This needlepoint eyeglass case once belonged to Mummy. I had the front encased with pretty Scalamandre striped silk fabric surrounding it, so that her case continues to be a sweet memory for me in the living room at Fox Hall. Remember, a pillow does not have to consist entirely of the needlepoint canvas. You can cheat a little by adding more fabric around the canvas!
Lovely Living!
Here is an idea for the perfect antidote to the pandemic: create a needlepoint pillow! Not that you will ever forget 2020, but at least you will have a pretty reminder of how you survived it. I find that when I needlepoint, it creates a sense of calm and a quiet time to savor. And the best part? There is a present at the end of your efforts that gives joy and brings back distinct memories of when and why you created it… and hopefully, keeps you in stitches!
Needlepoint pillows are a timeless staple in classic, preppy interiors as well as in noble residences, especially if made by a member of the household. They can add a touch of whimsy, as well as offer a glimpse at your interests. The design you choose can pique a conversation around the story of what inspired you to create it. I devoted an entire chapter to needlepoint pillows in my first book, The Pretty and Proper Living Room. That is how much I adore them! But, true confession: once I start a piece, I cannot stop. I become a sleepless fanatic, staying up until I finish it. Heaven, help me! Fortunately, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are stupendously superb needlepointers who have kindly taken over some of my projects and finished them for me when my schedule was too demanding. Their stitching abilities far outshine mine, so my work suddenly becomes masterpieces of their work. How splendid is that!?
My talented sister-in-law made this adorable needlepoint belt with Jack Russell Terriers for me. When I outgrew it, I had it cut in half, inserted into some bubblegum pink shantung silk, and made into two kidney pillows for the tellie room.
From my experience, any house that has a few handmade needlepoint pillows sprinkled about is a crystal ball that indicates a truly charming home. I know that I am in the presence of an enchanting needlepointer! Every needlepointer that I have ever known has been clever, intelligent, talented, well-traveled, and charming. Now, that is a big statement, but this adage has always held true for me. From Princess Grace, to Barbara Bush, and even Marie Antoniette, they are all part of the distinguished needlepoint community. And now more than ever, needlepoint is chic with millennials too!
Just down the street from Fox Hall is the former home of Anna Roosevelt Cowles, the older sister to President Theodore Roosevelt. Her daughter-in-law was an avid and very accomplished needlepointer. A few of her creations still adorn the Cowles house, along with a breathtaking carpet that she stitched, featuring the design of the Chippendale front gate that graces the front of the historic home. A carpet... talk about being a devotee to needlepoint! And the tradition carries on to this day, in the same house.
Lovingly made, these three pillows each have a story behind them, which I find to be a simply enchanting aspect of handmade needlepoint pillows.
I do hope you will be inspired to take up needlepoint if you haven’t already. It does not have to be a pillow or a carpet, and it can be as simple as a petite Christmas ornament. And if you are not inclined to learn this elegant technique, you can embellish your house with the needlepoint pillows offered at Scully and Scully. Their pink floral needlepoint pillows, the Fox, or blue and white pillows are perfectly charming.
Millennial Tip
Have a zipper enclosure inserted along the bottom edge of your pillow so that you can easily remove the cover and have it dry-cleaned.
Forbidden Faux Pas:
No-no: To have pillow inserts made of foam rubber. Traditionally, pillows are always filled with down feather inserts.
No-no: To have so many pillows on a chair or sofa that a guest cannot comfortably be seated!
New Sponsors!
If you are in search of the most adorable canvases with a touch of whimsy and playful elegance, Jessica Chaney is renowned for her quintessential canvas designs in her darling Palm Beach shop, Lycette! Her shop specializes in a joyful, modern take on needlepoint. The Glampad blog wrote a delightful piece about Lycette. Jessica can assist and teach you. She even taught Andrea, who writes The Glampad!
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