Needlepoint and the College student
Moving your child to college is a huge adjustment. Freshman year for the first to leave the nest is the hardest. Regardless if it’s a son or daughter, it’s tough. It’s like breaking up with a long time girlfriend/boyfriend you are just shellshocked and can’t quite pinpoint what it is but something is missing. However….when they come home for that first summer, you are ready for them to go back!
Sending my daughter off this year for her sophomore year, and FIRST apartment was a little less scary, but still none the less your heart is swelling because you want them to be safe. In determining what to pack and bring, we started with a few things that she had taken to her dorm last year, and added to it…needlepoint.
There really is no reason that your child cannot take needlepoint with them to college. It’s pretty durable, and for the most part, you can spot clean it or wash it gently since it is a woven canvas similar to a rug or upholstery. So I was thrilled that my daughter wanted to bring the couple of pieces I had made for her dorm room, while adding to it.
Here are the items that we brought this year that are needlepoint for her and her roommates to enjoy:
1. The “Make good choices” ornament: This is from my collection (you can purchase in my shop) and it hung on her doorknob in her dorm last year, this year it hangs on the door to her bedroom. It comes painted in pink, however I changed it to be Gamecock colors and I know she will have it forever.
2. Louis Vuitton box: This is a Funda Scunda canvas and comes with the gold box opener. I gifted this canvas, that was in my stash for a while to my daughter for Christmas this past year and had it personalized inside with “love mom” so she can always have it. She uses it for earrings I think, but it is next to her bed and I’m happy she loves it. (Side note-have FS finish this for you. It is $$$$ to have done but they do a steel type inside so it holds its shape and will last forever)
3. Louis Vuitton purse: This is a Bad Bitch canvas that Erica gifted to me and I added my daughter’s “C” and “T” to it since her middle name is Rose. It’s stunning and was exquisitely finished through the Stitching Studio in Richmond, VA (I provided the denim backing and silk inside) but added a real LV leather strap and she will have this forever too. The nice thing is it’s custom to her so it can’t easily be stolen!
4. Flat Noodle: This canvas I saw on eBay and bought it for $19! It is still made by a designer in the Susan Roberts collection but it is so much like her cat Noodle I had to make it so she would have him with her at school. She has the photo canvases of all the pets on her wall, but to have a flat Noodle in her bed she can sleep with nightly is the next best thing to a real one. I highly recommend doing a stitched pet canvas for your son/daughter. It’s a nice unique touch that she loves and her friends do too.
5. The “Be careful” pillow: My mother used to say this phrase to us and I felt like it was perfect for her. Finished perfectly by Christy Ragan Designs, it’s small enough that it fits on her bed but will eventually go on a chair and I hope that she will one day share the same phrase.
6. The Rooster rug: So this runner matches my rooster needlepoint rug I have in my studio. I bought this at Costco (NO JOKE) back in the spring when our Costco had needlepoint rugs on sale. It is a Horchow rug and I paid $250 for it but it sells for at least double that. It’s perfect upstairs in their apartment hallway and given they are the “Gamecocks” it’s perfect. Plus it’s so busy if it gets dirty it’s easy to be cleaned! Colors are bright and fun and I know the girls love it.
7. The Gamecock pillow: This canvas fell into my lap after someone who ordered it custom painted by Jackie of Halcyon House Designs and ghosted her. I bought it, stitched it and Christy Ragan Designs finished it again. It’s the ONLY needlepoint that I left in her apartment that I am worried about. Pillows are $$$ to finish and leaving it in the main living space may have been a bad idea, but hopefully it will be ok. It’s too awesome not to share with them all.
8. The bar cart ornaments: These finish off the bar cart. Apparently bar carts are “a thing now mom”. Her nana bought it for her and with a few additions and the set so canvases it’s complete. The “Vodka please” is by Silver Stitch Needlepoint and it’s just perfect on the Tito’s bottle – her favorite. The Go Cocks bar cart is a custom design off of a Morgan Julia canvas. I bought her regular canvas and painted white over everything and did it custom to her school. It’s not for sale, I’m not painting another one, and I did ask Morgan if she was ok with me doing this before I did it. Needless to say it’s perfect. We don’t have a bar cart here otherwise I would do a Bama one. But this is a focal point in their apartment under the stairs so it gets noticed!
Needless to say, needlepoint is never too early to introduce. My girls have grown up with it – sort of like my Herend collection – they just “know”. But I am very happy that she wanted to include these special touches to her living quarters. Being in the Deep South, they all know what needlepoint is, and I think seeing it in a more modern way helps to push on the idea that needlepoint isn’t for your grandmother anymore! Make it, share it, show it, use it!