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Mary Murphy will keep you in Stitches

by Cate Murway

Owner Mary (Crudo) Murphy BHS ‘65/Pierce Junior College is such a “Sew and Sew”!

99% of the amazing counted cross-stitch work displayed on the walls of the Ye Olde Cross Stitchery are her own masterfully handcrafted articles. Her blatantly evident passion lies in educating others and creating her own fine needlework that is a pleasure to stitch and will remain as a legacy of the stitcher's time, talent and effort.

Ye Olde Cross Stitchery, located on 119 Pond Street, can quickly become one of your favorite shops in the borough. There is magic in the displayed storage boxes of afghans, aida, linen and plainweaves and hand-dyed fabrics and potent colorful potential in the Metallic floss, Pearl Cotton, Kreinik, Marlitt Thread, Rayon, and hand-dyed threads.

While you are there, take a $1.00 chance on a Stitch-opoly™ game [$30.00 value].

Cross-stitching has a long history. The earliest piece of embroidered cloth includes cross-stitch and dates back to the sixth or seventh centuries, an ancient Peruvian running-stitch sampler has been dated to 200-500 AD. Cross-stitching really came into its own with the working of samplers, a means of recording a verse, a prayer or a moral saying. In 1797 poor children from the orphans’ school near Calcutta in Bengal were given the task of stitching the longest chapter in the Bible, the poetic 19th Psalm.

As pattern books became more readable in Europe and America during the 17th century the function of samplers changed. They developed into educational tools, stitched by children to teach them the needlework skills essential to young girls who would be making household linen and clothing.

Mary’s organized instruction and pattern books and leaflets

hold the promise of new treasures.

Designs range from simple 'quick stitch' Cross Stitch samplers

to elaborate patterns using a full palette of embellishing

and cut thread techniques.

Bluebirds and bouquets obey all your wishes when you rule all the colors and command all the stitches. Include a tiny charm and define your individualized work of art!

Seeing a picture appear on a blank piece of fabric is like a gardener sewing seeds and watching them successfully grow into a colorful garden full of flowers. This craft is perfect for that unique person or special occasion, and an added benefit, focusing on matching colors and following a pattern is a great way to relieve stress.

One of Mary’s specialties is Hardanger, or Hardangersom, popular during the Renaissance period when the use of linen for clothing increased. It is a delicate form of whitework [traditionally worked in white thread on white fabric, although color has been used for many years now, both in the fabrics and threads], using counted thread and drawn thread work.

Immigration of the Scandinavian peoples from 1840-1920 saw the introduction of embroidery to America. The first published piece in May 1901 was an article displayed in the Ladies' Home Journal [originally called the “Ladies' Home Journal and Practical Housekeeper” in 1883].

Mary and her husband, owner of Mercury Press Printing that prints the Bristol Borough Calendar, Richard David Murphy, Bensalem & Bucks County Technical High School ‘67 are Borough residents. Their two children are Shana, BHS ‘99/Temple ’03, who works in marketing at Producersweb.com, and 1st in his computer class Shawn, BHS & Bucks County Technical High School ’00, employed at PDQ Signature Systems, Inc. that provides the cost effective Point-of-Sale management systems for Pizzerias and restaurants. Their newest pride and joy is their beautiful granddaughter, Cadence Leigh.

Mary comes from a family of business-oriented people. She is named for her grandmother, Mary [husband, Francisco (Frank)], who owned Crudo’s Candy & Newspapers store on the corner of Penn & Cedar for 50 years. Her great uncle John Whyno once maintained a newspaper stand at the Bristol Railroad Station and her great uncle Jimmy Whyno was the proprietor of a barbershop.

Per Mary, who “couldn’t do it alone”, Ye Olde Cross Stitchery is the super store it is due to its staff which includes Benson Place resident, Miriam True Piere “Trudy” [Jefferies] Magarvich, BHS ’61 [her dad, Horace Jefferies, also a BHS grad, was the 1958 Bristol Borough School Board President]; and Morrisville resident, State of N.J. hydro-geologist, Linda Marie Welkom, heralding from Catawissa, PA. Their customer service is exemplary with cheerful, caring people who develop warm relationships, know the business and are skilled in making your cross stitching experience relaxing and enjoyable. One customer, Ellis, who is retired from G.E., makes weekly jaunts all the way from Quakertown just to come to the Stitchery shop.

Gift Certificates are available in any dollar amount and can be mailed first class mail. The product selection is the best, prices are wonderful, and your service is fast, professional, friendly and terrific.

According to Mary, great reference materials are “Just Cross Stitch” and “Cross Country Stitching” Magazines. Photos of completed projects include examples of how to use elements of each pattern to create unique home décor. Instructions and tips are included.

Whether you are a professional or an enthusiast, cross-stitching is so much more than just a hobby. With its enduring style, it brings beauty and pleasure to you and your loved ones for years to come.

Would you like to create your own masterpiece?

Mary and her team invite you to learn more about them and to find a design that will display your needlework skills.

Learn to express your personality, style and creativity. Today cross-stitch is the most popular form of embroidery as a hobby in the western world. It lends itself well to recreational use because it's easy to learn and very versatile. There are patterns available for almost every taste, and even beginners can create beautiful stitchery with some patience. Reservations are accepted for the 2 ½ -3 ½ hour classes, offered for $25.00 and up, to become skilled at the simple and beautiful style of counted thread embroidery. The “learning lounge” is paneled in a calming blue, almost cross-stitch design. All materials are provided.

Bring your scissors and your glasses for close-up work, and you can start your “masterpiece in progress”.

Pre-made painted wooden frames or a custom frame for your stitched success truly makes it a distinctive presentation, transitioning your artwork into the room setting. Mary and her staff can also assist you to accent any of your favorite pictures or paintings! Add beauty to your work of art with the extensive Larson-Juhl collection, a Berkshire Hathaway company making custom frames with unique finishes, exquisite embossings, and intriguing patterns for over 100 years.

Make it a “point” to stop in to see the “Lizzie Kate's” [On a whim, design business creator, Linda decided to combine the nicknames for her daughter’s middle names - Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" and Alison Kathleen "Kate" - and Lizzie*Kate was born!] newest designs that celebrate the upcoming holidays. Become the master of your own personal piece. Power your imagination. Take your time and select some Christmas red and vibrant green flosses, or silver metallic braid, blue glass seed beads and tiny micro-buttons embellishments that add just a teeny splash of color, to create the perfect Hanukkah gift. Affordable personalized possibilities are endless.

C’mon in. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced stitcher, you've come to the right place. Imagine learning about stitching techniques from a board game while you build your own hand stitched studio and empire!

Take a chance on Stitch-opoly™ [$30.00 value]. It’s a fun property trading game you can play to share your love of stitchwork with your friends and family. It is an ideal game for scouting groups, school recreation programs and sewing organizations/clubs looking for new ways to encourage the art of stitching.

Stitch-opoly™ also makes a perfect gift! Chances are only $1.00. Winner will be chosen on December 15th. You need not be present to win.