February 7, 2026 by Community Editor Erin Blake Elefante
Three years ago, Hingham Resident Shana McCarthy was just picking up a new needlepoint hobby, and this week she found the phone in her relatively new business, Greenhouse Needlepoint, ringing off the hook with orders. Ann Michael Maye, “Queen of the North” and wife of Superbowl-bound Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye, posted a photo of an “I heart Drake Maye” needlepoint canvas she was working on, thanking Greenhouse for gifting it to her, and the stitchers of New England had taken notice.
It all started when Shana’s 17-year old daughter, Katie, spotted Ann Michael’s new needlepoint hobby on TikTok. “We saw her post a couple of things two Wednesdays ago, and thought – wouldn’t it be so fun if we sent her something?” A massive group effort ensued.
Jackie Fanning, owner of Halcyon House Designs, and part time employee of Greenhouse added, “We noticed on Tik Tok that Ann Michael had been newly introduced to needlepoint and has been posting about her projects weekly. The shop girls thought it would be fun to create a design just for her and send it along! We went back and forth with design ideas and landed on a fun spin of the “I heart Drake Maye” tee shirt she was photographed wearing recently.”
“Once we had the idea, Jackie said ‘I can paint that’,” continues Shana. “We put together a package, wrote her a note, and sent it. It was simply a gift and we were not expecting anything to come of it. We just wanted to welcome her to the community.”
They overnighted the package to her, and within an hour of receiving it she posted it on Instagram and tagged and thanked the shop. “She posted about the canvas and the phone rang off the hook and our DMs went crazy. What started as a brainstorming session in our shop girl group chat turned into a viral needlepoint canvas!” explains Jackie. Shana’s son had given her an Instagram ticker for the wall of the shop showing the number of followers, and immediately the numbers started skyrocketing. “It is really amazing what something like that can do for a small business,” says Shana.
Later, another Patriots wife, Jayda Hawkins, posted a video of Ann Michael stitching the canvas on the plane to the Superbowl, and within the week Ann Michael again showed her half-finished project saying, “It’s perfect for the Superbowl; I’m obsessed. I want to try and finish it this week if I have any down time,” she said. The orders continued to pour in from around the country.
“It was such a nice thing to do, she didn’t have to do that. It’s amazing her reach. We also had exactly zero of those canvases painted,” laughs Shana. Jackie to the rescue. “Jackie was able to paint and allow us to send out 50 orders in just under a week to meet the initial demand. An incredible effort on her part!” They have since re-opened pre-orders and they continue to roll in.
Much like the rest of New England, the Greenhouse gals love the Mayes and this Patriots team. “It’s felt like a fairytale story. They are so likeable. Ann Michael seems so real and genuine, and the way she’s conducting herself and navigating herself is so refreshing,” says Shana. As for needlepoint, “She clearly loves it and is hooked on it. Needlepointing is such an awesome way to channel stress into something quiet,” something she imagines would be helpful during Superbowl week!
“It’s been such a joy to see the Queen of New England stitching my hand painted needlepoint canvas and watch her influence take over the needlepoint community,” adds Jackie. “Hopefully Ann Michael’s stitched canvas will hang on the Maye family Christmas tree…possibly next to the Super Bowl LX trophy! Go Pats!”
Patriots excitement aside, Greenhouse Needlepoint is a wonderful local resource for South Shore stitchers, a warm and fun atmosphere where you can buy supplies, take classes for beginners, or even pop by to start a new hobby, and if they have time, one of the “shop girls” will sit and teach you how to get started.
There are so many fun and even edgy designs to choose from. This is “not your Nana’s needlepoint,” Shana says. Finished canvases can be turned into so much more than pillows – trays, wall art, bags, luggage tags, ornaments – the opportunities are endless.
If you need more reasons to get started, Shana shares anecdotal stories from shop patrons. “One noticed on her Oura ring that her heart rate and blood pressure dropped every time she would sit to needlepoint. Another checked her screen time usage on her phone, and it dropped 70% when she started stitching.” Sounds like a win-win!
Jackie’s business, Halcyon House Designs was started in 2019, and she creates hand-painted needlepoint canvases, often with a nautical, New England twist, as well as custom orders. She sells her canvases to needlepoint shops near and far and also works part time as part of the Greenhouse team.
If you’re interested in getting started with needlepointing, Greenhouse Needlepoint offers learn to stitch classes – which are selling out as fast as they post them, but check the website to sign up for the next batch of classes!
Greenhouse Needlepoint is located at 293 Washington Street in Norwell. You can learn more about Greenhouse Needlepoint on their website, www.greenhouseneedlepoint.com, and by following their colorful Instagram @greehouseneedlepoint. Halcyon House Designs can be found online at www.halcyonhousedesigns.com, and on Instagram @halcyonhousedesigns. Happy stitching and Go Pats!