Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum (August 1, 1946 – August 14, 2012) was an American cross-stitch embroidery designer known especially for her Victorian angel designs.[1] Her designs were published under the business name Told in a Garden, with product divisions of Told in a Garden, Lavender and Lace, and Butternut Road.
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Marilyn J. Leavitt August 1, 1946 Youngstown, Ohio |
| Died | August 14, 2012 (aged 66) Newark, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Embroidery Design |
Biography
editEarly life
editMarilyn J. Leavitt was born August 1, 1946, in Youngstown, Ohio,[2] where she attended Ursuline High School.[3] She was the daughter of Marcella (née O'Toole) and Earle Leavitt. She had one brother, Bruce.[2][4]
Career
editHer professional design career began in the 1960s, working as an advertising and fashion illustrator for Strouss and Hartzell, Rose and Sons.[5]
Leavitt-Imblum began publishing embroidery designs around 1986, when she showed her original design "The Quilting", depicting an Amish quilting bee, to the owner of a local needlework shop who told her that if she graphed the design the shop would sell it.[5] The first 25 copies sold almost immediately. Within a decade, her Victorian angel designs were considered among the most popular cross-stitch designs available.[6] In 2000, she publicly stated her opposition to the unlicensed sharing of needlework patterns on the Internet.[7]
Personal life
editShe was married three times and had six children: Jeff, Nora, and Elizabeth Adams, Corriander Master "Corrie Ferenchak”,[8] and Matt and Sarah Imblum.[2] She had multiple sclerosis but did not widely publicize the fact.[5] She died on August 14, 2012, in Newark, New York, aged 66.[2]
Her daughter Nora is an artist and fellow cross-stitch embroidery designer, under her married name, Nora Corbett.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ "Marilyn Levitt-Imblum Has Died". The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure. 15 August 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Marilyn L. Imblum". Finger Lakes Times. August 16, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Tims, Jane (July 27, 2000). "Entrepreneur from Valley loved freedom, library". Youngstown Vindicator. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ "New Comer Family Obituaries - Marcella H. Leavitt 1913 - 2012". Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ a b c Case, Mary (July 20, 1986). "Artist crafts embroidery designs". Youngstown Vindicator. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Platt, Mary (January 31, 1997). "A Stitch in Time Saves ... Sanity". Los Angeles Times. p. E1. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Huffstutter, P.J. (August 1, 2000). "Is a Stitch Online a Crime?". Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ "Family". www.tiag.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- ^ "Farewell, dear Marilyn - Casa Cenina". www.casacenina.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- ^ "r/CrossStitch - [MOD]October's Featured Artist--MIRABILIA!--And our first AMA!!". reddit. October 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
External links
edit- Told in a Garden: official website for Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
- "Designer Spotlight" on website for Caron Collection company (specializes in variegated embroidery thread)
- Yahoo discussion group dedicated to Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum designs