ABOUT US

While looking through an English magazine, I came across an article on "Mary", Countess of Howe, wife of Lord Howe, First Admiral of the British Navy under Lord Nelson. In the article was a copy of a painting of Mary by Thomas Gainsborough, entitled "Morning Walk". As I had been looking for a design to work as a Tapestry, the painting of the countess interested me. I took the magazine into Myer's Handcraft expert. After much discussion we decided it would make a perfect tapestry. After deciding on the finished size of the design which was to be 27x36 inches on 10 count double thread canvas (Penelope), the picture was sent to the Sydney artist's studio. After waiting for nearly one month, I received word from Myer's Craft Manager to say that my painted tapestry had arrived, and it was perfect.  

As soon as I could, Robert and I went to pick up the finished canvas. When shown the canvas, I was more than pleased with the painted design. Then came the hard task of choosing the colours in wool. The Myer Craft Department had an exclusive range of Tapestry Wool from Germany called "Orchidee". Made from fine Australian Merino Wool, you could have up to 10 shades in the one colour range. We decided to let the expert choose the wools and arranged to collect the tapestry and wool in a week. Robert then produced a coloured post card of Charles 1st on horseback and asked for it to be produced as a hand painted Tapestry, the same size as mine.  

It took me just over 12 months to work the Tapestry. The first thing was to find a floor frame to work it on as they were not easily available in shops at that time. Finally, one which was suitable was sent down from a warehouse in Sydney.  It took me several weeks to find a picture framer who knew how to frame a Tapestry. He explained how he would frame it on a stretcher. 

It took quite a long time to choose a suitable frame to show off the Tapestry. As the frame had to be specially made the whole process would take a month and the framer would contact me when it was ready. After waiting for nearly five weeks, I finally received a letter to say that the Tapestry was ready, and he was more than pleased with the finished result. Several days later I went into the city to pick up my work. Arriving at the Framer's, there was my Tapestry in the window resting on a draped material background. The shop was very busy with four people attending to the customers. I stood in the background to wait my turn. While waiting, a large artist's easel was produced from the back of the shop and my Tapestry was removed from the window and placed on the easel. I went to look at my work and while I was picking out the faults a couple who had been served came to look, too, with the Framer standing in the background. They admired the work and asked several questions. I then explained it was my first piece. They were very surprised. The wife then took a closer look at the finished work and said, "If you can do work like that for the first time, I suggest you enter it in The Royal Melbourne Show." They then walked to the door with the framer. He came back to attend to the wrapping of my Tapestry. While he was working, he also suggested The Royal Melbourne Show. I then asked who the couple were I was talking to. He looked surprised and told me it was Sir Reginald and Lady Ansett. They had brought in a piece of Needlework that Lady Ansett had just finished. I asked if I could see it. It was a floral spray in Petit Point. That was the first time I had seen Petit Point on Lauder Gauze. The framer had rung a taxi for me to take my work home and as he helped me into the taxi with it, his last words were, "Give the Royal Melbourne Show a try, it would be worth it." 

After some time, I made up my mind to enter the Tapestry in The Royal Melbourne Show. I rang and asked for an Entry Form for the Arts and Crafts Sections. In due course the Schedule and entry form arrived. After reading it through I filled out the Entry Form with 5/- entry fee plus an extra 5/- if you wanted all the names and addresses of those who had entered the different craft sections. I sent my 10/-. All the information and tickets arrived, and I attached one to my Tapestry and took a taxi to deliver my work to the Showgrounds. It wasn't until the following week when the Sun Newspaper published the main winners in the Arts and Crafts Section that I found I had won First Prize.  

As the Show didn't open until the end of that week I had to wait until Sunday before I could get out to the Showground. When I finally got there, I found my way to the Arts and Crafts Pavilion and the Showcase with all the Tapestries and Needlework on display. In those days the Showcases were not as big as the cases of today and all the exhibits were tightly packed in with the Winners in front of the case with Prize cards. While I was slowly moving around looking at all the Prize Winners, I started listening to some of the comments that were being made. The most critical remarks referred to the way all the cases were so tightly packed. Another remark I kept hearing was, "I don't know why that got a prize. My mother's work is better than it." When the Show was over, I went back to the Showgrounds to collect my Tapestry. Waiting in the long line of people, I was finally asked to come to the display and take my work down as it was very heavy. I was given a copy of all the Judges' comments and points for the Arts and Craft Sections of the Show. Several days later I received letters from people asking me how I purchased my Tapestry and how it was worked, did I give lessons, or could I put them in touch with someone who could teach them? It worried me at the time how all these people had my name and address. When I received the Catalogue from the Royal Agricultural Society, the problem was solved. All the names and addresses of the entrants were printed in full. Not knowing what to do with these letters I took them to the Craft Manager at Myer. She suggested that I call a meeting for all those interested in forming a club to learn more about Canvas Work and the many stitches which could be used. 

Looking around the city for a place to hold the meeting, I finally settled for the Meeting Rooms at the rear of the Savoy Theatre in Russell St, Melbourne. Instead of writing letters to people inviting them to the meeting, I had several hundred cards printed leaving out date and place. When I had decided on a date for the first meeting, I filled in date, time, place and mailed out nearly 50 letters to those who I thought would be interested.  

As the date of the meeting drew closer, I started to panic. Had I done the right thing? Would anyone come out at night to a meeting organised by someone unknown? I received several phone calls and letters from people letting me know that they would be at the meeting, and I started to feel better. 

The night of the meeting arrived at last and before we left, Robert's Aunt, who lived next door, came in to say she was coming with us to give moral support, take notes and make sure everyone who came filled their name and address in the book she had with her. 

On arriving at the Theatre, I was shown the room we had for the night. Staff told me they had set it up for a formal meeting and several people were already waiting. There were at least 15 people sitting around talking including Nancy Nugent from Myer Craft Department and two demonstrators from Coats Paton which surprised me. By the time I was organized and ready to start the meeting there were 50 people in the room.  I stood up and called the meeting to order, introduced myself and thanked everyone for coming. I then gave an outline of my idea of forming the club with the idea of learning all the different stitches of Canvas Work as it was then called. While I was talking, two women came in and sat down quietly. When I had finished, I then asked for anyone with a suggestion or ideas to stand up, give their name and idea. Going round the semicircle of three rows of chairs the turn came to the ladies who had entered late.  

Robert's Aunt, who was sitting close to me, said quietly, "That's Mrs Vasey, President and Founder of the War Widows Guild". Mrs Vasey gave her name and suggested, you must define the name from other Groups and organizations and asked what sort of Tapestry I was going to teach. 

At this point the Theatre Management came in and said our time was up and could we vacate the room in 30 minutes as they wished to lock up this part of the building.  

As Mrs Vasey was still standing, she then asked would we like to have our next meeting, next month, at Caroline House in South Yarra to continue to discuss the forming of the club? After a show of hands in favour of this idea I accepted Mrs Vasey's kind offer and there was a large round of applause. As the meeting broke up, Robert's Aunt spoke to Mrs Vasey, and we were then formally introduced. I thanked her very much for her help. She said she liked my idea and there is always room for another Handcraft Group. I was to let her know date and time for the meeting. On the way home, Aunt Dorrie said she was rather surprised at the offer as Mrs Vasey didn't ask outside Groups to conduct meetings at Caroline House.