Babylock’s Common Threads Event

A couple weeks ago liZ and I had the opportunity to attend Babylock’s Common Threads event.  When we first saw the guest list of who was coming, liZ and I started wondering why in the world an invitation had come to us…because we are pretty much not even on the same caliber to be a room with these ladies.  So many of them are masters in the art of sewing and well, we are just two moms who love to sew.  And truthfully we were more than a bit scared to even be in the same room and introduce ourselves.

But we got on a plane and went to St. Louis where we were introduced to the Babylock family.  And what a family they are.  Seriously, we got to hear the stories of how the Tacony family (yes, they are still running it)  started Babylock as a small sewing and vacuum shop and kept growing and growing and growing.  I was so impressed that one man started the whole thing…and now there are 3 generations in the company.  In today’s business world their story is pretty amazing.

And then there was this time we got to sit on a couch with…the…Eleanor Burns.  (We felt like we were pinching ourselves…a lot.)

Lindsay, liZ, Eleanor, Elizabeth

And chat with some new and old faces in the blogging world. Top Row: liZ, Kate, Lindsay Bottom Row: Dana (our roommate;), Kelly, Elizabeth and Melissa and so many more that we didn’t get photos with.

And although we don’t come out of hiding much, here we are in front of the “words to live by” banner.  They asked everyone to fill out a questionnaire and give advice.  Then they made them into this giant backdrop for the event.  I stood there for a long time reading what everyone said…there was some good advice up there 😉

liZ and I have talked quite a bit about the event.  And we want to share all the stories with you.  Like the time we got to sit by Nancy Zieman at a dinner, or sit and hear the story of the Missouri Star Quilt Ladies and how they are re-building their town through sewing (FANTASTIC!), or learning new sewing techniques from all the Babylock staff, or being able to “speed date” and network and meet the most fantastic people, or about the hour or so that we got to sit and wait for transporation and airplanes with Eleanor and hear how she got her start.  I am sure she was tired from the event (I was) but she was gracious and wonderful and told us all about her story and let us ask a million questions.

And then, of course, there are the “Ethel and Lucy” stories that should be shared.  About the fact that Liz’s suitcase was overweight and we had to repack in the middle of the terminal, or the fact that I am a pure-baby on plane rides, or the tornado watches and warnings everywhere right after we landed…..yes there are lots of those too.

But the thing I walked away with was the relationships from influential business women, from editors and producers, and so many other women who do remarkable things for sewing in the publication and media world.  There are no words…it was just fantastic.

  These women have done great things in the sewing community. But, I think when you sit down and talk with them—they don’t think they are amazing.  They were all just women who loved to sew….

That is the part I loved.  Meeting the women behind the stories and hearing their love of sewing coming through.  It really built me up.  I seriously came home on a sort of “women can do ANYTHING” high….because these women have.  And continue to do so, each and every day.  All for the love of sewing.

Below is a video that Babylock put together of the event.

CommonThreads2014 from Tacony Corporation on Vimeo.