The talent in this creative industry is unparalleled! Meet the educators, trainers, and designers who are coming together to form The Collective. This new group under the leadership of VDTA-SDTA, is bringing together the creative skills of many. To further education and unite the educators that invent, design, plan, create, and teach to many.
We asked some of our founding members to relay why they do what they do. Their passion and dedication to the creative consumer and retailer is what we all strive for. Thank you for being part of our family!
Jim Suzio Embroidery Designs
We all remember a special teacher from our school days. They often leave a permanent memory in our minds (and a special few in our hearts). But when you’re a sewing instructor… well, we have a common thread that binds us together. We are more than just student and instructor. We are a family.
I am a self-taught sewer, and I’ve learned this art completely through books, videos, and trial and error. I’ve been sharing my love of sewing and embroidery for over 33 years. Why do I do it? The best parts of being a teacher is the satisfaction of passing along a bit of information, sharing a technique I created, and just inspiring others to believe in themselves. Most sewers appreciate hearing, “You made that?” For me, hearing “I can do that!” is just as monumental!
“The best parts of being a teacher is the satisfaction of passing along a bit of information, sharing a technique I created, and just inspiring others to believe in themselves.’’
Nothing can compare to connecting and engaging with others to inspire creativity. I love teaching a hands-on class, where a room full of students are making a project I created. I walk around, observing their progress, all intent on recreating my idea, when inevitably one starts the process of making their own creation. They add their own twist or switch up a color, and pretty soon unique one-of-a-kind works of art come to life. Teaching for me is like being a small piece of flint that the students scratch their match against, igniting their flame of creativity
“What I truly love is seeing my students smile when they finish their projects or learn something new, and if it’s an online class, I love reading the comments!”
Michelle Umlauf
When I meet new people, I am often asked what I like to sew. I tell them that I don’t have a favorite because as a sewer, I make anything I want when the inspiration hits me. My sewing career seed was planted in 2007, when I attended a licensing course through Martha Pullen to teach beginning sewing. It was a unique experience that blended my love of sewing with skill building and business opportunities. Honestly, I was a beginner myself, but I knew I wanted to share my passion with others. I then took licensing classes with Sulky of America. In 2010, I was figuring out how to offer downloadable classes online and take my business to the next level. Boy, it was so hard back then but I pursued my dreams and gained savvy business strategies.
In 2014, my foot was in the door. I officially became a national educator representing Sulky of America and shortly thereafter, I founded the webinar program, Sewing Online with Sulky. At that time, I made a bold move and dyed my hair pink. Why? Because people remember me, know who I am when they see me and can’t forget about me. This was the best thing I could have done because people can spot me from across a crowded convention center!
Over the years, I have been working independently as an educator with companies such as Clover, Baby Lock USA and The Decorating Diva. Through these partnerships, I have become a professional. My industry knowledge is vast, ranging from the latest and greatest tools to cutting edge tips and techniques, and I enjoy sharing it all with my students. My objective is to make sewing easier, faster and fun!
Sewing Machine Artistry
“Through teaching my service skills, I’ve discovered that each individual grows more confident as the relationship with their machine deepens.”
Andi Barney
Sewing Doc Academy
The sewing machine is the one appliance that many people have an emotional attachment to. Teaching others the art and skill of sewing machine service, repair, troubleshooting, and restoration has truly been my calling. I started the Sewing Doc Academy in 2018 because my service shop was growing so fast and there were limited schools or programs to teach service skills, and I needed help!
Through teaching my service skills, I’ve discovered that each individual grows more confident as the relationship with their machine deepens.
Knowing how to troubleshoot issues and eliminate user errors or minor fixes saves time and gives peace of mind. I’m driven by the way these skills foster confidence, independence and empowerment.
From beginners just picking up good sewing habits all the way through cottage business professionals that can’t afford the downtime, my academy teaches the exact same procedures used in the Sewing Doc professional service shop, ranging from cleaning, lubrication, troubleshooting, minor repairs, and eventually through advanced timing adjustments and complex repairs.
I teach because I love to provide sewing machine service education to the curious, and the professional. And when I’m not fixing a machine, I cherish my time spent behind one
Judy Kessinger
“There is no better feeling than helping others discover the wonderful feeling of sewing success.”
Necessity is the mother of invention and that quote takes me back to my roots. When my daughter was born weighing only five pounds, there were no preemie clothes. My cousin suggested I sew something for her to wear so I made her an adorable dress and baby bonnet. The first time she wore it, everyone started asking me where I had bought it. The satisfaction I felt by telling them, “I made that” instantly made me want to make more. I fell in love with being creative, and it sparked a whole new chapter in my life.
In addition to sewing for my daughter, I started sewing for myself. That became a struggle because it was difficult to find or alter a pattern that fit my body. My frustration led to determination, and in my search for the “perfect” pattern, I decided to create a system where fitting can make garments come alive and compliment the body instead of just covering it.
I’ve built my career around helping other women who have experienced the same aggravations with patterns. Through my development and production of two patterns (one for tops and one for pants), sewing enthusiasts can now build an entire wardrobe by using variations and design adaptations to create great fashion looks. I am dedicated to making sewing stress-free by using simple solutions for fitting, and I’m blessed to have touched the lives of countless women by teaching them tricks of looking trim and feeling fantastic by simply fitting themselves properly.
Teaching garment sewing has become a small part of businesses because it takes more to convince retailers that people do want to know how to fit themselves. I teach the art of fitting so they can feel comfortable, casual, and sophisticated. It’s truly a blessing to watch store owners light up when they see their customers so happy.
I teach because I love to inspire and get the creative juices flowing. There is no better feeling than helping others discover the wonderful feeling of sewing success. My goal is to instill the passion of being creative and cure the ills of the sewing blues.
