In 1925 a woman living in Braintree, MA saw her neighbor’s Chinese rug and thought to herself, “Bet I could copy that!” Her name was Vesta May Marston, and she started with burlap bags, unraveled sweaters from a local thrift store, and a pencil-like punch. She used the pencil punch and the balls of yarn and pushed the yarn into every hole of the burlap. She copied the original Chinese design of her neighbor’s rug.
When her friends saw the rug she made, they all wanted to learn how. Hence, Vestamayd Rugs was created. Being a creative woman of fine taste, Vesta May combined traditional motifs to make original designs and prided herself that no two designs were alike.
Soon she was teaching her friends, neighbors, and members of Braintree women’s club. Her success was literally overwhelming. About that time, Mrs. Vera Van Schagen showed up at Vesta May’s house looking for yarn to punch into a canvas she got as a gift. Little did she know at the time that she was to be Vesta May’s last student. She was at the right place at the right time, because she purchased this cottage industry for herself.