Embroidery

GLASSES CASE

To celebrate the fact that a relative’s cataract surgery meant she would only need reading glasses, I made her a glasses case decorated with the pattern of the stained glass from her beloved college chapel’s ceiling.

SACKETTS HARBOR MAP

When my daughter got an American Girl doll whose backstory included a hidden map she sewed to guide her across enemy lines during the War of 1812, I reproduced the map in the girl’s sewing style (although at about 3” across) to go in the doll’s handbasket.

Les Dames

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES

My mother, grandmother and I were lucky enough to see the Bayeux Tapestry in person when I was a teenager. I’ve loved its style of storytelling and design ever since. One Christmas I made my mom a Bayeux-inspired picture of what she and her four Vermont grandchildren might have looked like standing on her porch back in those days, including local flora and fauna and the writing style the tapestry is known for. (You may also know this style of art because it’s something of a meme.)

NON MINISTRARI

Next, I made my niece a throw pillow celebrating her graduation from college. I embroidered the college seal, but tweaked the design to include symbols from her a capella singing group.

MINDFUL PROJECTS

GREAT, ANOTHER LABYRINTH

Always with the labyrinths. I sewed a small labyrinth onto a pillow for my mom (in the Cretan style, my usual pattern).

HEART NOW

A friend teaches mindfulness classes. I embroidered a Japanese symbol for mindfulness for her; I’m told it translates to the words for “heart” and “now.”