DESIGNINGWOMEN: EMBROIDERYIN DUTCHESS COUNTY By Nan Fogel This article is based on conversations with Ima Dean Matthews and Ann Collins
Flowersbloom in the pews of tiny St. Peter's EpiscopalChurch in Lithgow, a hamlet of Millbrook. Lilacs, anemones, even night-blooming cereus,and dozensof othercolorfulflowersand fruitsgreetthe visitorin the form of embroidered kneelers, the small cushioned stools used to kneel during prayers. There are more than one hundred of them, done by the women of the church, a projectjust completed this year. Twenty-sevenof them were designed and stitched by Sally Gifford O'Brien, an artist and memberofSt. Peter's congregation. Mrs. O'Brienhasleftalegacytoher native Millbrook, as well, in the embroidered wall panels that hang in the local libraryshowingtopographicfeaturesand historicscenesof the town, and the embroideredkneelersfor altarrailingsat Grace EpiscopalChurch. It is no coincidence that there are many accomplished embroiderers in Dutchess County. In the past fifty years two embroidery guildswere foundedand flourishedhere;one is stillactive.The firstwas the MillbrookNeedleworkGuild,foundedby MargaretThome Parshallin the early 1950s.The daughter of Oakleigh Thome, Mrs. Parshall grew up in Millbrook on her father's estate. After marrying, she divided her time betweenhomes in Amenia and New York City. She loved embroideryand met with several of her Millbrook friends once a week at her home to practice this art. In New York City she was a member of a group that affiliated with the English Embroiderers' Guild; there was no American guildat the time.The art of embroiderywas takenmore seriouslyin England and in some of the European countries, where national guilds thrived and academiestrained new generationsin the embroideryarts.Mrs. Parshall's enthusiasmfor needlework and her desire to see it grow in this country led her to bring a series of young women who had studiedat the Royal School of Needlework in England to this country to teach. The first teacher to be hired was Erica Wilson, who later became well-knownfor her beautifulembroidery,designsand teachingability.She taught silk embroidery, crewel and some canvas work. After leaving Millbrook she authoredseveralbooks on embroideryand opened her own shops.She was followedby GillianCox, and,later,by SheelaghSmall,who 89
