If you love to sew -- you are most likely a fan of Nancy Zieman. Her PBS series, "Sewing with Nancy" is the longest running program on North American television. Thanks to her, millions of people learned how to sew -- or improved or advanced their sewing techniques.
I think Nancy's natural curiosity is why she is such a success story. She has always been interested in what new notion or machine or technique might improve her end result. Nancy embraced new technology, and was on the edge with computer sewing machines, then digital embroidery -- whatever was new or inventive. She was eager and delighted to learn something new...and then, of course -- share with US -- her viewers.
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| Mary Mulari and Nancy Zieman, in Beaver Dam -- getting ready for a seminar. |
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| The quilt hanging on the wall is one of Nancy's originals. She is a passionate landscape quilter... |
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We all know how to Google. But, once again, with her natural curiosity, Nancy went one step further -- learning about Google analytics. Of course, she went into the analytics to see WHY people were googling her name. She discovered thousands of hits like "Nancy Zieman's stroke"...or Nancy Zieman's face. So, with a little encouragement from her friends, Nancy decided she would write a different kind of book.
Nancy Zieman is a successful author and a gifted writer. But her autobiography.
"Seams Unlikely" is a huge departure from her usual "how-to" sewing books. She takes the reader behind the scenes of her life -- starting with her childhood, growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, Bell's Palsy at the age of three, being a traveling teacher, and building a multi-million dollar company...
Some early reader reviews of Seams Unlikely:
Here is your window to the world of PBS star, Nancy Zieman: Her struggles, her strategies, her heartaches, her triumphs. Beyond Nancy’s television fame, you will discover a real person who refused to be limited by facial paralysis, chronic pain, or financial and business challenges. Woven through each page is Nancy’s constancy— and inspiring message: “If I can do it, so can you.” Read it and believe.
Gail Brown
Author, columnist and frequent Sewing With Nancy guest
My first mistake in reading this book was starting it late at night – I couldn’t put it down and had an early flight the next day. My second mistake was in reading it on the plane where I uttered sympathetic groans, shed crocodile tears and let a few peals of laughter rip from my lungs in the company of a plane full of strangers. My third mistake was in assuming I knew everything about Nancy Zieman. Her success has been built on true grit, honesty and control of her destiny. She is the American success story.
Eileen Roche
Editor, Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine
I loved reading Seams Unlikely. Nancy wrote her autobiography the same way she does everything -- with a graceful, classy confidence, and a lot of unexpected humor. After reading Nancy's story, I am even more impressed with who Nancy Zieman is and what she has accomplished in her life. I laughed, I cried, and I learned something new. At the end of the day, that's always been the thing that drives Nancy Zieman. She is, first and foremost -- an inspiring teacher.
To find out more about the book -- which is a great read and a WONDERFUL GIFT -- go to the
Seams Unlikely website. If you're going to be in Madison, Wisconsin -- there is a special book signing on February 15th. AND the book will be officially launched at Sew Expo in Puyallup at the end of the month.
