Everyday little surprises pop up in my in box.  Products and services that folks are trying very hard to sell and promote.  Sometimes they are quite good and I pass them along.  Yesterday I received a notice that the newest issue of St. Louis Seasons, a regional magazine, was available on line.  “Oh!  I like St. Louis!  I’ll check it out.”

You know, I thought I was finished, too. I thought I’d had my little run with style icons and their affinity for needlepoint. (You’re kidding, she’s still on this?) I know. But. As I have been stalking the mail slot – my big city friend has had his Elle Decor for over a week – Vogue arrived and offered additional evidence that stitching is bewitching.

Polly Mellen, a fashion editor at Vogue for 28 (!) years with an additional eight years as creative director at Allure is interviewed in the current issue of Vogue by the equally beguiling Marina Rust.

Mellen exclaims, “I am a big needlepointer.” I must agree. She stitched the plaid rug, above, in small squares while biding her time at shoots and shows.

She has a large collection of pillows that she has made based on artists she admires and pieces of her mother’s as well. Rust writes, “in the 1950’s her mother, Leslie Smith Allen, won first price in the world needlepoint exhibition.” Says Mellen, “I miss her, and I will always miss her.”

How I do hope I’m in the garden, serving strawberries, wearing red, talking needlepoint with my granddaughter someday.

Images, Vogue, April, 2009. Photography by Eric Boman.

There was a snappy layout in Harper’s Bazaar recently featuring Sarah Jessica Parker as Diana Vreeland.  This particularly terrific needlepoint pillow was part of the styling.

The inspiration for the photo, above, was chocked full of needlepoint treasures.  

The card pillows would be a breeze to whip up yourself.  Super easy to enlarge a copy of a card, place under the canvas, outline the pattern and stitch away.  Be sure to leave plenty of room around the pattern for finishing as the Studio has gotten after me a couple of times for this.

Needlepoint is a very personal gift, though one of my friends said once, “You should only stitch for someone who needlepoints; no one else will understand what it means.”

I haven’t ever signed a piece, but seeing Vreeland’s stitched signature here is quite endearing.

No time?  No energy?  No interest?  Then follow Vreeland’s lead on parrot tulips which are never a bad choice.

Image, top, Harper’s Bazaar, photograph by Peter Lindbergh.  Other images, House & Garden, May, 1988, photographs by Oberto Gili.

Last weekend was the annual bringing home of the tree and all the excitement that goes with. The boys planned to play hide and seek at the lot.  “I have a lost little boy at the information desk.  If you are missing one, please claim him.”  We were and we did.  It was very cold, which Mr. Blandings enjoys because it make me choose faster.  They all seem to look pretty good as the wind is blowing in your face and your eyes are watering.  Next, add 400 ornaments.  Based on Christopher’s tree I decided what mine had been missing was ball garland.  Better.  Needs more still.