The reward of teaching, you see, is something far more subtle than the mere transmission of knowledge—it is the quiet, yet profound, blossoming of my students’ own growth. It’s in the grand unveiling of a large project completed, in the vibrant shift of colors or designs that suddenly speak of their soul, or in that moment when they venture forth, designing or teaching with a newfound confidence. I live for those moments—when they share a glimpse of their work in progress, or the triumph of a finished piece, as though the threads of our connection have woven something truly remarkable. The honor, my dear friend, is not simply in what I offer, but in the fact that you’ve chosen to dedicate your precious time to my designs, my lessons, my threads. A rare and treasured gift, indeed
As you view these works, I invite you to appreciate them as deeply as I do. In my standard project courses, many students take a unique approach, subtly or boldly altering colors, threads, finishes, or designs, and I celebrate their creative spirit—so be sure to notice the distinctive touches in each photograph. Cabinet of Curiosities - Part I is a course where students design their own casket, a project that demands more time and dedication. These works are documented not only through the evolution of the project but also with photos that highlight the learning process through smaller pieces. Full caskets in progress will be shared and, once completed, updated in their entirety. These finished caskets deserve a closer look from all angles, so they will link to additional slideshows or personal blogs, websites, and Instagram pages, where the embroiderers share their experiences with more photos.
Please do not repost or pin photos from the Student or Casket Galleries. Permission from the copyright holders is granted solely for use on this website.
Making this casket was a once in a lifetime dream and the joy of finishing it far outweighed the fear of starting such a challenging embroidery project
(Note: Rebecca embroidered the name of her teacher on the door, future historians will love her) Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallerys.
I have loved learning from Tricia's classes. They have challenged me in the best way. As a historian by profession, I love the new journeys of knowledge she has taken me on
Class pieces displayed in a lovely glass cloche
My enjoyable journey with Tricia
Pictures of the trinket box, glove and pincushion from Cabinet of Curiosities as well as the first side of Harmony with Nature Casket and the Gentleman's Nightcap.
Queen stitch panel study
Being part of CoC over all these years has been a stitching journey far beyond what I expected it to be at the beginning.
The outside of her casket is stunning but the inside surprise of the amazing silk satin work with filament silk and wrapped cards that takes your breath away
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
The CoC student trinket box took on found seashells from my button bag and beaches, even an Ecphora fossil shell, before blossoming and taking flight. (notice the found pieces as rocks in the grotto)
Top of original box for grandson. Lion is a modified version of Stumpwork Lion course.
My stitching has gone places I never would have expected, the stitching materials have opened me to new design ideas.
Inspired by time at sea, years living near the Chesapeake Bay, Th² course on 17th c embroidery, and Tricia's electrifying lecture, this box is drawn together by old gold braid from my husband's Blues.
(Note the ships lights do light up)
A journey since the 1970s to make an embroidered casket was fulfilled. Judy was the grandmother of our caskets, aiding Tricia with her private collection to help make the hinges, caskets and bottles for the project.
The front represents Judy and husband John at their home. The sides are their children and grandchildren.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
Casket #3 - Cross stitch and beading
Edith and her husband John collaborated on three caskets together, using the pictures and templates for the design as a guide on sizes, he made her caskets. They purchased in the locks and hardware.
They are working on a fourth
Casket #2, mostly tent stitch over one
Edith and her husband John collaborated on three caskets together, using the pictures and templates for the design as a guide on sizes, he made her caskets. They purchased in the locks and hardware.
They are working on a fourth
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
John Brewer also made carrying cases like the originals for each of Edith's caskets
Casket #1 Counted Work.
Edith and her husband John collaborated on three caskets together, using the pictures and templates for the design as a guide on sizes, he made her caskets. They purchased in the locks and hardware.
They are working on a fourth
John Brewer also made carrying cases like the originals for each of Edith's caskets
It is so great to have finally finished. I received my casket in 2014, so10 years from start to finish. Design by Noah Caney.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
I have so enjoyed working on my casket with all the wonderful threads and materials. My thanks and appreciation to Tricia for making this possible.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
Janice was the first person to finish a casket from the original running of the course - she really inspired us all to get ours underway. It was featured on the cover of Needle Arts
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
Sara Gene first made a box that she covered with her design papers to get the feeling of the idea. It is based on the seasons at Historic St. Mary's City, the first settlement in Maryland.
The Woodland Indian Hamlet was inspired by a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry with the Crewel Work Co and used fine crewel wool for most motifs in Bayeux stitch and linen rug warp for the witchott.
The finished back panels for the Historic St. Mary's City casket in process
The first end of my flat top CoC to be completed, stitched with silk in needlepoint, is autumn/earth at the tobacco plantation site at Historic St Mary's City and is covered with memories of working at the plantation.
I loved using the trinket box to explore and experiment with all my favorite motifs from the Cabinet of Curiosities courses
The MiniBox carcass was built by my mom, Ethel Autorino. Embroidery design for the box started as a project to learn how to design in a computer graphic application. All of the friezes on the box were taken from one of Tricia's templates and modified to fit. The hardest design of all the panels, the top went through 6 wildly different versions before arriving at the cottage scene. The inner garden started as a project called The Path to My House, and was very loosely based on a tiny garden on the side of my home.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
The Britomart casket, by Katie Strachan, is part of a larger suite of objects, including an original band sampler, that can be seen at her website (click on picture for entire suite: https://katie-strachan.com/britomart-suite
The story of Britomart is told on all the sides. They are shown both in the Cabinet of Curiosities Caskets II Gallery as well as with details and story at: https://katie-strachan.com/britomart-story
The front of the Red House Casket features Claire and William in their workshops.
(Note: Janet wrote a story which is reflected on a series of caskets and samplers - the characters go from one to the next. You must go to her blog: https://janetbrandt.com and watch her YouTube) The casket was exhibited at Winterthur
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket II gallery
The Enchanted Forest was a fun experiment in 3 dimensional embroidery taken to new heights.
(Note, there are separate needlelace covered dolls in drawers from another casket which can play in the Enchanted Forest)
The Fables To Go Casket has scenes of several Aesop Fables on the outside and a fold out stage inside.
(Note: The best is inside! Watch the YouTube)
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket II gallery
The backstory of the Golden Rule Mountains is stitched surrounded by characters and scenes from the story.
A cross-section of the Castle of the Dragon Prince who believes “he who has the gold rules”
The top of the Garden Casket was a wonderful excuse to use so many fun new threads and techniques.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket II gallery
The trinket box was an opportunity to try out ideas, I am so glad that I tried them out before starting on my casket.
These are the front doors and a side for my casket. On the front a piece of crochet from 1920, worked by my Granny, and a yellow flower, worked by my mum are appliqued. It is important for me to incorporate Granny and mums work into the casket.
(note-what a fabulous way to make the casket multi-generational)
Modified trinket box top with a fantastic purple unicorn
The trinket box side panels were all redesigned and wonderfully stitched
A custom box worked with original design on all sides.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
I would tell anyone, do what you can, even if it is stitching five minutes out of a week, even if the work is all in your head where you plan, design, compare colors. Your creativity is always free, never bound.
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
A casket based on Czech fairy tails, it is very close to being finished and we all can't wait as the panels are exquisite
Janice's casket was on display in 2022 at the Hyde Museum in Glenn Falls, NY
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
Stitching and assembling the trinket box was a great learning experience which I needed before starting the ultimate project
I think the trinket boxes are great projects on their own but also great practice for a future casket.
This was made for my daughter, including the inkel loom woven tape in her favorite colors
The progress of this trinket box was blogged (http://lifeneedleworkandeverything.blogspot.com)
This project taught me patience
Complete tour in the Cabinet of Curiosities Casket I gallery
I am throughly enjoying the process of designing and then stitching the panels with the fabulous threads that you have sent us.
Kathrin's Kist - I have written a backstory about Kathrin Isobel Boswell, a Scottish ancestor, who is embroidering it. I did a couple of samplers and have collected some period pins, coins and a thimble to put in my box.
The doll in period clothing made for Kathrin's Kist, I made all of her clothing by hand.
I used the trinket box to try out a variety of materials and motifs for a future double casket.
I learned a lot, and now am confident that I can finish the large cabinet. The videos are also very instructive.
(Note: many students use part of their trinket box to try out ideas for their larger casket, such as Joanna with her counted work end)
As soon as I saw the flat casket, I knew it should be covered with sampler motifs
Took bits and pieces of nearly 2 years, but my first casket panel (right side) is done, except for a few bits once I know the exact placement of the hinges.
Slowly getting through the individual parts of the Trinket Box. Have learned heaps with these new threads and purls.
The Ascot Casket is based on a scene from My Fair Lady, my favourite childhood film; I loved every element of its creation from the design and embroidery to the final assembly, and appreciated every nugget of information about the original 17th century boxes.
More photos on Instagram and in Cabinet of Curiosities Caskets II Gallery
Small box depicting Edmund Spenser's titularFaerie Queene, Gloriana, with Jacobean flowers
More close images: https://katie-strachan.com
Miss Trinket's box and items from the Red House Casket
Joanna's second casket is done on twill in crewel work patterns.
Precious - a 17th Century inspired beaded casket. The forms for the woman are hand sculpted mache figures by Rachael Kinnison. The box has a custom music box inside. View the entire box and interior music works on YouTube
More pictures in the Cabinet of Curiosities Caskets II Gallery
Scenes of Country Life, or Rural Pursuits Casket 2021-2023
A complete video tour of the box and the elaborate inside can be seen on YouTube.
In 2013 Thistle Threads sponsored a beaded basket contest. Rachael won the grand prize (a casket form) with her interpretation of the 17th century christening baskets.
The basket was featured on the cover of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly. A video of the basket is on YouTube
More pictures available on the Thistle Threads Blog.
Rachael has become the expert in 17th century beading techniques as a result of her work doing research beyond the Cabinet of Curiosities. This is a picture of a course she once taught on making a jewelry box, a sub genre of caskets, which she investigated and built.
The Wiscasset Casket was made by Jack, based on the template measurements and photos in the course, and designed/embroidered by Kate. Some motifs were from published patterns. The casket represents the lovely historic seaside town of Wiscasset, Maine
More pictures and story on Thistle Threads blog and Casket Gallery III
Kristen is almost finished with her originally design casket and it was very hard to select a side to put up, this is the back of the cabinet. Her lovely design has a vine coming from this vase and enveloping the sides of the cabinet. Hopefully a full casket tour will be coming.
The Simple Harmony box is an adaptation of a cross stitch pattern by Modern Folk Embroidery, Forget Me Not. Full details on the project, which you can make yourself, are at https://katie-strachan.com/simple-harmony-1
Full video tutorials on the Simple Harmony box, including finishing and gluing, are available on YouTube.
The Green Casket, inspired by the poet Andrew Marvell's 'green thought in a green shade'.
A full tour of this casket is available in the Cabinet of Curiosities III Gallery
My first trinket box done. The other side includes work from a workshop on beetle wings by Alison Cole
Silken Trinket Box complete...what fun... now on the the Harmony with Nature box!
Note: Her second trinket box, with original design changes to the top of the Silken Trinket Box project.
This is the side of her casket, worked with gold threads in a gobelin stitch in the background so it will sparkle. The woman is dressed in needlelace using different patterns in the needlelace, much like how patterns are worked in sweaters, something taught in the Stumpwork Course (COC - Part II).
Pat's trinket box is an early study exploring the all metal thread background. It works exquisitely with her tent stitch patterns and the three dimensional peacock tail which is inspired by one she saw on the 2014 Casket Tour in the UK
