Paige Graves
Staff writer

Posy Lough never dreamed she would one day have a product for sale at the historic Monticello, nor in Boston or Philadelphia. Lough, who sells cross stitch kits for historic locations across the United States, has developed a cross stitch kit for Murray State as a dedication to the community she has come to love.

Lough moved to Murray from Simsbury, Conn., with her husband Tom as he pursued a career in the College of Education. With the birth of her son Kyser, Lough decided she wanted to be able to work from home.

“I had always been very crafty,” Lough said. “I had sold Christmas items to the designer Lauren Taylor in New York. My sister, Ceil, happened to design cross stitch. It came together quickly, and soon I had Monticello as my first account and Mt. Vernon as my third.”

Lough said her husband Tom, who does the photography of the samples for display and computer work, has also contributed to the success of her business. Going since 1983, the business Lough runs from her home uses, “Preserving Our Stories In Stitches” as its tagline.

“The obvious historic locations get more visitors,” Lough said. “You can pick up a kit in their gift shops. One of my favorite kits was one designed for the Norman Rockwell Museum. I felt so proud to interpret his work into cross stitch.”

The Murray State sampler, a tribute to the community the Lough family has come to love, is also a dedication to a friend, Alice Koenecke, who passed away this year.

“She was an inspiration to me,” Lough said. “I feel so proud to be able to give a portion of the proceeds from this kit to her scholarship for students. I know Alice would be proud. She was so encouraging and we both loved handiwork and creativity.”

Though Lough has been in the business for quite some time, she has only recently begun to learn to cross stitch.

“I was talented in selling and advertising, and my sister was good at designing,” Lough said. “I love history and I think people are getting back into the arts, so it’s a privilege to learn this and to preserve stories in this way. The Embroiderers’ Guild of America teaches fourth graders at Murray Middle School how to cross stitch when they start American History, and there’s been a program teaching at Hester (College) as well.”

Lough’s Murray State sampler is a bit unusual for her, as she usually does not do kits for regular shops. In this case, the sampler kit will be available at the local knitting store, Red Bug on 3rd. It will also be available for $12 in the Bookstore.

“These projects can eventually become heirlooms,” Lough said. “I was happy to do something for a community that has given so much to my family. I can proudly say that my products are made in the U.S. It’s a great time to have this out for the holidays and for winter graduation.”

For more information about Lough’s projects, visit posycollection.com.

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