Bargello Needlepoint

My friend Jeff loved Frank Lloyd Wright. Every room in his house had Frank Lloyd Wright pictures, rugs, clocks, sun catchers, stained glass windows…you name it; whatever FLW created, Jeff had it in one form or another. He was so addicted. His vacations were spent in hotels that housed FLW originals or touring and taking pictures of various houses and architecture designed by Mr. Wright.

Every time I visited, he would show me his most precious pictures—the Arizona Biltmore stained glass window and another stained glass rendering whose picture had been reproduced on a set of note cards.

On a dare, I mentioned that I could stitch any of his FLW designs on needlepoint canvas using Bargello and other stitches. He smiled in disbelief, took up my dare and promptly handed me a flash drive with the pictures of the Biltmore stained glass. My creative juices started flowing immediately. I made some notes, got him to give me some printed copies and took off for the nearest needlepoint shop.

Since I wanted this to be a surprise as well as a unique treasure that would tell a short story about his life, I used a lot of precious items like tiny mirrors, beads, and other finds from my Bargello needlepoint stash as well as some specialty threads which I purchased.

I knew I would be off to the Callaway School of Needle Arts in a few weeks; so I made an outline on 18-mesh canvas, packed all my fibers and embellishments and planned to stitch for a week in independent study.

I must say that this needlepoint project is the most free-form one I’ve ever done. That’s just how I had to stitch it. Because it was going to be a memorial tribute for my friend Jeff who had been diagnosed with late stage colon cancer, I just couldn’t do too much pre-planning. Each block and section was stitched as I reflected on his hobbies, quirks and interests. It was a work of love.

The needlepoint was completed and presented to Jeff over a delicious dinner at my favorite restaurant. The next day he dragged me to a framer so that I could give detailed instructions on how it should be framed. When the framing was complete, I was invited to another great dinner to see my masterpiece (Jeff named it that). We both cried.

Jeff insisted that I enter the “masterpiece” in the exhibit at the next Callaway session; it won two ribbons including the Stitcher’s Choice Award voted on by all the people who attended the School that year. What an honor! The exhibit chair not only presented me with a ribbon, but also gave me one to give to Jeff when I returned the “masterpiece” to him.

Jeff passed away six months later, but left instructions that I should receive the “masterpiece” upon his death. It holds a special place of honor in my petite gallery at home. Every time I look at it I am reminded of Jeff and the fun we had together. He was the brother of my heart.

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