I have a box. It is a Beautiful Box. It’s wood. Its finish is smooth as glass. It opens on elegant hinges to a finished, cavernous interior.
Its outside is paneled, made to display embroidery. Not just on top, mind you, but All Around the Sides, too.
But my box is without embroidery. It’s still beautiful, but it isn’t complete.
I keep my box on an old sideboard in the entrance of my house. And when people see my box, they say, “What is this?” And I say, “It is a box.” They open it, they look inside, and they say, “Hm. A box.” Though the workmanship is exquisite, though the box itself is attractive, they wonder what it is. Why do they wonder? Because they recognize that it is incomplete.
I bought the box from Bloom Woodworks. I met Mr. Bloom and his wife and daughter at an EGA merchandise night. He is a wonderful elderly gentleman – a master craftsman who turned his skills to making cradles for his children and grandchildren. Then, his daughter, who is a needlework enthusiast, paired up with her dad to make needlework accessories from wood. I just thought that was the nicest story of a real home-grown, skill-oriented, family business!
And that’s one of the reasons I bought the box.
Then there was the screwdriver. The panels that back the embroidery (so that the inside of the box remains finished with wood walls and lid) require the a screwdriver in order to remove them for mounting needlework. And each box has the screwdriver inside. So I bought box and I ended up with a tool, too.
The wood is beautiful. I love the grain.
So I have a box. But it is without embroidery and incomplete. It Needs, and I needs must do something with it.
Of course, with a box, anything goes.
My reasoning at this point: counted work would be easiest, crewel work would be fastest, stumpwork would be grandest.
But what do you think? What should I do with it?
If you’re looking for some beautiful wooden accessories for your embroidery needs – from a small box to a large, thread keeps, spool & tool holders, feel free to check out Bloom Woodworks. I’m not at all affiliated – I just think Mr. Bloom makes beautiful stuff! And when I met him, I thought, “He is a really nice man.”
