Jean Taggart - a Life to Celebrate
1945 - 2002
In honor of Jean and her other friends who have battle breast
cancer, Dakota Rogers has created a "Breast
Cancer Research Sampler." All of the proceeds from the
sale of this pattern will be sent to the American Cancer Society
and earmarked for Breast Cancer Research.
My dear friend Jean Taggart passed away in October 2002 after a long
and valiant battle with breast cancer. Everyone who knew her even
slightly admired her strength and bravery throughout her final ordeal;
equally valued was the untiring support of Tim, her husband of twenty
years.
Jean burst upon the needlework scene just as soon as she finished her
Valentine Certification in 1985. For years she bragged that she had the
longest hiatus between Levels 1 and 2 -- I think it was seven years --
and if I am not mistaken this record may still be intact. Upon
completion of Level II Jean's lovely Asian design, Narcissus Fan,
was chosen for inclusion in Valentine's permanent collection. This is
the highest honor a certification candidate can achieve.
Shortly after "graduation" Jean was picked up for her first
national seminar by ANG; Her highly regarded View from Anastasia's
Window was enthusiastically greeted by eager students across the
country. Successive years produced a number of wonderful designs which
took Jean to seminar after seminar and chapter after chapter for years
on end.
Her designs were always elegant and refined, based on solid research
and inspired by cultures world wide. A study of Southwestern art brought
forth Pueblo Patterns, delving into Indian design she produced Mogul
Medallion. She researched Irish illuminated manuscripts and gave the
stitching world Gaelic Gold. Among her most popular and memorable
designs were the series of four Japanese geishas, representing the four
seasons and introducing embroiderers to beaded pulled thread work.
In addition to her fabulous designs Jean's stitching was impeccable.
She favored the finest of threads, mostly silks and the shiniest metal
threads. Her shaded flowers were rendered with the most superior
technique, transcendent long and short stitch the rest of us can only
hope to imitate.
Not content in just teaching, which she really loved the most, Jean
also authored two needlework books, Laid Fillings for Evenweave
Fabrics and Darning Patterns for Evenweave Fabrics. For years
she also did the charts for all the designs in Needle Pointers.
In addition to her illustrious career in the needlearts Jean's
personality truly shone. She was so intelligent, prodigiously well read,
well informed, and blessed with an iron clad memory. Indeed I believe
Jean knew something about everything, and if a question arose she could
extrapolate from her voluminous knowledge and usually come up with the
correct answer. She loved word games, devised the most outrageous puns,
and relayed positively wicked but subtle jokes. To know her was to laugh
-- a lot.
And yet the outward demeanor was one of a very disciplined person,
quiet and refined, careful in her appearance, never a hair out of place,
maybe even a little prim. She had such high standards for herself that
she carried her students and candidates along with her.
Her service to NAN has been long and noble. Immediately upon
finishing certification she served as a counselor; later she was asked
to be Assistant Director of Certification. Of course, that is followed
by a term as Director of Teacher Certification and another as Director
of Education, the top NAN office. Like other directors before her Jean
then resumed counselor duties, until she was asked again to fill out
another term as Director of Teacher Certification. She accepted with
alacrity, even though she was battling her cancer, and went on to also
serve as Director of Education, the office she held at her death.
The needlework world is much the poorer for the loss of Jean Taggart.
She has enriched our lives with enchanting designs, the most beautiful
stitching, avid mentoring of aspiring teachers, and gracious and
generous teaching in the classroom. I am honored to have been her
friend.
Gail Carolyn Sirna |
