“We put a lot of Ohio symbolism into the furniture - lots of Ohio wildflowers and birds,” Top Drawer owner Sandy McKee said. “Hope Taft even came down and helped stitch the items.”

The project took several months to complete; one of the chair-back cushions required eight months of work.

The furniture is one of the most intriguing projects McKee said she and her employees have ever done.

“We even signed our names on the bottoms of the chairs, along with the date and year,” employee Denny Grawe said.

The Top Drawer, located 6880 Wooster Pike, specializes in exquisite hand-painted and needlepoint canvasses. The canvasses are then made into pillows, purses, ornaments and various other items.

Whether a novice or a maestro in the craft of needlepoint work, The Top Drawer offers classes for anyone who wants to learn ... or learn more. And it doesn’t matter where you live or how long it takes for you to get to the store - the ladies will teach you.

The Top Drawer has clientele that comes from Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and other places that are miles and miles away.

Just last week a lady from Atlanta called the store to make sure it would be open this week because she was coming to Mariemont to purchase some needlepoint materials.

“One thing about our art is needlepointers seek out needlepoint shops,” McKee said. “Ours is one of the few needlepoint shops in the country.”

For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com

The store is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.