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♥ This is a fantastic feature + interview for those that love to be inspired by stories, needlework, cooking, sewing or fashion. Back in September 2010, I had the true pleasure of meeting Amy at The Creative Connection. We swapped some vintage sewing patterns I had for her book, Vintage Notions {we both scored on this trade *wink*}. I’m SO EXCITED to be able to share Amy’s book with you through a giveaway at the end of this post. Grab a cup of coffee and read along as I chat with Amy below.
Amy Barickman [top photo], founder and owner of Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop is a leader in the sewing, needle arts and retail crafting industry. Her recent endeavors include authoring Hankie Style (published in 2009), as well as Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun, published September 2010 [bottom photo].
The inspiration behind Amy’s book >>
Before Martha Stewart and Etsy. Before D.I.Y and Project Runway. Before the modern craft movement turned into the mecca of online creativity it is today, there was one woman who worked to give credibility, resources, and entrepreneurial spirit to the Home Arts—Mary Brooks Picken. She founded The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts & Sciences in 1916, and was appointed the first woman trustee of the Fashion Institute of Technology. But her work as been largely forgotten. Until now.
In VINTAGE NOTIONS, Amy Barickman (recently named one of the country’s most creative entrepreneurs by Country Living magazine), has collected the patterns, projects and inspiration of this unsung pioneer to the crafting community at large, reinventing her work for a new generation of women. It’s filled with 34 recipes, 12 patterns, 162 vintage fabric swatches, 370 original illustrations from the Women’s Institute Publications, and complete glossary of stitches, and more — and is organized by season to create a kind of blueprint for living a simple, fulfilling life. You can read more about Amy and the book here.
Amy writes ~ “For Gussy, Enjoy! Great connecting with you at TCC! All my best, Amy B.”
Gussy Sews interviews Amy Barickman >>
What was one of your first sewing projects? One of the first projects I remember working on was a wrap skirt. My mom thought it would be a good first project so she gave it to me, and my friend Rhonda, to make. Even though I remember it turning out great, I was only eight at the time. I’m sure it wasn’t ready for the runways of Paris.
What do you remembering being a challenging part of the process, and what kind of advice can offer someone struggling with that same technique or process? My mom was both a wonderful teacher and a frustrating one at the same time… as is always the case when mothers teach daughters. Honestly though, the only real struggle I remember my mom and I consistently having was over technique. She was a stickler for making sure that I learned things the right way from the start. I, on the other hand, being a kid, was willing to settle for much less.
Now that I have a few years between then and now, and I have a wonderful eight-year-old daughter of my own, Emma, I understand how challenging it is to try and teach your own child. As they say, everything that goes around, comes around. Luckily, I have a wonderful shop close by that teaches kids sewing classes.
I love the details the drawings add to the book.
The handmade movement seems to be growing rapidly. How do you find inspiration in such a saturated period? Oh…I wouldn’t call it saturated at all. When people are looking inside themselves and discovering their own creativity and, more importantly, finding beautiful ways to bring that creativity to life…it’s a great thing. This is a fantastic period and I find it incredibly inspirational.
The primary difference between now and a generation ago, from a handmade point-of-view, is mostly technological. Every generation has had its masses of people yearning to create. Nowadays, however, the Web has made that discovery and execution process happen at lightning speed. First, the number of Web sites and blogs out there with projects and ideas is astounding. Truthfully, there are more ideas floating around than can every actually be made. Next, the growth of the blogosphere has created an unbelievably encouraging and supportive network for crafters of all sorts. You need someone to help you with a project or merely supply an “atta girl,” there’s a blog community for you. As well, beyond the idea-related content online, there are instructional Web sites, downloadable PDFs and videos on, what seems like, every conceivable concept. Want to learn something new? It’s only a video away. Lastly, shopping online is now ubiquitous behavior. We don’t even think twice about it anymore. As such, companies like my own Indygo Junction can put more patterns, instructions, tools and supplies in the hands of people anywhere in world.
One of the most inspiring parts of this current surge in handmade is seeing the number of younger crafters coming into the field. I know it’s because of their innate facility with technology… but wow! The energy and creativity being brought to projects today is really fantastic. I’m also thrilled to see recycling (or up-cycling) taking such a prominent role. Did you know that Colin Firth’s wife, Livia, wore a beautiful Gary Harvey dress to the Oscars that was made from 11 vintage dresses, each hailing from the era of “The King’s Speech?” Truly inspirational.
By the way, all of us at Indygo Junction have been focused on recycling and up-cycling for quite sometime. Two of our biggest selling books are uniquely focused on recycling and repurposing. Our Denim Redesign book takes your favorite jeans and turns them into jackets, purses and more. Our recent Hankie Style book is a beautiful, fashion-forward book that up-cycles handkerchiefs into tops, skirts, aprons and purses. We Love this trend!
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Mary Brooks Picken in this discussion. Creating your own individual style through the making of your own clothing and accessories was one of the things that drew me to Mary’s work. Mary lived every day with the belief that you were most happy and comfortable with yourself when you felt good in your clothes. She spent her entire life encouraging women to find both style and personal fulfillment with a needle and thread. In my book, Vintage Notions, I tried to make sure that this way of living that Mary so graciously espoused was represented in the articles, patterns, recipes and vintage content.
Share with us some of your favorite designers or materials. I love any designer with a vintage flair. Many of the prominent designers, like Ralph Lauren, always have a nod to the fashions of yesteryear in their designs. Of course, if you look hard enough at individual finishing touches, you can see a vintage influence in Lucky Brand items as well.
You mention Mary Brooks Picken (who founded The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences) as a source of inspiration for your book, Vintage Notions. What first comes to mind when you think of Ms. Picken? Just how much she impacted the lives of women of her day and that her legacy has transcended generations…whenever I am out lecturing or on the road at shows, I find almost everyone has something to share about a family member that has inspired them with creative talents and passed those skills or treasured heirlooms from one generation to the next…
She also played a lead role in so many amazing american fashion institutions during her life – The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Fashion Institute and The Fashion Group. In fact, I recently visited The Fashion Group in NYC to do some further research on Mary’s post institute life – here’s a post about my trip. While there, I found minutes from when Mary was president from 1933 to 1935 along with a letter to Mary from a member saying how incredibly gracious she had been with all of the groups’ members, always willing to be helpful and supportive to the individual member no matter their walk of life.
What are your favorite stories of “timeless wisdom” Mary Brooks Picken brought to your life? Truly, there are so many stories that it’s very difficult for me to pick one from amongst them all. However, there is a story from Mary that I put in Vintage Notions July chapter. In it, Mary tells of a woman she once met that lived in a railroad box car. This woman managed to make the best of a dismal situation by using scarves, fabric and paint to make the box car as presentable as
possible and through keeping a positive attitude. Her attitude touched and influenced Mary to write: “Give smiles if you have nothing else. Give encouragement, good cheer. Make beauty come to you through your desire to express it… if beauty is in the heart, all can give happiness.”
So much of the time we let our external lives govern whether we’re happy or content. Mary’s writings reminded me of what is truly important and, for that, I will be eternally grateful to her.
How can women in their 20’s and 30’s relate to your book? What stories or projects first come to mind? When I wrote Vintage Notions, I tried, as often as was possible, to try and create universal content – topics and stories that would appeal to older readers, younger women… everyone. However, speaking directly to your question, there are many chapters that contain vintage topics with a modern spin to which young women can relate directly. In the very first chapter, there’s a reprint of an Inspiration article from 1923 entitled “Re-model, Re-cycle, Re-use: How to remodel past-season frocks,” a lovely link that relates directly with today’s trends of repurposing and up-cycling. There are also some fantastic Magic Patterns to create a fabric flower pin and a wonderful apron from a man’s shirt. There’s pretty much something for everybody in Vintage Notions.
♥ Want to win a *SIGNED* copy of Vintage Notions, a 240-page fabulous craft book? Leave a comment below sharing how handmade inspires you. I’ll pick a winner in a couple of days. xoxo
I love creating my own handmade crochet items and looking at (and buying) all the pretties that others sew, knit, draw and paint!