Tapestry Fair is showing off their new designs both on their blog and their Facebook page. If you have a FB account, you should check out their Egyptian cat in the link below. They've done King Tut, too, but no photos of him are available yet.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=260352124031321&set=o.108537025890131&type=3&theater
They are also planning a series of six little Talavera pottery-style angels that shops will be able to pick up at TNNA's Sample It night. I don't know if all of the angels have a face that pays tribute to Ann Spiess Mills' angels, but this one has an uncanny resemblance to Ann's work.
http://tapestryfair.blogspot.com/2012/01/meet-maria-and-kelly.html
I am told that Ann Spiess Mills painted canvases are all originals as she did not reproduce any design. They show up on eBay occasionally and will go for $200+ each but you can easily find some of her cross stitch charts of angels. They are very charming creatures and could easily be adapted to needlepoint. Here's the best photos I found of some of the 4-5 cross stitch charts by Ann so you can see what I mean about the Talavera angel's face.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79782090/vintage-ann-spiess-mills-guiding-light
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79781949/vintage-ann-spiess-mills-christmas
UPDATE: Read Peggi's comments for more about the background of the angel designs.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tribute to Ann Spiess Mills and More UPDATED
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angels,
Ann Spiess Mills,
Facebook,
Tapestry Fair
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11 comments:
Hi Jane - The Talavera angels were originally designed to be stitched by MaryLu Leger. She and her husband Dick grew up in New Mexico, and Dick was actually a friend of Ann. When MaryLu requested Talavera designs, we thought it would be appropriate to keep them as Southwestern as possible and combine them with an authentic folk art style. These angels are a lot more symetrical than Ann's little people, but hopefully still capture the charming look. In any case, it gave me a good excuse to buy a lot of Talavera pottery for reference.
Thanks for the update, Peggi. I'd forgotten that MaryLu knew Ann through her husband. It's great to have the background behind these new angels!
Ann was a lovely, talented artist with a raucous sense of humor and she is missed still by those of us who knew her. At the time of her death, Joan Nordstrum, who owned The Needle's Eye in Santa Fe, New Mexico, tried to talk Ann's children into reproducing Ann's designs as line drawings for sale. Unfortunately she couldn't get a consensus from Ann's kids and her designs died with her. I was teaching at The Needle's Eye and unfortunately had kids in college (3 to be exact) and couldn't afford Ann's canvases. The ones that I have now I have found and picked up along the way. Ann did a Harvest Wreath that I would love to find...maybe someday.
Anne, everyone who knew her loved her apparently. Keep looking. Her work shows up on eBay and right now is going for around $100-125. I think over time her pieces will become more affordable as fewer folks know her. I have my fingers crossed for you!
My Mother and Long Time Collector of Ann Spiess Mills works of art, passed away recently leaving many items to me. I am very motivated to sell these works. you can reach me at nmbx4@yahoo.com please put Ann Spiess Mills in the subject line.
Thanks. I'll email you with details of where you can sell your mother's collection if you want to get rid of them shortly.
Sharon Stephan of New Hampshire and Linda Anderle of New Mexico (linda.anderle@gmail.com) are doing an extensive research project on Ann. Both of us knew Ann. We are gathering photos of Ann's work and the collector. We have an exhibition planned for 2014 in Las Vegas, NM. Ann's hometown. Please contact us with any information about Ann's work. THANK YOU.
Anne,
There is a Harvest Wreath on ebay now, January 1, 2014. Would like much to reach you about our project on Ann. Linda Anderle linda.anderle@gmail.com THANKS
Hello,
Are you still looking for Ann Spiess Mills' work. I commissioned a "Saint Martha" in the 1980s. I can send you a picture of it if you are interested
Martha Hone-Warren
I have a commissioned "Saint Martha" by Ann from the 1980s. Are you still interested in pictures?
I'd love to see it, Martha! And the two ladies who organized a retrospective of Ann's work would love to see the photo, too. If you're willing to share with them and with Blog, you could send the photos to me at chillyhollow at hot mail dot com and I'll pass the photos along. How did you come to commission a Saint from Ann?
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