Ever since it became the home of William and Kate, the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the once quiet little island of Anglesey off the northwest coast of Wales has been in the spotlight, but I always think of it as the home of famed needlepoint designer Elizabeth Bradley, whose headquarters was in Beaumaris.
Years ago when I was in the insurance business I was lucky to be a frequent traveler to London seeking coverage for my high risk clients. I made the most of these opportunities by adding vacation time to every trip, and soon I became immersed in all things British. At the Liberty Store on Regent Street, a place where I could wander for days, I discovered Elizabeth Bradley needlepoint kits in beautiful, detailed traditional designs. Even in those days the kits were horribly expensive, and way beyond my budget. Fortunately, Elizabeth Bradley had published three books with charts of her designs, and eventually I was able to create my favorite cushions at a fraction of what the kits cost by buying blank canvas and Appleton wool in colors matched to those of Elizabeth Bradley wool. http://www.elizabethbradley.com/theamericas/
I loved Elizabeth Bradley’s designs so much that over the years I stitched about 40 (!) cushions, one bell pull, and a huge square wreath of flowers, all of which I have to this day. Most of the designs can be related to a season, so I change out many of the cushions in our house four times a year, and when I make the change, it’s like seeing old friends. I no longer do needlepoint, but I still have plenty of wool and canvas if the urge comes over me again.
The other day I wondered if there were new Elizabeth Bradley designs, and when I visited the website I discovered that she’s apparently sold her company (now located in Oxford). Further exploration lead me to her new incarnation as Liz Bradley, artist, still in Anglesey, whose drawings of flowers, animals and landscapes are every bit as exquisite as her needlepoint designs. http://www.lizbradley.co.uk/links.htm
Here are some of the Autumn cushions that I’ll be putting away, all too soon.
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