Our guest today is Amy Barickman. Born in Michigan, raised in Iowa - Amy graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Fine Arts, only wishing it was with an emphasis in textiles versus glass blowing.

Always drawn to boutique fashion as well as upcycling and vintage, Vintage Made Modernhas been a theme of many of the books and patterns she produced over the more than 30 the years of product development with the brand she founded in 1990, Indygo Junction.

She is the author of the award-winning book; Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework, Cooking, Sewing, Fashion and Fun.

Most recently her passion for vintage and upcycling, led her to create Treasured Threadz with her manufacturing and distribution partner Colonial Patterns. Her latest project, a gift book Love You to Piecesis a combination of her passion for collecting quilts and sharing handmade treasures along with the history behind them .

She is coming full circle with her new project - a book based on her collection of quilts and stuffed bears and dolls- she’ll also be introducing a collection of doll and bear patterns to companion the book - hoping to add machine embroidery and other products that will inspire the sewing and quilting community.

Additionally, she’s working with Colonial Patterns on a new line of embroidery products under ABC Amy Barickman Creative.

Amy currently spends most of the year in Kansas City, though she enjoys her family home in NW Michigan as well. Her husband is a sixth-grade teacher, and they have two kids who both have graduated college and are working in Kansas City.

(2:29) Amy’s mother taught her to sew and her grandmother also provided inspiration. She tells about her Girl Scout project…a wrapped skirt. Learn of her mom’s business and how that also influenced Amy.

(4:30) What business did Amy start in High School? And…how did her mom influence this?

(7:57) Supporting local businesses is so very important to Amy. She talks about why she feels this way and why it’s important.

(9:44) Why the fascination with vintage? Mom and Grandma had a lot to do with this. Hear about the photo with the matching gingham outfits!

(12:11) Amy talks about her brand-new line of embroidery products…she’s launching them soon!

(15:04) Amy is excited about the new makers in sewing. She explains why she feels this way and provides examples.

(17:46) How did Amy come up with the name of her first company, Indygo Junction?

(18:30) Why dies Amy consider herself a historian? Learn that here!

(21:00) Mary Brooks Picken is Amy’s muse. Amy tells us Mary’s story and why she’s had such a powerful influence on her.

(25:44) Hear about Mend and Make Do…the precursor to upcycling!

(27:30) What inspired Amy? Well, would you be surprised if she said Vintage?

(28:53) Amy shares the deep connection she has with the sewing community and how important all of this is to her.

(31;59) New book, landing page, launch party! Love You to Pieces is her new book! Amybarickman.com/loveyoutopieces

(33:50) What’s next for Amy? And of course, what’s her dream?!

(35:09) Anything we didn’t ask?

(35:42) How do you reach out to Amy? Amy@amybarickman.com. Also go to amybarickman.com for more info and to join her community.

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Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.

Today we welcome quilt artist Barbara Ann McCraw. Actually…we welcome her back as we met Barbara in person and interviewed her at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah at her exhibit Life Stories during Quilt Week in 2024. While our conversation was a component of a compilation of stories…we felt that she had so much more to share, hence she joins us today.

Barbara grew up on the south side of Chicago and later attended Illinois State University where she earned a degree in English. In 1986 she earned a degree in medical technology and worked at Texas Woman’s Univrsity, University of North Texas and UT Southwestern Medical center where she became pathology supervisor until her retirement in 2000.

Barbara’s quilts have won numerous awards and many now make their home in private collections. They have been featured in multiple publications and featured in a documentary and a CBS television human interest story.

In 2012 Barbara was invited to teach in Tanzania, Africa and two years later she returned there to participate in a quilt honoring Nelson Mandella. Barbara gives large credit for her success to her husband Erine who has helped her both personally and professionally throughout her quilting career.

Barbara and Ernie make their home in Texas.

(2:20) Barbara talks about how she learned to sew and who was her influence. A very loud, rambunctious family had a large part in this!

(4:55) Learn about Barbara’s mother and more about her influence on Barbara’s sewing, leading with courage and unconditional love.

(6:35) Barbara’s career started out using her English. A pregnancy changed course for her. She always wanted to wear a lab coat…and wanted to be a doctor and learned that medical technology was really her thing. So off she went to become a pathologist/medical technologist.

(10:03) So how did Barbara decide to learn to quilt? A move to Texas and missing her mom led the way. Learn about her interactions with the Newcomers Club in Carolton, TX and how this influenced her path

(11:50) What was her first quilt? Learn that here.

(12:35) The Family Reunion Quilt is one of her finest. She shares the story of this wonderful creation…and the dream that started it all. Her family history story is quite amazing.

(18:10) Barbara talks openly about living through many race-based issues. She addresses this through her Loving Quilt. Hear this story and the impact this creation has had. She talks about her husband Ernie, their marriage and how Mildred and Richard Loving had an impact on them.

(23:39) Learn more about Ernie McCraw, his influence on Barbara’s career and the secret to their 45-year marriage.

(28:52) Learn about Barbara’s trips to Tanzania and her work on the Nelson Mandela quilt.

(34:12) In 1995 Barbara became involved in Aids Services of North Texas. Because of this, she joined a sewing group that was working on the Names Project…creating quilt blocks made for families of those who passed from Aids. Learn why these quilts were 3’x6’.

(38:05) How has quilting influenced her life and why is it so special to her? Belonging is the foundation of all of this.

(39:45) What’s next for Barbara and what’s her dream? Well, there’s this special quilt she’s working on…!

(41:40) It there any question I didn’t ask?

(42:45) What’s the best way to reach Barbara? www.quiltasart.com.

Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.