 |
|
14” x 14”
A Moxley Design from Green Mountain Patterns
by Stephanie Ashworth-Krauss
Green Mountain Hooked Rugs, Inc.
2838 County Road, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 |
Stephanie Ashworth-Krauss has always been fascinated with
history, particularly the Victorian era. So when she was asked
to create a pattern for Rug Hooking Magazine, she naturally
turned to her great grandmother’s stamping blocks for
inspiration.
Philena Moxley (1844-1937) was an entrepreneur and a woman
before her time. She spent her early childhood on a farm in
Williamstown, Vermont, but when her parents were divorced in
1854, Philena, her mother and younger sister moved to
Lowell, Massachusetts to find work. During the mid 1800’s,
Lowell was a thriving center for textile production and
trade, so many people were drawn to this area for work.
Throughout her teenage years, Philena worked in a dry goods
store, one of the few places a Victorian woman could find
honest employment other than the textile mills. She sold
fabric and learned the technique of stamping embroidery
patterns. At age 20, Philena purchased 500 stamping blocks
and opened her own store in Lowell. The year was 1865.
Fabric at that time, was woven in solid colors so homemade
clothing was quite plain. Women of that era were no
different than they are today in desiring stylish,
individual fashion. So using brightly colored thread, ladies
embroidered designs on their dresses, coats and shawls.
Philena’s stamping blocks provided the actual pattern or
guide for the embroidery stitches. Each block was handmade
by soaking a piece of wood in water to soften it, so that
thin metal strips could easily be tapped into the surface to
create shapes such as flowers, leaves, or geometric forms.
As the block dried, the wood shrank and anchored the metal
strips in place. Most of the blocks were approximately 4 x 8
inches, although some were much larger for rug designs. To
create a pattern the block was dipped into a solution of
water and bluing (a cleaning compound), placed on the fabric
and gently tapped with a wooden mallet. When the block was
lifted, a blue design remained.
Before closing the P.C. Moxley Dry Goods Store in the early
1880’s due to family obligations, Philena had created over
2000 individual stamping blocks. The blocks remained in
storage until the coal strikes of the 1890’s when
unfortunately many of the larger blocks were burned for
warmth. Those that survived- approximately 500- were placed
in storage until 1930 when Philena brought them out for a
historical demonstration on the stamping process. It is
interesting to note that during this demonstration, Philena
created a pattern for a hooked rug. She presented the
finished rug to the Wenham Museum in Wenham, Massachusetts,
the town where she lived with her daughter, Minnie Ashworth.
Some of the blocks remained with the Ashworth family and
some were donated to the Wenham Historical Society where
they were again placed in storage until 1992 when I started
using them to create designs for rug hooking.
Kit includes pattern, cut strips, binding, complete
directions on hooking, shading and finishing, plus color
picture. $65 plus tax.
