Monday, January 30, 2017

Mary Brooks Picken Article


My good friend and owner of Kimberly's Fabric Stash, Kimberly Chaffee wrote this amazing article on Mary Brooks Picken for her County Register.   I am so happy that she is allowing me to share it here on my blog :)  It really is just amazing to read about some of the beginning of this amazing industry that we now love ;)   So without further ado . . . 



MARY BROOKS PICKEN- The Sewing Industry’s Most Influential Woman

Modern Sewing has its many influential people that have shaped the way you sew, where you sew, and how you sew. We know the names of Eleanor Burns, Nancy Zieman, Alex Anderson and many talented women that introduced us to new ways to design and fabricate everything from quilts to home décor.  These women are held up in modern times as leaders in the sewing industry and their means of delivery has been in large part through television and the internet along with many published books.

            Let me introduce you to the most influential woman that literally transformed thousands of women from ordinary clothing menders, to clothing specialists, capable of making a living and improving their homes with their sewing machines. At a time when most women were not able to vote, and less than 10% worked outside the home, a widowed woman from the Midwest moved East and began the most fascinating and influential career in sewing I believe I have ever witnessed.

Her name is Mary Brooks Picken, and if you stop for a moment, and look thru your library of sewing books, you may find The Singer Sewing Book , published by Singer in 1949, and written by this remarkable woman. This book is the authority on proper sewing technique covering everything from dressmaking to rugmaking. Although, upon closer inspection of your library you may find several of her books, since she wrote 91 during her career. I find writing 91 books exceptional? Why? By the time she was 28 years old in 1914, Mary had already written 64 textbooks and two dressmaking courses for the popular International Correspondence School located in Scranton, Pa.

Widowed at the age of 25, she was recruited by the school and opened the Women’s Institute under the ICS parent company. Courses offered at the institute were in sewing, dressmaking, millinery, and cooking. At 35 years of age, Ms. Picken had earned the role of Vice President for the Women’s Institute and a million dollar structure was built across the street from the ICS June 3rd, 1920.


The 125,000 women enrolled mainly from the United States, but also internationally, earned the praise from many influential sources including the U.S. commissioner of education at the time, P.P. Claxon. "In America at least, the home is the most important of all institutions" for it is the home that establishes the "physical, mental, and moral education" of children.” During the same period from 1920 thru 1925 Mary was editor of her quarterly publication, Fashion Service, and enrollment at her institute doubled to 253,000 enrollees.

Women from all over the United States wrote to Mary praising the school, and its education courses for improving their skills all around. In addition to earning money on the side to help support their family, women were opening businesses and supporting themselves. During early 1920s, “Most women were housewives, but by this time, a significant number of women did work outside the home, or even within it to earn money. Figures released when the cornerstone of the building was laid show for every 100 women enrolled in courses, 63 were married, 34 were single and three were widowed. Sixty-three percent of students studied to meet or enhance the requirements of their own home. Out of every 100, 17 planned to establish their own businesses, nine to prepare for a position in a business and 11 for both home and professional roles.” (Kashuba, 2011)

Having accomplished the monumental task of opening a school advancing women’s domestic skills, Mary moved forward and “begins a career in advertising with Singer Sewing, Dennison Crafts, and The Spool Cotton Company” (Barickman 2010). The Women’s Institute survived until 1937, due to a downturn from the Great Depression. In 1939 Mary opened the Mary Brooks Picken school on Madison Ave. in New York. She also released 3 books on fashion that same year.

During World War II there was a huge revitalization in sewing and women were encouraged to repurpose old clothes. The women that had completed courses from the Women’s Institute were skilled in accomplishing this and many were writing to magazines about what they had altered and renewed. By 1942 fabric sales were up by 50 percent over the previous year, and in 1943 70 million patterns were sold over the counter.

In 1949, Mary at the age of 63, wrote The Singer Sewing Book, which in 2 years sold 380,000 copies, and at its completion of printing sold over 8 million copies. At the age of 74, she was syndicated, writing a weekly column that reached 300 newspapers. Not much is written about her golden years, and she died the 6th of March, 1981 at the age of 94.

Mary Brooks Picken led an extraordinary life, and not only made a wonderful career from sewing and writing, but directly influenced women to take pride in their craftsmanship, and encouraged other towards entrepreneurship. I wonder today how many of Mary’s techniques are being replicated as “new” or “modern” in the sewing industry. Her methods taught women to abandon the ordinary, mundane task of sewing, and instead put their new skills toward making their homes and family fashionable and stylish. Mary Brooks Picken, an exceptional woman, whose techniques are still utilized today in everything we sew.

For further reading I encourage you to pick up a copy of Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman. The book is a compilation of patterns, techniques, recipes, and other things taught by Mary Brooks Picken at the Women’s Institute.




  Thank you so much Kimberly for sharing this with us!!!   So amazing!!!  Be sure to pop on over and say Hi to Kimberly at her blog ;)    And I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Bon Voyage!!

EEEkkk, I can't believe it is finally here.   I am so excited!!!  You might remember clear back here when I spilled the beans about getting to teach on a quilting cruise . . . Well, I am on my way!!!!!


So I am checking in today to let you know that I won't have internet for the next week.  So I will be pretty much absent from social media for a week and if you email me, it will take a little to get back and any shipping will be delayed.    But, no worries about coming to visit here.  I have lots of fun posts scheduled all week, so even though I won't be able to respond to your comments, I will kind of be like I am still around ;)

I will be sure and take lots of pictures so I can share everything when I get back ;)  So see ya in a week!!!  


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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Layer Cake Pop

I am so very excited to share my newest quilt finish this morning!!!  It's called Layer Cake Pop and it is another fabulous Shortcut Quilt from Fat Quarter Shop!!!   And I have to say, I just love it!!!!


I know I have said it before, but the Shortcut quilts are just so great!!!  They really are just like they sound, a shortcut.  They go together so fast and are so much fun to make.   For my quilt I used some background yardage and a Layer Cake of Maven by Basic Grey for Moda.    I just love how chic it is in all its black, grey and tan goodness!!!


And when it came time to quilt it, I wanted to do something that was as pretty as all of the gorgeous fabrics and so I decided to go with my all over feathered swirl.  I just love how it adds so many beautiful curving feathers to all of those beautiful star points ;)


And it is a great all over design for lots of yummy texture!!!   It makes me want to snuggle up with a good book!!!  (But I best not as this will be a gift for a special someone ;)


And that is my Layer Cake Pop Quilt!!!   And I just love how it pops in the afternoon sun, just like its fun name :)   I already want to make another one, just need to pick out a Layer Cake!!!


And if you want to make your own (and trust me, you will love making it!!) you can pop on over to the Jolly Jabber to get the free pattern and check out the fantastic You Tube video walking you through step by step of putting it together, and see lots more Layer Cake Pop eye candy :)


Thanks for popping in here today and each day :) 

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!



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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

January Sew Sampler!!

My January Sew Sampler  Sew Sampler box  arrived and I was so excited to open it!!!   I mean, how great it is that I basically get a Christmas Present dropped off on my doorstep a month after Christmas!!!  And I even managed to keep myself from peeking on Instagram so its contents were a total surprise!!!   And what an awesome surprise it was :)



I have to admit, I am a pretty big fan of pink (It doesn't beat out purple of course, but it is up there ;)  so I was excited when Robert Kaufman announced the Kona color of the year as Pink Flamingo.  And what a treat to get an entire charm park of lovely Pink Flamingo.   And how cute are those patterns to make up with that pink goodness!!!



And this month's notions were awesome!!!   I always, always, always need new rotary blades.   Does anyone else feel that crazy mixed emotion each time you put in a blade.  You are so excited with how sharp it is and how nicely it cuts and then you feel kind of silly for waiting so long to change it and wonder why you have been dealing with that dull blade for a month.   Or is that just me??


And of course, I had to whip up the monthly sampler block.   And you know I just love this month's because it's a star!!!   I can't believe this is block 10 already!!  Before I know it, I will be putting the quilt top together ;)  So exciting!!!



And now, I get to look forward to Christmas in February when my next Sew Sampler Box  arrives .  Ohh, I just love all of the amazing quilting goodness!!!

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!




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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!   Let's have some fun!!!

First,  we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of a  Kewpie Love Fat Quarter Set from Shabby Fabrics is . . . Number #6. . . Congrats Nancy!!! I have emailed you :)    

  



    
And on to today's


Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop is amazing and they never cease to amaze me with everything they have going on at their shop!!!     And if you haven't already, be sure to check out their new 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along that benefits Make a Wish Foundation.   The only thing better than quilting is quilting for a cause :) 


And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving one lucky reader a Carolyn Friedlander Big Stitch/ Aurifloss Thread Set!!!! Someone is going to have a whole lot of stitching fun with this beautiful Aurifloss !!!



You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me if you have tried Big Stitching before and if so, what was the project :)

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou Tube or at their Blog.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter which will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales, or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Fat Quarter Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until  Tuesday, February 7th ,  when I will announce a winner at the beginning that day's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)
 And yes, that is actually 2 weeks instead of 1.  I will be on my Quilting Cruise next week and will not have internet access, but there will still be a TTGD next week so no worries.  We will just do winners of both when I get back :) 

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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