Paris Green – a current BERNINA Ambassador - is one of the principals of the Couture Beauty and Sewing Academy. She also designs for and leads the online site Scarves and More By Paris. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Paris began sewing at age 4. She became serious about her sewing at age seven and entered her first sewing competition at 9 years old. She won the Kid’s Beginner Sewing division that year. At age 10 she became BERNINA’s youngest sewing ambassador to share kid-friendly tutorials via the We All Sew blog.

In her spare time, Paris loves to sing and write songs, sketch, make jewelry had teach other kids how to do the same. She is home schooled, had two brothers and is…13 years old!

(1:34) How did Paris get interested in sewing at 4 years old? Well, her mom certainly had something to do with it. And why did she think it was a fun thing to do?

(2:55)What is it about sewing that she loves so much…it’s calming, serious and deep!

(3:44) At seven years old she became “serious” about sewing…and entered her first competition at age 9. She tells us this story and her love for “Project Runway”.

(5:08) During Covid Paris made and distributed 100 masks to the less fortunate in her community. She certainly embodies the spirit of service!

(7:27) This year she will repeat this effort, but this time by making and distributing scarves.

(8:04) What are her favorite things to sew? Squish Mellows come to mind! She tells us all about it here!

(8:14) Paris started a company called Scarves & More. She tells us how this came about. And…she’s quite the businessperson!

(10:20) At one point, Paris lost her whole business and had to rebuild it from nothing. She takes us through what happened and her resilient comeback.

(12:06) The Couture Sewing and Beauty Academy www.thecbsacademy.com is a business Paris runs with her mo. She tells us all about it.

(13:08) In her free time, Paris does many things. But what’s her favorite…studying the Bible with her dad.

(14:08) Paris is a BERNINA Ambassador. How did she get involved and what does she do as an Ambassador?

(15:11) This July 27th she’s hosting a charity event called Sew Pretty supporting Dress A Girl Around the World www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com. She tells us all about the event.

(16:14) What’s important for other kids to know about Paris? For one…she’s led by her faith with the help of her parents

(17:43) What’s important for kids to know about sewing? Well, it’s different things to different people!

(18:29) What’s next for her? Perhaps becoming a doctor! And maybe becoming a nurse first.

(20:02) What’s her dream? In addition to medicine…there’s singing and becoming a worship leader.

((21:33) How can you reach out to Paris? On Instagram @samby.Paris

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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.

Join us for this amazing episode which takes us into through the life experiences of Amanda Richline their Product Manager & Creative Lead at Unshattered. Amanda shares her deeply personal story of addiction, recovery and building an amazing future for herself, her children and the women she works with at Unshattered. This organization is dedicated to working with women to end the addiction relapse cycle by providing pathways toward economic independence and sustained sobriety.

Show Notes:

Welcome to a very special episode of Sew & So. Our guest is Amanda Richline, Product Manager & Creative Lead at Unshattered an organization in Hudson Valley, NY dedicated to working with women to end the addiction relapse cycle by providing pathways toward economic independence and sustained sobriety.

Born and raised in the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Amanda was first introduced to the Unshattered program in 2015. Her journey and the story of Unshattered are hopeful and inspiring. Amanda learned to sew as a result of Unshattered. In her time with them she has become a homeowner, is a certified Peer Recovery Advocate, a Yoga instructor certified as a trauma-informed facilitator and is on the verge of receiving her bachelor’s degree with honors. She is a mom of three amazing kids and recently celebrated 7 years of continuous sobriety.

(1:50) How and why did Amanda learn to sew? She shares her story.

(2:47) What was Amanda like when she was a little girl growing up in the Poconos? And hear how a move in the 5th grade changed her life trajectory. Hear her story here!

(4:17) Amanda has shared her story all over the country. She tells us here about her struggles and recovery. Tales of bullying, medical emergencies that led to pain killer addictions, graduating from high school while pregnant and while 2015 was the worst year of her life. And finally in a moment of sheer desperation…she found the path to recovery!

(10:51) But her story of recovery wasn’t a straight path. She openly shares what happened. And how she turned things around for good. New home, certifications and a college degree.

(14:35) Now a product manager and creative lead at Unshattered, Amanda explains her work responsibilities.

(16:55) What is it about sewing that is so very therapeutic for her? Amanda shares this feeling with us.

(17:55) Amanda is a peer recovery advocate and a yoga instructor with special training. She talks about how she uses these special trainings to come along women as they are coming out of recovery programs.

(20:40) She is also a trauma informed facilitator. What is this and what does she do? She explains!

(21:40) What does she like to create while sewing? Well…it’s custom bags she designs and created for clients!

(23:25) What is Unshattered? Amanda explains their mission and the work they do.

(25:25) How did Unshattered get started? Amanda tells us this story and how Kelly Lyndgaard found her calling to start this organization…

(28:07) Who are the partners who support Unshattered and who believe in them walking their journey with them? Find out here.

(31:30) What’s the process to teach women new to the program how to sew? Well, Amanda is personally developing a documented plan to replace teaching on the fly!

(34:37) What’s next for Amanda in her incredible journey? Owning her own business is in her future as her dream! But there’s more…

(35:58) Is there a question we didn’t ask that she wished that we had asked?

(37:12) How can you reach Amanda? amanda@unshattered.org. Or on Instagram. Let her know you heard her episode on Sew & So

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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.

We are live and in person today at the American Quilt Society’s Quilt Week in Paducah KY with our very special guest Bonnie Browning – AQS’s Executive Show Director.

Bonnie learned to sew - taught by her mom -at a young age. She made her first quilt top in 1979 in a Welcome Wagon Group in Burlington, IA. She finished her first quilt in college.

Bonnie has won numerous awards with her quilting, including a third place at the 1986 AQS Quilt Show & Contest, Paducah, Kentucky. That quilt, A Little Bit of Candlewicking, is now in the collection of The National Quilt Museum (NQM). In the early 1980s, Bonnie was a member of the DBQs, a group of seven quilting friends in Dubuque, Iowa. The DBQs were the first group to develop a quilting challenge and publish the process in the Spring 1986 issue of American Quilter magazine.

After becoming an NQA certified quilt judge in 1986, Bonnie began teaching and judging for quilt guilds and conferences across the U.S. and every continent except Antarctica. In 1999 Bonnie represented McCall's Quilting on the committee to select the Best 100 Quilts of the Twentieth Century.

Bonnie became a Certified Teacher of Zentangle Art in 2011 and has since combined her love of drawing and quilting into Zentangle quilting designs.

Bonnie served as a technical director for the AQS quilting television show, American Quilter that aired in 2005 on Lifetime Real Women. She has appeared on numerous TV shows and has written 13 books – one of which was a cookbook.

Bonnie was named a Duchess of Paducah in April 1996.

And after 40 years…and a full rich life giving so very much to quilters worldwide…Bonnie plans to retire after this year’s AQS show!

2:42 – How and why did Bonnie learn to sew? She takes us back to her youth!

4:03 – Why did Bonnie begin to quilt? It all began with America’s bicentennial and a few long-term goals and her husband’s transfer with JC Penney.

7:20 – So, what else about Bonnie’s youth is worth noting? She tells us about making ornaments at Christmas.

8:28 – Bonnie’s quilt “A little bit of candle wicking” now hangs in the National Quilt Museum. She walks us through its history and how she felt in the moment she found out she had won.

11:27 Who are the DBQ’s? Bonnie tells us their story! And…their efforts were the genesis for national quilt challenges.

14:00 – What is Zentangle and why is Bonnie an expert in this art? She walks us through this wonderful story.

17:22 Bonnie has judged quilts on 6 of 7 continents…which once specifically stand out for her?

18:22 – In 1999 Bonnie represented McCall’s quilting in choosing the 100 most influential quilts of the 20th century. Her this story from her unique and personal point of view. https://www.amazon.com/Twentieth-Centurys-Best-American-Quilts/dp/B000AMPHWE

21:29 – What’s Quilt Camp for Kids? Bonnie tells us of this very special opportunity for kids through the National Quilt Museum.

24:21 – Bonnie has decided to retire after the 2024 AQS Show. How did it all begin for her in 1994. Bonnie takes us back through time to 1994 to recount those special days.

27:24 – What was it like in the early days?

28:43 – 2011…Easter Sunday…the big flood. What a story of Plan B!

35:55 – What else during her tenure made a deep impression. Well…it was hurricane Katrina and 10,000 quilts. And of course…9/11.

40:36 – Why had Bonnie decided to retire now? She shares her reasons and her plans for the future.

41:45 – What does she want her legacy to be? She shares this with us here.

43:43 – And…what’s her dream? Well, she’s not moving away from Paducah any time soon – although there is a lot of travel in her future!

45:20 – What question didn’t I ask? There is a wonderful story of her trip to Japan…

50:34 – How can you keep in touch with Bonnie? www.bonniebrowning.com

If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to Meg@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.

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.