Maureen Appleton founded The Heart’s Content in 1974. She joined a Stitchers’ Escapes Cruise for the first time in 2017, escaping with us to New England and Canada. We look forward to having her back for the 2018 Escape to Europe! Maureen teaches cross stitch, silk gauze, and peti-point.
We asked her a few questions so you can get to know her.
What inspired you to become a designer?
The lack of detailed designs available in the early 70’s. I was searching for a design of a birth announcement for my daughter’s birth. There seemed to be nothing out there, so I simply began charting all of my details on graph paper, and as I began to thread my needle to this dainty and charming design, I sincerely fell in love with the detail of one-over-one stitching, and peti-point, on this fine count of 40-count linen. That’s right! I had no clue that linen came in different weaves and counts of interweave. I simply purchased some linen at the only shop in Wisconsin at that time, The Needleart Studio in Milwaukee. The gentleman did not tell me it was 40-count! However I’m not even sure I would have known what that meant. I just drove home, and began filling in hundreds of tiny intersections on the linen with very tiny cross-stitches. OMG! The detail and clarity was amazing and captivated. That’s right! EVERY intersection. Since that experience, I have never threaded more that one strand of fiber in ANY needle, and never stitched over more than one linen or canvas thread with ANYTHING again. I refer to this as the best mistake I have ever made in my life. It immediately threw my hobby into my career.
How would you describe your teaching style?
I truly enjoy sharing my stitching/designing experiences with my classes. Over the years, I have headed nearly 400 classrooms in needleart, and find it most rewarding when a student says at the end of my class: “Thank you for explaining it so easily and clearly for those of us that have not yet stitched one-over-one.” I try very hard to become their friend in class and treat all tutorials as if we were in front of one of my fireplaces, curled with a lap afghan, enjoying an afternoon of stitching till “our heart’s content”. I don’t utilize a lot of demos or board drawn instructions, as I find the best way to their ears is by simply sharing your experiences, and caringly spill all of your special hints of creating this unique method of stitching in a format that is sure to compliment your stitching. Your pieces will never be stored in a drawer, as with this technique, you will be creating a true heirloom for you and your loved ones to enjoy for a lifetime. Blessings.
Where do you live?
In NE Wisconsin. Green Bay
Do you have a spouse, children, pets?
I have been married to my husband Dennis for five years. We married on 11-11-11. I have one daughter, Andrea, and one grand-daughter, Stella Irene. I also have five step-grandchildren.
When did you start doing needlework?
At the age of eight, my grandmother Anna taught me to surface embroidery, and I have been stitching various formats of needlework ever since.
Besides needlework, what do you do in your spare time?
I am an avid golfer, gardener, baker, and photographer.
What are you looking forward to on the 2018 cruise?
I truly am very anxious to visit Downton Abbey, and the Royal School of Needlework in London. I have been at classes in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and we are certainly in for a treat. London is a magical kingdom, and I hold such supreme memoirs of my classes taught and exhibits of my needleart there for many years in the past. Nearly half of my antique sampler collection came from Portobello Market there. I am very thrilled to be able to return in 2018, and share with you my British past in my needleart offering of my class on this cruise.
Regarding the other countries we shall tour, Belgium is a delight with Bruges being the lace capitol of the world. I have visited numerous times, and have accumulated many fine laces from this region. I shall incorporate these into my class piece for this cruise. Oh, and let’s not forget the finest chocolates in the world are here as well. Imagine!
Oslo, Norway…the nugget of this cruise; my new husband’s entire ancestry is from this region. He is most anxious to tour this area, and maybe I can better understand where Norwegians get their stubborn nature from. 🙂
Maureen’s 2018 Escape to Europe Classes
Connect with Maureen Appleton