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Before we go to Grandma's Kitchen I want to say how blessed I am to have spent some time with Nancy Zieman. She was a guest on my talk show several times. We did internet projects together. I hosted the Babylock Destiny II launch party with her. And my friend Heidi Stock who works at Missouri Star Quilt Company posted this photo she took of Nancy taking a photo of Jenny Doan and me at the last Babylock event in July.
I'll remember Nancy as not only a fabulous teacher, but as a sewing super hero, the.founder of Nancy's Notions, longtime host of Sewing With Nancy on Wisconsin Public Television.. and as a woman who was elegant .. strong.. determined..and giving. She made every single person feel special And she gave so much to our Sewing world. I will miss you Nancy, and hope I can be even half as giving as you have been.
In lieu of cards and flowers, the Zieman family suggests donations be made in Nancy’s name to Wisconsin Public Television (https://wptschedule.org/Donate/) or to Hillside Hospice in Beaver Dam, Wis. (https://bdch.com/how-you-can-help).
I'd like to dedicate this block to Nancy, as I imagine Nancy would relate to my choice for the block memory this week… as every kitchen MUST have this memory. And if you have a memory about meeting Nancy or about her shows, leave me a comment and I'll pass this link along to her family..
Block 20/25, Lovely Dishes!
I'm curious did your Grandma have every day dishes & special dishes?
Is there on piece you totally remember .. why do you remember it?
I share you my story in the pattern (which includes a little wistful memory), but here is an extra piece I remember. My granny had 'divided plates', you know the kind with the dividers? I used one of those for years and years because I didn't like my food to touch each other! Anyone else have that issue?
I went to take photos off my camera and here was one the shipping department took while I was working on the block..
I am sadly behind on blocks in the other colors.. I'll catch up, but not today!
The whole family together!
We have one more row, that is 5 blocks, left to this sew along. I am looking at getting 2 blocks to you in one week. That way we finish a bit sooner. I had some serious 'math/calendar' issues when posting the original end date… so i want to move it up a bit but my schedule is fighting me on this concept. I plan to win … but I don't want to promise anything.
The NEXT sew along starts in January! I have not picked a date yet for it, but will announce it early-ish December. Is early-ish a word?
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- Download Pat Sloan Block 20 directions Grandmas Kitchen
- Download PRIOR Blocks & the LAYOUT at the project page
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32 Responses
Nancy’s gentle, no-nonsense approach always appealed to me. Such a kind person who generously shared her many talents. Feel proud to share her name. Nancy has left a wonderful legacy and she will be missed. 💕
I never had the good fortune to meet Nancy in person but I sure enjoyed watching her shows on tv , if I wasn’t going to be home I would be sure to record the show to watch later, she as a huge influence in my sewing and taught me so much. I will miss her and my sincere sympathy to her family .
I knew exactly what dishes you were talking about “brown with drip edges” – my parents had that set when I was growing up! I have a few of my grandmother’s “Jewel Tea” pieces, so pretty – even “give away” things were elegant back then.
I can remember watching Nancy’s PBS show. I had learned garment sewing in 4-H, but there seemed to be some little trick or technique or new notion in each show that taught me something. She will be missed.
I grew up in an era when the only dishwashers in the house were of the human kind. When I was about 10 and had had experience with this boring task I remember watching my favorite Grandma lovingly wash her dishes. I asked her if she ever got tired of the chore. She replied that she pretended each dish was a girl getting ready for a dance and she was making her as pretty and shiny as she could for the occasion! Totally turned my negative view of dish washing around for a little bit~and left me with a great memory of just one reason why she was my favorite Grandma!
I miss my Grandma~and, I will miss Nancy, too!
I loved Nancy’s Sewing and really respected all the work she did to help others in need, such as Little Dresses for Africa. After I read her autobiography, I respected her even more–she worked hard to get to where she was–and her hard work paid off for her. She will be missed!
I was blessed to meet Nancy at a quilt show in Madison with a friend. She was so wonderful. A very kind person who took the time to talk to each person she met like they were old friends. We will miss you Nancy.
I remember watching Nancy on one episode where she was talking about one of her first quilts she had given as a gift for a wedding, and how after she gifted it noticed a mistake, and she was embarrassed, I realized that even the best of the best are still their own worst critics. Nancy was so graceful, I admired her greatly and often wondered how could I ever measure up to her. However with her, every one can do it personality was encouraging to me so, I sewed, and and eventually loved it. Thank you Nancy, condolences to her family.
I found Nancy when I lived in USA for 2 years from Australia….it was wonderful as I was new to quilting but instantly addicted. We dont have anything like this in Australia….it was a bit like stepping back in time. Nancy was so clever….terribly sad to lose a matriarch of the community so early 😭
I awoke yesterday morning, and it has become typical for me to turn on my PBS station to watch back to back quilting/sewing shows, at 8 am is Sewing with Nancy. I watched and was amazed to see the up cycled denim ideas that were presented. May Nancy rest in peace.
I will always remember the date, it was my parents wedding anniversary, and it is mom’s first year in 58 years without dad. 😥
My Granny’s dishes were Fiestaware. When she moved to town, someone got in her farmhouse and took here dishes. I have my papa’s coffee mug and my Granny’s cookiejar which was in the shape of a clown.
Hi Pat, I got to meet Nancy at Babylock Tec one year. She was so nice. Acted like we knew each other for years. She was like that to all who met you. Watching her show taught me a lot. Helped with rising four small ones at the time I found sewing with Nancy, sewing was my therapy. Even when my oldest was a baby he would look like he was watching too. There will never be another Nancy. There will be others who will work, like me to measure up to her, and make her proud for the sewing and quilting she has taught us.
Nancy we will miss you.
My grandmother had teacups. Not fancy but when we went to visit she would serve us tea ( more milk then tes) and toast. We thought this was the greatest.
I have one of Nancy’s recent books that she signed for me in May of this year when I was at the sewing weekend at Nancy’s Notions. Such a great lose to so many people.
Dear Pat, When I receive the catalog from Nancy’s Notions, I’m like a kid going through the Christmas toy catalog! What a sad thing for her passing, gone too soon. She taught everyone to love sewing. Thank you for letting me post.
I really admired Nancy even when she had her stroke and Bells Palsey. She was a classy lady who shared my TV every Saturday morning as I learned new ways to make quilt blocks, or sew clothing and tricks to make them fit better. She always had great guests on her show and I hope WI broadcasting will continue to run her shows, even repeat them. The ones I have recorded will be extra special now. I get her catalog once a month even though I know she sold that part of her business. My condolences to her family!
P.S. Nancy’s blog had 761 comments when I looked at it. That’s in one day!
Oh, no!!! I didn’t even know that Nancy was ill. I’m so sorry to hear this. Thanks for mentioning it. I’ve watched her show since sometime in the ’80s. I will really miss seeing her on that show. I’ve learned a lot from her even though I have sewed since I was 7 yrs. old. I feel a need to have a party with my sewing machines to celebrate her life. I’ll invite my daughter, but she’s not into sewing, so I doubt she’ll come, unless I’m hemming some pants for her. 😛
My grandmother had “Old Country Roses” dishes. I don’t remember any other dishes at her house even when I stayed at their house for a week. I still love that dish pattern, but only have one footed bowl. If they made them for dishwasher use, I would definitely have to have some. ;D
I don’t remember any pink in your blocks, Pat, since I’ve been following you. You’re full of surprises, aren’t you! 😀
So sorry to hear of the passing of this fine lady! I shared with my Island Quilt Guild in Gulf Shores AL the apron I made this summer for the apron challenge! It was Nancy’s show on “up-cycling” jeans that inspired me to use my favorite pair of jeans to make my little apron! By the way it was a pair of jeans I had “out grown” that were just taking up space in my closet! Pat you are coming to Gulf Shores this summer! If you have never been you will love it! Unfortunately I’ll be back in New York and will miss taking a class from you again! With that all said thank you for providing this forum for us to all share our memorial of a great lady!
So sorry to hear about Nancy – my heart aches at this news. It seems, I was just getting to know her through many quilting blogs. What a strong, special person she was!
I discovered “Sewing With Nancy” when we moved to Idaho as a young couple with 2 very small children. I had never been away from home family and friends before. In the show, I learned more about sewing than I had known before, and Nancy became a welcome friend visiting me in my home weekly. I shall miss her as I would miss any friend whom I had known for a long time.
Even my husband is sad to hear this news. She was an icon in our home – every Saturday morning on Public Television I had to watch Sewing with Nancy. Thankfully the information she shared is available via videos and other forms of media. Thanks to Nancy I obtained a job as a seamstress when I could no longer handle office work stress.
my condolences to Nancy,s family, and all of her sewing circle around the World… a beautiful person with a heart of gold… She,ll be missed…lucky us for knowing her and having her in our homes.. we are the blessed ones…
I had no idea she died, I was just watching some YouTube videos of her. So sad 🙁
Back in the days of no internet, Nancy was your friend you met with on Saturday s. What a blessing she was!
Thank you for the tribute to Nancy Zieman. She has been a part of my quilting/sewing life since the beginning. An inspiration to me as a quilter and a teacher.
What a special memory! And a picture with two iconic quilting women! Well, three iconic quilting women, total! 🙂
I’m glad I read her biography, have purchased some of her DVDs and have a number of her books. I’ve learned a lot from her tips, so simply explained and demonstrated.
Her legacy will live on.
My sincerest sympathy to her family, friends and colleagues who will miss her most.
Very sad for all of us that we have lost Nancy. I had met her and always felt she was a friend. Watched her sewing shows from the start, and enjoyed them and learned a lot from her.
Sympathies to her family and her sewing family. A great loss for all.
Pat do you know what Nancy’s favorite those are colors I’d like to use
I live in WI not far from where Nancy lived. She started the WI Quilt Expo years ago which has grown into a huge annual event each September. I have attended many times including the 2017 one. It is consisted by WI Public Television and hopefully they will keep it going. My sympathies to her friends and family.
I met Nancy a few years ago at a quilting expo in Washington. She was a delightful, funny, giving woman. I thoroughly enjoyed my hour with her.
I grew up sewing all of my own clothes. When I discovered Sewing with Nancy I found out how much more I had to learn. What a great teacher she was. I’ve been following her current block of the month and will eventually finish the quilt. I will dedicate it to her; it will be a gentle reminder of what a great inspiration she was to all of us.
loved Nancy’sewing shows for years learned lots of tricks and general knowledge tips and garment construction from her over the years have brought many items from her store and lots of her videos on projects to make She will greatly missed and I don’t think anyone will fill her shoes
I have great memories of getting up on Saturday mornings a little early just so I could watch Sewing with Nancy. I had sew professionally for years before I found her but I always looked forward to the show and learned many things over the years that I had incorporated into my daily sewing. She has left a great legacy through her sewing. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.