Made in Virginia 2015: Huger Embroidery, Richmond

Huger Embroidery

“My work is a combination of all my interests,” says Sarah Gibson Wiley, owner of Huger Embroidery (pronounced ū-gee). Drawing on 28 years as an interior designer and a lifelong interest in sewing (she says she took art and sewing classes while other kids were busy playing sports), Wiley’s custom embroidery and appliqué designs—on pillows, canvas or even dining chair seat covers—turn memories into art. A family home or photos from a summer beach vacation, a child’s drawing or a wedding invitation is reimagined in whimsical stitches and bright bursts of color. Wiley’s eye for color and fabric stems partially from her famous family: Her great-grandfather was artist Charles Dana Gibson, creator of the Gibson Girl in the 1890s; her great aunt was 20th-century tastemaker Nancy Lancaster; her mother is an artist; and her sister is luxury home furnishings designer Dana Gibson. But with her charming creations, Wiley leaves a mark on this legacy that is all her own. $65-$495. HugerEmbroidery.com