Sally Irish served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines - Now sells rugs
ABOUT SALLY
Sally Irish, a native of San Francisco, grew up in a diverse culture rich in Chinese, Japanese, and European Arts. She studied at the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State before serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. While there, she spent long hours embroidering with the local ladies. Here, too, she pursued her interest in Chinese design and was first introduced to Islamic art.
Mrs. Irish traveled throughout Turkey studying the Anatolian tile designs of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. These she began to adapt to needlepoint designs in the late 1970's. She also adapted the lovely Chinese designs from the early Famille Rose period. Her early rug patterns, produced in Portugal, reflect these influences. As she became more adept, she wanted greater depth and movement in her floral designs. Thus, she went to London to study the art of graphing designs at the Royal School of Needlework.
Prior to being a designer, Sally Irish was Executive Director for a large multi-funded Day Care Association, Secretary to Mrs. Robert Kennedy, a Peace Corps staff person, an early Head Start Director, and a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Mrs. Irish lives near Middleburg, Virginia with her husband, Richard K Irish. Click to view this award winning design.
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