Original fabric relief illustrations from POCKETFUL OF POSIES were exhibited around the country for 5 years, starting when the book was published in 2010. The tour made it possible for thousands of people from coast to coast and in between to see the collection of 50 illustrations. Most of the framed originals are now in private collections.
About the book: Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes is a 72-page, full-color, hardcover edition, illustrated in fabric relief by Salley Mavor and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Pocketful of Posies won the 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Picture Book and the Golden Kite Award for picture book illustration from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Pocketful of Posies is available worldwide wherever books are sold. Autographed copies are available from Salley Mavor’s Etsy Shop.
See a series of posts showing the process of making borders for the book’s original artwork: Pocketful of Borders
Katherine French, executive director of the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA said of the exhibit, “This is very sophisticated work. When you describe it, it sounds too precious, but the reaction is one of amazement. People hear about it and say, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ but then they see it and are blown away.”
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SALLEY MAVOR 
Wow! Your attention to detail is amazing! The little characters are full of personality – I cannot wait to see the book! Thanks for sharing your creativity.
This looks so wonderful! I am really excited because it is coming to UConn, so I will eventually be able to see it. Your embroidery embellishment looks enchanting and more complex. I cannot wait to see the show and, of course, buy the book!
Hi Salley, The new book looks enchanting as does all your work! I can’t wait to have one–will we be able to order one from you? I do hope you are completely over your fall by now. It was a great privilege to spend that week in your class at the Folk School–let me know if you decide you’d like to come back. Love, Dee Dee
Hi Dee Dee – you won’t remember me, but I was in some parallel classes to your at Campbell a few years back. I love your work too. I am thrilled that you are connected with Salley. And if ever Salley is coming back to Campbell I would love to take a class with her and with you. Oh my. So much lovely work and so many woven connections. Julia Simmons
Salley, you and your pictures are magic.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
Can’t wait for book.
I don’t know if we will be lucky enough to have this exhibit come to Montreal, but I would love to see these pieces in reality – crossing my fingers:)
If you know of a small museum or art center that might like to show my work, please have them contact me!
Yeah Uconn is mnear me !!!!!
How utterly beautiful! I am going to see if I can pre-order it on Amazon UK, otherwise I’ll get it shipped over. What wonderful work! (Mimi Twittered it and I found you that way)
The wonder of your work…the beauty, the charm, the sweet reflection of childhood. How happy it makes me.
Magical work Salley, how I wish you were visiting California.
Can’t wait to purchase your book.
Jenny
Oh, please, please bring your exhibit to the Seattle area. I love your work and collect your books….. would so much like to see your work, up close!!!! Can’t wait to buy your book. Your boys are so much fun. Thank you for sharing all the great details. Our interests are so similar that we could be sisters!
Your story art has a LOT of love stitched into it, I can tell. It is so much lovely eye candy! Blessings over you for sharing your God-given talents!
🙂 Julie Henderson
Charming……….your work is even more charming than in your first illustrations, if that is even possible. It transports me back to the world of my childhood and that makes me very happy!
Looking forward to this with joyful anticipation! Thank you so much for your wonderful worlds within this one!
posted this on my Facebook page! I have lots of relatives in NE. It looks wonderful Salley! I hope that schedule fills up quickly for you!
Salley, It looks amazing. I’m going to try to see your show at Highfield. Thanks! love, Beth
Salley Salley your [ sew] fine you make thangs in nursery rhymes I for one wolud like to see your work in southern california PLEASE. thank you, wendy
Thanks for the rhyming plea, Wendy. I’d love to send the show your way and have sent out many proposals to places in California, with no response. If you have any ideas or contacts at art centers or museums in your area, please have them get in touch with me.
gorgeous work, Salley ~ your work is one of a kind, congratulations!
Salley,
I just ordered your pocketful of posies and the Hollyhock Wall as well. What are the chances your exhibit could make it to the Tennessee area? I live close to Chattanooga. We have the Hunter Museum and there is a great quilting museum in Athens as well.
Lynn, I’d love to send the show to your area! I’ll need contacts at these venues to send proposals to. Lobbying from local residents also helps. Thanks for the interest.
How about ICA in Boston (The Institute of Contemporary Art), please? Lots of school kids visit there too.
Caye
You might contact Women and their Work in Austin Texas. It’s a little museum but has great shows. I’d love to see your work their.
Thanks for the suggestion. I checked their website and unfortunately, they only show Texas artists.
Love your beautiful work, such a gifted talent – bought the first book years ago, now must have this one too…Tippecanoe Arts Federation in Lafayette, IN might be a place for this to be shown. Please, pretty please..
Salley- working on two possible sites for your traveling show in Michigan. One in in Muskegon, at the Muskegon Museum of Art , another is at the Kalamazoo Art Institute in Kalamazoo. Another possibility is Grand Valley State University, here in Grand Rapids. Congratulations on the award recently received. Thanks!
Do you have plans for a Southern California exhibition yet?
Cindy, thank you for your interest in having the Pocketful of Posies show come to your area. I have been trying to find a venue in California for almost 2 years, without any luck. The holdup seems to be financial, since the host would need to cover shipping and insurance expenses. So, unless something happens to make it possible, the show won’t be traveling your way. Sorry about that. I’d like to have it go more places, but without a sponsor, I can’t afford to send the originals to any more venues than are already scheduled.
Hi Salley, this is Ivonne from… Italy! Any chance to have you here? I have just discovered your art and I completely fell in love with it. Pleeeeeaseeeeeeeee!!!!! Good luck for all your future projects! Ivonne
Hi Ivonne,
I’d love to come to Italy. Just waiting for an invitation with travel expenses!
I had the great joy of stumbling upon your exhibit this Fall when visiting Brattleboro, Vermont — I have been a fan for some time and love making the “fern fairies” (the felt dolls) from your excellent how-to book (which actually has instructions that a novice can follow!). I especially enjoyed the circle of fashions through your life. Spent nearly an hour poring over all the details – even better in “real life” than in the photos. Keep up the wondrous work!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I have just found your book A Pocketful of Posies at my library and I want to cry because it is so amazing and beautiful. My 8 and 6 year olds are enthralled! I am a quilter and know only a glimpse of what it must have taken to create such Art. I am so overjoyed to have discovered your work. It leaves me speechless. Google maps, find me Mahopac, NY…..
DANG, I’m going to be on vacation at The Cape from August 18-25, and I don’t see any of your appearances, or that of your work, there that week. Am I right??
Kate
I always have something displayed at Eight Cousins Book Store in Falmouth and the Woods Hole Library. If you’re in the area, stop by those places.
Hello Salley, can you give me an idea of what the shipping expenses would be, say to Seattle (not that far from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada, where I’d love your show to come in 2014 if not before). And what’s the value of the show, to be ensured? I’m thinking “Can’t we somehow apply for a grant to sponsor your show coming to us?” I myself could start buying lottery tickets …
Usha
Sally, I am so thrilled to see your work will be coming to Fresno!!! Will you be here for the opening? Your work inspires me, of course I do everything on treadle sewing machines. I love your studio.
Yes, we are just starting to work out arrangements to have me come to Fresno sometime during the week of March 18th, 2013.
Thank you so much for sharing your work. It has inspired me beyond words to tell. I am creating Christmas presents for my five granddaughters from your wee fairy tutorial book with a little twist…they all live in books and have play mats of felt inspired by you. They are so much fun to create…they will each have a family of five to let their imaginations pretend with. I have ordered all your books on amazon as they are all so awesome and I could not just pick one, your talent is amazing. They will love thier farie families, thanks to all your amazing work. I too would love to see you in California! Warmest regards, Susan
Are you aware of the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque (obviously) in late May. Deadline for all categories of Fiber Arts is March 1. They have a website with entry info, just google it to find out. I never remember the exact site label. This fiesta is held every two years, and gets thousands of visitors.
Salley,
My friend Mary & I are traveling to Mount Vernon, Illinois to see your exhibit the first weekend in April! Great fans of your work, we are each doing a textile landscape of our own that we call our “Salley Project”. Can’t wait to see your work in person! Thank you for the inspiring art you share and teach by example!
Cindy
How I wish you could come to Philadelphia…..
Went to see “Pocketful of Posies” today, Salley in Mount Vernon, IL. Drove the 7H yesterday and back today myself. My friend could not come so I almost chickened out..but am I glad I did not!!! There is absolutely no substitute to seeing your wonderful work in person. Folks out there don’t miss it if you can possibly go. I will not look at the book the same again after seeing your work in person. You are WONDERFUL. Thank you for your work. It is so inspiring and beautiful.
Carol,
I’m so glad that you decided to drive all the way to Cedarhurst, even by yourself! I appreciate your words about the value of seeing the original illustrations as compared to the printed book. Thank you for encouraging people to go see the exhibit!
Thank you so much! I was able to view “A Pocketful of Posies” at California State University Fresno–it was awesome! I will be ordering your book–after payday– so I can remember everything I saw…..I am sad to see the exhibit leave, but feel very fortunate to have seen it!
I have your book and I used to read them to my son every night. It is such an amazing work and I wonder how you did all that! Thanks so much for making this beautiful book!
Salley, your imagination and creativity are pure genius. Every stitch and detail is so beautifully rendered…I brought two RISD graduate friends who were visiting to see the show at Highfield…we were enthralled. I have acorns drying on the table, your Wee Folks directions book ready, and my grandmother’s quilting scraps at hand to see if they might work…..thanks for brightening my world!
Nancy Roy
Oh Hooray!! Delighted your work is coming to Kentucky! I will spread the word among my local friends, many of us are big fans of your work!
These wonderful artworks are currently on display at the library where I work in Bel Air, Maryland. When I heard about the upcoming event I was admittedly underwhelmed — until I saw them! Each frame is filled with wonder. I visit the display everyday and see something new each time. Oddly, the first day that I wandered in, just after the setup, I found a needle on the floor. It must be yours somehow and I am now inspired to return to the embroidery that I so enjoyed years ago. Thank you so much for sharing the delightful rhymes with us –and for the needle!
I just saw this exhibit at the Harford County Public Library in Bel Air, Maryland, and it was spectacular! What a gift you are!
Saw Pocket Full of Poseys today in Greenville, SC. Fabulous beyond belief!! The children who were viewing the exhibit were excited as well. A most refreshing & creative approach to illustrating a book!
I am lucky that we spend the winter in NC. I was able to get to the exhibit I Greenville, SC in about an hour and a half.
It was absolutely beautiful. I was in awe from the first piece to the last.
Hi Janet,
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the exhibit, after waiting, planning and finally making the trip to Greenville!
Best Regards,
Salley
I just checked this book out from interlibrary loan. well done atk
tiene una manos prodigiosas para crear tan bello arte
Lovvely blog you have
Sally,
I am not at all surprised at the wonderful response & awe of those fortunate enough to have already seen any of your exhibits, anywhere! I’m on schedule to view your exhibit sometime between 2/1/23-4/30/23 in WA state. I’m beyond excited to travel there, specifically to view your displays!! Thank you a head of time, for sharing your talents & beautiful artwork!!
Thank you for your kind words, Sonia. I’m happy that you’ll have a chance to my work in person next year!
Love your work. I was wondering if any shows are planned for 2023.
Regards, Becky Rudolph
Thank you Becky. Yes , There are several exhibits happening in 2023. Please visit the Exhibitions Page. https://weefolkstudio.com/exhibitions/
Thank You Salley for such a prompt response! I have already added Carrollton GA to my calendar.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Becky
Una delizia, sono molto ispirata da questo lavoro ricco di fantasia, gusto estetico e tanta pazienza. Mi piacerebbe creare con te! Grazie.