Vintage Home Sewing

Today I am so excited to share our friend Bev’s brand new book called “Vintage Home Sewing“.

Excited not just because it is filled with darling projects punctuated with Bev’s signature embroidery style…

…and not just because each project is sewn up with the lovely fabric line that she designed for Riley Blake….which we love and have used in several projects in the past like this version of our Make-It-Over-The-Weekend Quilt…

…but because it gives us a chance to talk about Bev.

Bev will always hold a special place in my heart. Several years ago I had my hands (and heart) full while we were in attendance at the same conference. Actually, Elizabeth and I were running the sewing track of this particular conference while Bev was running the crafting track. And even though this was fun it was also stressful.

Meanwhile I was making daily runs up to the hospital where my mom was in critical condition, we were working with my youngest in a special program to help her severely delayed speech, were struggling with another child’s reading deficit, and preparing our home to put up for sale. The timing could have not been worse to be in charge of the sewing room at a popular conference. I was a bit overwhelmed.

One afternoon I slipped out of the sewing room and into an embroidery class that Bev was teaching. (And may I just say if you ever have a chance to take a class from Bev…do it. You won’t be disappointed.) During the hands on portion of the class we had time to sit and visit.

We had both been in the process of writing our first books and I was eager to hear how hers had wrapped up and when it would be shipping….and she just happened to have the advanced copy the publisher had sent to her with her!

It was beautiful…and I meant to say something to the effect that I wished I could get one right then but it came out something like I wished I could have that one right then.

Not what I meant…at all. It was the first copy…and her only copy.

The next day someone came into the sewing room saying that when I had time to find Bev. A few minutes later I found Bev and she handed me her book. Her first and, at the time, only copy of her book. And I cried and cried.

It was the kindest gesture at a time when I really needed some kindness.

I keep that book always next to mine on the shelf in my sewing room. It is one of those items that will always be special to me. It reminds me how lucky I am to be a part of an online community where women are good and kind and support each other.

When life settled down I chose some fabric that totally reminded me of Bev to sew her up a thank you quilt. And I did…but then we moved (twice) and the quilt top was tucked away and in the jostling of life forgotten about until recently when I pulled it out of a box and finally bound it up. This weekend I will be sending it off to Bev….two years late but with the same appreciation now that I felt then.

Sometimes you see people online, on Facebook, on Instagram, on blogs and they seem so fantastic…and you wonder if they really are that wonderful in real life. I can tell you: Bev really is that fabulous, if not more excellent in “real life”.

So if you are looking for a sewing book where the projects are delightful as the author pick up a copy of “Vintage Home Sewing” written for Nancy’s Notions by Bev McCullough and to see more of Bev’s work and projects from the book hop on over to Bev’s website: Flamingo Toes…you’ll be happy you did!