August 1: Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman

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Every year, the Kansas Center for the Book releases of 15 Kansas Notable Books. The prettiest book on this year’s list is Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions, an inspirational guide to needlework, cooking, sewing, fashion and fun.

Amy Barickman, a graduate of KU and the owner of Indygo Junction and The Vintage Workshop, found a kindred spirit in one-time Kansan Mary Brooks Picken. Picken, a pioneering businesswoman and international authority on dressmaking, founded the Women’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences in Scranton, PA, in 1916. The school, in operation until 1934, educated more than 300,000 women, combining classroom instruction and correspondence courses. Picken also published hundreds of newsletters, entitled, “Inspiration” and “Fashion Service,” that Barickman pored through to find the most timeless kernels of wisdom. She has preserved and compiled the material in a beautiful package for enthusiasts of today’s domestic scene.

Arranged by month, August includes an essay on how to host a smokin’ bonfire picnic and fashion advice for the traveler, such as how to embellish a hat for vacation needs. Each month also includes a vintage pattern, and a kimono is perfect to make for weekends away. My thanks to the Kansas Notable Book committee for bringing attention to this hidden gem.



Amy Barickman’s website (Link)
List of 2011 Kansas Notable Books (Link)
Wikipedia on Mary Brooks Picken, including a list of her publications (Link)