When we were asked recently if we wanted to review Nancy Zieman’s new book…the answer was undoubtedly YES! Nancy Zieman….she is the queen of all things sewing and I grew up watching her series on PBS. And her book is exactly as I thought is would be…delightful.
She talks about her growing up on a farm in Wisconsin, overcoming Bell’s Palsy, and her sewing career in all its paths. And how it all started with one 4-H demonstration of showing how to put on a waistband.
She says, “There is no magic to a waistband, but when I stood before the judges of my club, demonstrating step-by-step- how to prepare and attach a waistband, the girl who spoke was confident, articulate and at home in herself.”
And my favorite line in the whole book is the last on that page.
“Nothing else mattered–I had discovered where I belonged.”
I love that line….probably because I feel the same way about sewing. It is a sense of belonging for me. A sense of “I-did-it-ness” and if it wasn’t right then I can correct it and make it again. There aren’t many things in life that give me do-overs, but sewing is one that does. There is always a seam ripper.
And that belonging goes further than a project. Through sewing I have found a community out there that I don’t think I would have found in any other way. I like to think about that when I sew….about how there are other people out there, sitting at their sewing machines and stitching away, just as members of my family tree did before me. I know it sounds weird—but it does give me a sense of belonging to something that is greater than me.
What does sewing mean to you?
As part of Nancy’s book tour….you can read other’s reviews HERE and you have the chance to win your own copy of Nancy’s book!!!! Head HERE for all the details!!!
An inspiration to all who sew for sure and definitely need to read Nancy’s story!
Sewing is my creative outlet. It lets me play with color and pattern. It allows me to say, “I think you are special and care about you,” when I make outfits for special people in my life. I just made shades for my new grandson’s nursery. Though they live 8 hours away from me, I hope my daughter knows that I wish I could be with them more often. Helping to make her vision for the nursery come alive was my way of saying, “I miss you, but I’m here for you.”
Deborah