Rita's Turn on the Blog Tour

It was an honor to be invited to participate in this "blog tour"for the launch of Nancy's new autobiography, Seams Unlikely. Yesterday, the official "launch" took place in Madison, Wisconsin at the Wisconsin Public Television studios.

I was planning to go -- and REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. Then I got sick -- and as it happens -- we had another big dump of snow Saturday afternoon -- so I am glad I wasn't on the road after all. WINTER JUST WON'T QUIT, EH??

See that empty chair in the front row? THAT WAS FOR ME...!!

Nancy autographed everybody's books....

AND she always has to TEACH SOME KIND OF SEWING thingy...

I was really sorry I missed eating lunch with my good friend John...

In the book, Nancy thanks everybody who helped her along the way. But real gratitude always goes both ways. The handsome man chowing down on the appetizers is listed as "John Handsome" in my cellphone. John started working in the warehouse when he was still in high school. Now he is the well respected manager of a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art warehouse -- and I'm pretty sure he could get a job anywhere.

That's what Nancy and Rich Zieman did for Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. They took pride in building a business that provided good jobs for people. The kind of jobs that could support a family -- you could buy a house, a car and pay for your kids college tuition.

I don't want to get all mushy here -- but Nancy Zieman has been the wind beneath a lot of people's wings in the sewing industry -- not just in Beaver Dam.

And -- hey -- you will love the book.  My husband John read it cover-to-cover -- (mostly he only reads Civil War history books).

If you have a book club, or a sewing club -- make reading Seams Unlikely a goal for this year. It is a great read that makes for very interesting discussions. Nancy Zieman is, at her very core, a teacher. And one of the lessons of her book is that your life is what you make it. It's always about that glass half-empty, half-full, isn't it?

Nancy teaches by example.  And reading about her life -- the lesson is that kindness matters.  When you treat people fairly, every single day -- it always comes back to you.

Thanks, Nancy!  (again!)

P.S. If you want to WIN A COPY OF SEAMS UNLIKELY -- click on this link -- Nancy's kick off blog --February 4 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/blog-tour/seams-unlikely-book/ Post a comment there -- many copies of the book will be given away!!