The Christmas stockings are the first things I will grab if our home ever catches on fire.
I love them more than all the family silver, art and jewelry put together—probably because I invested far more of my time making them than I invested in acquiring the other things. But most importantly, my kids love them too.
Anything handmade with love is special; but these Christmas stockings are timelessly wonderful in a way that defies rational explanation.
Needlework’s Timeless Appeal
My friend Nancy Searle introduced me to the glorious needlepoint beauty of Christmas stockings purchased at and created under the loving care of the Canvasback in Northfield in 1989. “There is no better store in the country for Christmas stockings than the Canvasback,” she explained. I was hooked. Of course I bought the largest stocking with the most complicated pattern for our first child.
What Nancy failed to explain was that each stocking would take many, many hours to complete. And I didn’t know back then that I would have six kids. This fall—24 years later—I finally completed the stocking for the youngest of my six children.
But now, I have two daughters-in-law, too; therefore, happily, more stockings are in my future.
Basketweave is the only stich I used on the first two stockings. I needed more challenge for the subsequent ones; so I took the Canvasback’s embellishment classes and purchased some of their outstanding how-to books. Eventually I felt like I was painting on the canvases, using different stiches and types of fiber—a thrilling feeling for someone without the talent to paint otherwise.
Celebrating 40 Years
Because the Canvasback has played such an important role in my best made-with-love presents for my family, I am thrilled that Make It Better is the media sponsor for this local treasure’s 40th Anniversary celebration. Sally Volkert-Bissell has owned it since 1974! The store will be celebrating with a week full of special events and surprises, which Make It Better will be proudly promoting to you.
In the meantime, it is a wonderful holiday shopping destination, with gift ideas, certificates and classes for all. My heart-felt recommendation: Take your children in to select a Christmas stocking, and work on that project with them. Something made together with love will always be the best present of all.
The Canvasback
1747 Orchard Lane, Northfield
847-446-4244
