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Photo by Dimitri LaZaroff |
About Ann K. Johnson
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I have been in the
decorative workroom business since summer of 1992. I ran the business
out of my home and had one part-time helper. Working from my home
was a personal choice because I had three small children and I wanted
to be home to raise them. I had sewn all my life, clothing and crafts,
but never window treatments beyond the simple shirred valance. A casual
acquaintance, Sara Pesarchick, asked me to sew for her decorating business.
Though I had absolutely no experience in sewing decorative treatments,
I agreed to try. Thus was the beginning of an enduring friendship and
a new career.
At the time I opened
my workroom in 1992, the internet was not available. There were very limited
resources for professional patterns. I had no idea that this was a serious
career or that there were professional workrooms. I used the library extensively,
researching treatments and patterns. I realized very quickly that no one
pattern was going to solve the needs of my very creative designer friend.
I had to learn early to draft patterns on my own. Clients are surprised
to learn that I have no artistic/creative talent. I come from a very left-brain,
task-oriented engineering gene pool of perfectionist workaholics. It is
these genetic qualities which have allowed me to steer an alternative
course as a workroom. I tend to approach each job as an engineering project.
From 2006-2007, I was the manager of a larger custom workroom. During that time, I did all the cutting for seven full-time sewers. I developed efficient cutting techniques, managed projects for multiple employees, developed written standards and cutting and fabrication instructions and built a reference library of pictures of work done in the workroom. It was a dynamic
job and I learned to approach
the workroom business from a larger point of view.
Over the years, I
have made enough mistakes to qualify me to teach you how to draw patterns and fabricate efficiently. I also want to help you understand that, no matter how small your business is, you can achieve new levels of efficiency and quality by approaching it as a business. It is my wish to save you the time I lost making mistakes and encourage you to approach your business with a professional mindset.
I am the author of
The Professional
Workroom Handbook of Swags, Volume 1 and Volume
II. I have taught classes on fabrication and business practices at the Custom Home Furnishings
Industry Educational Conference and the DWC Conference for several years. I am a professional speaker and am an instructor at the Custom Home Furnishings Acadamy in Charlotte, NC.
Keep an eye on my
website. I hope to develop a full Professional Workroom Handbook series
of books.
If you have suggestions
for articles or books, please feel free to contact
me. I love to hear from you.
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Speaker:
Previous engagements:
- Northeast Ohio Chapter of WCAA
- Northeast New England Chapter of WCAA
- Greater Detroit Workroom Association
- Custom Home Furnishings & DWC Conferences since 2003
- Richmond, VA, Chapter of WCAA
- Custom Sewing Institute, Creative Camp, 2010. Houston, TX
- Northern California Chapter of WCAA
- Greater Rochester Workroom Association
- WCAA Central NJ Chapter
Topics include:
- Swags: Standard swags, cutout swags and Point to Point (drapery) swags. Pattern drafting, fabrication & troubleshooting (3 hr. seminar)
- Advanced swags. Austrian, boxed and asymmetrical swags. Pattern drafting, fabrication & troubleshooting (3 hr. seminar)
- Arched swags. Pattern drafting, fabrication and troubleshooting (3 hr seminar)
- Kingston valances: Pattern drafting, fabrication and troubleshooting. (3 hr seminar)
- Old World Pattern Drafting Techniques (3 hr seminar)
- Workroom and Office tips and techniques for efficiency and quality (1.5 or 3 hr seminars)
- Ripplefold panels (1.5 hour seminar)
- Arched panels and valances. Pattern drafting and fabrication of different arched styles. (3 hr seminar)
- Plan and manage your custom workroom with growth in mind (1.5 or 3 hr seminars)
- Enhancing your business with design software - the dreamDraper advantage. (2 hr seminar)
- Top Down/Bottom Up Shade construction. (1.5 hr seminar)
For more information on topics and contact details, click here
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Author:
Inventor:
- Square it Up! Designed specifically to draft point-to-point swag patterns, the Square it Up! has many uses in the workroo
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Instructor:
Custom Home Furnishings Academy
- 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.
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Strengthening Your Swag Skills
This class uses the “Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags, Volumes 1 and 2” as textbooks. Our purpose is to immerse you in the engineering characteristics of the swag pattern to the extent that you will be able to draw a pattern and troubleshoot it to drape a swag of any shape or size to specific proportions in a matter of minutes. Even veteran swag drapers will learn subtle techniques that take their skill level up several notches and their confidence to new heights. You will be learning hands-on about swag patterns from Ann K. Johnson, the acknowledged industry expert on all things swags.
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Testimonials:
On the Perfecting Your Workroom Skills - Part 1 Class:
"Ann Johnson’s classes held at the CHF Academy were fabulous! In Perfecting Workroom Skills, the class was jam packed with tips and techniques on how to produce soft furnishings of the highest quality while doing it efficiently. The first thing I did when I got back in the workroom, was teach many of the things I learned to my employees. They were as excited as I was about these better, more efficient techniques." Karen Barnes
"Last week I attended the Perfecting Your Workroom Skills class at the CHF Academy taught by Ann Johnson. I cannot begin to explain how much this class has helped me already. Ann was a wonderful teacher. The manual she provided was packed with color photos and step by step instructions that are very easy to understand. I felt that I could ask as many questions as I needed and she took the time to patiently answer every one. The tips and techniques that she shared with us were soo very helpful and I have already implemented many of them into my workroom and it has made me much more efficient. I had such a wonderful experience at the school and cannot wait to go back again! " Denise Canney
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On the Strengthening Your Swag Skills Class:
"The Strengthening Swag Skills class reaffirmed to me that Ann is THE expert in our industry on swags. She has studied the engineering and mathematics of swags extensively and teaches the concepts in a way that is easy to understand. Once we understood the basics, we were able to make a swag pattern, cut the swag out of fabric and drape it to the correct size in a matter of minutes, including asymmetrical and arched swags. I am thrilled to have taken this class and know I can now confidently make a swag of any size or style. " ---- Karen Barnes |
As a seminar speaker
"Excellent class, great information. Best class I have taken this conference." --- Barbara
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"We are so happy to have you here in New Jersey! Your seminar created so much buzz! We have attendees here from NJ, NY, DE & PA. As a result of today's program, we have added six new members to our chapter. Fantastic!! -- Kelli Chitty
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"WAY beyond expectations. " --- Cheryl |
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"Chock full of great ideas!" Thanks! |
| "The BEST class I've Taken !! --- Nancy |
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"Great crowd control !" –– Jill
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"Very organized, easy to understand, wonderful presentation style."
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"After 18 years of sewing, I was still able to learn many new & timesaving techniques. Very good." ---Sherri |
"When our local WCAA chapter was looking for a speaker Ann’s name came up. She was a candidate not only for her industry experience but for her success as an author and as an entrepreneur. Before her scheduled engagement, I was fortunate to take a class “Taking the mystery out of Kingstons” that Ann gave at the DWC conference in Springfield, MA in September 2008. Kingstons are a complicated window treatment and Ann was well prepared – had excellent visuals and samples – spoke to the point and was able to address all the questions presented to her in a clear, concise and down to earth manner. Ann was not only professional but also intertwined her own story of success which made it more personal.
I was so pleased & excited knowing that she would be speaking to our group shortly after this conference.
Ann’s presentation to our WCAA chapter in October 2008 covered arched swags and her many tips and techniques for sewing and running a workroom business. Her presentation, again, was easy to follow and her handouts were excellent. There was plenty of time for in depth questions and she had great examples of her techniques to share." Jeanne McDermott October, 2008
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"Ann Johnson is the Queen of swags! She's also among the best of speakers. Ann presents a professional image, is well organized, light hearted, and full of knowledge based on experience. Her enthusiasm will keep you focused and leave you jazzed! " - Mary-Ann Quinn, MAQ Design. October, 2008 |
"A lot of great tips: Very informational and knowledgeable. Enjoyed class." --- Ruth |
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"Ann had complete control of the class - demanded and kept our attention. My best class yet! Thanks!" --- Debbie
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"WOW! Fantastic advanced Class." -- Chris Watt |
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"Ann knows her stuff! Not only knows it (and the math stuff) but is able to explain it to non-math people." -- Laura
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"Very good illustrations -both samples and printed. Ann was well prepared. I gained a much better understanding." --- Sally |
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"This by far was the BEST class - most informative, clear, concise." Roberta |
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"Ann is tremendous and clearly articulates objectives of her class, solicits feedback, checks for understanding and effectively closes her workshop. My guess is that she is a former educator and if not, she has the natural talent for teaching." --- Sarah
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"Excellent teacher - great visuals - moved right along. Cudos!" Vivian |
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"Ann was a very organized and successfully covered a lot of information in a short time." --- Leslie
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"Ann did a fabulous job of giving us a lot of very useful info in clear, concise manner. Very informative. Thanks!" --- Judy
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"Very impressed with Ann's teaching/professionalism and knowledge. Reinforced a lot of things I already know - but structured this into 'working' knowledge and reasoning and troubleshooting." --- Dawn |
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"Ann rocks. Awesome teacher! Lots of tips that are fabulous" -- Charlotte |
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"Ann is very knowledgeable and approachable. She fielded questions clearly and repeated for the whole room." -- Lisa |
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"This class was very good. The instructor was very clear and concise. This is one of the best, most informative classes that I have taken! -- Debbie |
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"Lots of knowledge presented well. She took an intricate subject and made it easy to follow. Lots of info - loved it! -- Minda
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| "The best class ! Ever." ---Almerinda |
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"First time I've been in one of her classes and Ann is fantastic" --- Pam |
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"More great info to use every day. Very knowledgeable and dynamic speaker" ---Janice |
"Excellent class for workrooms. Very practical advice." --- Bonnie
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