Remembering Needle Artist Erica Wilson

I first heard about the recent passing of renowned needle artist, Erica Wilson, from Cathy Callahan of Cathy of California on Facebook last week. Cathy shared many links to stories about Erica’s rich stitchery legacy, and my appreciation for Wilson’s work grew even more. If you’ve dabbled in needlework at all, you have likely been touched by Wilson’s influence. Her bold designs and thoughtfully-written books have been cornerstones of the embroidery world for the last 50 years. Her crewel embroidery kits are instantly recognizable. I always loved her use of the title “Needleplay” in a couple of her books. It seems so fitting for how I feel when I’m doing embroidery. I found this great post from Pam of RetroRenovation who put together a great collection of links to articles about Erica Wilson. If you aren’t familiar with Wilson’s work, now is a fitting time to get to know her. I’m so thankful for people who are passionate about their craft and sharing it with others in such a fun, inspiring way. She will be missed!
Top image via EricaWilson.com
Bottom image via The Selby