Workroom Association of America Newsletter
A Bi-Monthly Online Publication
June 2009
Why Helser Brothers?
The Well-Dressed Window
No Hassle Tassels
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com Little Girl’s 1Room
from the editor
Share Our Strength
I
have never known hunger as a child or as an adult. this case, I am making a huge exception. I know in our
I have never personally known anyone who has community alone, through the Department of Social
gone hungry. It was so hard for me to believe that Services, that there are so many children who need our
there just wasn’t enough food to go around in help.
homes.
Since many of you would most likely not be able to attend
My parents had two huge gardens, raised chickens and my Bake Sale, I would like to ask you to make a contribution
pigs, and had cattle, so we always had fresh foods in the via my website at www.join.strength.org/goto/
house. When I read about Mary Ann canning, it reminds me patriciasprinkle. This is a secure site and any donation
so much of my mother, who still to this day just cans would be appreciated. Let’s make sure that no child in
everything she can get her hands on. Does she really need America has to ever go hungry again.
to? No, but somebody might be hungry and she would be
I hope you enjoy this issue of the Workroom Association of
able to help out.
America Newsletter. A special thanks to everyone who
By the end of this year, more than 12 million children here in contributed an article or answered my questions. Our
AMERICA will worry about having the food they need. Two members are absolutely the greatest!
years ago I witnessed first-hand how hunger can affect
children. Our
three foster
children came to Patricia A. Sprinkle, Director of Communications
us one night at
midnight. We
were told that Inside This Issue
they most likely
had not really
eaten full meals Page 7
for quite some
time. They had chips and cookies set out for them during the
day, and sometimes that was all they had to eat.
The first time we took them out to a restaurant to eat it just
Page 4
broke our hearts. We cried for days afterwards. The 3-year
old would just sit and look at her plate and then look at Page 10
others around her. She would then place her hands around
her plate so that no one would get her food. Even now after On The Cover...Man's Sitting Room with silk French pleat panels and tassel
two years of living with us she often doesn’t like to leave her trim on the leading edge. These panels are interlined and boast a 6"
food sitting because she is afraid someone will take it. header. The trim is inserted so that only tassels show. The hardware is from
Helser Brothers and is their 1 1/4" rod with Dew Drop finials. Submitted
All three kids were very malnourished, and it was so obvious by Tammi LeNair, L’Interieur Le Nair. Visit Ta,mmi’s website at
that food was something they had gone without many times. www.couturewindowfashions.com.
As much as I can I now support our local food bank. I have
also become involved with the Share Our Strength’s Great Helser Brothers. .............................................................. 3
America Bake Sale sponsored by Domino Sugar and C&H
The Well-Dressed Window ............................................. 4
Sugar. Their mission is NO KID HUNGRY. This is a mission
that I share completely. WAA Testimony .............................................................. 5
They are working to end childhood hunger by 2015. What I Pullits .............................................................................. 6
like about this program is that 100% of funds raised help Design Corner................................................................. 7
feed hungry kids. Funds raised locally also stay local, WAA Industry Associate ................................................. 8
supporting after-school and summer feeding programs in
your own community. Upcoming Events and Announcements ......................... 9
No Hassle Tassels ........................................................ 10
Also, I love to bake, so this is win-win situation for the kids. I
will be hosting a Bake Sale later in July. I don’t often From the Founder ......................................................... 13
promote myself or a charity that I strongly believe in. But in Credit Card Processing Program.................................. 14
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 2
spotlight on industry associates
Why Helser Brothers? B y Patricia Sprinkle, Editor
J ust when you think
Helser Brothers cannot
receive any other
something or have a problem.
They do not consider themselves
a call center. The staff takes all
awards they go and win the the time they need for each call
IWCE Customer Service and each client. And even on
Company of the Year Award the phone, they smile.
in Atlanta recently.
These are some of the things
According to their
that make Helser Brothers a
customers, it was a much
winner:. . . They ship every order in
deserved award.
10 days. They never backorder. NEVER!
I have had the privilege of
They prepay freight on hardware (but not
knowing Jay and Mark From left, Mark Helser, Anita Boetsma, and Jay Tableaux) on orders over $100. It does
Helser, owners of Helser Helser. Anita is a big part of the success in the have to be UPS-able, so up to 106" they
Brothers, for the past four customer “pampering department.” She was
recently presented with a beautiful bronze pay. Most of their clients never pay freight
years. Their dedication to
customer service trophy. unless a client just has to have it in one
their customers, staff, and
piece, in which case they pay the freight.
industry associates is
absolutely above the norm. So, what is Helser Brothers They pay attention to errors. One error is unacceptable.
and why should anyone call them for their drapery They continually strive for ways to eliminate the chance
hardware needs? for error. Both Jay and Mark are aware of every problem,
even something as small as a missing screw. They really
Helser Brothers are
do care about all aspects of the business.
innovators and suppliers
of drapery hardware Helser Brothers has just launched a new website with a
solutions, exclusively to shopping cart feature so clients can order any time online.
the trade. They are They have planned
dedicated to earning the improvements to that
trust of their clients website, stretching
through their quality products and incredibly practically to infinity so that
fantastic and highly addictive customer service. they are keeping up with the
technological requirements
They offer a quality product at a competitive price.
of customer needs.
They actively seek new ways to help clients on a
daily basis. “We are always thinking,” says Anita In the past two years they
Boetsma, Director of Marketing. “For instance, we now have also won Design Awards from ASID and WCMA as
have the ability for a client to skype us and talk face to well as Adex. Their last three introductions have been
face with Jay or myself over the Internet. This is a winners. They are constantly staying on top of the styles
tremendous help when you want to illustrate a piece of and features of what their clients want. Again, they have
hardware or the way it works.” tons of ideas in the pipeline at all times.
Their customer service department is structured so that I think Jay summarizes what this company means when
when you talk to one of their people that person has the he placed on his website this statement: “We realize that
authority to help. They do not “Mickey-Mouse” you around our customers are cared for by our people and not a
and have to talk to the supervisor to make it right. “For policy. We are so grateful to our fantastic customer
instance, UPS bends a rod,” stated Anita. “We will send a service team for doing things like expediting orders for
new one immediately. We don’t have to see pictures. We frantic procrastinators and patiently hammering out the
don’t have to have you return it so we can verify it was details of tough custom orders to keep our customers as
really bent.” happy as clams.” This is WHY Helser Brothers remains a
true force in today’s economy. They care about people.
The staff at Helser Brothers enjoy their clients. They are
Visit their website at www.helserbrothers.com.
not a trial to them, even when they don’t understand
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 3
meet WAA members
The Well-Dressed Window
Custom Window Treatments & Bedding
T he Well-Dressed Window was founded in 2002 in
Barbourville, Kentucky, under the name "Sew
What!". Working from a closet-sized spare bedroom,
owner Cynthia Fields, began creating purses, totes, and
diaper bags from her own designs.
As the business grew, she expanded to custom window
treatments, bedding, slipcovers, and baby bedding sets.
In 2007, Cynthia moved to Mt. Washington, Kentucky, during the fabrication process. This enables them to get
where she reopened under the current name — The the proper fit and a more attractive finished product.
Well-Dressed Window, focusing on custom drapery and Roxanna Banana Designs is the "little sister" company to
bedding. The Well-Dressed Window. They feature original designs
The Well-Dressed Window offers a variety of custom for crib bedding, purses, totes, and diaper bags. Each
window treatments to complement your décor, including item is a custom creation, a one-of-a-kind design.
panels, valances, swags, cornices, and Roman shades. Roxanna Banana Baby bedding sets are 100% washable
They stock many types of lining and interlining in order to — a must for any nursery! Your baby’s quilt, bedskirt, and
meet individual needs. They offer thermal and blackout even bumper pads can be thrown into the washer and
linings for temperature and light control. A quality lining retain their look. We will be happy to help you design
protects draperies from fading and adds a more luxurious
feel to window treatments. The Well-Dressed Window is
pleased to provide custom-order drapery hardware as
well. They can recommend the most appropriate
hardware for design and fabric requirements.
They carry several fabric lines and are happy to make
suggestions and order fabric directly. They also accept
COM (Customer’s Own Material) orders.
The Well-Dressed Window offers custom bedding
components, including pillows, shams, duvets,
bedspreads, and bedskirts. They carry duvet and pillow
inserts in both down and polyester filling. All of their
inserts are double-seamed and constructed with quality
covers to prevent poke-
through. Their down
products are tripled-washed
to ensure that they are
hygienic and free of
allergens. Custom quilting is
also available. They offer
both outline and pantagraph
quilting.
A good slipcover is one that
fits nearly as well as the
original upholstery. To that
end The Well-Dressed
Window requires that any
furniture to be slipcovered
be brought to the studio (continued on page 5)
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 4
WAA testimony
The Well-Dressed Window WOW! What A Savings For WAA
(continued from page 4)
Members From Woven Materials
your baby bedding set, or if you know what you want, we
also accept COM (Customer’s Own Material) orders. Recently, I got off the phone with Deb Kearney of Woven
Handbags and diaper bags can be designed to Materials, and I could just kick myself for not calling her
coordinate with your crib bedding, or they can be sooner! I have a trim book here from
designed independently. You can specify the size and another trim supplier, and I've ordered
number of pockets on your bag to suit your preferences. LOTS of trim out of it for customers over
the past 18 months. I always ordered
To learn more about The Well-Dressed Window or see
from the company that I got the book
Cynthia’s gorgeous work, visit her website at
from, but today I happened to think of
www.thewelldressedwindow.net.
Deb, who has helped me out many
times with matching trims to fabrics, or coming up with
some obscure item I was having trouble locating. I gave
her a call to see if she carried the trims I was interested in
and to compare pricing.
On the large tassel tiebacks, her price was 32% less than
the other supplier! On the rosettes, her price was 42%
less! On the organdy loop fringe, her price was a
whopping 45% less than what I've been paying ($13.00
versus $24.00 wholesale.) And those prices did't include
the extra WAA discount!
Those are tremendous prices, and I'm so sorry I didn't
think to ask her about these particular trims earlier. I
could have saved my customers so much money. And
when I save them money on one part of a job, it seems
like they usually feel justified in adding on something
extra, so they end up spending the same amount of
money with me, but they get more bang for their
buck.
I learned my lesson. I'll always check with Woven
Materials before I routinely order trim from another
company. No, this is not a paid endorsement. I just
wanted to let everyone know that it really makes a
difference who you order things from. And I think it's
pretty neat, too, that when you call Woven Materials, you
always talk to Deb, who gives wonderful, personalized
service.
Leslie Fehling
Leslie Fehling Designs
The WAA Member Discount is 10% off all trim
orders. Discount must be mentioned at the time
of the order. Contact Deb at Woven Materials at
919-461-3771 or visit her website at
www.wovenmaterials.com.
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 5
product preview
2
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 6
design idea corner
Little Girl’s Room
The valances in this Little Girl’s room are based on a rendering in
Jackie Von Tobel’s book. The bedding includes a full bubble skirt
and pillows. It is a room any little girl would be proud of.
Workroom: Couture Draperies & Design
Designer: Liz Ware
www.picturetrail.com/couturedraperies
www.detailspatterncompany.com
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 7
waa industry associate
To sign up, visit www.workroomassociation.com
and click on the Staples link.
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 8
upcoming events and announcements
Rowley Company Wins Best Home Décor
Advertising Campaign Award Sewing
Instructor Program
Rowley Company recently announced that they were
chosen for the Best Advertising Campaign award at IWCE The Home Decor Sewing Instructor (HDSI) program does
Vision 09, for presenting their products in the most creative not teach you how to sew. It is a 3-day intensive program
and compelling way in 2008 and 2009. and will be held August 8-10, 2009, in Everett, WA. It
“In recent years”, according to award presenter, Grace provides business training specific to the home décor
McNamara, President and CEO of Grace McNamara, Inc, sewing industry to help current sewing instructors,
“Rowley Company has taken great strides to produce educators, and businesses to succeed.
marketing and advertising campaigns that are truly original Graduates of the HDSI course leave with practical
and inspirational.” knowledge and a sense of confidence to begin and expand
their education portfolio. Many graduates may go on to start
As one customer commented, Rowley “made such a
significant change in advertising from 2007 to 2008 that it home-based businesses, to teach part or full-time in retail
doesn’t even look like the same company! The rebranding stores, or start sewing schools and sewing lounges where
efforts covered everything they did — from the WF-Vision they live.
ads, to their online banners and their website. It has made The only pre-requisite to participate in a Home Décor
them look like a leader in our industry! I would have to say Sewing Instructor Workshop is that you already know how to
the magazine advertisements are the best. They are bright sew and are interested in teaching your passion for sewing
and eye-catching, showcase beautiful pictures, and tell you to others. Attendees must be in attendance for the full 3-day
about new products.” workshop to receive a certificate of completion.
"We are so honored to win the award for Best Advertising For more information, contact Karen Erickson with Home
Campaign" said Stacey Just, Vice President of Marketing for Fashions U at 800-267-4958 or 360-348-2674. Visit the
Rowley. "Rowley Company has a reputation for outstanding website at www.homefashionsu.com or email about this
customer service, and we wanted to preserve that, but also program to homefashionu@gmail.com.
communicate many of the other strengths Rowley offers our
customers. Our new WAA Optimized Benefit
ad campaign allowed
us to focus on the
Prescription/Vision /Fitness
breadth of products,
innovations and
Savings Card
technical service we
WAA offers a FREE prescription/vision/fitness savings
provide, while
spotlighting the card to all members of the Association. Optimized
beautiful fashions our Benefits is not insurance, but rather a valuable discount
customers make. It program designed to provide access to a variety of
feels incredible to be specialty care options as an enhancement to our
recognized for that Stacey Just (center) with Rowley members’ existing benefit package. Members can access
Company accepts the Best Advertising the Pharmacy, Vision, and Fitness programs for free and
effort!”
Campaign Award from IWCE 2009.
have the option to purchase the voluntary Dental and
Serving the industry
Limited Health programs at amazing reduced rates.
since 1962 and known for excellent customer service,
Rowley Company is a manufacturer and distributor of If you are a member and have not received your card,
Decorating Supplies and More. Rowley Company supplies send an email to workroomassociation@charter.net. The
bendable fiber board, T-handles, buckram, angle iron, website is www.optimizedbenefits.net. YOU MUST
grommets, bedding and more for use in Workroom, ACTIVATE your card by calling the Optimized Benefits
Installation, Design, Quilting, Upholstery, and Marine Service Center before you can use the free benefits.
applications worldwide. Rowley recently launched FinestraTM
Decorative Hardware, a line of over 100 custom finials, If you are not a member of WAA, visit our website at
accessories and drapery poles in 36 hand-rubbed finishes. www.workroomassocation.com, and click on JOIN US to
To learn more, call 704-866-0650 or visit receive this benefit. This benefit can often save you
www.RowleyCompany.com. enough money in one month to pay for your yearly
membership fee.
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 9
step-by-step instructions
No Hassle Tassels by
Leslie Fehling
I
n about 10 minutes you can make a simple,
basic tassel that will add the perfect finishing
touch to a window treatment, pillow, or slipcover.
On two recent jobs I’ve needed small tassels to
coordinate with fabrics and trims I was using. It was quick
and easy to whip up what I needed without having to
research products,
check stock, place an PHOTO 1
order, wait for delivery,
and pay for shipping that
can sometimes total
more than the cost of the
product on a small order.
For the slipcover project
shown in these step-by-
step instructions, I
wanted a tassel at the
end of each lace-up tie, A lace-up bodice back with handmade tassels
so the tassels were adds pretty, feminine detailing to this vintage
constructed to be an dressing table chair in a guest room at Summerhill,
integral part of the ties Leslie’s home in Prosperity, PA.
as shown in photo 1.
PHOTO 2
I used crochet cotton
and embroidery floss in
colors that coordinated
with the slipcover fabric.
Ribbon, rattail cord, or
yarn are also good
options. Leftover ribbon
loop fringe can be pulled
apart to get yards and
yards of usuable ribbon
and cord. Some styles of
rope trim can be
untwisted to yield finer
cords or strings. For the
piano bench cushion
shown in photo 2, I used lip cord for the cushion trim then This second sample (as described in photos 15 and 16) are two
removed the lip from some of the cord to make ties. The vintage needlepoint pieces incorporated into coordinating
final step was to untwist the no-lip cord to make attached pillows, using a variety of chenille fabrics. One has rope trim
around the center square and matching ribbon fringe on the
tassels for the ends of the ties.
edge. The other has patchwork-piecing separated by a tiny gold
To make a tassel attached to the end of a cord, gather silk microwelt, rope trim, and handmade tassels, fabricated using
materials from the ribbon fringe on the other pillow.
your supplies, then follow these easy step-by-step
instructions, beginning on page 11: continued on page 11
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 10
step-by-step instructions
No Hassle Tassels (continued from page 10)
one dangling, along with all the other lower cords.
1. Determine the length of your finished tassel. PHOTO 3 PHOTO 4
Cut a piece of cardboard about 1" longer than
the finished length to allow extra length for
trimming the finished tassel. Wrap the string
around the cardboard until it reaches the
desired thickness. See photo 3. (For each 4"
long tassel shown, I used 200 wraps of crochet
cotton plus three skeins of embroidery floss.)
2. Cut through all the strings at one end of the
cardboard. See photo 4.
3. Tie a knot in the end of the cord where the PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6
tassel will be attached as shown in photo 5.
4. Hold the mass of strings in your hand then lay
the knotted cord on top as shown in photo 6.
5. With a sturdy piece of string, tie a knot tightly
around the strings above the cord knot. Be
sure to evenly distribute the strings around the
knot as shown in photo 7.
6. Flip the upper strings down over the knot.
Smooth and arrange them as you want them to
look on the finished tassel in photo 8. PHOTO 8
PHOTO 7
7. Tie a temporary knot around the neck of the
tassel. See photo 9.
8. To make the finished wrapping around the
tassel, take a long piece of string and make a
loose loop. Lay the loop on the head of the
tassel with the loose cut end down. With your
thumb hold the loop in place as you begin to
wrap the string around the tassel. The second
round of wrapping must be above the first as
shown in photo 10. Continue wrapping tightly
and evenly until the neck is the desired width. PHOTO 9
9. Thread the end of the wrapping string through
the loop, which extends above the tassel. See
photo 11.
10. To finish pull gently on the original end of the
wrapping string to make the upper loop
smaller. The loop will move down until it is
inside the wrapped area. Grasp both ends of
the wrapping string (the upper and lower) and
cinch them tight so that the “knot” is in the
center of the wrapped area. See photo 12.
11. Cut off the ends of the strings even with the top
and the bottom of the wrap, or leave the bottom continued on page 12
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 11
step-by-step instructions
No Hassle Tassels (continued from page 10)
one dangling, along with all the lower cords. PHOTO 10 PHOTO 11
The top one can be threaded onto a needle
and pulled through the head of the tassel once
or twice to reinforce it. See photo 13.
12. Trim the bottom of the tassel strings to the
desired length. See photo 14.
13. For loose tassels that will not be attached to
the end of a cord, follow steps 1 and 2. Then
take a decorative cord and mark a lark’s head
knot around the center of the bundle of strings
as show in photo 15.
14. Cinch it tight and tie an overhand knot tightly
over the first know to lock it in place. See photo
16. Continue with steps 6-12 above.
PHOTO 12 PHOTO 13
These tassels are so simple to make. It probably
takes longer to read the instructions than to
actually make the tassel. I hope you will give it a
try!
Leslie Fehling would like to invite you
to come to Summerhill Weekend
Sewing Retreats and learn how to
make “Perfect Slipcovers, Start to PHOTO 14 PHOTO 15
Finish” or “High End Embellishments”.
Summerhill is a Victorian hilltop home
in Western Pennsylvania where
Leslie hosts
weekend
classes filled
with education,
inspiration and
relaxation. For
PHOTO 16 Leslie Fehling is the
more
owner of Leslie
information or Fehling Designs, a
to sign up for her free monthly full-service workroom
in Prosperity, PA,
newsletter, “Summerhill Showcase”, serving retail
email Leslie at customers and designers since
2001. She offers instruction in high-
fehling@windstream.net or call her at end embellishment techniques at
her Summerhill Weekend Sewing
724-627-4148. Retreats. Her website is
www.picturetrail.com/fehling.
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 12
from the founder
Virtual Trade Show in the Works
A
s you know, we do everything on the cutting Think AMERICA HAS TALENT or AMERICAN IDOL
edge, everything with very little financial as applied to you our members. Think people voting
resources. BUT...ideas trump money every on who they love to see.
time. TALENTED PEOPLE trump everything
We're laying the groundwork. We're going to provide
all the time.
the means. But right now, I need you guys to tell me if
HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR you want to BE A RISING STAR. We'll help you do it.
SOME TIME AND ARE GOING TO DO: If you have not already responded on our Yahoo
Forum about the Trade Show, send me an email at
We will be having a virtual trade show. The date will be
blindladie2001@yahoo.com, and let me know what
announced shortly but will probably be sometime
you would be interested in presenting at our Virtual
around the first of September. The virtual trade show
Trade Show. We would love to have you join us!
will be the seed of our own convention at some point in
the future.
Here is what we are thinking for a theme — “BE A Mary Ann Plumlee, Founder
RISING STAR” for the workroom industry.
We want to focus on you our members. We want to
give as many of you the opportunity to be a RISING
STAR on the national scene as possible.
“We must be free not because we claim
This is what I need from you, the members of WAA:
freedom, but because we practice it…”
√ Think demos. Think demos done and filmed similar
to You Tube. We will give you the logistics of what —William Faulkner
we need, but start thinking about what you could
do that would perhaps become an instructional
DVD.
√ Live feed from your workroom...You be the star on
a live presentation. Show us your workroom, show
us how you do what you do, or show us a new
product that you are developing and want to sell.
√ PowerPoint Presentations. You be the host of your CONTACT INFORMATION:
own PowerPoint presentation. Tell us how to sell,
tell us how to organize, and tell us whatever you Mary Ann Plumlee, Founder
have to tell us. Workroom Association of America LLC
Think WOODSTOCK FOR WORKROOMS. Think blindladie2001@yahoo.com
revolutionary. Think of yourself as someone who could
Patricia Sprinkle ~ Director of Communications
become a well-known personality and expert for the
workroomassociation@charter.net
workroom industry across the nation. Think of one
awesome weekend as we join together for a virtual WORKROOM ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA LLC
WOODSTOCK FOR WORKROOMS. 802 N. Robinson Drive • Waco, TX 76706
254-662-4021 • 254-662-5478 FAX
We have the means to broadcast and promote this
thing far and wide. Let's do it together as we have 866-344-7373 toll free
strength in the number of our members. www.workroomassociation.com
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 13
WAA discount program
John Gibbs with United Bank Card Inc. (UBC) has
announced some new benefits for the Charge
Anywhere and Merchant Services Program for WAA
members.
Switch your merchant services to WAA's endorsed program
or apply for a new merchant account to accept all major
credit cards. Simplify your payments' processess, save with
better rates, and get your money into your bank account
FASTER.
Here is a quick summary with the main benefits:
1. QuickBooks Integration: Automatically applies payments
with QuickBooks
2. Special WAA Credit Card Rates: As low as 1.69% on
card swiped or 2.29% qualified rate on “card not present”
accounts
UBC has these advantages:
1. Online merchant application
2. Free wireless terminal offering
3. QuickBooks Plug In: QB 2005-2009 Pro Premier and
Enterprise (a .net framework of 2.0 or higher needed)
For more information about this WAA Benefit, call John
Gibbs at 919-435-8211 or contact him via email to
jgibbs@unitedbankcardraleigh.com. John can assist you with
any questions you might have or sign you up immediately.
www.workroomassociationofamerica.com 14