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.
Janet, of Windflower Embroidery, used a classic Nelham cartouche design to frame a mirror that she inserted into the lid of an antique box.
Janet, of Windflower Embroidery, made a beautiful scene of a classic stumpwork leopard in a cartouche as an insert in an antique inlay box.
Patricia is a prolific miniaturist as well as a full-scale embroiderer. She worked with Bob Hurd to make a 2" tall casket to cover with embroidery. Amazingly it has little drawers that come out like the originals.
Many of us 'casketeers' also have them, thanks to Pat, and dream and plan what we might put on ours.
My designs for my casket panels came from my work as a textile conservator. I used imagery representing some of my favorite projects such as the George Washington Revolutionary war tent, George Washington’s Commander-in-Chief 13-star flag, Ann Marsh’s 1727 Philadelphia silk on silk sconce, and a Lady Liberty painted silk in silk embroidery. And of course, I had to include my two black labs! The plaque on the inside was added because I have worked on so many embroideries whose makers are now forgotten because they didn’t sign their work.
