Spadea

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nancy

Registered Guest
Hello - This is my first time at this site. I used to work with Stirling Spadea from1977-78. I had no idea he used to design patterns. Stirling was a very interesting guy who didn't belong where we worked and had an obviously had a past. He invited me to sit for a drawing with his art group, and he did several line drawings of me. I wondered what ever happened to him. Is he still alive? N
 
Hi Nancy & WELCOME!!!

That's all I have right now. LOL
I'm clueless about your artist/designer.

Stick around, though. There are tons of brilliant folk here!

xoxoxo
leisa
 
Thanks Leisa - I found the Spadea line of patterns from the 50's and 60's via Google. There are several of the patterns and designs featured here on this website (and Ebay), so I thought some fashion history afficianado might have a clue. I'll keep looking.
 
Keep checking back Nancy,

weekends (especially weekend evenings) are usually a little slow around here, and we buzz more during the week. I am sure someone will surface who knows something

Chris
 
This man's story was fascinating, pieced together during the night shift at the men' prison where he worked as a guard and I worked as a therapist. I attended a gallery showing of his work during that time. He seemed a tragic figure who was well-bred and was living a life very different from how he was brought up. He told me he had worked in the fashion industry, but I never asked details. He also told me he had done paintings of the Dutchess of Windsor, Marilyn Monroe, and Geoffrey Beene. His pattern sketches are lovely, and there is one titled Dutchess of Windsor.
 
Interesting. There was a Spadea pattern company. The patterns are highly desirable as they were usually designs from well known designers. I have a few for sell in my webstore:

http://www.vc-mall.com/format0.php?storenum=130&user=7&itemnum=8989&previewpage=item

http://www.vc-mall.com/format0.php?storenum=130&user=7&itemnum=6377&previewpage=item

http://www.vc-mall.com/format0.php?storenum=130&user=7&itemnum=8991&previewpage=item

http://www.vc-mall.com/format0.php?storenum=130&user=7&itemnum=1024&previewpage=item

The name of the company appears to be Spadea Fashions, Inc. I'll see what else I can dig up.

Lizzie
 
Thanks, Lizzie - It does appear to be the same guy. The signatures on some of the Spadea patterns is identical to the signatures on my Spadea drawings.
 
I didn't know that Spadea was named for a person.

As Lizzie said, Spadea patterns are very desireable. The designs are always fabulous, and they sell very well.

I'll keep an eye out for any information on the man, and I'll keep looking at this thread to see what turns up. It's an interesting discussion!

Laura
 
A few more tidbits about Stirling Spadea I was able to find out - He was a prominent artist in Bucks County, PA, and had a farm in Pipersville PA, which he no longer owns, lived in New York, London, and Florence. Attended a St Basil's Academy in New Jersey - class of '44. I also remember that many pieces of his work were displayed in the Pipersville Inn. There's a Google reference to Sir Stirling Spadea - could be the same person? Also, saw his name on a Pennsylvania escheat notice log from several years ago, so perhaps he's passed on. In any case, he seemed to be a very cultivated individual in a quiet existence. He invited me to visit his farm, but I declined. I know there were several "tenants" living there. I remember asking Stirling how he met Marilyn Monroe. he said they had summer homes next door to each other. I no longer remember where that was, but think it was when she was married to Arthur Miller. Intriguing!
 
Well, if he was born in England he could have been knighted but if he was born on American soil, this is probably someone else. Unless he, like a friend of my brother's decided to call himself that in correspondance or in signature.
 
Wow! Bucks County, PA is the next county over from me!! Interesting! I can't wait to follow this thread and learn some more about him!! Nancy, where was it that you worked together? Was it in PA?

patti
 
Patti - I worked at the Men's Correction Center, the minimum security part of the Bucks County Prison in PA. Some of the inmates were fascinating too. One of my counseling clients was an opera singer who used to sing arias in solitary before he came to my facility. Another was a young man who painted in the style of the Wyeth family and in fact changed his name to Wyeth to make people think he was really one of them. We also had a few assorted state and federal prisoners, mostly white collar criminals who were on work release. I really could write a book. When I started there I was a very young widow with a baby. I was probably as crazy as many of the inmates, but I really liked the job. Perhaps they made me look normal.
 
This is all so interesting. I currently have some spadea patterns listed on ebay - I'm downsizing my pattern collection. Have come to realize that I don't have enough time to do all the sewing I would like to do.

and it's nice to meet you Nancy... thanks for sharing your story.

carol
 
That's interesting, Anna. According to the book (1967) they did not sell in stores - only mail order. Maybe they started later???
 
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