MARJORIE WILLIS
(July 13, 1901 - March 31, 1991)
Marjorie Willis(née Robinson) was born July 13, 1901 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England, and was moved to New Zealand around the age of 10 years old with her sister Freda. We believe Furness Publishing and Manufacturing Co. was Marjorie's business, and her occupation was listed as "Milliner." We believe she named the business after the Furness Peninsula in England where she grew up. She appears to have also had a great love for New Zealand, as many of her patterns have native culture names. Furness Publishing only published five books - 4 on tatting and 1 crochet - all by Marjorie herself. She had a shuttle manufactured and sold it along with her books. I only have an illustration of it, as Mrs Willis didn't print a photo of her shuttle. It appears to be metal with a pick. All of this took place in the years shortly after WWII. She was 39 when she married Norman Forbes Willis, a native of Australia, on July 27, 1940. It was unlikely that she knew Norman Willis was still married, and had a wife and 3 children he abandoned in Australia. Records show that Ethel Hazel Swyer, his first wife, didn't sue for divorce, on grounds of desertion, until February 6, 1945! Norman died July 28, 1962, a day after his and Marjorie's 22nd wedding anniversary, and Marjorie went on to live another 28 years without remarrying. She passed away in Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand of bronchopneumonia on March 31, 1991.
Marjorie and Norman had no children, and we don't know if sister Freda had any children. So her copyright is likely orphaned - but because of how copyright law works in New Zealand, her work is still considered protected until April 1, 1941.
Pix
Bibliography Entries
Furness Tatting Designs, by Marjorie Willis (TPB:1945?)
Notes: 24 pages; Language: English; Publisher: Furness Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand; ISBN: None;
I got this one in auction off e-bay along with a green Dutch tatting booklet - neither of which has a copyright date
Furness Tatting Designs, Book 2, by Marjorie Willis (TPB:1945?)
Notes: 24 pages; Language: English; Publisher: Furness Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand; ISBN: None;
Furness Tatting Designs, Book 3, by Marjorie Willis (TPB:1945?)
Notes: 24 pages; Language: English; Publisher: Furness Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand; ISBN: None;
Sarah Bradberry offers a free pdf download of this edition on her website(thank you!) along with a nice review:
http://knitting-and.com/tatting/furness3.html
I'm still looking for an original edition of this book...
Furness Tatting Designs, Book 4, by Marjorie Willis (TPB:1945?)
Notes: 24 pages; Language: English; Publisher: Furness Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand; ISBN: None;
has a purple cover with star-shaped doily on table top...
Furness Crochet Designs, No. 1, by Marjorie Willis (TPB:1945?)
Notes: 24 pages; Language: English; Publisher: Furness Publishing, Auckland, New Zealand; ISBN: None;
