English Hill Studio: Needlework

A 'Crewel' World

This is an example of the first piece of crewel work I stitched. I was expecting my second son James. All I can remember 26 years ago was that it took a very l o n g time to finish!

This was an 'Elsa Williams' kit.

Colleen's 'Mary Beale' Stocking

This was a counted thread on linen 'sampler' style Christmas stocking designed by

Mary Beale one of my all time favorite designers. her designs reflect her interest in vintage and antique needlework and her color choices for her floss palette are simply beautiful.

I chose to personalize it by adding my parents names as well as my sisters.

It took me a good part of the year to stitch but worth all my time!

Counted Thread Sampler

One of the first (there would be many to follow) reproduction samplers I stitched.

It is called 'Elizabeth Easton' after the little girl who originally stitched it.

I loved the color selection. It is cross stitch on linen.

Roger Sterling English

My father was born in Falmouth, Mass. and was the youngest of three sons. He lead a charmed life and was indulged as the 'baby' boy. He owned a race horse, spent summers at his father's Boys Camp in Center Sandwich, NH, where he would swim , and fish. He would ski, and ice skate in the winter, he was a boy scout, played on football and basketball teams, played golf and he enjoyed it all.
He joined the Navy where he acquired the nickname 'Fuzzy' which was attributed to his crew cut (all of my father's paintings are signed, 'Fuzz English').
In my opinion, his artistic talents superseded his father's.
He too loved painting seascapes and landscapes with an occasional foray into other genres.
My Dad's love of nature was passed onto his four daughters as were his culinary and artistic talent. He was skilled in all he did and was inventive, winning an award and recognition at Otis AFB where he was employed until retirement. He, like his father, retired to Florida where he would paint some of his best work.
Until the end, my Dad showered us with his patience, love and grace.

Colleen English Hill, it's a generational thing...

story continues...

I was born in Newport, RI. No not at the Vanderbilt mansion but at Newport Naval Hospital. A first-born (synonymous with guinea pig) child. Unquestionably, the most artistically talented of the four children (wink wink). All girls no bros makes for tough growing up!Hormones are a raging! In addition there is the competitiveness and rivalry that exists in any 2+ family household to deal with. A truism, no? Well, I digress...

I love creating!!! In the beginning it was the summer vacation from elementary school and several issues of 'Highlights' magazine (Crafting Edition) that got my adrenaline pumping.

Once school began in September it would be the new box of watercolors and 'Crayola' crayons lined like soldiers ready to do battle with my endless supply of virgin cream colored construction paper. My first drawings would be influenced by things little girls dream of; candy, flowers, dolls, Christmas, kittens, bunnies, and magical places which always include a queen and princess or two.

It was too late, ADDICTED! I now believe I have always had an addictive personality because I couldn't nor did I want to stop the flow of mediums that I experimented with or the different types of crafting and creating that would ensue.

With my ART I felt a continuity and connection to Grampa English whom I didn't have a chance to know because he had died when I was still young and I knew my Dad approved and took interest in it all.

It was, and still is, my MAGIC, escapism, therapy, and without question, 'my happy place'.

Christmas Advent Calendar

The colors I chose for this advent calendar are my favorites, greens and reds.

It was a scrapping project that took on a feverish pitch when I realized that my sister Karen had a hoard of the most scrumptious papers one could have! There were almost too many choices. Is that possible?

I cut most of it on the 'Cricut' and used punches for the swinging discs. When a disc is slid open it reveals a secret message, quote, or other such surprise.

I love it and am attempting another this year!

The photo that follows is 'Twelve Days of Christmas' I scrapped this using my favorite stamped images which I hand-colored using Prisma pencils, and fantastic papers.

The Joanna Gibbs Sampler

I was granted permission by the board of the Falmouth Historical Society to reproduce this early American sampler from 'Cape Cod' Massachusetts which I found in their archives. I learned of and was intrigued by it's provenance, which told a fascinating tale of young Joanna's life on Cape Cod. I adored it's simplicity. Yet in the sampler's simplicity it reveals many clues about the young girl who wroughtthis needlework and it provided a link to another family member's sampler located in nearby Sandwich. Someone called the process of reproducing a sampler tedious but I beg to differ because that would imply that it was long, time consuming, repetitive, and boring. Boring it wasn't! I was so excited to be allowed permission by the board to reproduce it I'd be waiting for the girls to unlock the door early Monday morning.The process of reproducing this was simple, really. Take one large magnifying glass, graph paper, a pencil, ruler, and patience. Count the stitches mark them on the graph paper one by one. Correctly match the floss colors to the aged and faded original floss as well as the linen on which it was stitched.This sampler took approx. one year from start to finish.The following summer I was invited to give a lecture as well as conduct a children's workshop on the story of Early Samplers and their makers.
It will always be near and dear to my heart!