My husband, Gordon, stitched this Monet painting in 1983 from a pattern by Pat Wilkie Keene. When we were first married, he taught himself to embroider because he wanted a monogram on the pockets of his dress shirts — he stitched a little “GHG” with a tiny satin stitch. He also cross-stitched Christmas stockings for me, Elliott and Emily — I made his stocking. Occasionally he would take his needlework on business trips, and he discovered that women on the airplanes would often come up and talk to him about his work — especially flight attendants — which he didn’t mind at all.
Gordon is a banker/handyman — he can repair or build just about anything. He also makes beautiful stained glass and is a gourmet cook. I am one lucky woman.
Terrace at Sainte Adresse
Gordon Harvill Gray, 1983
Cotton Floss on #14 Pale Blue Aida
9″ x 11″
Gordon stitching his monogram, 1980
Your husband sounds like he has some very diverse interests! Looks like he is very talented with the cross-stitch, does he still do it? (along with all his other hobbies?!)
Hi Lisa — No, he hasn’t done any needlework since the Christmas stockings. He still makes stained glass and cooks wonderful dinners, and he spends a lot of time making repairs on the family cars and the house — tiling, building decks/stairs & furniture. He’s not interested in making a quilt.