Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman: Book Review and Giveaway

I will admit that reviewing books is a bit hard for me. Unlike a product that can be used and tested and opinion given right away, a book requires actual reading, something I don’t take time to do often enough. Last December, I was sent a copy of Amy Barickman’s hot-off-the-press book, Vintage Notions: An Inspirational Guide to Needlework Cooking Sewing Fashion & Fun to have and review. I’ll tell you, I was SO impressed by this book from the get go, that after only a few days with it, I hopped right online and ordered one for my sister, Jennifer Farquhar, for her birthday, knowing she would appreciate this creative, domestic handbook more than anyone I know.

Firstly, the graphic designer in me found this book to be so well designed and printed. It is a heavy piece, full to the top with vintage eye candy. I had to spread the pages just to give you an idea of how plump with deliciousness this book is.

Ok, so it’s an incredibly beautiful book…and, you had me at “Vintage Notions.”  This book is not only on my coffee table keeping me creatively satisfied and saturated in yesteryear, but it has allowed me to visit a time of my sweet grandmother’s era when every stitch held meaning and repurposing was far ahead of it’s time.Vintage Notions came about as a labor of love by Amy Barickman who is restoring great appreciation in the crafts and skills of women of the past through inspired publications that were written for them by Mary Brooks Picken. Mary was founder of The Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences in 1916. I actually have a few of her early booklets.Amy Barickman brought these important and pleasant lessons, tutorials, arts, crafts, recipes, tips from out of the past and colored them into an incredible keepsake gift. A gift to many of us who may feel we were born too late. Vintage Notions allows us to see the important relevance of the inspiration of the early century domestic arts and how to apply them within our lives today.

Vintage Notions is lovingly divided into all the months of the year.

Every month has a pocket for keepsakes, patterns, notes and notions.

There are techniques to revisit.Beverages to make.Birthdays to plan.

Lunch to fix.Patterns to sew.Notions to play with.Outings to organize.

And sentiments to cherish. This one above is quite special, allowing me the opportunity to tell my mom that I just purchased Vintage Notions for her for Mother’s Day, as she is dearly cherished every day. (Hi Mom!)

Here is a wonderful, little video about Vintage Notions.

That’s my review, though I’ve barely scratched the surface of the blessed content of this book. Thanks to Amy, you can purchase Vintage Notions at Indygo Junction and receive a JSIM reader discount of 20% with code: CH2VN

VINTAGE NOTIONS BOOK GIVEAWAY

Amy Barickman is giving away Vintage Notions books to TWO lucky JSIM readers. Entry is open to all readers who leave a nice, related comment on this post. Entry closes Sunday, April 17 at midnight PST. I am heading to Springfield, Missouri today to visit my mom and sister and I will announce the winners when I return home on Tuesday!

UPDATE: Thanks for all the fantastic entries! The random winners are #24 Martina and #247 Lynn! Congratulations ladies!