I have mixed emotions about my blog post today. While I am so excited about the new I Sew for Fun book and all the products that go with it, I feel sadness knowing that the author and my dear friend, Nancy Zieman, isn’t here with us able to share and promote her new book. As most of you know, Nancy was such an inspiration in the sewing community. She was an example of a woman entrepreneur who started her own business during a time when men pretty much ran the show in the sewing industry. She was focused, driven and creative all the while being one of the nicest, humble, most down to earth women I have ever met. I do not think there was a mean bone in that woman’s body.
I was supposed to film ‘Sewing with Nancy’ this past November 2017. In September 2017, my husband and I were on a flight to New Mexico to attend my grandfather’s funeral and I said to him during the flight…..I need to follow up with Nancy and plan the details for our filming in November. When we landed, I turned on my phone, checked my email and I had a note from Nancy cancelling our filming with her most recent diagnosis and informing me of her retirement. It felt like a pit in my stomach and I sent up my deepest prayers for her. But sadly, it was only a matter of months before her passing. I miss you, Nancy……..we all do. Thank you for everything you did for our industry and for being a mentor to me as I’ve grown my own business. You will always have a special place in my heart.
Dear Josephine,
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
