My Story
My mother and I with my first sewing machine.
My mother and I wearing Treasured Threadz™ at a recent quilt event.
Hello and Welcome to the Amy Barickman Studio! I’m Amy, and you might know me from my first company, Indygo Junction, or as the author of the award-winning book; Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun. But what you might NOT know, is that I have been a creative entrepreneur and historian for over 30 years! I have always been completely enamored with all things vintage and began collecting at a very early age. It all started when I would shop at antique stores and estate sales with my mother. I’ve become an avid collector over the years and have amassed one of the largest archives of vintage fashion and sewing books, images and ephemera in the United States!
This passion for vintage needlework and embroidery has also led me to add a variety of vintage quilts to my collection. I absolutely love discovering the history of these incredible vintage works of art and my desire to share this history led me to another project – my Vintage Modern Makers online primers! Each primer covers a specific technique and dives deep into the handmade history of topics like Redwork, Quilts, Feedsacks and more. Each primer is perfect for discovering something new and will give you tons of inspiration on ways to upcycle your favorite heirloom textiles.
Along my journey I have learned so much about textile history and the history of female creatives. My research into sewing history led me to discover my muse, Mary Brooks Picken, the founder of The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts & Science, who was a fashion and sewing authority in the early 20th century. It has truly been an honor to learn about this era of women’s history and I feel privileged to be able to share Picken’s timeless work with today’s audiences.
As you can see, I have a passion for vintage fabrics, quilts, sewing books, old patterns, buttons and anything hand-crafted with needle and thread. My newest project is the Treasured Threadz™ Collection in partnership with Colonial Patterns, a legacy brand and makers of Aunt Martha’s embroidery patterns with a long history in my hometown of Kansas City. Repurposing “found fabrics” has always been a favorite focus of mine and Treasured Threadz™ is the culmination of my love for vintage textiles and repurposing thrifted fabrics and preloved apparel. My fabric panels have been curated and designed into original works of art using my collection of rare vintage art, textiles and quilts. Treasured Threadz™ collage and patchwork fabric panels were created specifically for upcycling and embellishing projects, and are perfect for your favorite applique, embroidery, quilting, or collage techniques.
My mantra has always been ‘Vintage Made Modern’ and I am beyond excited about the new generation of makers, with their fresh perspective and enthusiasm for creativity and craft. It’s a true joy to see modern, creative women referencing vintage style and techniques in their contemporary creations.
I would love to invite you to explore my website, AmyBarickman.com, which offers my sewing patterns and books along with a wealth of creative inspiration and information based on my collection of vintage sewing and fashion treasures. Follow my blog and be sure to sign up for my newsletter for projects, fascinating stories, and handmade style.
You can also join my creative community on our Facebook group, Vintage Made Modern, subscribe to my @AmyBarickman YouTube channel for creative inspiration, or connect with me on Instagram at @amybarickman_studio! I can’t wait to see you there!
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Learn With Amy
Use the links below to learn about my latest in-person events and lecture options, my Vintage Modern Makers online courses, and I would love for you to subscribe to my YouTube channel—which houses dozens of fun videos and tutorials.
