Make and Decorate with Stephanie: Sew, Quilt, Knit & Home Decor

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Returning guest, Christa Watson is back to talk about her new partnership with Riley Blake Designs.  Christa's is now a fabric designer with Riley Blake and her first collection with them will be available in Nov 2026.
We also chat about practice quilt sandwiches you can make and use with what you have on hand.  I am super excited about Christa's  practice quilt panels that will be available in Nov 2026!
Links:
christaquilts.com
Riley Blake Designs - Quilt in Color by Christa Watson
YouTube: Christa Quilts
99 Machine-Quilting Designs PDF Book by Christa Watson
Support the show
YOUTUBE: Stephanie Socha Design @makeanddecorate
EMAIL: [email protected]
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

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In this episode of Make and Decorate, host Stephanie reflects on her unplanned break from podcasting and shares her excitement about returning. She discusses her creative projects over the past year, including a cathedral window quilt for her parents' anniversary and a commissioned king-sized quilt. Stephanie also shares her experiences at a quilting retreat, innovative tools she discovered, and cozy holiday projects. She highlights new patterns and classes she's excited about, and outlines her plans for the future of the podcast, including a shift to monthly episodes and potential video content.
Chapters
00:00
Welcome Back to Make and Decorate
03:43
Reflections on the Past Year
06:05
Creative Projects and Commissions
Missouri Star Cathedral quilt tutorial. 
Kraeo Handyed yarn shop
Sparklesax Designs Longarm Services
12:03
Retreat Experiences and New Techniques
Center Street Quilts Hemmingway zipper pouch pattern
**Free Pattern** Sweetwater Patchwork Tree Mini Quit excerpt by Moda Mail
Out of Print Elenor Burns Trip Around the World Pattern Book - 1988 available on Thriftbooks
2021 Elenor Burns Trip Around the World - Accu Quilt YouTube Video
2019 Donna Jordan Quick and Easy Trip Around the World You Tube Video
22:08
Innovative Quilting Tools and Techniques
Modern Quilting Stencils by Sew Harmony
27:57
Cozy Holiday Projects
31:15
Exciting New Patterns and Classes
Katia Ferris New Book - Make Your Own Animal Friends
Katia Ferris New Sew a Mouse Class on Creativebug - available now
Katia Ferris' New 14" Rag Doll Class on Creativebug - available on 2/10/26
Jayne Stitches - Meredith doll workshop
37:46
Looking Ahead: Future Plans
Support the show
YOUTUBE: Stephanie Socha Design @makeanddecorate
EMAIL: [email protected]
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

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You can watch the video of this podcast on my YouTube channel @makeanddecorate
Stephanie welcomes guest Byrd Wadhams to the podcast.  Byrd is a curvy sewist who loves Colorful eclectic clothing. She believes style should not be defined by age, size, or gender. Byrd started her sewing journey a few years ago and it is her goal to show people it’s never too late to pick up a new skill or passion.
Links:
Byrd’s IG: @yogabyrdsews
YouTube Channel Byrd Wadhams
Baltimore Frocktails IG
A couple more upcoming events Byrd mentions are: Sew Ankara Week (July) and KISS (Keep it Simplicity Sis)
Photos of Byrd’s sewing projects talked about on this episode can be found on Stephanie’s Podcast Blog at https://makeanddecorate.com

Support the show
YOUTUBE: Stephanie Socha Design @makeanddecorate
EMAIL: [email protected]
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!
My guest on this episode is Atsushi Futatsuya, a Sashiko artisan and educator. Atsushi shares his Sashiko story, its cultural significance, and its evolution over time. He discusses the relationship between Sashiko and Boro, the importance of storytelling in preserving the craft, and the impact of Western trends on the perception of Sashiko. Atsushi emphasizes that Sashiko is not just about technique but also about the cultural context and the stories behind the stitches.
Show notes Links:
https://upcyclestitches.com
https://sashikostory.com/?srsltid=AfmBOory1Mory2UFPbLjEnMtVvN1FOUlboELAvp0tFudTbkLAFaSc6k1
https://www.instagram.com/sashikostory/
https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/4952-introduction-to-japanese-sashiko-stitching
https://www.youtube.com/@SashikoStory
Chapters:
Introduction to Sashiko and Boro
Atsushi's Journey with Sashiko
Storytelling in Sashiko
The History and Evolution of Sashiko
The Impact of Western Trends on Sashiko
Exploring Mingei: Art Without Heroes
Atsushi’s weekly live YouTube streaming of Sashiko Stories 
Cultural Appropriation: A Balanced Perspective
Acknowledgment in Cultural Practices
Upcoming Workshops and Sashiko Japan Retreat
Support the show
YOUTUBE: Stephanie Socha Design @makeanddecorate
EMAIL: [email protected]
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

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This is a solo episode with host, Stephanie Socha.  The two main topics are YarnCon 2025 and my final trip to JoAnn Fabrics. 
This was my first time attending YarnCon, a trade show type event for the knitting, crochet, hand dyers and yarn community. Vendor booths from IL and surrounding states show their beautiful product, much of it hand made, hand dyed and all of it stunning! Below is a list of the vendors from the 2025 show that just took place last weekend (4/5 and 4/6) in Chicago.
https://yarncon.com/pages/copy-of-vendors
The building that YarnCon was held is a historic beaux arts architecture and art deco design.  The link below is the resource I used in this episode.
Beaux Arts Architecture
Final Shopping at JoAnn Fabrics
The second part of this episode is a recap of my final trip to JoAnn Fabrics before they close forever.  A common issue with most shoppers I have heard from and chatted with is that the discounts are not really discounted.  The prices were raised to MSRP and then slightly discounted.  These prices are higher than a JoAnn shopper would have paid prior to the company closing announcement.  
If you plan to make one more trip to JoAnn’s, I share tips on what to look for and how to shop the discounts in your favor while enjoying the nostalgia  one last time.  

Support the show
YOUTUBE: Stephanie Socha Design @makeanddecorate
EMAIL: [email protected]
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate