AKJ Workroom
Established in 1992
Ann K. Johnson, Owner
AKJ Workroom is a to-the-trade custom soft goods fabricator.
We are very well known for our attention to detail and quality workmanship.
We specialize in challenging and detailed treatments.
Location is not a problem. We will ship anywhere in the continental United States.
Contact us for a bid.
Enjoy perusing our extensive portfolio of work.
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Swags come in all sizes and shapes. You can draw your own swag patterns very quickly and precisely. These popular reference books by Ann K. Johnson have revolutionized the workroom industry by reducing the learning
curve associated with swags and by teaching workrooms to draft simple patterns
for swags of any size. They explain the engineering of
the swag pattern in clear, concise terms with many illustrations and pictures.
The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags, Volume 1
The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags, Volume 2
Swag Worksheets
Square it Up! The latest innovation in workroom tools. Designed to draft point-to-point swag patterns in a matter of minutes, it has may other uses in the workroom too.
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Are you unsure how to price for your work? Do you want to earn a fair price for your skills? Kitty Stein uses her gentle wisdom and industry knowledge to walk you through the process of assessing your financial goals and your business costs to help you develop your own price list for the custom services you provide. Using proven financial methodology and her own style of folksy writing, Kitty helps you discover your own financial worth. While written for the soft goods industry, "Price Your Work With Confidence" has been used successfully by many small businesses.
Price Your Work With Confidence - Fearless Pricing Made Easy
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There are many tools a workroom could purchase to enhance their productivity. These are some of my favorites.
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Calendar of Events
I love to travel around the country to speak to workroom/designer organizations or teach at the Custom Home Furnishings Academy in Charlotte, NC. (read the testimonials). I'd be thrilled to meet you and/or your local organization. Bookmark this Calendar of Events and become a fan of Sew Easy Windows on Facebook to stay apprised of upcoming speaking events and classes.
May 12-15, 2010. Vision10 International Window Coverings Expo in Atlanta, GA. I am scheduled for several demos in the Construction Zone on the vendor floor over the course of the three days. Make plans to attend the IWCE and stop in the Construction Zone to say hi. My demo schedule, as of today:
Thursday, May 13: 11:40 Draft basic swag pattern (20 minutes)
1:00 pm Draft PTP swag Pattern using Square it Up! Tool (20 minutes)
3:00 pm Minimizing bulk (20 minutes
Friday, May 14 10-11 am Workroom Must Haves
11:40 am Draft asymmetrical swag (20 minutes)
1:00 pm Draft PTP swag Pattern using Square it Up! Tool (20 minutes)
Saturday 10-11 Cut and prep widths for drapery panels
1:40 pm Fabrics in the light (20 minutes)
3:00 pm Draw pattern for a low-bulk cascade (20 minutes)
 The Custom Home Furnishings Academy, Charlotte, N. Carolina. Perfecting Your Workroom Skills, Parts 1 & 2. June 6-7 & 8-9, 2010 and October 21-22 & 23-24. You can choose to attend either class, but I would highly recommend taking both. Sign up soon. Class sizes are limited.
- Perfecting Your Workroom Skills - Part 1
This fast-paced, skill-packed class sends you back to your workroom with a comprehensive workbook and basic techniques to improve your speed and the quality of your treatments. We discuss fabric challenges, the importance of establishing routines, organizing your workflow and using your tools to their fullest potential. It takes years for workrooms to acquire the range of skills that we teach you in two days. Our goal is to send you home with a new level of confidence and the skills that encourage your business to grow.
Topics we cover include: Fabrics (types and challenges), seams, hems, handstitches, methods to apply trim, planning cuts, and cutting, blocking and tabling techniques and much more. Think you know it all? Trust me – I’ll teach you something new.
- Perfecting Your Workroom Skills - Part 2
This is an intense, information-packed class. It is two days of hands-on experience in techniques and less common workroom tools and supplies. We also cover trims, finishing techniques, basic machine operation, hardware facts and challenges, math in the workroom, and much more.
Our goal is to give you the necessary experience to choose the proper technique and/or tool to maximize your efficiency and quality. Your hands-on experience enables educated decisions when investing in your workroom. You leave the class excited and energized – ready to apply your new skills in your own workroom.
  March 2011 . Yep - you read that right. Susan Kostelecky has already put together a schedule of classes for the 2011 Creative Camp to be held at Camp Allen outside of Houston Texas. This will be a three day event with some very awesome teachers. Attendance is limited to 50 and this even will fill up fast !!! Check it out soon and sign up.
Every single day. I am monitoring the new dreamDraper xChange forum. It is a public forum, open to anyone who wishes to network with colleagues in the industry. We have two goals for this forum: to introduce you to the dreamDraper design software and to provide you the opportunity to network with others in the industry on any industry-related questions: marketing, dealing with clients, fabrication, design, suppliers, etc. Come take a look at the xChange. We also host a picturetrail site with albums that show off the features of the exquisite dreamDraper software. Learn more about this awesome design software that allows you to do the space planning, design an entire room with specific paints, wallpaper, furniture, accessories and design a window treatment directly on a picture of the client's window, fabric and all.
When you want me. I am available to teach 1.5 hour and 3 hour seminars on workroom related topics. Topics can be combined to create a full day seminar. If you are a part of a networking group or have multiple employees who wish to improve their skills, we can put together a program to suit your needs. Click here for more information on available topics and for contact information.
With all of these opportunities, I hope to get to meet you soon. |
Points of Interest
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View some of my
work. |
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Place an order for
books and other items |
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Researching The Professional Workroom Handbook series is an ongoing process.
If you have purchased any of these books, check here for updates and revisions. |
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Discussions of basic,
timeless techniques to assure a quality finish and to aid in developing
a truly custom look. Problem solving techniques for unusual challenges. Business articles to encourage a professional business mind-set. |
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Links to some of
my favorite sites |
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I'd love
to hear from you - your comments on the articles and suggestions for articles
you would like to see in the future. |
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SewEasyWindows
Logo by Tom Best, Graphics Illustrator
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