Author: Janice Kerber
Visitors to the Art Gallery’s current exhibition, “Sharon Templeman Memorial Exhibit of Exquisite Embroidery,” are invited to experience the world of embroidery perfected over 60 years by the creator’s passionate dedication to the craft.
Sharon Templeman was a resident of Briarwood for 10 years. With encouragement from the Gallery’s co-chair, Sharon Smith-Viles, Ms. Templeman’s daughter, Kim Napoleone, has compiled 36 examples of her mother’s extraordinary embroidery. The collection, selected from over 1,000 pieces, covers a range of genres including samplers, Quaker patterns, and novelties.
Examine the reproduction of a child’s sampler originally stitched in 1692. Notice the typical features of the alphabet, numbers, and floral motifs.
Appreciate the fact that “ornamental sewing” such as this had become an integral part of a young woman’s education as early as the 1600s and was often seen as a status symbol of her parents’ success in providing her with an appropriate “finishing school” education. Enjoy the characteristic monochromatic Quaker pattern with its appealing teal thread stitched in a circular design. Delight in Sharon’s sense of humor while reading the piece accented by paper clips. As you pass by each example of Sharon’s work, take note of other accents accompanying the traditional cross stitches. You will find beads, buttons, and a variety of other embroidery stitches like the satin stitch, rococo (queen) stitch, and herringbone stitch.
Who was this woman with the gifted hands constantly in motion, as Tom Pierce noted? Her daughter, Kim, a teacher and embroiderer herself, would want you to know that Sharon Templeman was a dedicated teacher with master’s degrees in both English and counseling. Sharon’s background included teaching English for 21 years in a juvenile detention center for boys and for four years in one for girls. Betty and Phil Sandstrom would want you to know that Sharon spent hours in the Craft and Chat Room doing all sorts of needlework, learning the names of all the residents who passed by, including the names of the pets accompanying them. Gene McCarthy said she had a warm smile for all whom she encountered. Gene’s wife, Barbara, added that the quality of the work she produced amazed those who watched the needle come alive in her hands. Fellow KnitWits Jane Williams and MaryEllen Matthew both commented on how helpful Sharon was with everyone.
Sharon Templeman was a kind, giving, and caring person who spent a lifetime sharing her heart, her talents and her needlework with the world. Given the smile that immediately appears at the mention of her name, her impact continues to live on in those lucky enough to have known her.