for workshops, exhibits, challenges, and celebration—and this year, TaMara Howard will be among the featured artists.

(3:12) Tamara introduces Maggy, her great-grandmother and inspiration for her work.

(4:40) How did TaMara start to quilt without a sewing machine?

(7:05) How does TaMara fuse innovation with historical design?

(8:43) TaMara has several degrees…business and engineering. How does this education shape her work?

(10:47) How did Deanna meet Tamara and what did she do to convince her to become a part of the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show?

(11:43) TaMara walks us through her creative process!

(14:22) TaMara explains Kente weaving and what it means to her work.

(16:00) A reoccurring guest on Sew & So, Deanna Springer talks of the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show and what she’s been up to since our last visit at this show.

(18:29) What do they do at the quilt show to support diverse voices in the Quilting World?

(19:33) What makes the quilt show stand out among the many quilt show offerings?

(21:15) How does the team create and moderate the show’s content. Learn the behind-the-scenes secrets! And how many volunteers does it take?

(23:49) So, what can attendees look forward to this year?

(27:35) What role does quilt play today as a creative outlet and cultural statement?

(30:00) As leaders in their respective areas of expertise…how do TaMara and Deanna expect to influence the history of quilting?

(34:20) What can attendees expect from TaMara’s classes at this year’s quilt show?

(35:30) Are their questions we didn’t ask? Hear Deanna’s special question for TaMara!

(36:00) Go to www.quiltshow.com to learn more about the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show.

To contact Tamara, go to www.folkquilts.com and Deanna can be found at www.shopNZP.com

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Our guest today is Phyllis Elmore, a remarkable woman whose story is as unforgettable as the quilts that helped shape her life.

Phyllis is the author of Quilt of Souls, a powerful and deeply personal memoir that has touched readers across the country.

Born in the Detroit and raised by her grandmother Lula in rural Alabama, Phyllis found herself immersed in a world of deep wisdom, quiet strength, and generational resilience. It was there, surrounded by women who stitched their pain, perseverance, and history into quilts, that Phyllis discovered healing—and the true meaning of family.

In 1973, Phyllis joined the United States Air Force and was one of the first female Aircraft Pneudraulic Specialist for the B-52 Bomber.

After leaving the Air Force she attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology. In 2001, she joined the Army National Guard as an active-duty guard member.

It’s also noteworthy to mention that Phyllis was one of only a handful of women in the military who served in three major military conflicts including the Vietnam Era where she served a temporary duty assignment to Vietnam before the 1975 fall of Saigon. She was also deployed to Saudi Arabia as a member of Operation Desert Storm, and in December 2003 as a member of the Army National Guard where she was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In her civilian career she worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth and for women who were victims of domestic violence. She also spent ten years as a Substance Abuse Counseling Supervisor.

In her remarkable book Quilt of Souls, Phyllis shares stories that were nearly lost stories of the Black women who raised children not theirs, who held families together through hardship, and who passed down their heritage through hands that stitched, cooked, comforted, and carried so much.

Her writing is rich, lyrical, and full of love—an act of remembrance and a celebration of the strength it takes to keep going, and to keep telling the truth.

(3:11) Phyllis recounts being uprooted from Detroit at age four and sent to rural Alabama to live with her grandmother, Lula. She describes the powerful emotional refuge of Lula’s quilts—especially one that made her feel truly safe for the first time.

(8:03) We get to know Grandmother Lula, an indomitable force who stitched not only quilts but entire communities together. Lula lived to be 105 years old and was threading a needle at 100.

(15:55) Phyllis reflects on her return to Detroit as a teen, where she was labeled “incorrigible”—and how those experiences shaped her decision to join the U.S. Air Force.

(23:57) After her military service, Phyllis worked as a counselor for incarcerated youth and women facing domestic abuse. Hear how she channeled her life experiences into serving others.

(27:30) What inspired Quilt of Souls? Phyllis shares the moment she realized that the stories she carried could—and should—be written down.

(30:39) She recalls a particularly poignant story unearthed during her research—one that stuck with her and shaped the book’s message.

(34:27) Meet Miss Jubilee and hear about the extraordinary quilts and lives Phyllis encountered while researching her memoir.

(40:43) Discover the Quilt of Souls Preservation Project and get a preview of Phyllis’ upcoming Quilt of Souls Gathering in June 2026.

(46:15) Phyllis reveals what she hopes readers take away from Quilt of Souls—and why she believes it’s never too late to “right” your story.

(51:00) What didn’t we ask that she wishes we had? Phyllis gives us a thoughtful answer.

(52:10) Want to connect with Phyllis? Visit www.thequiltofsouls.com or email her at thequiltofsouls@yahoo.com.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.