*Mary at the beach club in Forte dei Marmi. Look at the gorgeous* Elizabeth Swartz canvas.

Introduction:

Kentucky born and bred. Currently living in St. Louis, Missouri. Wife, mother of 3 college students living in DC, New York, and LA. Devoted lover of traveling and adventure.

Avid Needlepointer. My stash is deep and wide. I am an addicted needlepoint troller on the internet, as well. It delights and inspires me to see what is out there in the world. Before the internet, my voyerurism was confined to the artful crane of the neck as I peered behind the curtains of needlepoint stores when I was picking up a finished piece. “Oh, do you mind if I take a look at that other customer’s finished piece?” was a not so uncommon baleful plea.

I love, love, love basketweave. Always have, Always will. Belts, ornaments, pillows, purses. You name ‘em. I have done them. Lots of them. As much as I enjoyed existing, available needlepoint canvases, I have thoroughly enjoyed commissioning custom work. One of my favorites is a series of Andy Warhols. I have large, color block Warhol tomato Soup cans and a collection Warhol portraits…….then again, who doesn’t?

*Mary’s AMAZING AND UTTERLY MAGICAL Warhol inspired custom needlepoint projects. Bottom row is Mao, Warhol, Lennon, and Elvis.*

When did your love of travel begin?

It began ( and, remains) in the form of car road trips. It was the 60’s. And I, along with my 3 siblings jammed in the back seat of my parents Pontiac or Oldsmobile (the only make they ever owned) as we made the long trek to visit my grandparents. Our family had moved from Kentucky to St. Louis and we faithfully and frequently returned. At the end of the trip, we were rewarded with loving embraces, homemade bread, and blackberry cobbler with ice cream. It was worth the trip, but boy did I ever lament the long, boring trek to get there. I recall day dreaming of the mere possibility of a technology advancement that would allow me to watch TV. If ONLY there was some way to make the trip more bearable. I engaged in mental 60’s sitcom math. How many Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan’s Island or Brady Bunches episodes would it take to get from St Louis to Kentucky? Apparently, being born in 1957 was just a bit too early for my dreams to come true. But I was not deterred from my love of a road trip. In my 20’s, I again travelled back and forth frequently from St. Louis and Kentucky, This time, as the the driver in my Honda Accord. Who doesn’t know someone whose first car was a Honda Accord? By that time, my entertainment of choice was Casey Kasem’s Top 40. When I had my own kids, I would load up my Toyota Sienna Van and go just about anywhere. My radio selection then? SiriusXM, Channel 102, Radio Andy where I get to hear all of the BravoTV tea spilled.

My favorite luggage?

Carry on. Any kind.

Travel Tip?

Get Global Entry. It is positively dreamy. And if you are as lucky as I am, your sweet husband will do all of the tiresome require paperwork and all you have to do is get fingerprinted.

Also, another tip. I like to duck into a beautiful hotel for a bite or a cocktail. The lobbies are stunning and they usually have the comfiest of chairs.

Travel essentials:

I love to travel in a blazer. It makes even the most mundane outfit look elevated. And the pockets are so very handy. How else could you access your needlepoint cigarette pack? Did I mention that I have done several cigarette packs? They are not as unhealthy as the real thing but they are most definitely as addictive and habit-forming.

In addition to a blazer, a great scarf is an essential piece. It doesn’t take up much space, it adds a great touch and it serves as a versatile wrap.

What do I collect on trips?

My knees are weakened by a beautiful scarf….. an endulgance I never regret.

What is a memorable purchase?

On our last trip to Paris, I became enthralled by the variety and beauty of the ever-present trench coat. I didn’t own one at the time, but I declared that I wasn’t leaving Paris without buying a Trench Coat. So, I Googled “where to buy a Trench Coat in Paris”. I dragged my reluctant but willing husband through a couple of fruitless shopping attempts and became resigned to leaving Paris without the coveted coat. On the way back from the Picasso Museum (a wonderful Tricia recommendation and a must see) we meandered through Paris toward our hotel. By complete and utter happenstance, I glanced in a shop window, only to discover that it was a vintage Burberry shop. Racks upon racks of Trench Coats appeared. Angels sang. There it was. My sought after Burberry Trench Coat. It was an 80’s gem. It fit beautifully. It had a soul. It had travelled…. No telling where. My quest was over. When I wear it, I think of Paris. I feel stylish. I recall to magic of the find.

Most unforgettable trip.

A Number 1, Top of the Heap (cue Frank Sinatra)

The Island Hopper Trip to Lucca, Italy. My sister, Ann Hannon (my needlepoint partner in crime) and I were among the lucky few (or the OG’s as we call ourselves) to participate in the inaugural Island Hopper Trip. We didn’t really know what to expect…… after all, how can you fully describe the alchemy that Tricia curates? Strangers descended and in no time, we were caught up in the beauty, fun, and delight of her making. The walls shook, the chattering was nonstop, the laughter was raucous, and the enduring friendships soared.

I left Lucca feeling utterly invigorated and charged up. I couldn’t resist coming back for more and in June of 2024, I returned. As expected, it was both familiar and completely different at the same time. The agenda was a bit tweaked and experiencing with a different cast of characters made it something anew. On my second trip, I traveled alone. Tricia took special care in matching me with a delightful roomie, Beth Eyre. My only complaint? We stayed up way too late every night as we swapped life stories. There we were, in our side by side twin beds, covers tucked under our chins, in the dark, staring up the ceiling, trying to cram in as much as we could in our too brief time together.

(Note from Tricia: What Mary is not sharing here is that she and Beth had so much fun together that Mary needlepointed Beth’s husband a belt as a gift! This especially fills my heart knowing that Bill is the son of iconic needlepoint designer Barbara Eyre! This is a gift that I am sure would have really delighted his mother!)

Favorite Destination:

Paris, off-season. It is a marvelous walking city. The stunning beauty never lets your eye rest. My head is swiveling the whole time. Stylish people, of all ages, are everywhere. I also have a particular fondness for the men in blue… the Parisian Police officers. Ooh. La, La.

MEET MARY MCKOWN: The OG Posh Spice and Needlepoint Extraordinaire