BLAINE AUSTIN

CEO, SewingMachinesPlus.com

Deb Canham

Deb Canham has spent the last 20 years designing and working with her own factory in China and working as a Consultant to garment factories improving their quality control through education and developing simple, methodical systems. Since retiring from travelling to China, Deb has focused on the serger for home use designing projects, patterns, courses and videos to encourage serger owners to “play” and develop confidence with their machines. Her aim is also to provide Serger Teachers with some fun techniques - based projects. The serger has an unmatched ability to utilize heavy weight decorative threads which opens up a whole new world of fun embellishments and finishes which are the backbone of Deb's designs.

Linda Bratten

Linda has been a quilting/sewing teacher, in the Columbia, MO area since 2008. Linda has recently self-published a series of workbooks to enhance her Free-Motion Machine Quilting classes and has created several patterns and machine embroidery designs. Linda’s quilts are “Not like your grandmother’s”, she loves to mix different mediums and techniques to create unique one of a kind fiber art. Best of all she loves to share her knowledge and discoveries with others! Linda has had work published in Quilting Arts and Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazines. She blogs about her sewing adventures at http://lindabcreative.blogspot.com/ which can be found on her website at www.LindaBrattenCreations.com.

Lisa Knight

Lisa started sewing at age six, or, as she puts it, "a long, long time." Over the course of those years, she fell in love with the endless creative possibilities sewing provides. "What I love about sewing is the ability to take a flat item and through manipulating it you can turn it into so many different things – from clothing and home décor that adds your own personality to your home, to useful utilitarian items and toys," she said. "You are only limited by your imagination." When it comes to teaching, Lisa said she loves interacting with her students and seeing their reactions. "The best part of teaching is when you see the student get it," she said. "Their eyes light up and they get excited about what you just shared." She also adds that teaching is a two-way street, where she learns from her students in turn. It's a lesson she's retained throughout her career and it's helped her keep a fresh approach to teaching. "The most important thing is that there is not just one correct way of doing things," she said. Be open and humble to listen to your students – they all bring amazing perspective to the table if you listen."

Mickey Hudson

Mickey is the rare example of a natural teacher. Imbued with boundless energy and contagious enthusiasm, she has a gift for inspiring students to tap into their creative energy. Her unbridled excitement and passion for sewing generates excitement and helps students lose their fear of trying something new. Mickey has a 25+ year career working in the sewing industry. She has worked in a dealership teaching classes, as well as traveling to teach at sewing shows and expos. Teaching and traveling has only helped her realize that her greatest pleasure is sharing her love and knowledge of sewing with her students and seeing their joy, excitement and confidence.

Milinda Stephenson

Throughout her time as a Baby Lock Educator, Milinda made an important discovery. "I’ve learned that people who sew tend to be smart, creative and determined. These are people who make the world a better place—they are givers—the majority of their sewing tends to be for other people. That generous spirit is contagious, and brings me so much joy!" She said connecting with those people is her favorite part of teaching. "We are healthier when we are in community, and teaching engages me in this fabulous community of men and women who love to learn and love to sew." Milinda started sewing since she went off to college and — as she readily pointed out — since her mom stopped sewing for her. She said she's been obsessed with sewing and design since then. She said her favorite thing about sewing is the infinite possibilities it provides. "It allows me to dream of all the things that can be created—those dreams are fabulous therapy—they help me move beyond daily problems and imagine what can be rather than what is," Milinda said. "And there is this wonderful physical benefit—sewing lowers your blood pressure! It is soothing and therapeutic."