Amy Barickman

Amy Barickman isn't just another crafting entrepreneur-she's basically the vintage textile whisperer who's been quietly revolutionizing how we think about sewing and embroidery for over three decades. As the founder of Indygo Junction and author of the award-winning "Vintage Notions," she's built something pretty remarkable: one of the largest archives of vintage fashion and sewing books, images and ephemera in the United States.

What makes Amy different? She doesn't just collect vintage stuff-she transforms it. With over 30 years of experience, she has collected and curated vintage textiles and art to inspire your modern makes. Think of her as that friend who can walk into any antique store and immediately spot the treasure everyone else missed. Over that time, she and her designers have released over 1000 pattern titles and published 80 books.

But here's where it gets interesting-Amy's not stuck in the past. Through her YouTube videos, blog, website, and e-newsletter, Amy inspires fabric arts enthusiasts to learn from the past and experiment with new products and techniques for creating in vintage made modern style. She's created this whole ecosystem where history meets hands-on creativity, offering everything from online DIY courses based on her collection of vintage fabrics and notions at VintageModernMakers.com to her popular Fabriflair kits.

And she's not just teaching techniques-she's sharing stories. A hobby of mine is researching characters in the history of sewing and quilting. I found that Amelia Earhardt had a connection to the legacy of needle arts. Who else would discover that Amelia Earhart carried a sewing box on her flights? That's the kind of detail that makes Amy's work so compelling.

The woman's got serious range too. A nature photographer. I love finding unique color, pattern and design in nature and capturing those images. She's constantly finding inspiration everywhere, whether it's at the Petoskey Antiques Show in Michigan or just walking through Kansas City where she's based.

What really sets Amy apart is how she makes vintage accessible. She is passionate about helping creatives find inspiration for handmade projects to make them easily and cultivate more joy in everyday living with needle and thread! It's not about being precious with old things-it's about bringing that craftsmanship and beauty into today's world.