Mary Beale School of Needlework

Years ago, I took my original Pocketbook Needlework (early 1990’s) and turned it into the Mary Beale School of Needlework. I added about thirty more small designs to go with the small designs already featured. I also added interesting factoids about such things as the pineapple. Did you know it was a status symbol back in the 1600s? If you had a pineapple on your table you were considered wealthy. If you couldn’t afford to buy a pineapple, you could rent one! I had the idea that girls being homeschooled would enjoy this outlet and learn to love stitching! It turned out to be more popular with adults, but I remain hopeful for a younger generation of stitchers to come along! The pictures are of several designs that are part of this massive series.

The Lord Remembered Hannah

This is a favorite design of mine. I have always loved what the 15th century British called needlework “caskets” which is nothing more than a large needlework embellished box. It usually held prized possessions such as jewelry. The boxes depicted a story usually from the Old Testament. They were made in panels. I have created the story of Hannah from 1 Samuel. Each panel follows the story of Hannah to the birth of Samuel.

I originally had a dear friend creating mahogany cabinets for the panels, but that was a limited to just ten which have long since gone. I also love the idea of these being made as a long panel (similar to the samplers of that era that were very long). I think it could be stunning. I do show pictures of the various ways this design can be finished.

Needlework Accessory Cards

I never realized how many accessories there were that went with the craft of needlework. Once you begin to add up all the wonderful accoutrements that accompany this art, it does inspire you to begin looking for such things and collecting them. I will get you started with these accessory cards. There are twelve different designs. Each design is a needlework accessory based on old pieces. I provide drawings for different ways these designs can be finished.

A Memorable Tea

When my husband and I first moved to England in the late 70’s we came directly from Texas where we both grew up. At a luncheon one of the women there commented on a tea cosy. I asked, “What is that?”  My hostess was so shocked. Her mouth literally fell open. She explained that tea cosys keep the tea hot in the tea pot. I tried to explain that in Texas we drink ICED tea. That seemed strange to her. If she lived in Texas, she would understand. You need to remember this is back in the dark ages before the world was united with all kinds of social media. Living in England those first two years I became very familiar with tea cosys and hot tea. Once we moved to New England, I was all too familiar with tea cosys. I decided that Boston needed its own very special tea cosy so I designed and stitched this is in honor of the Boston tea party. My English friend would be so proud of me, or maybe not!

Baby Asleep

This design is a gentler way of saying “be quiet.” Mothers desperate for a few hours (maybe minutes?) of peace and quiet, could put this sweet needlepoint wreathe someplace obvious. I had to add some needlepoint baby shoes to this as well. Every baby should have a pair!

The Garden Angel

I have always needed someone like a garden angel that could follow me around. I get so tired of slapping mosquitoes and dodging hornets. If weeds could win awards, then I would be famous for my garden of weeds. A garden angel could carry on doing all the tasks that I know need to be done. I am very good at directing people to do things I don’t want to do. I would love a beautiful garden full of flowers, but not if it means I have to fight the elements and bugs plus pulling numerous weeds on a daily basis. For me, a garden angel is a necessity. This counted needlepoint garden journal was inspired by that thought. The needlepoint band with the rose border I thought would make a wonderful belt for a little bag for lavender, or any sachet.

Noah’s Ark

In the late 1980’s our family went back to live in Cambridge, England for a year. All three of my children were very young. My oldest daughter was in preschool. At the end of the year, there was a teddy bear picnic for her preschool class at a country estate nearby. I could go on and on about the estate, but the one thing that inspired this design was the massive nursery and all the things in it. I am sure the things in that room had been there for many generations. There were samplers, wonderful iron soldiers, and a wooden Noah’s ark. I came home and had to do a Noah’s Ark design and several animals. I can imagine this needlepoint in a child’s room. It is a fun piece and very instructive as well.

Wedding Keepsake

I designed these two samplers to be a book cover for wedding keepsakes and special items you might put in a scrapbook. I stitched it for a very dear friend several years after I made the original one. She decided to cut the samplers apart and frame them in antique frames. She hung them side by side. They looked lovely! The first sampler is patterned after the very well known Mary Balch school which was in Providence, RI. The  second sampler is patterned after a simpler sampler design from New Hampshire.

The Book of Common Prayer

This prayer is from the Anglican 16th prayer book. I love that prayer book and especially this prayer. I first stitched this for my oldest child when I was pregnant with him. This particular prayer I did for my nephew. Because I was not pregnant, I took more care about the border and several design elements at the bottom. For the ark at the bottom of the prayer, I copied an old Victorian Noah’s ark known as a “Sunday toy.” I put the grapevines on either side because Genesis tells us that after Noah came out of the ark he planted a vineyard.