Jan Grioux just announced on Facebook that the designer Sally Skeleton has died. Use the right side arrow to see some of Sally's wonderful Southwestern-themed and saint canvases.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1896437433974562&set=pcb.1372780779465743&type=3&theater
UPDATE: Another of Sally's amazing designs.
http://nuts-about-needlepoint.com/sally-skeltons-death/
Jan wrote a memorial to Sally that you'll want to read. I've reprinted it below.
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SallyJim Skelton – End of an era
A small photo hangs on the wall showing a young girl standing on the backs of two white, galloping horses dressed in a white fringed skirt and jacket and a white hat. This young rodeo cowgirl, from the panhandle of Texas became one the finest needlepoint masters, not just in Texas and New Mexico, but in the United States. Every time I visited this western cowgirl in Deming, New Mexico, I took a moment to gaze at the young girl that became my best friend and mentor.
With the death of Sally on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 this image of the romantic west came to an end and all that remains is that photo of the galloping horses and her legacy as a needlepoint artist.
I met Sally in the late 1970’s – she was walking through the El Paso Airport and saw some of my clay pieces in a small gallery. She called and my life has been better ever since. She wanted my whimsical clay Santos, flowers, and birds in her shop, Sally’s Stitchin’ Post, in Deming, New Mexico. Her promise: every house in Deming will have your pieces as well as any travelers that find her shop. Amazingly, she came close to succeeding and keeping her promise. She was not an easy mentor – didn’t like this or that, too big-too small-the critiques kept coming. But she was right and my work is still being improved upon through Sally’s voice in my head.
In Sally’s shop, besides gifts and artists, Sally sold needlepoint canvases, threads, and accessories. Sally convinced me to not only develop my clay, but also, to develop a talent for needlework. She assigned lessons, always with new stitches. I became her ghost stitcher for projects she designed.
My mentor – My friend
Needlepointing early in life, Sally learned from Bob Black, “Sister.” She would pick up a canvas between diapers, at gun shows with her husband, between horse shows, at her shop. She also studied, completed and received her American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) Senior Master Teacher Certification. Sally was a charter member and past president of the New Mexico Chapter ANG Guild as well as the Red Hot Stitchers Needlepoint Group, supported by needlepointers in the El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico area. Not only could Sally stitch up a storm and choose the right stitch for the area, she also designed and painted canvases, and sold saints with her New Mexican flair throughout the country.
Who would have thought that this short in stature, big hearted needlepointer had the back bone of a gun trader. With her husband, Skeeter Skelton, the youngest sheriff in Texas, at one time, Sally learned the gun business. Skeeter, her 'lawman' wrote articles in
Shooting Times and became an expert in handguns. After his death, Sally continued selling guns and became an expert along with her son Bart. She continued dealing guns until her death.
Sally stayed in the home that she and Skeeter had on the outskirts of Deming, her choice to be surrounded by her horses, peacocks, dogs, cats, and thick wooden block that Skeeter used to practice and test his handguns. As her son Bart stated, 'My Mom lived her entire life on her terms-even at the end. She wanted to stay as long as she could in her home with the memories of my Dad. After so many years without him, she kept pistols, badges, cowboy hats, and shooting gates near and dear.'
If you are fortunate to have stitched any of Sally’s hand-painted canvases – or have one in waiting – you are familiar with her unique signature 'Sally Did It.' And yes she did – Sally did it! Sally did it all and did it her way!
Click on this site about Sally from article from The Oklahoman."
Thank you, Jan.
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 23, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.
