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Feb 03

Friends and Photos from CHA

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

I recently returned from CHA, the International Craft and Hobby trade show in Anaheim, and —as always— I’m filled to the brim with new ideas and energy!

I have exhibited at the show in the past with my companies Indygo Junction/The Vintage Workshop and now attend this show regularly for networking, and to see all the latest products on the market. This year, the show was especially inspirational, as I connected with so many wonderfully talented women whom I hadn’t met before. I also got a chance to catch up with old friends and learn about  their recent creative endeavors. One highlight was receiving books from my friends, Marie LeBaron, Jenny Doh, and Jeannine Stein. Take a look at each of these titles and be inspired….Creative Pilgrimage, Makes and Takes for Kids, and Adventures in Bookbinding

As for a fashion fix, the Lion Brand Yarn show is always special event! This year’s show featured looks from some of the top art and design schools from around the world, including, “California College of Art, Parsons School of Design, FIT and Rhode Island School of Design in the U.S; Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Israel; Aalto University in Finland; Parsons Paris in France; Buckinghamshire New University and Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom; and Kyoto University of Art and Design and Bunk Fashion College in Japan.”(from PRweb) I  put up some of my shots from the cat walk in my Inspiration Gallery…The Granny Square style was my favorite!!!

To see who I got to hang out with at CHA, check out the blogs of these super-creative ladies:
Nov 11

How Many People Do You Know?

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

How tech savvy are you? Social media diva? Facebook fiend? …Or maybe a little unsure of how to approach the ever-changing world of online networking?

You might think that social media is one topic my hero, Mary Brooks Picken, doesn’t have much to say about. But think again! (more…)

Oct 06

Country Living Fair

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

I love Fall…and the events that take place in these cooler months.

I’m speaking, of course, of the Country Living Fair!

(more…)

Sep 23

D-I-Why? Making The Creative Connection

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

If you’ve been following my blog and Facebook lately, you know that last weekend I was in St. Paul, Minnesota for the second annual gathering of The Creative Connection — a wonderful weekend of keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, and networking with (mostly) women entrepreneurs in the creative arts industry. (more…)

Sep 09

Winner of the Tablecloth Giveaway!

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Moda Fabrics Tablecloth and Indygo Junction pattern giveaway! Your stories and traditions that you shared were so special, and I loved reading each of your unique experiences. Thanks for sharing!

But there can only be one winner…

So, congratulations Michelle Russell! Michelle won two reproduction vintage tablecloths from United Notions’ Moda Fabrics as well as two patterns from Indygo Junction for refashioning tablecloths into aprons.

This giveaway may be over, but just a friendly reminder that there is still one special challenge going on… As I posted in my “Hammock is heaven” blog, I will give out a code for 30% off your next Indygo Junction purchase as soon as I reach 3,000 fans on my Facebook page! Even if you already “like” me, you can share the link with your friends to help us reach our goal. Everyone wins in this challenge, so keep “liking”!

Aug 30

Turning Craft Into Cash

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

Handmakers, your heyday is here.

Chalk it up to the recession, the green movement, or just history repeating. Handmade is hot, and more folks are shunning mass production in favor of original and practical art.

Case in point: Since the 2005 launch of Etsy.com, the online handmade marketplace has catapulted to more than 9 million members and more than a billion page views a day. That site was created to recall the times when buyers and sellers could connect over a handcrafted item, like in Mary Brooks Picken’s day. Back then, she encouraged young women to net some extra cash with their sewing talents. (more…)

Jun 23

Traditional Craft, New Energy: Quilt Market

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous

As I walked the aisles of the Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, I thought to myself this has to be one of the few trade shows for independent retailer’s that is thriving in today’s challenging business environment…the energy was so refreshing!!

New faces, fresh fabrics….young designers and shop owners walking the floor. I have a unique perspective with almost 22 years in the biz…I was one of the few from very my Generation X in the industry in 1990. Within the last 10 years an amazing movement has transpired and the shift has brought new life into the sewing and quilting community. This is what keeps me inspired and energized to architect our creative offerings for Indygo Junction..
Here are a few of my favorite finds from Market (all young entrepreneurs with amazing talent) : (more…)

Apr 22

A Magazine That Truly Stands Out

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous, Vintage Notions

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Just the other day, Amazon announced that ebooks are now outselling traditional, bound books. Now, those of you that know me know that I am not a luddite by any stretch of the imagination. It’s rare that I am without my cellphone, laptop or iPad throughout the day (and night too!). However, there’s simply nothing like curling up with a good book and actually holding it in your own two hands. It’s an intimate connection between a reader and an author that I fear we’re losing. (more…)

Apr 12

BurdaStyle, Mary’s American Triumph and a Mother of Pearl give-a-way.

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous, My collections

I have recently been writing guest blogger posts over at BurdaStyle.com. Recently, I wrote an article called “Mother of Pearl Buttons: A Uniquely American Triumph.” Since I wrote that article, a couple of thoughts have come to me that I wanted to share with you.


Lindsey Ibarra, managing editor at BurdaStyle on her recent visit to my studio

First off, writing for BurdaStyle has been great fun. I’m given the freedom to write on my love of vintage and sewing and Lindsey Ibarra, BurdaSyle’s managing editor and a Midwestern transplant, is an absolute joy to work with. I bring this up because, if you aren’t a regular reader/visitor, you need to be. It is a fantastic community of creative sewers who are both inspirational and helpful.


A postcard of The Woman’s Institute for Domestic Arts, Scranton, PA. Circa 19XX

Next, writing the Mother of Pearl post was extremely satisfying to me because it let me tell another story of American opportunity & ingenuity. The American Dream is not solely about a post-war boon of suburban houses, appliances and garages filled with cars. It’s about centuries of people coming here to this country for the freedom to think, create, and lead. John Fredrick Boepple was not responsible for just the surge and popularity of mother of pearl buttons, he was responsible for hundreds of families being able to live & prosper in a small Midwestern town at the turn of the century. Not an easy task, to say the least. This is also why Mary Brooks Picken and The Institute, the inspirations for my Vintage Notions book, are “Uniquely American Triumphs” as well. Mary and The Institute did not exist simply to help women spend their domestic time more creatively. They existed to empower women, encourage them to find personal and economic strength in themselves and spur them on to share in The American Dream too.

Lastly, for my readers who may be as obsessed with mother of pearl buttons as I am (although I doubt there are many!) or for those simply looking for a jolt of creative inspiration, I’d like to give away six mother of pearl button cards from my personal collection (see photo at left). All you have to do is leave me a comment, tell a mother of pearl story of any kind, and I’ll draw one winner from all of you who comment.

As always, thanks for letting me share my life and my love of all things vintage.

~ Amy

Feb 23

The Fashion Group

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Posted by Amy in Miscellaneous, My Travels, Vintage Notions

I just got back from a trip to New York, during which I managed some research time at The Fashion Group International offices. Why the Fashion Group? My very own Mary Brooks Picken was a founding member (along with Eleanor Roosevelt!), president for several years in the 30’s, and continued as an active member throughout her life. You can imagine that I was eager to see what stories their library may have to tell me.

Once I arrived, I was introduced to Jean Meek-Barker, archivist for the Fashion Group (see photos above: top row, left). She graciously squeezed me in for an appointment on short notice, gave me a wonderful tour and introduced me to the staff. I felt fortunate she was able to accommodate me as it was Fashion Week in New York. To say the least, things were hectic. I was lucky to have company on this excursion from my husband’s step-sister, Meg (top row, center above, pouring over binders of slides from runway shows – every season since the 1940’s (top row, right)).

In the library, it was one treat after another, including a wonderful library of fashion books included this title on famed costume designer Edith Head (middle row, left & center), as well as several editions of Mary Brooks Picken’s Fashion Dictionary (middle row, right). Take a look at the Bazar book, Fabulous at Every Age, Your Quick and Easy Guide to Fashion (bottom row, left) open to a page of shoe styles paired with Mary’s dictionary explaining the proper names for unique heels. Great fashion is timeless!

The last photo I’ve included (bottom row, right) is a portrait gallery at FGI, including that of Marion C. Taylor, first president (’31-’32), and editor of Vogue and House and Garden.

Along with everything else she has contributed to my life, Mary lead me to the Fashion Group (I am enjoying my membership in my local Kansas City Chapter). In this post, as in others coming, my hope is to continue to share her legacy with you, as she has with me.

~ Amy

Two final notes:

The Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home. If you have any interest in learning more take a look at their Web site and consider visiting a meeting. If you have a chapter in your area, it’s a great place to network and share your enthusiasm for fashion.

If you want to simply learn more about the beginnings of the Fashion Group, visit this history page.

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