Julie's Journal

Get in the know by reading more about Sewing Savvy's Divas. Be sure to read the rest of the interview in the September magazine.

Nancy Zeiman, President of Nancy's Notions

I started sewing at the age of 10 when I joined 4H. Everyone had to make a gathered skirt and a matching fringed scarf. The skirt was a bandana print and the scarf was gold, which I did not like and never wore.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin where life was quite small. I was attracted to sewing as I looked for something new to learn over the summer.

I've had many successes and blunders and continue to have them every year. Many years ago while taping a zipper insertion segment for TV the steps and timing progressed flawlessly. When I was finished and held up the garment to the camera -- the entire zipper was inserted upside down! It was great presentation with awful results. We struggled to re-tape the segment which took forever, as everything then seemed to go wrong.

I admire many professionals in our industry but most of all I'm truly amazed at the number of individuals who selfishly sew for others. They use their own money and time making quilts for the homeless or layettes for sick babies or special clothing for military personnel who may come home injured. I wish I had more time to sew for someone I will never know.

When I first started sewing it was all fashion sewing but today it's many things. Often, when I'm feeling pressed for time I dream up great projects but only wind up completing them in my mind. Personally, for fun, and when it's not work-related, I enjoy making landscape quilts.

Sewing was and will remain a great creative outlet for people. I predict the future will continue to offer us many more options. The range of choices will be more diverse with new products and equipment. I see people of all generations finding what they like to do best and exploring that field to it's fullest -- some prefer quilting, others embroidery and some may choose high fashion sewing. Speed will also be important -- more and more people are enjoying embellishing a blank or putting their creative stamp on a ready-made item.

If you have any questions or comments about sewing, be sure to write me. I love to hear from you, and who knows, maybe you’ll see your question answered on this Web site.