 By the 1870s , Morris 's decorative arts firm Morris & Co. was offering both designs for embroideries and finished works in the art needlework style . Morris became active in the growing movement to return originality and mastery of technique to embroidery . Morris and his daughter May were early supporters of the Royal School of Art Needlework , founded in 1872 , whose aim was to " restore Ornamental Needlework for secular purposes to the high place it once held among decorative arts . " 
