One could say the late Jean Bromeley had a lifelong love for the art of embroidery, as she had created her first tapestry at the age of 5.
The embroidered message by young Jean, which states “To Err is Human, To Forgive is Divine,” is one of Bromeley’s several embroidered tapestries on display at the 40th annual Crook Farm’s Old Time Country Fair & Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. The display can be seen in the historic farmhouse on the Seaward Avenue property in Bradford.
Bromeley, who was supportive of Bradford Landmark Society, which owns Crook Farm and has sponsored the festival through the years, died in May.
Her daughters, Pam Fredeen and Amy McCune, said they were recently approached by Landmark board members Harrijane Hannon Moore and Judy Yorks, with a request to set up a display at the festival in honor of their mother. The two sisters, as well as their father, Tom Bromeley, were pleased to accept Landmark’s request for the display of Jean’s embroidery.
“We wanted to be able to have a memorial type of thing for (Bromeley) this year at Crook Farm because her family has done so much for the farm and for Landmark,” Yorks explained. “We just thought that she was such a wonderful lady and did such wonderful things that we wanted to honor her here.”
Moore added, “It’s something that is kind of neat and extra” as embroidery is an artform that was a popular pastime among women in the country beginning in the 1800s, when Crook Farm was founded.
Fredeen said she has created a number of beautiful embroidered canvases, wall hangings and furniture coverings alongside her mother over the years. The two also had studied the art form in various areas of the country and abroad. McCune, an accomplished pianist, said she had also embroidered and knitted in her earlier years, but developed carpal tunnel syndrome and was forced to give it up.
Fredeen said her mother took correspondent courses and studied how-to books to learn different techniques of the art form, such as crewellwork, described as a surface embroidery using wool.
She said her mother used her wonderful talent to embroider ecclesiastical tapestries for churches where her late grandfather, Robert Bromeley, had served as a minister.
Fredeen said she is completing a large alphabet tapestry that her mother had started before her death.
“It’s an alphabet, so in the corner there’s a letter (such as A) and there are different fonts of the letter and different (art designs) that begin” with the letter in the square, she explained. “She got part way through K.”
On a related note, Crook Farm officials have noted the fair and music festival will feature a variety of food, events, music and jam sessions, as well as children’s games throughout both days.
Also on-hand will be blacksmith and woodcarving demonstrations, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, walk-throughs by Civil War Ladies, as well as visits with animals from the Kendall Creek Farm.
Admission to the event, which benefits the non-profit Landmark organization, is $5 for adults and free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult.
