Erica Wilson, Scottish-born embroidery designer based in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, known particularly for needlepoint

Needlepoint

Needlepoint is a form of counted thread embroidery in which yarn is stitched through a stiff open weave canvas. Most needlepoint designs completely cover the canvas...

. She has also designed wallcoverings and greeting cards. Her designs have been published by Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...

, among others. Graduate of the Royal School of Needlework

Royal School of Needlework

The Royal School of Needlework is a hand embroidery school in the United Kingdom, founded in 1872.It has an archive of over 30,000 images covering every period of British history...

 in London. Erica moved to the United States in 1954 to work as a needlework instructor. Some of her early students included Mrs. Procter (of Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....

) and Mrs. Watson (of IBM

IBM

International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...

 Watson family

Thomas J. Watson, Jr.

Thomas John Watson, Jr. was an American businessman, political figure, and philanthropist. He was the 2nd president of IBM , the 11th national president of the Boy Scouts of America , and the 16th United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union...

). She married furniture designer Vladimir Kagan

Vladimir Kagan

Vladimir Kagan, , furniture designer. Emigrated to the United States in 1938. Graduated from the School of Industrial Art in 1946, where he was an architecture major. Studied architecture at Columbia University. Opened his first shop in New York in 1949...

 in 1957, they have three children.

In addition to her design work, Erica has had a shop in New York City (Erica Wilson Needleworks) for thirty-three years, published a syndicated newspaper column, Needleplay, has been the host of two Public Television series on embroidery, 1970's to 1980's, and has written sixteen books on embroidery. More recently she appeared as a guest on HGTV's

HGTV

HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...

 Carol Duvall Show

Carol DuVall Show

The Carol Duvall Show is an arts and crafts show which aired on the HGTV cable channel from 1994 to 2005 hosted by Carol Duvall. It was also broadcast on the DIY Network from 2005 until late-2009...

. s to 1980's.

Also, there is "Erica Wilson-Heirloom Guild".

Selected publications

• Crewel embroidery. (1962)
• Craft of silk and gold thread embroidery and stump work. (1973)
• Erica Wilson's embroidery book. (1973)
• Erica Wilson's quilts of America. (1979)
• Erica Wilson's needlework to wear. (1982)
• Erica Wilson's Christmas world. (1980)
• Erica Wilson's children's world. (1983)
• Erica Wilson's smocking. (1983)
• Erica Wilson's knitting book. (1987)