This Newton needlework pattern has a great story behind it:
My Dad’s oldest sister and her husband live in Newton, Iowa. I spent a few weeks there scattered over the summers of my childhood, and my husband and I always stop for a visit when we’re passing through the area.
One of my cousins had her wedding reception at Shay’s Tea Room at the Hunter Mansion in Newton. It’s a beautiful old home, and the tea room suits it perfectly. Just inside the front door are these tiles:
This is one of those instances where inspiration hits me like a flash – I would make that into a pattern, needlepoint it, and give it to my cousin as a wedding present. The design came together incredibly fast, and this is the result:
I’ve always appreciated the slightly unsymmetrical tile pattern and wondered if the craftsmen were having a bit of fun with some extra tiles on this one. My pattern is not an exact match, but I think it captures the essence of the original tile. The pattern is available on my Etsy shop.