Top left: Duncan-Irwin House [Photo credit: David Kramer at http://www.TheCraftsmanBungalow.com]. Middle left: Stylized rose motif [Ann Chaves collection]. Bottom left: Silk thread embroidery on linen [Ann Chaves collection]. Right: Ann Chaves design, stitched by Erin Rodewald.

Don’t you just love Arts & Crafts style? I do! A few years back (okay, it was more than 20), I took an amazing class in Arts & Crafts embroidery from Ann Chaves. She taught the class from her beautiful home—one of the fabled Greene and Greene bungalows overlooking the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, California (pictured above).

A Fresh Approach to Design

Ann is a modern-day Arts & Crafts embroidery artist, teacher, and historian. The memory of stitching in her studio inspired me to dig a little deeper into the Arts & Crafts movement (see my forthcoming article in Needle Arts magazine). After two decades I tracked down Ann, and the two of us shared a delightful visit via Zoom. Which led to an amazing in-person visit at her current home in Oregon a few weeks ago to view pieces from her remarkable collection of Arts & Crafts textiles. A few of those works of art are pictured above along with the charming chestnut pillow I stitched under her guidance back in the early 2000s.

“One of the main reasons I am so attracted to this particular period of textile design is the sophistication and the thought process involved in the creation of these objects,” writes Ann, in her book, The Art & Craft of Textile Design 1860-1920 (The Clinker Press, 2008). Indeed, the Arts & Crafts movement that began in late 19th-century Britain represented an important shift in design. The new esthetic emphasized handmade craftsmanship and an embrace of natural materials and themes. Most important, Arts & Crafts celebrated a new stylized or conventionalized approach to design.

A Distinctive American Style

In researching my story for Needle Arts, one thing led to another (as often happens). Ann kindly introduced me to another talented Arts & Crafts embroidery artist, Dianne Ayres. Dianne creates beautiful contemporary textiles inspired by traditional Arts & Crafts designs. You can find her finished work and kits at Arts & Crafts Period Textiles. She specializes in American Arts & Crafts design.

Many historians would argue that true American design got its start (or at least a huge boost) with the Arts & Crafts movement. “Everybody was working on a parallel track of promoting design then,” says Dianne, referring to folks such as furniture maker Gustav Stickley and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Publications like the Ladies Home Journal, House Beautiful and Craftsman magazine took flight during this era and helped drive demand for the new esthetic.

Interest in Arts & Craft design remains high in the 21st century. Enthusiasts will gather this week for the 38th National Arts & Crafts Conference and Shows at historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. In fact, you might just run into Ann and Dianne who will be exhibiting at the show February 21–23. In addition, Dianne will lead a small group discussion, “Hats, Shirtwaists and Boots: The Arts & Crafts Style from Head to Toe,” on Friday, February 21.

If you’d like to explore the Arts & Crafts movement in more detail, here are a few of my favorite reading suggestions:

• American Arts and Crafts Textiles by Dianne Ayres, Timothy L. Hansen, Beth Ann McPherson, and Tommy Arthur McPherson II
• Arts and Crafts Embroidery by Laura Euler
• What the Mountains Remember, a novel by Joy Callaway set in 1913 at Grove Park Inn

Meanwhile, hop over to my WIP page to see my latest Arts and Crafts inspired project—a beautiful design by Anna Scott Embroidery called, “Reflections.” That’s where you can also stay tuned for updates about my Master Craftsman in Crewel journey.