The Spreadsheet Tells All . . .

In 1975 when Muriel Price, a native San Diegan and member of the La Mesa First Ward, followed her sister-in-law into a London tapestry shop, she was looking to create something beautiful. “I asked my sister-in-law if trammé needlepoint was hard to do and she said it’s a lot easier than the crewel embroidery I had been doing.” She picked out her first canvas, a 17 inch square reproduction of a lion. From there she worked on a large reproduction of Marie Antoinette’s portrait and she hasn’t stopped since.

On a tour of the Price’s home atop Mt. Helix the first thing you’ll notice is Sister Price’s infectious smile, sparkling eyes and then you’ll feel the spirit of testimony and love. Take one step farther and your eyes will be drawn to the masterpieces hanging from the walls.

When many people think of needlepoint they envision a painted canvas someone has stitched. However, trammé needlepoint is quite different, instead of painted canvases, the patterns are made with an underlay of colored yarn placed over the horizontal meshes of a double threaded canvas. The purpose is to indicate when the color and design changes. “Usually there are about five shades to each color in the tapestry,” she explains.

When looking at the finished pieces from afar they appear to be an actual oil painting. Reproductions of artwork by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and many others dot her repertoire.

She picks pieces from a catalog and her husband of 67 years, David S. Price, a sealer in the San Diego temple, orders them. He’s kept careful track of her works on a spreadsheet. “She’s working on her 351st one right now,” he grins. When Brother Price began calculating the many inches Sister Price completed he realized she’s effectively stitched 2.008 acres. “At 100 inches per square inch, that’s 12,588,350 stitches,” he laughed. When she heard the number of stitches, Muriel’s eyes got big, “really?” she questioned. “And that’s not including her 351st” he smiled. Brother Price’s spreadsheet includes a list of each tapestry, location of purchase, cost, size, completion date and who she’s given it to. Sister Price gives needlepoints to family, friends and often one to San Diego temple matrons and mission president’s wives. Grandchildren are allowed to pick one out upon their marriage and/or when obtaining a graduate degree.

Watching Sister Price needle away has added to Brother Price’s knowledge that she is a “very patient lady. I’ve noticed when she does needle point she’s very happy.” When asked what Muriel has learned from her needlepointing she says, “it’s relaxing for me.” As her granddaughter, Sarah Price puts it, “watching her finish a reproduction of so many famous pieces one stitch at a time helps me see life from a different perspective. Our life tapestry requires the same patient and persistant effort. She’s been needlepointing for as long as I’ve been alive.”

The Prices are interwoven with the LDS San Diego heritage. As a child, Muriel remembers sitting on the lap of President Heber J. Grant. Other apostles visited her home as well because her father, William Arthur Tenney, Jr. was the branch president for 16 years. (At that time the branch included the entire San Diego County). Muriel’s sisters Louise Smith and Gwen Brown live in the University City tenth ward. David and Muriel’s children, beginning with the eldest, are William D. Price of North Salt Lake, John A. Price of La Mesa 1st Ward, Christine Sharp of San Diego 8th Ward, Lorraine Johnson of Dallas, TX and Marla Foulger of Potomac, MD. They have 23 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren.

When Sister Price left that London tapestry shop 35 years ago, little did she know she’s be creating beauty for a long, long time to come.

(This article was first published in the July edition of "The Seagull", a Mormon San Diego newspaper.)