PBS Wisconsin Documentaries

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The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.

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Mary Mulari

I don't think that Nancy, at age two or three, stood in front of a mirror with something pretending to be a microphone. I don't believe she envisioned herself that way at all. But it developed that way and very successfully developed that way.

Nancy

I'm Nancy Zieman, and welcome to "Sewing With Nancy".

Eileen Roche

People would not ever expect her to be the television personality for 35 years that she was.

Ben White

She always saw herself as a teacher, and public television was that avenue to be the classroom in your own home.

Nancy

Obviously, I'm not symmetrical.

Tom Zieman

She never let the paralysis in her face define who she was.

Kathy Gittus

That was the least of who she was. What she really was, was a great educator, had a passion for sewing, and was able to relate that to people. What she really was was just who you saw on TV.

Nancy

You just need to practice. Have fun and be an artist.

Laurie Gorman

She was trying to encourage people. She was trying to give them confidence.

Eileen Roche

You could learn an awful lot from Nancy Zieman about many things.

Marjorie Russell

She was a teacher.

Nancy

You did it all with your sewing machine.

Marjorie Russell

And she showed us how it could be done.

Nancy

That's what's coming up next on "Sewing With Nancy".

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Nancy

Funding for Nancy Zieman

Extraordinary Grace is provided by John W. and Lenore L. Landry Endowment Fund, Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family Stanley J. Cottrill Fund, Diane Dempsey, Elizabeth Olson, Ruth Ann Potts, Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programming, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

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Nancy

I was more determined to make something of myself, to show people that I could. Not because I was a woman, but because I was a woman who had physical limitations. I wanted to prove that I was beyond that.

cassette recorder clicks off

Nancy

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Nancy

Russell

There's a creativity in each one of us that we need to foster. And for many women, it came out in sewing. The sewing world has changed tremendously in the last 40 years.

Deanna Springer

The sewing industry has really changed from a necessity in the '50s and '60s of garment sewing into more of a hobby and an art form.

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Russell

It's been just an interest in expressing ourselves through the creativity of our hands.

scissors snipping

Nancy

I have to take it out.

Deanna Springer

Nancy Zieman started the Sewing With Nancy TV show in 1982.

Nancy

Welcome to another program of Sewing With Nancy, Today...

Kathy Gittus

There was nothing like this on TV. It was a brand-new thing, you know. Something that nobody had ever tried to do before.

Marjorie Russell

Entire channels are devoted to do-it-yourself projects now. Nancy was a forerunner for that.

Nancy

When working with thread, choose one shade darker than the fashion fabric. That's right, one shade darker.

Eileen Roche

I looked at Sewing With Nancy as Julia Child was for cooking. I mean, she really ignited sewing across the nation.

sewing machine chugging

Viewer

I loved "Sewing With Nancy". Nancy inspired me to do more. She's always had the ability to make you think you could do it too. All you have to do is sit down and watch her, and you learn how to sew.

Nancy

Today, we have an exciting program. It's time to discover the joy of sewing and quilting. That's what's next on "Sewing With Nancy".

sewing machine stitching

Nancy

We start the A-to-Z sewing process by working with one of the simplest of all techniques.

Ben White

Sewing With Nancy was a how-to educational sewing show that aired on public television from coast to coast, border to border. By the time it was done, we finished with over 900 episodes.

Nancy

And you pin the section together, that 7-inch section.

Laurie Gorman

Sewing With Na ncy was a project-based show. Nancy would take a project, show you what it would become in the end, and then take you step-by-step through the process of creating that.

Nancy

And then, just line these two up, five inches down.

Ben White

The show was very simplistic. We didn't use flashy graphics. We didn't use all these effects.

Eileen Roche

It wasn't sexy. You know, it didn't have to have lots of glitz and shine. It let her really teach methodically and explain to the viewers how to do it.

Laurie Gorman

She gave you the confidence to feel like, "Well, if Nancy can do that, I can do that too."

Nancy

It isn't difficult. We'll take a logical, simplified approach. A little practice, so it's kind of fun to do.

Laurie Gorman

I think the reason she was so popular for so many years was because she was like a familiar friend.

Ted Zieman

My mom, she didn't try to be somebody different. She is who she was on TV.

Marjorie Russell

She was a friendly, welcoming person, like the girl next door.

Tom Zieman

People saw her as a really down to earth, realistic person that they enjoyed, quite literally, inviting into their homes. They were able to more closely relate to my mom because she wasn't this picturesque, perfect figure on TV telling you how to make something.

Rich Zieman

People enjoyed watching it. She didn't try to be flamboyant. She didn't try to be anybody other than who she was.

Nancy

You know that the inside is equally as important as what's on the outside. One of the main foundations we have...

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

Well, she was really, really pretty little girl. She had pretty hair and those beautiful big eyes.

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Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

And the Bell's palsy struck when Nancy was only 14 months. One morning, woke up, she woke up, and there it was.

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Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

And that was hard. She had to carry on always, you know. Ah... People would say, even in front of her, "Oh, isn't that too bad," you know. That... hurt.

cassette tape rolling

Nancy

The question that you most want to ask me has nothing to do with sewing or quilting. It has to do about my face. What you first see is not really what you get, or your first impression is not really who I am.

cassette recorder clicks off

Marjorie Russell

Of course, Bell's palsy was a big concern of Nancy's because she didn't see herself as television material. She saw herself as having a crooked face that people might look at and see first before they saw who she was.

Gina Crispell

To think that she ended up doing a TV show with a paralysis of her face is really ironic. But I also think that that's why people gravitated to her. I think it just made her more human.

Kathy Gittus

And there were, obviously, lots of trials that she had to go through. But it didn't make her bitter. It just made her stronger.

Marjorie Russell

Nancy developed grit that was beyond what most people ever see.

Kathy Gittus

It made her say, "You know, I think I can do about anything." And... she did. She did!

studio audience applauding

Kathy Gittus

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Kathy Gittus

tape recorder playing

Nancy

Bell's palsy, probably is the most significant shaper in my life. There were times in my life that my face just... I get humbled easily by seeing a picture or seeing that look that people give me and...

inhales sharply

Nancy

um, it's... I wish I didn't have this. But in all things, give thanks. Not for all things, but in all things.

birds chirping

Gina Crispell

Nancy grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, handed down generation to generation.

Marjorie Russell

There were three families

that lived off the Luedtke farm

Nancy's family, Nancy's grandfather, and Nancy's uncle's family.

Gina Crispell

She was my sister, first and foremost.

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Gina Crispell

Crispell

Nancy was the oldest. I have a brother, John, and a brother, Dean. And then, 18 years after Nancy, I came along. Even with the age difference, family was everything. That's what you are on a farm.

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Marjorie Russell

Nancy grew up in that rural environment where everything revolved around farming. And after farming, everything revolved around church.

Gina Crispell

We all went to a tiny little church in the country. Absolutely quintessential country church, which you would imagine. Small, little, white, with a steeple in the middle of nowhere.

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

Going to Sunday school, going to church, that was every Sunday. That was just part of life.

cassette playing

Nancy

In my childhood, your family and your church was it. It is my foundation. But school was... Oh, boy.

Nancy exhales

Nancy

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Nancy

Marjorie Russell

In addition to Bell's palsy, when Nancy was in middle school, she developed problems with her knees. And she had multiple surgeries on her knees. And it was just one thing after another in middle school and high school, both. She was struggling physically, and she was struggling emotionally as well.

Luedtke Eckstein

She would walk the hallways with her, you know, her books like this and her head down. So it was, it was tough.

Gina Crispell

My parents hurt for her. I mean, when you have a child with a disability, your heart breaks for them, especially when it's physical, and you're getting teased about it. But there wasn't... there wasn't a pity party for her at all. It was just, get her involved in things that she enjoyed so... And she did.

Marjorie Russell

She kept on going and I think 4-H was the catalyst that helped her keep on going.

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Nancy

Winchester 4-H Club, it was huge! It was huge to me. My mother was one of the 4-H leaders. I owe, you know, a tremendous amount to her. To my mother's credit, she pushed me, in a nurturing way, in a loving way. 1963, girls took sewing and cooking and home furnishings, and you learned so much.

Marjorie Russell

In Nancy's case, she learned how to take a sewing project step-by-step and to present it to a group of people. Nancy's first demonstration in 4-H was how to sew on a waistband. And with Barbara's help, she prepared her step-by-step instructions. And when she was done with that demonstration, she came away from that table knowing that she had found something for herself.

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

And then, she knew. She said, "I can do this," you know. She could just... teach.

Marjorie Russell

That was the day that she discovered where the direction her life would take. She didn't at that point envision a television show, but she was doing the projects and the demonstrations that eventually led to "Sewing With Nancy".

Rich Zieman

Nancy went to Stout University and majored in clothing and textiles and journalism.

Kathy Gittus

When she went to college, I think she made the decision at that point, that, "I'm gonna do something special." "I don't know what it is, but I'm gonna do something special."

Laurie Gorman

So, she moved to a suburb of Chicago and started to work.

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Laurie Gorman

When Nancy started working for Minnesota Fabrics, she was hired as a home economist to help demonstrate to people how to create garments.

Marjorie Russell

She made the samples, she made the actual garments, and then she presented. When she was done holding a class, then she would take it all down and do another one the next day. So, she worked hard in that store. And the manager of that store's name was Rich Zieman.

Rich Zieman

She was a person you just liked, right from the beginning. Nancy was intelligent, spoke kindly. She really was phenomenal.

Marjorie Russell

Nancy's life was obviously changing and changing rapidly.

Rich Zieman

We just kept moving forward, piece by piece. And it kept coming together.

Marjorie Russell

After Rich and Nancy married, Rich accepted a managerial job with a department store in Virginia, Minnesota.

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Marjorie Russell

During that time, Nancy traveled extensively doing freelance seminars.

Kathy Gittus

And she would demonstrate sewing techniques. And she had some devices or notions that she was using at the time. And people would ask her, "Where'd you get that?"

Mary Mulari

Nancy realized that people wanted to have the tools and materials to do the work that she was showing.

Rich Zieman

And then, being the entrepreneurial spirit that she is, she said, "Gosh, maybe we start a mail-order business." That's when Nancy's Notions was created.

Mary Mulari

Nancy started her business at her kitchen table, with a very simple order sheet.

Kathy Gittus

So then, she started with this 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper with these ten notions and then handed them out, and people started sending in orders.

Eileen Roche

She always found the hole. What was missing for the consumer? And that is what really made her successful. And it worked.

Mary Mulari

She started her business in Virginia, Minnesota on her kitchen table, and then moved it to her kitchen table in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

Rich Zieman

Which is my hometown, which my mom was very happy about that.

laughs happily

Marjorie Russell

In the course of doing her seminars, Nancy came in contact with a man who owned a sewing machine store. But he produced instructional videos for sewing machines. And after meeting Nancy, he saw the possibilities of doing a TV program that was broader than just instructional videos. It showed people how to actually do sewing projects.

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Marjorie Russell

And Sewing With Nancy was born. Hi, I'm Nancy Zieman. Welcome to another program of "Sewing With Nancy". Today, we start our third...

Deanna Springer

Her mission in life was teaching sewing, and another tool that came along was television.

Nancy

Today we're going to start a new four-part series "Contemporary Tailoring."

tape recorder playing

Nancy

We taped 11 shows of Sewing With Nancy in my house. The first show took 13 hours. Our ceilings were low, and the lights-- I got sunburn. Early 1982, cable television was just in its infancy. Goodness! I mean, where this is airing, I don't know. But television was just an extension of teaching a seminar. And here you can see the grain of the roll line. It follows...

Eileen Roche

Nancy was definitely not born a TV star. Nancy was born an educator. And she fell in love with sewing and those two things blended together beautifully. And it just so happened that her classroom was on television.

Deanna Springer

Nancy loved to sew, and she loved sharing the love of sewing through television.

Nancy

We'll start by tailoring the lining, using, of course, the contemporary techniques.

Rich Zieman

Well, it was an exciting time. We had a business growing, and now we were gonna have a child. In November of 1983, our son Ted was born. And then in December of '83, the producer called Nancy.

rotary phone 'brrring'

tape recorder playing

Nancy

It was a Sunday af ternoon and I was feeding Ted and the phone rang.

'brrring', picks up phone

Nancy

And he said, "Nancy, this isn't working." Sewing With Nancy wasn't profitable for him. So, I thought, "Well, that was short-lived."

phone clunks into receiver cradle

TV static

Nancy

Welcome to another program of "Sewing With Nancy". And a couple of nights later, I sat up in bed, in a sweat. And I thought, "If you don't do this television program now, you'll never have another opportunity."

TV static

Nancy

>> HI, I'M JON MISKOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF PBS WISCONSIN. WE'RE WATCHING WITH YOU, "NANCY

ZIEMAN

EXTRAORDINARY GRACE," THIS WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AND MORE APPROPRIATELY, A CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF THIS WONDERFUL FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, AND TEACHER, WHO REACHED SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA WITH HER INSPIRATION, WITH HER WORK, AND HER STEADY CONCERN ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND PULLING PEOPLE IN, AND GETTING THEM ENGAGED. NANCY WAS A NATIONAL TREASURE AND A WISCONSIN TREASURE. TODAY, WE'RE CELEBRATING HER LIFE, AND INVITING YOU TO SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN WITH YOUR GIFT. THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IS 1-800-236-3636. HERE'S SOME OF THE GIFTS. >> FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, NANCY ZIEMAN INSPIRED CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY EVERY SATURDAY MORNING. THROUGH "SEWING WITH NANCY". PBS WISCONSIN SHARES HER STORY, AND CELEBRATES HER LEGACY, IN "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE, BY BEGINNING AN ONGOING, SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH, AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH YOUR CHOICE OF TWO WONDERFUL GIFTS. CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, AND YOU CAN RETURN TO NANCY'S INSPIRATIONAL STORY AGAIN AND AGAIN. AS A SPECIAL FEATURE, THE DVD INCLUDES NANCY'S TOUCHING FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING WITH NANCY", "I SEW FOR FUN", ALL ABOUT SHARING THE JOY OF SEWING WITH CHILDREN. BEGIN YOUR $10 PER MONTH SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP TODAY, AND THE DVD CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS, OR CHOOSE TO RECEIVE A BEAUTIFUL SET OF NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS. THIS SET OF EIGHT FINE ART CARDS FEATURES FOUR DIFFERENT IMAGES OF LANDSCAPE QUILTS MADE BY NANCY ZIEMAN, PEAK COLOR, OUT ON A LIMB, FRONT PORCH, AND MOON LIT BIRCHES. THE SET INCLUDES ENVELOPES, AND EACH CARD IS BLANK ON THE INSIDE, TO CARRY YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE ON ANY OCCASION. THE DVD, OR THE GREETING CARDS, WILL BE OUR GIFT TO YOU, WHEN YOU BEGIN A SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH OR MORE. MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE, AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RECEIVE BOTH THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS, PLUS AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE "NANCY ZIEMAN THE REST OF THE STORY". IN THIS SOFTCOVER BOOK, NANCY'S HUSBAND, RICHARD ZIEMAN, RECOUNTS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF NANCY'S CAREER, AND SHARES TREASURED MEMORIES OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. THE DVD, GREETING CARDS, AND BOOK, WILL BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS, WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE. >> HI, I'M ALICE FERRIS, AND IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOUR SUPPORT DURING PBS WISCONSIN'S PROGRAM OF "EXTRAORDINARY GRACE", THIS INCREDIBLE DOCUMENTARY OF NANCY ZIEMAN'S LIFE. AND I REMEMBER MEETING NANCY ZIEMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HOW EXCITED I WAS TO MEET HER, BECAUSE I'M ORIGINALLY FROM BEAVER DAM, AND TO MEET, ESSENTIALLY, A BEAVER DAM CELEBRITY WAS REALLY EXCITING. THE WAY THAT I MET HER, SHE REALLY WAS AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, REALLY AN INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS PERSON, WHO REALLY, YOU WERE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE WHEN YOU WERE TALKING TO HER, AND I APPRECIATE THE INSPIRATION THAT SHE GAVE TO ALL OF US, IN MAKING SEWING SO EASY AND SO APPROACHABLE. I HOPE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU'LL INVEST IN THIS PROGRAMMING, AND INVEST IN THIS SERVICE, TO MAKE SURE MORE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE ON PBS WISCONSIN. SO, GO TO THE PHONE, OR GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW, TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, JON. >> THANKS, ALICE, AND THANKS FOR EVERYBODY FOR YOUR CALL AND YOUR SUPPORT OF PBS WISCONSIN. THE PHONE NUMBER'S THERE. WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL THANK YOU GIFTS WE'VE MENTIONED, INCLUDING THESE WONDERFUL CARDS, AND THE INSPIRATION FOR THESE CARDS FOR YOU, WERE NANCY CREATED THESE CARDS FOR THE GUESTS ON HER SHOW TO THANK THEM. SO, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL THANK YOU FROM NANCY, AND FROM PBS WISCONSIN, FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT. NANCY WAS A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR CREATIVITY, AND BEING INSPIRED, AND CREATING THINGS FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND SHE WAS ALSO A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION. WE SORT OF, AS WE STAND HERE, WE THINK SHE'S HERE WITH US, BECAUSE SHE OFTEN WAS INSPIRING PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT PUBLIC TELEVISION. SO, WE ENCOURAGE YOU NOW TO JOIN THE WONDERFUL RESPONSE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING WITH YOUR PHONE CALL TO 800-236-3636. WE'RE GONNA LEARN TODAY SOME THINGS ABOUT NANCY, AND I KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY THAT. >>

ANNOUNCER

PBS WISCONSIN IS THE ONLY PLACE ON TELEVISION WHERE YOU'LL FIND PROGRAMS LIKE "NANCY

ZIEMAN

EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." YOUR SUPPORT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE. PARTNER WITH PBS WISCONSIN AS A MEMBER TODAY, AND WE'LL SAY THANKS WITH GIFTS THAT WILL CARRY ON NANCY'S LEGACY IN YOUR LIFE. ENJOY THE DVD OF "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, AS OUR GIFT TO YOU, WHEN YOU BEGIN AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF ONLY $10 PER MONTH. THE DVD INCLUDES NANCY'S FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING WITH NANCY," "I SEW FOR FUN," OR WITH YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH, CHOOSE THE BEAUTIFUL NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT. THE SET OF EIGHT FINE ART CARDS MEASURES 5 BY 7 INCHES AND FEATURES A BLANK INTERIOR FOR YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE. LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING THE DVD, AND THE GREETING CARDS, PLUS THE SOFTCOVER BIOGRAPHY, "NANCY ZIEMAN THE REST OF THE STORY" WITH YOUR ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH. CALL 1-800-236-3636, OR VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG RIGHT NOW, AND "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE", AND THESE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. >> IN MANY RESPECTS, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST OPPORTUNITIES THAT FANS OF "SEWING WITH NANCY" AND FANS OF NANCY ZIEMAN HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HER AND HER LIFE. AND I KNOW WATCHING THIS SHOW, I'M LEARNING ALL SORTS OF THINGS ABOUT HER HISTORY, AND HER FAMILY BACKGROUND, THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE. AND I'M REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL TO PBS WISCONSIN FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS INCREDIBLE DOCUMENTARY. RIGHT NOW I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER OF PBS WISCONSIN, AND CONSIDER THAT $10 A MONTH SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP, BECAUSE AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU WITH THAT MEMBERSHIP LEVEL, YOU WILL GET THE COPY OF THE DVD OF "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE". AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT DOES INCLUDE HER LAST EPISODE FOR "SEWING WITH NANCY," "I SEW FOR FUN," WHERE YOU REALLY GET TO SEE HER INTERACT WITH HER GRANDKIDS, AND SEE HOW MUCH FAMILY WAS IMPORTANT TO HER. SO, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER BECOMING THAT MEMBER RIGHT NOW, BY CALLING THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, OR GOING ONLINE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PBS WISCONSIN, AND PAY TRIBUTE TO NANCY ZIEMAN. TO WRAP THINGS UP, HERE'S JON. >> THANKS, ALICE. REMEMBER ALSO THAT WITH ALL THOSE GIFTS, ANY GIFT LEVEL WE'VE SUGGESTED, YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE "AIRWAVES", OUR PROGRAM GUIDE, THAT CAN HELP YOU FIND GREAT PROGRAMS ON PBS WISCONSIN. I WAS STRUCK BY THAT MOMENT IN THIS FIRST SEGMENT ABOUT NANCY'S EXPERIENCE IN 4-H, AND HOW THAT OPENED UP SOMETHING NEW FOR HER, AND OPENED UP A CAREER FOR HER. I THINK THAT NANCY WOULD BE MINDFUL OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE 4-H, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PUBLIC TELEVISION ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF GOOD PEOPLE SUPPORTING THEM, AND SUPPORTING AND SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE, AS WE SEE IN THAT GREAT STORY ABOUT 4-H. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE INVITING YOU TO DO. JUST AS YOU'RE INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WE HOPE YOU'LL GET INVOLVED IN PBS WISCONSIN WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CALL, THANK YOU.

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

I often wonder, I often wonder if she'd become this successful if she had been just another pretty girl with a perfect smile. But, no, she had to succeed.

serious piano music

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

Russell

When Nancy sat up in the middle of the night and decided that she was going to do Sewing With Nancy herself, what she was taking on was the production at her own expense. Plus, cable television was not free. She had to pay for airtime. And it was foreign territory to her. So it was a great leap of faith to do that.

Nancy

Welcome to "Sewing With Nancy". Today we have an exciting program.

Marjorie Russell

She also managed to work it out so she could be on Saturday mornings. She wanted a Saturday morning when there was a little bit more time for working women to sit down and watch her program.

Nancy

It may take a little time, but it's well worth it because you're going to...

Marjorie Russell

And viewership increased. Nancy had an instinct for what she was doing, whether she had the knowledge or not. She had an instinct for it.

TV button clicks

Marjorie Russell

PBS ID tune by Paul Alan Levi

Marjorie Russell

synthesizer trills high notes that rapidly descend octave

Marjorie Russell

warm notes synchronize into a chord

Marjorie Russell

cassette player rolling

Nancy

In 1985, I received a call from Nebraska Public Television.

hopeful instrumental

Nancy

How can we get Sewing With Nancy on Nebraska Public Television? I was thinking, "It's time to advance. Time to improve." My goal? Having the seal of approval of public television.

Ben White

Her show, to her, was education. It was 'how-to.' It was so important to her not only what the finished project was, but how they got there with the process. She always saw herself as a teacher and public television was that avenue to be the classroom in your own home.

Nancy

And let it tie off, about an inch or so.

Marjorie Russell

She had to produce a pilot that was to public television specs. And that gave them the opportunity to go on to not just Nebraska Public Television, but public television stations all over the United States. Initially, almost 30% were interested in carrying Nancy's program.

Rich Zieman

It had been her dream to be on public television, so now it was gonna happen.

Nancy

I hope you've enjoyed this series on "Successful Sewing Basics." It was a pleasure to present for you. Bye for now. Nancy's Notions Oh, oh, oh, what a great idea

Tom Zieman

When Nancy's Notions was probably at its most active with my parents, everybody that worked there was like extended family.

Nancy

Recycle these boxes...

group laughing

Tom Zieman

I think it's fundamental to how my mom thought a business should be run.

upbeat piano music

Tom Zieman

Rich Zieman

My parents, they were our first two employees. I can't say they were our first two paid employees.

laughter

cutlery rattling

Rich Zieman

It was just, it was fun.

Russell

Nancy's Notions started in her little apartment. Then, in her new home, took over the basement. And when the basement became too small, her father-in-law offered his former chicken house and they converted that into the warehouse for Nancy's Notions.

Rich Zieman

In 1984, '85, everything was really, really booming. We bought about a 6,000-square foot building. We moved in mid-1985. And we were wondering, "Gosh, what we're gonna do with all this space?" And about two years later, we had outgrown that.

laughs heartily

Rich Zieman

So, we constructed a 14,000-square foot warehouse.

Kathy Gittus

We're sending out more catalogs. We're sending out more notions. It's like we couldn't do anything wrong. You know, we...

chuckles

Kathy Gittus

We'd put products in, they would sell. It was like, we put more products in, they'd sell. And it was amazing. It was just strictly amazing.

Nancy howls with laughter

Rich Zieman

Nancy and I, we really love this community because of the people who live here.

all laughing and clapping

Kathy Gittus

Nancy's Notions wasn't just, you know, Nancy Zieman, President, and then everybody else. It was a family organization from the very beginning.

Deanna Springer

We were a family. We're a family. Some of the best friends I have now are people that I met working at Nancy's Notions.

Kathy Gittus

When Nancy first started out in her business, it was literally on their kitchen table.

Nancy's Notions team cheering and applauding

Kathy Gittus

I was so proud of her.

cheering

Kathy Gittus

I was so proud of the fact that she had done this.

cheers and applause

Kathy Gittus

Nancy's Notions was a kitchen table story that comes true.

applause

Kathy Gittus

soft piano music

Kathy Gittus

tape recorder playing

Nancy

I'm very thankful that if I had to have Bell's palsy, I had it from square one. But I struggled with that. I was a year and a half old, and my doctor said, "Well, you have Bell's palsy, and it'll get better by the time she's 13." But... not so much.

contemplative music

Nancy

So, having Bell's palsy was something that was part of Nancy's life.

Marjorie Russell

Frequently, she had to remind herself that she was not about her face.

Director

Stand by. Five, four, three... With her facial paralysis, she felt she doesn't have a face for TV.

Laurie Gorman

She had moments of self-doubt when she had to step in front of that television camera, knowing that her face was front and center.

Marjorie Russell

She had to push harder than most people do. And pushing through when she didn't feel comfortable. A lot of times, we tend to choose the easiest path. I doubt if Nancy ever saw an easy path.

Nancy

Here's the rundown.

Laurie Gorman

But I think knowing the bigger mission that she was on, which was to educate, which was to share her knowledge with people to help them on their journey. I think that's what helped her overcome those moments of self-doubt.

Nancy

That's what next on "Sewing With Nancy".

Sewing With Nancy theme music

Nancy

Marjorie Russell

By the early '90s, Nancy's program was being produced by Wisconsin Public Television.

Announcer

Welcome to Sewing With Nancy, TV's how-to sewing program with your host, Nancy Zieman.

Nancy

Welcome to our second program on "Stitch-Again Wardrobe." In this program...

Laurie Gorman

She knew all her sewing stuff, but she had to know all the TV stuff, too, to really make that show work.

Nancy

You just need to practice.

Ted Zieman

My mom's TV show, it was a lot of work. But I think she liked the team that she had.

Nancy

Set those here.

Ted

The team that could help her sew, the team that could help her get it all together. And then, team of PBS, where they would make it all happen.

Director

Three, two, and cue.

bouncy upbeat music

Director

Ben White

The cameras actually became her students. And she had great rapport with the crew, where Nancy was teaching us how to do everything.

Cassie Kienert

When we would get done with a take, we'd often get to a point where we'd be like, "Oh, we got that" as a crew. And that was kind of the baseline of, "Did the crew understand it?" Then we knew the audience would understand it because we kind of figured that we were the lowest common denominator of her audience.

both laugh

Nancy

Make it look the way you'd like it to be when it's completed.

Mary Mulari

Nancy's presentation was key. Her audience could envision themselves doing what she's doing.

Nancy

Here's a close-up, and just straight stitching down the front of the jacket.

Eileen Roche

She really wanted the viewer to know how to do it. She wanted them to see what they would see when they sit at the machine.

Laurie Gorman

Now, because of that, she would often say that her sewing on TV was not her best work because of the way she had to angle herself for the camera to see what she was doing.

Nancy

Sometimes when I'm talking, I don't always sew the straightest.

Cassie Kienert

She would sew completely side-angle and have to do this so this the camera could get the shot. So, your body isn't in the correct placement to actually guide the machine like you would at home.

Leslie Fitzsimmons

She was always canted a certain way and just like contorting her body.

Ben White

But Nancy really wanted to make sure the viewer was seeing it how they needed to see it so they could replicate it at home.

Nancy

It's really easy. Then, on your foot, you'll find that there are toes. You have a foot, you gotta have toes.

laughs

Nancy

So, there's a single toe in the back. And sometimes, there's a triple toe in the front.

Eileen Roche

Oh, I think it was Nancy's life's purpose, to teach America how to sew.

soft piano music

Eileen Roche

Her viewers really felt that she was in their sewing room. And they really felt that it was a personal lesson with Nancy.

Mary Mulari

And in doing that, Nancy certainly created a community.

Viewer

Just a creative lady, and she would make things that look challenging and difficult, easy. And just giving you the confidence to go ahead and do it. And Nancy does that on her show.

soft piano music

Viewer

cassette tape playing

Viewer

The scope of the TV show is beyond sewing and quilting. Because people take from it what they need. Hi, I'm Nancy Zieman. Thank you for joining me. Welcome to "Sewing With Nancy". I teach sewing, but if they need companionship, that's what they get from it. If they need a connection from the past, that's what they get from it. If they need encouragement, that's what they pull.

Marjorie Russell

Nancy understood early on that people love to create, and they love to have the confidence to create.

Nancy

Just a little touch of creativity.

Viewer

Her love of sewing, and her love of teaching, it makes your heart just so warm. You can tell she loved what she was doing. And she inspired that in a lot of people.

gentle piano music

Viewer

Ben White

People tuned in to watch Nancy because she was a person. She was real.

Nancy

Sewing takes patience and practice.

Gina Crispell

Her viewers considered her a friend. Like your sister, your neighbor, your aunt, teaching you how to sew, because that's who she was. She was a mom.

Nancy

Patty cake, patty cake, there.

Gina Crispell

A wife, a daughter, a sister. That was her.

blows raspberries, smooches baby Tom

Rich Zieman

Oh, who is it?

Nancy

I'm Fozzie Bear.

Rich Zieman

Oh, hi, Fozzie.

Nancy (as Fozzie)

Night, night!

Ted Zieman

She was always to me a mom, not "Sewing With Nancy". She was my mom.

tender instrumental music

Ted Zieman

Nancy speaks indistinctly

Tom Zieman

My mom was exactly the person off-screen, as on-screen, that she comes off to be. Where are the balloons? Oh. Growing up on the farm is foundationally what set up my mom's character for everything. Everything can be traced back to that experience.

Gina Crispell

Salt of the earth values, I mean, what you saw with Nancy is what you get. Just kind and humble and generous.

Ted Zieman

Everything she did, she liked to create.

She liked to bake

that's creating something.

Sewing

she liked to create something.

Gardening

creating something.

Tom Zieman

My mother was also a second- and third-grade Sunday school teacher for as long as I can remember.

Rich Zieman

So again, teacher, she's a teacher. She taught for 25 years.

Ted Zieman

She did it because she was so blessed with what she has, and that's her way to give back.

Tom Zieman

Faith is a fundamental tenement to my mom and my family. Faith in God and the importance of faith and family.

Nancy

You know what Teddy said yesterday?

speaking dramatically

Nancy

Yesterday was the most wonderful day of his life. Wasn't it, Ted?

laughing warmly

Nancy

There we are!

Nancy and Rich laughing

Rich Zieman

She was a very good role model and mom to the boys.

birds chirping

Ted Zieman

She really tried to live her life to be a good example. That was the biggest way she would teach.

gentle guitar music

Ted Zieman

Tom Zieman

When both my brother and I started having kids, just being a grandma, you know, that was definitely a priority.

Nancy rasping

Nancy

One more time.

sewing machine whirring

Nancy

Now, cut the threads.

sewing machine beeps

Ted Zieman

Watching her read with the kids, she loved doing it. And then, the kids would just snuggle into her and they all loved it.

Rich Zieman laughs warmly

Rich Zieman

She couldn't have been a better grandmother. She just loved them to death.

Tom 'whooshes', baby emulates

Tom Zieman

Her real talent was in embracing people. My mother experienced early on of being prejudged. And I think my mom's ability to take the time to get to know people was really her God-given talent.

Gina Crispell

She had a lot of perspective. And she just was so caring for everybody because I think she had hurt a lot in her life. And so that made her care for others.

Ted Zieman

That's just, I guess, a life lesson, a motto to live by. "Never forget about kindness."

dramatic guitar music

Ted Zieman

Nancy

Perhaps the question that most of you would like to ask me but are a little afraid to do so has nothing to do with fabric and thread. The topic, my face.

soft piano music

Nancy

Gina Crispell

She always said to me, "If you are on TV, don't Google yourself."

Tom Zieman

Anytime you would start to Google my mom's name, the recommended search result was "Nancy Zieman stroke face."

Gina Crispell

"Nancy Zieman, what's wrong with her face?"

Nancy

Obviously, I'm not symmetrical. My eye and mouth on my right side have a partial paralysis called Bell's palsy.

Rich Zieman

Seeing that on the Internet, it really set her back. After all the things she's dealt with on it throughout life, this moment affected her the most. She decided, "Well then, let me open up about it."

Nancy

To address your curiosity and also answer some of those questions, I've invited a special guest. I'd like you to meet Dr. Justin Sattin.

Marjorie Russell

She brought a neurologist on her show, who spoke about Bell's palsy.

Dr. Justin Sattin

Which is, by definition, a facial nerve weakness of uncertain cause.

Gina Crispell

She wanted those questions answered for her viewers.

Dr. Justin Sattin

Like an inner ear infection, as is likely when it occurs in a young child.

Nancy

That was what caused onset of mine.

Laurie Gorman

That episode generated a huge response. There was a tremendous outpouring of support for Nancy. But it was also a moment where she realized her show could bring something beyond sewing to her viewers.

Rich Zieman

It led to her continuing on with not always having the closing of the show dealing with sewing but dealing with other topics that would benefit people.

Laurie Gorman

It wasn't just a sewing show anymore. It was a show that was reaching out across the globe with people who had things to give in service of others.

Ben White

Nancy was connecting these places of cause with people that wanted to give back.

Gorman

The bulk of the topics dealt with charitable sewing, which would be, for example, making comfort caps for people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, or making and donating quilts to the homeless.

Nancy

This tireless group of volunteers has made a difference.

Ben White

People would immediately want to give to that cause. The items would roll in not by like the tens or hundreds but by the thousands.

Cassie Kienert

The community came out for Nancy.

dramatic instrumental

Cassie Kienert

playing tape recording

Nancy

Sewing With Nancy is more than just teaching people how to sew. It gives people a vehicle to be creative and to help those who need.

uplifting instrumental

Nancy

Deanna Springer

Charity sewing and community service sewing is really another way of sharing your love of sewing.

Ben White

Sewers and quilters want to give and they want to help.

sewers conversing

Viewer

It's just heartwarming. People have helped me so much through my life. It's my turn to give back now. The feeling that you get, when you've put work into something and then give it to someone of your own free will, you get something in your heart, that just is very important for your soul and for other people that you touch with what you've made for them. And that's just a feeling that you don't get otherwise.

Eileen Roche

Sewers are givers, yeah. Mm-hmm, absolutely.

Marjorie Russell

Nancy was constantly looking for ways to connect people, not just to present projects. The core of her success was connecting people.

joyful instrumental

Marjorie Russell

Nancy

I was just a conduit for this. It was very touching what people were doing for others. The gift is in the giving. >> HI, I'M JON MISKOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF PBS WISCONSIN. ONE OF THE WONDERFUL TWO THINGS THAT NANCY COMBINES IN HER LIFE AND IN HER WORK IS THIS CREATIVE DRIVE, AND ALSO THIS SENSE OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH SHE INSPIRED FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH SHOWCASING GREAT WORK THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SEWING WORLD, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL COMBINATION. AND WHAT A WONDERFUL COMBINATION THAT I THINK REALLY CONNECTS US TO SEWERS AND QUILTERS. THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT MAKES US NATURAL FRIENDS IN PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PROBABLY WHY, IN WISCONSIN, WE HAVE BEEN SO CONNECTED WITH OUR QUILT SHOWS, WITH OUR QUILTING SHOWS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. THIS IS A CHALLENGE BREAK. THIS, DURING THESE FEW MINUTES THAT WE'RE TALKING TO YOU TO SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR DOLLARS DOUBLED BECAUSE CURRENT MEMBERS OF PBS WISCONSIN HAVE MADE A GIFT ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR ANNUAL GIFT TO CHALLENGE YOU. NEW MEMBERS, UP TO THE FIRST 2,000, WILL BE DOUBLED WHEN YOU CALL RIGHT NOW TO [800) 236-3636. >>

ANNOUNCER

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, NANCY ZIEMAN INSPIRED CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY EVERY SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH "SEWING WITH NANCY." PBS WISCONSIN SHARES HER STORY AND CELEBRATES HER LEGACY IN "NANCY ZIEMAN, EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ONE BY BEGINNING AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH. AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH YOUR CHOICE OF TWO WONDERFUL GIFTS. CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE DVD OF THIS PROGRAM AND YOU CAN RETURN TO NANCY'S INSPIRATIONAL STORY AGAIN AND AGAIN. AS A SPECIAL FEATURE, THE DVD INCLUDES NANCY'S TOUCHING FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING WITH NANCY", "I SEW FOR FUN." ALL ABOUT SHARING THE JOY OF SEWING WITH CHILDREN. BEGIN YOUR $10 PER MONTH SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP TODAY. AND THE DVD CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. OR CHOOSE TO RECEIVE A BEAUTIFUL SET OF NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS. THIS SET OF EIGHT FINE ART CARDS FEATURES FOUR DIFFERENT IMAGES OF LANDSCAPE QUILTS MADE BY NANCY ZIEMAN. PEAK COLOR, OUT ON A LIMB, FRONT PORCH AND MOONLIT BIRCHES. THE SET INCLUDES ENVELOPES, AND EACH CARD IS BLANK ON THE INSIDE TO CARRY YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE ON ANY OCCASION. THE DVD OR THE GREETING CARDS WILL BE OUR GIFT TO YOU WHEN YOU BEGIN A SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH OR MORE. MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RECEIVE BOTH THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS. PLUS, AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE "NANCY ZIEMAN, THE REST OF THE STORY" IN THIS SOFT COVER BOOK. NANCY'S HUSBAND, RICHARD ZIEMAN, RECOUNTS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF NANCY'S CAREER AND SHARES TREASURED MEMORIES OF THEIR LIFE TOGETHER. THE DVD, GREETING CARDS, AND BOOK WILL BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE. >> HI, I'M ALICE FERRIS AND IN THE LAST SEGMENT, WE SAW NANCY ZIEMAN TRANSITION HER TELEVISION PRODUCTION TO RIGHT HERE AT WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION, NOW PBS WISCONSIN. AND I WAS THERE THAT FIRST SEASON WHEN SHE FIRST CAME OVER TO PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND IT WAS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE IT REALLY FELT LIKE SHE BELONGED HERE. SHE HAD ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE ON PUBLIC TELEVISION, AND WE WERE SO GLAD TO HELP HER BRING HER PRODUCTION TO LIFE. AND WHEN I WORKED WITH HER, I ACTUALLY DESIGNED HER MAKEUP FOR THE FIRST SEASON. IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE TO HAVE THESE INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS WITH HER, WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU FELT LIKE YOU KNEW FOREVER. AND I'M SURE YOU FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT NANCY ZIEMAN, AS WELL. IS THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEONE THAT CAME THROUGH YOUR TELEVISION EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND, YOU REALLY FELT LIKE SHE WAS PART OF YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY. AND RIGHT NOW, WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL BE PART OF PBS WISCONSIN'S EXTENDED FAMILY BY SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INCREDIBLE DOCUMENTARY AND PERHAPS, INVESTING AT A LEVEL TO GET ONE OF OUR INCREDIBLE THANK YOU GIFTS. BUT PLEASE GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING ON YOUR PBS STATION. JON. >> THANKS, ALICE. AND WHEN YOU CALL RIGHT NOW, YOUR DOLLARS ARE DOUBLED BY THE CHALLENGE FUND. REMEMBER, WE HAVE UP TO $2,000 AVAILABLE TO CHALLENGE AND MATCH NEW MEMBERS OF PBS WISCONSIN. SO, GIVE US A CALL AT (800) 236-3636. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THAT IT REVEALS SO MUCH MORE ABOUT NANCY. THINGS THAT WE KNEW WHO WORKED WITH HER, WHO KNEW HER WELL, AND THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW. BUT ONE THING I'M REALLY GLAD IS THAT AUDIENCES ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO ALL THE THINGS SHE BUILT. CERTAINLY FOLKS IN WISCONSIN ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BUILDING HER BUSINESS, THE TELEVISION SHOW. MAYBE A LITTLE LESS FAMILIAR OUTSIDE OF THE QUILTING WORLD WITH HER QUILTS, BUT ALSO, THE WONDERFUL SEWING EVENT THAT SHE CREATED IN BEAVER DAM, AND THE NATIONAL QUILT SHOW THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY IS IN WISCONSIN THAT NANCY BUILT. JUST A REALLY EXTRAORDINARY ENTREPRENEUR, COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND FRIEND. AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SHARE HER STORY AND SO HAPPY TO HEAR PHONE CALLS AND PLEDGES OF SUPPORT TO SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN. >> AND RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE PHONE TO (800) 236-3636 OR GO ONLINE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PBS WISCONSIN BECAUSE, AS JON MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE THIS MEMBER CHALLENGE AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU WHEN THE IMPACT OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION CAN BE DOUBLED. BUT THE OTHER GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU'LL BE CASTING YOUR VOTE FOR PROGRAMS JUST LIKE THIS. AND PBS WISCONSIN HAS BEEN YOUR HOME FOR HOW-TO PROGRAMMING FOR DECADES. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M FRANKLY VERY PROUD OF IS THE FACT THAT PBS WISCONSIN HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THIS PUBLIC TELEVISION TRADITION OF PROVIDING QUALITY HOW-TO PROGRAMMING, QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, BRINGING THIS TYPE OF EDUCATOR TO BRING NANCY ZIEMAN INTO YOUR HOME EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND. SO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO CONSIDER YOUR CONTRIBUTION RIGHT NOW, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL INVEST IN MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING HERE ON PBS WISCONSIN, BY CALLING THAT NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN. THANKS. >> NANCY ZIEMAN PARTNERED WITH PBS WISCONSIN TO BRING INSPIRATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO YOUR HOME FOR DECADES. PARTNER WITH US IN CONTINUING THAT LEGACY. WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR GIFT, WE HAVE GREAT WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU. SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN BY BEGINNING AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH OR MORE, AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH YOUR CHOICE OF TWO WONDERFUL GIFTS. CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE DVD OF THIS PROGRAM. AND NANCY'S STORY WILL BE YOURS TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN OR TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS. THE DVD INCLUDES THE PROGRAM YOU'RE ENJOYING TODAY, PLUS A SPECIAL FEATURE, NANCY'S FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING

WITH NANCY

I SEW FOR FUN." BEGIN YOUR $10 PER MONTH SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP TODAY AND THE DVD CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. OR WITH YOUR GIFT OF $10 PER MONTH, CHOOSE AS YOUR GIFT, THE NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS. THIS SET OF EIGHT BLANK FINE ART NOTE CARDS MEASURES 5 BY 7 INCHES. A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. PLUS AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU THE DVD OR THE GREETING CARDS CAN BE OUR GIFT TO YOU WHEN YOU BEGIN A SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH OR MORE. SIGN UP AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $15 PER MONTH AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RECEIVE BOTH THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS, PLUS AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE SOFT COVER BOOK, "NANCY ZIEMAN, THE REST OF THE STORY," WRITTEN BY NANCY'S HUSBAND, RICHARD ZIEMAN. THE DVD, GREETING CARDS, AND BOOK WILL BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE. CALL 1-800 236-3636 OR VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG RIGHT NOW AND "NANCY ZIEMAN, EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" AND THESE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. >> SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALLS. THANK YOU FOR PLEDGES. RIGHT NOW, REMEMBER, THEY'RE DOUBLED BY THE CHALLENGE FUND FOR NEW MEMBERS CONTRIBUTING. SO, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW. REALLY GLAD TO SHARE THESE CARDS WITH YOU. AS WE MENTIONED, THESE CARDS WERE NANCY'S CARDS. NANCY'S QUILT DESIGNS, A GIFT THAT SHE SHARED WITH HER GUESTS IN HER SHOW AND THAT WE'RE SHARING WITH YOU WHEN YOU CONTRIBUTE AND SUPPORT TO PBS WISCONSIN. NANCY CERTAINLY HAD CELEBRITY. ALL OF US WHO WORKED WITH HER OVER THE YEARS SAW HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED TO HER WHEN SHE WALKED INTO A ROOM, BUT WE ALSO KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THE INFLUENCES THAT SHE HAD. THEY WERE CONNECTING IT TO SOMETHING THEY MADE, SOMETHING THEY BUILT, SOMETHING THEY CREATED FOR SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY AND THOSE EMOTIONS JUST POURED OUT AND NANCY REALLY FED THAT WONDERFUL COMMUNITY AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EXPRESSION RIGHT NOW WITH THE PHONE CALLS AND SUPPORT OF PBS WISCONSIN. >> AND RIGHT NOW, I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE AND CONTINUE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PBS WISCONSIN. PARTICULARLY NOW, DURING THIS MEMBER CHALLENGE. AND DON'T FORGET WITH ALL OF THE SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION LEVELS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, YOU WILL GET A SUBSCRIPTION TO "AIRWAVES" MAGAZINE SO THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE ON PBS WISCONSIN. AND IN THIS ISSUE, OF COURSE, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THIS SHOW, "EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMING UP ON PBS WISCONSIN AND HELP MAKE THEM POSSIBLE. SO PLEASE GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS SERVICE RIGHT NOW, PARTICULARLY DURING THIS SHOW AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LEGACY OF NANCY ZIEMAN. >>

ANNOUNCER

PBS WISCONSIN IS THE ONLY PLACE ON TELEVISION WHERE YOU'LL FIND PROGRAMS LIKE "NANCY ZIEMAN, EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." YOUR SUPPORT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE. PARTNER WITH PBS WISCONSIN AS A MEMBER TODAY AND WE'LL SAY THANKS WITH GIFTS THAT WILL CARRY ON NANCY'S LEGACY IN YOUR LIFE. ENJOY THE DVD OF "NANCY ZIEMAN, EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AS OUR GIFT TO YOU WHEN YOU BEGIN AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF ONLY $10 PER MONTH. THE DVD INCLUDES NANCY'S FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING

WITH NANCY

I SEW FOR FUN." OR WITH YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH, CHOOSE THE BEAUTIFUL NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT. THE SET OF EIGHT FINE ART CARDS MEASURES 5 X 7 INCHES AND FEATURES A BLANK INTERIOR FOR YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE. LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS, PLUS THE SOFT COVER BIOGRAPHY, "NANCY ZIEMAN, THE REST OF THE STORY" WITH YOUR ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH. CALL 1 (800) 236-3636 OR VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG RIGHT NOW AND "NANCY ZIEMAN, EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" AND THESE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. >> AND OUR THANKS ALSO GO TO THE MEMBERS WHO CREATED THE CHALLENGE FUND. THOSE ARE CURRENT MEMBERS OF PBS WISCONSIN WHO GAVE ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR ANNUAL GIFT TO CHALLENGE YOU TO DOUBLE YOUR GIFT RIGHT NOW. SO WE HOPE YOU GET TO THE PHONE, CALL (800)236-3636, AND PLEDGE. PBS WISCONSIN IS VERY CONSCIOUSLY FOCUSED ON WISCONSIN, THE STORIES OF WISCONSIN, THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN. AND THIS STORY OF NANCY ZIEMAN IS A WONDERFUL AND IMPORTANT STORY OF OUR STATE. FROM HER GROWING UP ON THE FARM, BEING INVOLVED IN 4-H, TO GOING TO STOUT. ALL THOSE INSPIRATIONS, INCLUDING IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE HER MOM TALK ABOUT NANCY AND THAT EMOTION THAT SHE HAS LIVED WITH AND TO CELEBRATE THIS LIFE. JOIN US NOW WITH YOUR CALL AND YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

hopeful instrumental

WITH NANCY

Laurie Gorman

Nancy was... was many things. Obviously, she was an entrepreneur, a television host, but she was also an artist. She was designing patterns for the McCall Pattern Company and she was making a lot of landscape quilts.

Nancy

Now we do this messy cutting along the edges to make it ragged and, Natalie, you're pro at that.

Natalie Sewell

Let me just show you how I do this.

Deanna Springer

Natalie Sewell taught Nancy how to landscape quilt.

Sewell

The leaf fabric is boring, Nancy.

Nancy

It is. Don't you think that's really boring? So, let's paint it. Now you don't have to be a graduate in an art course for this because watch us.

highlighter scratching

Laurie Gorman

This was all new to Nancy, somebody who came from a very rule-oriented approach to sewing. Landscape quilting was nothing like that.

Eileen Roche

It's not very rigid... at all. You know, it's cutting and it's rough cutting.

Laurie Gorman

Natalie would take highlighters and color in some of the fabric. She would take sharpies and make new detail that didn't exist before.

Eileen Roche

And they used glue! I mean, how many rules were they breaking there, right?

laughs

Eileen Roche

Oil pastel is the hint for adding sunshine.

Natalie Sewall

Right.

Tom Zieman

When you look at her landscape quilts, a lot of them are actually inspired by growing up on the farm.

cassette player clicking

Nancy

In the summer, I'd pick the flowers. Trilliums, May flowers, and I would spend lots of time in the woods. Just a walk in the woods is so, so wonderful.

peaceful instrumental

Nancy

Tom Zieman

Learning landscape quilting later on in her career reinvigorated what she was doing.

Nancy

So I think you'll get the hang of this.

Marjorie Russell

And it was just something that spoke to her at a time in her life when she really needed it.

birds chirping

Marjorie Russell

Rich and Nancy decided that perhaps it was time to look for a buyer for Nancy's Notions.

Rich Zieman

We had reached a point where we had 120 employees and we had great sales and a rather large facility.

Ted Zieman

Financially, it was a smart move. I mean, small business, you're growing and growing, and it's a lot of responsibility.

Russell

And in the end, the Tacony Corporation purchased it.

Ted Zieman

For my parents, ultimately, it wasn't their company anymore. But she was under contract to work there, I believe, for five years, and I think that was the most stressful five years of her life.

solemn music

Ted Zieman

Tom Zieman

Like many purchases and mergers, I'm sure in business, the transition doesn't always go as smoothly as it's planned. There were some issues with fulfillment and computer systems and things that didn't quite mesh when two businesses combined. And that was a very hard thing for my mom.

cassette player clicks

Nancy

From the warehouse to the order entry to purchasing, there was nothing that worked. Things were all... askew. I was so frustrated. So frustrated, I got the shingles.

Kathy Gittus

I think she felt it was all on her to make this acquisition work for everybody.

Marjorie Russell

There was an internal conflict constantly for Nancy at that point.

Kathy Gittus

It kept her up at night trying to figure out how to make it better, how to make it more efficient, how to keep this family together and keeping this family going.

recording

Nancy

I feel like I am strapped to a sleigh, with all of the troubles behind me, and I am trying to pull this sleigh up the hill. I felt I couldn't do it, and I couldn't.

dramatic instrumental

Nancy

But going through this, I was just thinking, "Trust, trust, trust." "You are making the right decision, and you will be guided."

Rich Zieman

Through that whole process, her faith and trust, trust in the Lord, was her foundation.

Tom Zieman

Never losing sight of that gave her the reassurance to know, this will be fine.

Marjorie Russell

And she just was able to let go of what she couldn't control.

Gittus

After five years, she was able to walk away. She was burnt out, needed to be refreshed, needed to try some new things.

Nancy

I'm ready, are you ready?

Crew

We are. - Places.

Deb Piper

Three, two, and cue her.

Nancy

This is a special day on "Sewing With Nancy". It's our 30th-anniversary special.

studio audience applauds

Nancy

Thank you, thank you!

Ben White

In 2012, Nancy filmed her 30th-anniversary episode.

Nancy

I thought it best to...

Eileen Roche

Well, 30 years on television, I mean, who does that?

Leslie Fitzsimmons

Thirty years is a lot. That's a lot of TV she made.

Laurie Gorman

It was an opportunity for Nancy to look back through the years, to share some special moments, and to give fans a look at the series in its entirety.

warm instrumental music

Laurie Gorman

Viewer

Nancy, happy 30th!

Laurie Gorman

Nancy also brought back her regular guests that she had had throughout the years.

Deanna Springer

Guests like Gail Brown and Mary Mulari and Eileen Roche.

audience laughing

Laurie Gorman

More importantly, she was able to have some of her family there.

Nancy

Pay special attention to a cute little blond boy who is holding a kitty.

Ted Zieman

Yeah, I was on a couple. I was a very rambunctious little boy on that show.

laughs

Gina Crispell

He was a wild child, and he was jumping all over. He was, he was something.

laughs

Ted Zieman

I don't think she ever wanted to do another show after that with a kid on.

Ted laughs jovially

Mary Mulari

It was a really nice time of celebration and acknowledgement of all the work needed to produce a show for that many years.

Nancy

This became my classroom.

Rich Zieman

Well, you think it's all Nancy. No, it's about 40 other people too, so.

laughs

Nancy

Most of you know this program as Sewing With Nancy, but really it should be called Sewing With Nancy, Donna, Pat, Kate, Diane, Lois, Deanna... You get the idea.

bright instrumental

Nancy

Gorman

Sewing With Nancy through the years became more than just a production, it became more than just working on a TV show.

Ben White

She was our friend. Wasn't just a TV host, wasn't just the host of "Sewing With Nancy". She was Nancy Zieman, our friend. You really wanted to do your best for Nancy because she just brought out the best in you. You know, there's not many times in life or people that you meet that do that.

Cassie Kienert

Nancy was special in that way.

Nancy

It's humbling to be here after 30 years. So many people to help me. I'm just one small part of it.

Marjorie Russell

She was not only recapping 30 years of having been on television. She was celebrating the people who had been there with her, who had helped make Sewing With Nancy what it was.

studio audience applauding

Nancy

Thanks!

Laurie Gorman

She realized at that moment how much the show and how much she meant to the people around her.

Ted Zieman

It was pretty amazing. And that's right before pretty much everything started kinda... tumbling.

birds chirping

Rich Zieman

After the 30th-anniversary show, Nancy was at home, and she loved to hang laundry out to dry, but she just stumbled, fell on her side and broke her, broke her femur.

birds chirping

Ted Zieman

From that, the next three to four years were just tough on her. The pain would just not go away.

Tom Zieman

It never felt like after 2012, that she was ever really healthy again.

dramatic instrumental

Tom Zieman

Rich Zieman

Early in 2015, her leg cracked. The tumor in her bone that had grown about to the size of about six or seven inches and had actually physically cracked the bone, and it was cancerous. She had osteosarcoma bone cancer.

Tom Zieman

It results in a surgery. And we got into a period of remission where things were looking really good.

Ted Zieman

But three months after all this happened, she had a checkup and she has triple-negative breast cancer. She decided to go through chemotherapy and radiation, and that was hell for her.

Marjorie Russell

Nancy Zieman is no quitter. And something called cancer was not going to stop her.

insistent instrumental

Marjorie Russell

Nancy

So, preparation is first and I have a single motif up here.

Ben White

Nancy was sick, but she still wanted to continue with "Sewing With Nancy".

Eileen Roche

With a vengeance. She really went back to work with a vengeance.

Nancy

I call it "Change-Up Patchwork."

Ben White

She wasn't done teaching.

Leslie Fitzsimmons

I think ultimately it was her purpose, right? Like that was what she was here to contribute, here to do, and if she was still capable of doing it, she would. Good to have you back, Eileen.

Eileen Roche

They were very difficult days and Nancy was in so much pain.

Deanna Springer

Oh, yeah, it was really, really tough. It was really to keep her mind off of it.

Eileen Roche

She felt if she stopped, she would lose her battle right then.

Leslie Fitzsimmons

But if there was any wallowing, we never saw it. If there was any sort of pity party, we were not invited.

Mary Mulari

When the camera rolled, she would step up and be Nancy.

Nancy

Fabric that is great for projects.

Mary Mulari

We can certainly use lots of that, Nancy. She, she was tough.

conversation in background

Nancy

Hello.

Richard Zieman

She ended the chemotherapy and got healthier. Forty years. - Forty years. All right, so!

Ted Zieman

Yeah, it seemed like she beat it.

Rich Zieman

It was a wonderful time. Nancy was feeling good. Life appeared to be getting back to normal. We've said that many times, but we really felt it.

Ted Zieman

Memorial Day weekend 2017. My parents came up.

laughs

Ted Zieman

And so, it was fun. They were leaving and she had her cane, and they're walking out the front door. And I was walking out, and something just told me, "All right, turn around and take a picture." So I did. Two weeks later, she found out she had cancer again.

somber music

Ted Zieman

Kathy Gittus

Here's another hill that she has to climb. And I don't know how many times you climb that hill.

Tom Zieman

My mom called me and basically choked out the words that she had cancer again, and there won't be any heroics this time.

Rich Zieman

That was her decision, that I'm not-- I can't do chemotherapy after the chemo I went through.

Tom Zieman

The fallout from that was so severe on her body that I think she figured, I would rather spend the rest of the time I have being comfortable and having the rest of my days than actively trying to fight this and ultimately losing out anyway.

somber music

Tom Zieman

Nancy

You want to find what you like?

Avery

This one! - Oh, okay, that's good.

Nancy

I sew for fun with my granddaughters, Avery and Luella. My guess is that there are kids in your life that will enjoy the sewing experience. "I Sew for Fun," that what's next on "Sewing With Nancy".

Ben White

The last program of Sewing With Nancy is called "I Sew for Fun."

Laurie Gorman

"I Sew for Fun" was gonna be a series of three Sewing With Nancy episodes that focused on sharing your love of sewing with others in your life.

Deanna Springer

We were to record segments with Nancy's grandchildren, and some friends and their children.

Gorman

So, the first thing that was shot was the footage at Nancy's house, with her granddaughters and with the other sewing pairs.

sewing machine whirring

Nancy

Okay.

Ben White

You could kind of see it in Nancy, that she was in a little bit more pain than usual.

Ted Zieman

Her head just hurt so bad and then she would get up and all she wanted to do was just do this show with these kids because she knew she needed to do it.

Nancy laughing

Laurie Gorman

So we're gonna spend one day capturing all that footage, and then spend another day back at the studio and Nancy would do all the sewing segments that we need for a Sewing With Nancy program.

Ben White

But Nancy wasn't able to come back to the studio.

somber music

Ben White

Deanna Springer

After that record day, Nancy had received her terminal diagnosis. The pain was so, so bad that Nancy wanted to cancel the in-studio record.

Laurie Gorman

She called me and she kind of fell apart on the phone. And said that she couldn't, she wasn't gonna be able to finish a show. That was devastating because that episode meant so much to her. It was with her grandkids.

Rich Zieman

So, Laurie called her and said, "Nancy, let's get one half-hour show done." "We won't get three done, but I'm bringing the crew and we're coming to your house." She just knew how much Nancy wanted to do this.

Laurie Gorman

We found a time that worked for Nancy when she thought she'd be having a good day. All we would need from her was to have her sitting in a chair, reading some lines of script that would help lead us through this episode.

Nancy

I think I have about as much gas in the tank to do this.

Gina Crispell

She never didn't finish what she started.

Ted Zieman

When you're that passionate about something, you want to make it happen, you're gonna get it done.

Nancy exhales painfully, sniffs

Ben White

Five, four, three.

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

She did it.

Nancy

I sew for fun with my granddaughters, Avery and Luella. Lots of rules are disregarded with a big dose of fun encouraged.

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

It was just a miracle that she pulled it off. That's what's next on "Sewing With Nancy".

Marjorie Russell

That episode represented everything that Nancy had ever worked for.

Laurie Gorman

It really was a culmination of the entire series and what it was about, which was sharing your love of sewing. That's all Nancy was about.

Marjorie Russell

She did it with a great deal of grace.

Ben White

That's what she showed in that episode. That's what she showed by being able to do one more day.

Nancy

That's good, that's good.

White

It was the right episode to end on with her grandchildren.

Rich Zieman

Was just wonderful for her and really helped bring the closure to be able to take a deep breath and say, "Okay, yeah, that's it."

Nancy

It's great to have them part of my show. It's just kind of makes everything so fun and nice!

Rich Zieman

Her phrase at the end of the show, 'Bye for now,' she got to say it one more time.

inhales

Rich Zieman

So...

Baby Adeline cooing

Rich Zieman

And, Adeline, should we say, "Thanks for joining us. Bye for now."

Nancy laughs affectionately

Rich Zieman

gentle piano music

Rich Zieman

Tom Zieman

Her most rewarding moments with the TV show was when would come up to her and say, "You know, your show got me through cancer treatments." "Your show got me through a really rough divorce."

Rich Zieman

Nancy would just say to people, "I'm just a teacher," but it's how she taught that connected them.

Nancy

You just need to practice.

Viewer

She was huge for so many of us. Her warm low-key style invited the viewer to try something new and inspired us.

Natalie Sewell and Nancy laugh

Viewer

She made you feel as if you were the only one there. She makes everybody just feel like you're part of a family. It's a treasured memory.

studio audience applauds

Nancy

Thank you to our audience and especially to you, our viewers, for inviting me into your homes, and I will forever be grateful for that. And as I end each program, thanks for joining me, bye for now.

applause

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

I always prayed that she wouldn't become an introvert. God answered that prayer. Introvert?!?

Nancy

Hi, I'm Nancy Zieman. Welcome to " Sewing With Nancy".

Barbara Luedtke Eckstein

That was just amazing.

laughs warmly

cassette player clicks

Nancy

I find it just fascinating. I didn't plan on this. But when the opportunity was there... Now comes the moment of truth!...I took it. >> HI, I'M JON MISKOWSKI, DIRECTOR OF PBS WISCONSIN. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SHARE THIS STORY, "NANCY

ZIEMAN

EXTRAORDINARY GRACE," AND EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH, AND EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE WITH YOU. IT'S THE STORY OF OUR FRIEND, OUR COLLEAGUE, THIS CELEBRITY OF SEWING, WHO HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE WHEN YOU SUPPORT WISCONSIN PBS RIGHT NOW WITH A PLEDGE OF $10 A MONTH. YOU CAN DO THAT ONLINE, OR YOU CAN CALL US AT (800) 236-3636. THIS DVD WILL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL WANT TO WATCH AGAIN, TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS, MAYBE YOU HAVE A QUILTING GROUP? YOU'LL WANT TO WATCH IT TOGETHER WITH THEM. I KNOW, I'VE WATCHED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE SHOW AND THE MEMORIES THIS BRINGS TOGETHER FOR US. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PHONE CALL SUPPORTING PBS WISCONSIN. >>

ANNOUNCER

NANCY ZIEMAN PARTNERED WITH PBS WISCONSIN TO BRING INSPIRATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING TO YOUR HOME FOR DECADES. PARTNER WITH US IN CONTINUING THAT LEGACY. WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR GIFT, WE HAVE GREAT WAYS TO SAY THANK YOU. SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN BY BEGINNING AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH OR MORE AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH YOUR CHOICE OF TWO WONDERFUL GIFTS. CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE DVD OF THIS PROGRAM AND NANCY'S STORY WILL BE YOURS TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN, OR TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS. THE DVD INCLUDES THE PROGRAM YOU'RE ENJOYING TODAY PLUS A SPECIAL FEATURE, NANCY'S FINAL EPISODE OF SEWING WITH NANCY, "I SEW FOR FUN." BEGIN YOUR $10 PER MONTH SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP TODAY AND THE DVD CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. OR, WITH YOUR GIFT OF $10 PER MONTH, CHOOSE AS YOUR GIFT THE NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS. THIS SET OF EIGHT BLANK FINE ART NOTE CARDS MEASURES 5 BY 7 INCHES, A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE DVD OR THE GREETING CARDS CAN BE OUR GIFT TO YOU WHEN YOU BEGIN A SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH, OR MORE. SIGN UP AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $15 PER MONTH, AND YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RECEIVE BOTH THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS. PLUS, AS A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT, WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE SOFT COVER BOOK, "NANCY ZIEMAN, THE REST OF THE STORY," WRITTEN BY NANCY'S HUSBAND, RICHARD ZIEMAN. THE DVD, GREETING CARDS, AND BOOK WILL BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH OR MORE. CALL 1 (800) 236-3636, OR VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG RIGHT NOW, AND "NANCY

ZIEMAN

EXTRAORDINARY GRACE," AND THESE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. >> HI, I'M ALICE FERRIS, AND I DO WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT $10 A MONTH SUSTAINING CONTRIBUTION OR THAT $15 A MONTH SUSTAINING CONTRIBUTION, BECAUSE YOU COULD CHOOSE TO TAKE THE GREETING CARDS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED IN THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE," BECAUSE I THINK THESE CARDS ARE JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW GRACIOUS SHE TRULY WAS. BECAUSE WHAT SHE DID WAS THAT SHE MADE NOTE CARDS OUT OF PICTURES OF HER LANDSCAPE QUILTS THAT YOU HEARD HER DISCOVER LATER IN HER SEWING CAREER. AND THESE WERE A WAY THAT SHE SAID THANK YOU TO PEOPLE, SAID THANK YOU TO HER GUESTS WHO WERE ON THE SHOW. AND SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DEMONSTRATE SOME OF NANCY ZIEMAN'S GRACE IN YOUR LIFE, PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER AT THAT $10 A MONTH LEVEL OR THAT $15 A MONTH LEVEL, WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR PACK OF THE NANCY ZIEMAN GREETING CARDS. SO, PLEASE GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANKS, ALICE, THANKS FOR EVERYBODY FOR CALLING AND FOR SUPPORTING NANCY'S WORK OVER THESE MANY YEARS. THERE'S TWO MOMENTS THAT I WANNA CONTRAST THAT ARE IN THIS DOCUMENTARY. THE ONE OF THE RECORDING THAT LAST SHOW WITH HER GRANDDAUGHTERS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO WORKED WITH HER, WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT TO HER. WE KNEW HOW MUCH SHE HAD TO PUT INTO AND, AND FOR SOME OF US, FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SEEING WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN THE CAMERAS STOPPED, WHICH IS HEARTBREAKING. IN CONTRAST, JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW, WE CELEBRATED HER ANNIVERSARY, THAT 30TH ANNIVERSARY. AND TO SEE HER SEE THAT APPRECIATION, TO SEE PEOPLE COME FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO HAVE HER FAMILY THERE, WAS A GLORIOUS MOMENT, QUIET, QUIET, BUT GLORIOUS. AND I THINK THAT WHAT THE TITLE OF THIS SHOW REALLY CAPTURES IS THAT GRACE THAT NANCY BROUGHT THROUGH THOSE HIGH POINTS, THROUGH THOSE DIFFICULTIES, IT WAS ALWAYS GRACEFUL, AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT STORY WITH YOU. IT'S A GREAT WISCONSIN STORY, AND PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT PBS WISCONSIN HAVE SUPPORTED THESE GREAT STORIES OF WISCONSIN THAT WE BRING YOU NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CALL US AT (800) 236-3636. >> PBS WISCONSIN IS THE ONLY PLACE ON TELEVISION WHERE YOU'LL FIND PROGRAMS LIKE "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." YOUR SUPPORT MAKES IT ALL POSSIBLE. PARTNER WITH PBS WISCONSIN AS A MEMBER TODAY AND WE'LL SAY THANKS WITH GIFTS THAT WILL CARRY ON NANCY'S LEGACY IN YOUR LIFE. ENJOY THE DVD OF "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE" WITH YOUR LOVED ONES AS OUR GIFT TO YOU WHEN YOU BEGIN AN ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF ONLY $10 PER MONTH. THE DVD INCLUDES NANCY'S FINAL EPISODE OF "SEWING WITH NANCY", "I SEW FOR FUN." OR, WITH YOUR SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $10 PER MONTH, CHOOSE THE BEAUTIFUL NANCY ZIEMAN LANDSCAPE QUILTS GREETING CARDS AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT. THE SET OF EIGHT FINE ART CARDS MEASURES 5 BY 7 INCHES AND FEATURES A BLANK INTERIOR FOR YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE. LOOK FORWARD TO ENJOYING THE DVD AND THE GREETING CARDS, PLUS THE SOFTCOVER BIOGRAPHY, "NANCY THE REST OF THE STORY," WITH YOUR ONGOING SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP OF $15 PER MONTH. CALL 1 (800) 236-3636 OR VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG RIGHT NOW AND "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE," AND THESE OTHER WONDERFUL GIFTS CAN BE YOURS WITH OUR THANKS. >> YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL HAD THAT PERSON IN OUR LIVES, THOSE OF US WHO SEW OR QUILT OR CRAFT, WHO REALLY ENCOURAGED AND DEVELOPED THAT INTEREST THAT WE HAD. AND I KNOW FOR ME IT WAS A WOMAN NAMED MRS. NEWMAN, ALWAYS APPRECIATED ABOUT NANCY ZIEMAN'S SHOWS IS THAT YOU FELT LIKE SHE WAS THAT PERSON FOR YOU, AS WELL. SHE WAS THAT PERSON WHO REALLY ENCOURAGED YOU TO BE CREATIVE, TO CONTINUE SEWING, TO CONTINUE QUILTING, AND SHE REALLY TOOK IT OUT OF THAT FUNCTIONAL REALM AND PUT IT INTO THE ARTISTRY REALM. AND I HOPE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WILL THANK PBS WISCONSIN FOR BRINGING YOU THIS TRIBUTE TO NANCY ZIEMAN AND GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE NANCY ZIEMAN'S LEGACY HERE ON PUBLIC TELEVISION. SO, ONE OF OUR VIEWERS STATED THAT NANCY ZIEMAN WAS KIND OF THE FRED ROGERS OF THE SEWING WORLD. AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE SHE REALLY WAS A KIND AND PATIENT TEACHER WHO REALLY WANTED YOU TO EXCEL WITH YOUR CRAFTING AND WITH YOUR SEWING AND QUILTING. SO RIGHT NOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO THE PHONE OR GO ONLINE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR "NANCY EXTRAORDINARY GRACE." CONSIDER ONE OF OUR THANK YOU GIFT LEVELS, BUT PLEASE INVEST IN PBS WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW. AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT. I'M STRUCK WITH THAT MOMENT WHEN NANCY SHARED IN HER REALLY FAMOUS EPISODE ABOUT HER BELL'S PALSY AND BRINGING SOMEONE IN TO TALK ABOUT IT. YOU CAN SEE THROUGHOUT THIS DOCUMENTARY OF HER KIND OF TURNING AWAY FROM THAT AND THE CAMERA, OF BEING SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT. IT'S REALLY PAINFUL OF SOMEONE WE WERE SO CLOSE TO TO SEE THAT, BUT ALSO INSPIRING TO THINK SHE PUSHED THROUGH THAT. THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM WE SEE THESE STRUGGLES, THESE THINGS THAT SHE FACED AND SHE PUSHED THROUGH IT. SO, SHE'S A WONDERFUL MODEL OF COURAGE AND A WONDERFUL WISCONSIN STORY. AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF IT, AND SO PROUD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU TONIGHT. THE PHONE NUMBER FOR YOU TO CALL TO SUPPORT CONTINUING TO TELL THE WONDERFUL STORIES OF WISCONSIN IS (800) 236-3636. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE PHONES RING. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR SUCH A GREAT RESPONSE AND TO SHARE THIS REALLY IMPORTANT WISCONSIN STORY OF A WOMAN WHO CREATED HER WAY IN THE WORLD, CREATED A BUSINESS, CREATED A TELEVISION SHOW, AND INSPIRED AND TAUGHT ALL OF US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL AND YOUR SUPPORT.

gentle music

ZIEMAN

Funding for Nancy Zieman

Extraordinary Grace is provided by John W. and Lenore L. Landry Endowment Fund, Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family Stanley J. Cottrill Fund, Diane Dempsey, Elizabeth Olson, Ruth Ann Potts, Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programming, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.