The Replica Embroideries of Mary Queen of Scots

A history talk illustrated mainly with my embroideries

A talk about the tragic life of Mary Queen of Scots, but told from the entirely unique angle of the embroideries at which she worked to while away her long years of captivity. This talk came into being after I was approached by Dr Roger Joy to replicate some of the Scots' Queen's embroideries. I was amazed to find that Mary always portrayed the crown in some way out of alignment and I was never able to make up my mind whether she was cocking a snoop at her cousin Queen Elizabeth I or having a silent dig at herself for having let two crowns slip through her fingers..... that and much more the tragic Queen's embroideries hint at across the centuries. The talk is light-heated and anecdotal and I adapt the content according to my audience giving either more or less attention to the crafting of the Embroideries - depending on what's wanted.

Photo - Sylvia with Lesley Smith (dressed as Mary Queen of Scots) curator of Tutbury Castle on the occassion of the presentation of the Replica Embroideries of Mary Queen of Scots which are now on permanent display at the castle

Click on the title below for details of my talk about

The Staffordshire Millennium Embroideries