Click the photos to see larger versions.
Posted in Animals, Children's Stories, People
The Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Mass. was where Helen met with a group of other ladies who did crewel work. I believe she taught a class there. This horse is from the official Wayside Inn sign. They may have sold a kit of this design in their gift shop, but I’m not positive.
Posted in Animals, Crewel Kits
Thornton Burgess Sampler
I used to love the Thornton Burgess Animal Stories. It looks like this shows Peter Cottontail, Grandfather Frog, Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Bobby Raccoon, Little Joe Otter, and others. (I did NOT remember their names; I had to go to Wikipedia.)
Posted in Animals, Children's Stories
Anna Ming
Here’s yet another Siamese cat pillow. This one is of a real cat we had in the 1970s and 1980s named Anna Ming. She was a lilac point Siamese.
There are two items with this design, a pillow and a piece of stretched fabric. Perhaps Helen was thinking of turning this into another kit….? The pillow version has less of the body filled in, more like her best-selling Siamese cat pillow kit.
Click on the photos to see them in a larger size.
Sara
Sara was a real Lhasa Apso who lived with us in the 1970s to 1980s. Her name comes from serendipity. This design is from when she was a puppy and had short hair. There’s also a necktie with Sara on it somewhere, but I guess I forgot to photograph it.
Ondine
I didn’t know it when she made this that the Ondine story was so dramatic. Here it is copied from Wikipedia:
In a German tale known as Sleep of Ondine, Ondine is a water nymph. She was very beautiful and, like all nymphs, immortal. However, should she fall in love with a mortal man and bear his child, she would lose her immortality.
Ondine eventually falls in love with a handsome knight, Sir Lawrence, and they were married. When they exchange vows, Lawrence vows to forever love and be faithful to her. A year after their marriage, Ondine gives birth to his child. From that moment on she begins to age. As Ondine’s physical attractiveness diminishes, Lawrence loses interest in his wife.
One afternoon, Ondine is walking near the stables when she hears the familiar snoring of her husband. When she enters the stable, she sees Lawrence lying in the arms of another woman. Ondine points her finger at him, which he feels as if kicked, waking him up with surprise. Ondine curses him, stating, “You swore faithfulness to me with every waking breath, and I accepted your oath. So be it. As long as you are awake, you shall have your breath, but should you ever fall asleep, then that breath will be taken from you and you will die!”
Posted in Children's Stories, People
Lady and Gentleman
This lady and gentleman came from the wallpaper in my parents’ bedroom. This pillow looks as though it has seen better days…
