Good Morning folks! How are you all doing? We are good here. This morning I am going to do a book review.
Amy Barickman (the powerhouse behind
Indygo Junction patterns) kindly sent me her latest book and some patterns to review and give away. That is pretty awesome, isn't it? I have been reading through it since Saturday and I even made a project from it.
Well, first off, the book is gorgeous. It is heavy and each page is colorful and an inspiration all unto itself.
Vintage Notions is like looking through a big scrapbook. It reminds me of going to my Grandmothers house when I was very little and looking through her old magazines, cookbooks and sewing box.The book is dedicated to Mary Brooks Picken. Before reading this book I had no clue as to who she was. Well, she was a pretty stunning woman. The Martha Stewart of the early 1900s. Amy Barickman has researched her achievements and publications and compiled them into this book for us.
Here is some of the background information about Mary Brooks Picken.Vintage Notions is arranged by seasons and months of the year. For each month a chapter and each chapter a magic pattern that relates to that month. This book is full of history and advice and information of an age that has slipped by.
There are 12 Magic Patterns in the book that are simple sewing projects sketched out for us to produce for our selves. They are somewhat like Japanese sewing book patterns. Not actual patterns that you cut from paper and make that way, but a guide with measurements that are good for most sized women. The reading is a bit complicated. Books from the 1920s are written on a higher grade level than they are today. When I was in college most books were written on a 6th grade level. Not so with this book. You will feel very brilliant when you are finished. Anyway, up above is a magic pattern for the month of July. A bias slip for your summer frock.
There are also a wealth of recipes sprinkled throughout Vintage Notions. Each page is different, and there is a dimensionality to the book that makes is look like you can pick the pages up and move them. Or pick buttons up off the pages. It is very pretty.
So, I was quite inspired by Vintage Notions and there are several projects in the book that involve remodeling of mens' clothing. Well, you know I am all into that. Heck my whole business is based on transforming military uniforms into other things. So, I decided to take my husband's old Class B shirt and make it into an apron with Amy and Mary Brooks help.
It turned out just fine. Maybe I will add the pockets to the front somewhere? It only took me about 20 minutes to make it. So you won't have any trouble with it at all.
It has a cris-cross back, so you just slip it over your head. I love aprons. I have lots and lots of them. I think I will take this one back to the design table and tart it up some. That green is just begging for some pom poms or tulle.
SO, now for the fun part! I have 2 prizes to give away. First one is a copy of Vintage Notions and 2 Indygo Junction patterns.
The second prize is 3 Indygo Junction Patterns. What do you have to do to be a winner? Well, leave a comment about who inspired you to sew. Enter as many times as you want, let your friends know too. They may want to be a winner and they can share with you. Make sure I have some way to get in touch with you so I can send these treasures out. This giveaway is open to anyone in the world.
On a side note - I really like Inygo Junction patterns. My favorite one is
the wrap skirt. I have made 6 of them over the years and they turn out perfectly each time.
OK, let me know who inspired you to sew, and I will have a random drawing on Monday. the 31 of January.
Good Luck!
xo,
Tia
21 comments:
My mother started me sewing when I was about six. I was the oldest of six and for several years my three sisters got doll clothes for Christmas to go with the new dolls they were getting.It didn't take long for me to progress to harder patterns! I love the Indigo Junction patterns and own quite a few too.
My grandma sewed her whole life. For many years she was the town seamstress and made many of the clothes of the well to do. She made a large number of my clothes when I was growing up. In her 70's she switched to mostly quilting. She taught me how to sew when I was 9 or 10 and to this day I am thankful for all her help!
I don't have one person who inspired me to sew. I started sewing in Jr High and liked in IN SPITE of my teacher! ha ha! She was pretty boring but I stuck with it because I liked making things. Gifts were made for family members and the "Tent" dress was in, easy to make and I made lots of them! I still love sewing all these years later!
My Grandmother inspired me to sew, although I dont remember her sewing ( she had bad arthritus in later life) my aunt and Mum would tell of stories of whe they in their teens in the 60's. They would say to Gran they wanted an outfit for the evening and whilst they were at their Saturday jobs she would whip up amazing dresses for them. One was a crocheted loop affair in bright orange ( I wish I could attach a photograph) another a purple affair with circles cut out! Now I sew dresses for my girls and hope that somewhere Gran is looking down in approval :) Karen x
my mother and grandmothers insored me to sew. they always made things for us - from a simple summer shirt to barbie clothes. my mother taught me to fix a hem when i was about 7 or 8 and i haven't stopped since.
The earliest memory I have of sewing and really being inspired and wanting to do it is at primary school we had to bring in scraps of fabrics which we turned into a hexie quilt which we donated to a local children's hospice. We also worked on our own patchwork pillow which our teacher then machine sewed to a background fabric we had to provide and turned it into a cushion cover. My mum was did a lot of embroidery and she showed me how to do that but she wasnt into other sewing. Having said that when she saw how much I liked fabric she bought me a toy sewing machine that my neighbour helped me to use. I was only about 6 or 7.
Wow. I've had my eye on that book! And those are great patterns too. :-)
My mom inspired me to sew. She was always sewing. When I was about six years old she bought me a heavy old black Singer to use so I would keep my hands off her good machine!
Yesterday I was sorting clippings and what did I find but an article with your picture from Country Woman magazine 2009. Before I met you at Gwen Marstons. Great pictures in the article by the way.
I started sewing when I was 11 after many years of standing by my mom while she sewed for my little sisters using her Singer 301. I still remember the joy I felt when she let me use that machine all by myself. I made a denim jumper (sleeveless dress) with a patch pocket. Mother has given up sewing since but bless her heart she actually kept my first pattern. I was elated to find it after 45 years among the box of sewing items she gave me. The pattern has a place of honor in my work studio.
That looks like a great book! My mom inspired me to sew. She sewed all the clothes for the girls and herself, with an occassional shirt for my brothers. I joined 4-H when I was 10, and took a sewing project every year, so mom taught me to sew. She taught my sisters as well, but it didn't seem to "stick" with them :-)
I was inspired by a teacher at school when I was about 7 - it was a small school and I was the only one who was really keen so she took me under her wing and I was making my own clothes by the time I left at 11
My mom got me started and from there the list gets very long.
My twin aunts inspired me. One aunt made the most beautiful things and the other one taught me how to embroidery and latch hook.
I started machine sewing on my grandmother's treadle machine. My favorite aunt taught me how to embroider.
marcih@kc.rr.com
My mother inspired me to sew as well as my Grades 7 and 8 home economics teacher. I learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine while today I work on a Bernina. I would give anything to have that old treadle to use again.
I really enjoy following your blog.
Maureen
I was inspired to sew by the lovely Dot Christian who created the original dotee doll, it seemed so do-able, being as it was small, I never looked back and am stil stitching away! What a lovely giveaway, thanks so much!
I don't know who inspired me when I first started out but I do know how inspires me now: You! :)
What a great giveaway! I love reading about the history of sewing.
My cousin Sandy inspired me to sew. She made dresses for me and my sisters when we were in elementary school - she was probably a freshman in high school. I made most of my tops and some pants once I learned to sew. Now I mostly make quilts. The book looks great!
I was inspired to take up quilting after attending several quilt shows through the years. I finally did it when I retired, and thus began my love affair with my sewing machine.
But sewing! I come from a long, long line of non-sewers. I had one aunt up in Canada that sewed. I saw her maybe once each year. Adn there was so much family around that her sewing room was out-of-bounds.
I hated sewing in school even though I had to make my own prom dresses if I wanted them. I also made quite a few of my school clothes. Once that phase was over I never sewed again.
Now I'm feeling inspired by all the lovely things I'm finding in blogs and on the internet. Guess I'm going to hit the pattern books after all. An apron would be a great place to start.
THAT BOOK LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN TO READ. I LOVE OLD PATTERNS, AND FOUND ONE OF MINE WHEN I WAS LITTLE,THAT I COULD MAKE FOR EMMA SOMEDAY. WHO KNOWS/ I AM HOPING THIS WILL GO THROUGH, I WILL SEE. LOVE MOM
Hi
This is a gorgeous one. Thanks a lot for sharing this good one.Quilts have been around for hundreds of years, and still they are as popular as back in the day. You can find them in homes all across America. When quilts were made 100's of years ago,To know more visit- quilting notions
Thanks
Shamim
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