HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GENTILITY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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A Milestone Birthday for Gentility - BUT WHICH ONE !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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Whoopie! The Knox Family Sampler is finished!
Here she is in all her glory:
Here is another shot:
It is hard to see the detail in these photos. There is a variety of stitches used here, long-legged cross stitch, backstitch, zig-zags, and wheatear stitch. The grass is done in a satin stitch. The lettering at the bottom are similar to the top, and are stitched one-over-one. My favorite part is the illuminated letters.
The chart states that it is an "ambitious sampler". I would definitely agree with that! I am very glad that it is finally finished!
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| The Knox Family Sampler- 36ct linen using DMC |
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| (Click on image to see detail) |
The chart states that it is an "ambitious sampler". I would definitely agree with that! I am very glad that it is finally finished!
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October's Draw
I sat down some two hours ago to type this post but have been distracted by an auction today of this medallion sampler
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There was a guide price of £40 - £60 UK pounds and sold for £1,400.00 !!!
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Samplers never cease to amaze me.
The new facebook group is going really well and for anyone who has yet to visit it is worth a look. It seems to be a medium that is easier to post and chat in. Please give it a try.
The draw prize this month has generously been donated by Krista to celebrate her birthday. Thank you dear Krista - your sponsorship is very much appreciated by us all.
The winner this month is Sonja C. Well done - please can you let me have your choice of chart and address.
Next month's draw is sponsored by Dawn M and is the gorgeous chart of Susey Oliver. Please share your current SL WIP for your name to go into the hat.
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Thank you, Elizabeth!
I was lucky enough to win one of the draws from last month, the chart Winds on the Wold. Hmmm, perhaps this may be my next Scarlet Letter project???
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A big and heartfelt THANK YOU to Elizabeth! xx
And what a surprise, Elizabeth also included a Sajou plaid key chain!
A big and heartfelt THANK YOU to Elizabeth! xx
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Thank You Elizabeth
Good Evening Everyone,
I, too, was a lucky winner in the September draw and received from Elizabeth a copy of the Cornelia Ann Vanderveer sampler and a fun Sajou key fob. How cool is it that the tartan pattern was designed so close to where Elizabeth lives? It is fabulous and I’ve already put it to good use. Thank you Elizabeth!
Well, I managed to do absolutely NO stitching while on vacation, and the past week has been brutal. Work is very busy, but I may have partied just a bit too hard with my friends. I think I need to take a week off after vacation just for recovery – lol.
I hope to start back up with Dona Dorothea soon. I’ve missed stitching on her for sure. I hope to get a bit more done before I head to California in a few weeks (another work trip).
Have a great week!
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EXCITING NEWS !!!
Marsha has just signed a licensing agreement with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin to reproduce this amazing early 18th century sampler made by Mary Hammand in 1732, possibly in Rhode Island. It should be available in the spring of 2015.
This is going to be another beauty. Spring cannot come soon enough !!!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DEBBIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DEBBIE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
Wishing you a wonderful birthday from all of us.
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HIP HIP HOORAY ITS DEAREST KRISTA'S BIRTHDAY TODAY !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KRISTA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
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Elizabeth Cox
I thought I would post a progress report on Miss Cox and share a little tip I find useful.
I like to photograph my work, enlarge it, then study it for faults. It seems far easier to notice problems this way.
Can you see how the flash has highlighted the linen showing through the stem stitches on the grassy bank under the gazebo. This is easily remedied by going back over the area with an additional row of stitches here and there.
Does anyone else check their work in this way?
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A finish and new starts
Sophia has been sitting patiently for me to photograph . I had forgotten just how pretty she is.
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This sampler was very enjoyable to stitch. There is a nice mix of stitches to keep it interesting. I did add the stem filling stitch to the top butterflies and flowers as well.
My next sampler is something I haven't seen on this blog yet. Maria Theresa Wilkinson. I spent hours scouring the Scarlet Letter site in the hope I could find that hidden treasure. And there she was. Lots of pretty motifs in cross, eyelet and satin stitch. My linen is ordered, and on its way. I think though silks are required for this one.
A Parrot, A Leopard, A Lion is keeping me occupied. The
temptation to fill in the colour is too tempting.
In the mean time A Parrot, A Leopard , A Lion is being squeezed onto a piece of linen. Hopefully it will grace the top of a box.
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Rebecca Cullin, Jane Ballard and friends
I thought that you might like to see Rebecca Cullin and her friends. There are certain samplers that I love looking at. I love samplers with sheep in them, houses, interesting verses, Rhode Island Samplers, samplers that have interesting features in them using specialty stitches and these ones. I would love to know whereabouts in England these samplers come from. It's interesting wondering if they were all friends.
I first fell in love with Rebecca Cullin when I saw this amazing bird and the beautiful flowers. I knew that I would also do her in the original version. I love doing stem stitch, satin stitch, bullion stitch and all of the other wonderful stitches in this sampler. I was very lucky that I learnt to sew these wonder stitches when I was quite young and have used them in one form or another over the years. But quite honestly most of these samplers are so incredibly easy to do. For instance Satin Stitch. I have found that it's easier to do this using one strand of thread as you don't have to worry about the threads tangling and you can go back and fill in where it's necessary.
This sampler is called Jane Ballard and although it isn't a Scarlet Letter sampler it is mentioned on the cover for Rebecca. Jane is a sampler that I have always wanted to do. Jane and Rebecca went to either the same school, had the same teacher or lived in the same area. Jane is dated 1799 and Rebecca in 1801. As you can see I'm still working on Jane, but the end is near. I have to finish off the bottom section and then I will come back and fill the area above the mound.
Usually when I do samplers such as these where I have do e.g. stem stitch, I first work the outline of the motif in back stitch and then I will fill it all in with stem stitch or the stitch that is required. The only time that I ever use a pencil is when I have to do branches on trees as I find it's a lot easier to work them if you have a guide. I usually lightly sketch the branches in and then go over the pencil line in stem stitch. I only do a few branches at a time in pencil as I have found over the years that if I do to many the pencil line disappears.
I thought that you might like to see these samplers. It's always interesting to compare one sampler to another. The one above is of course Jane Ballard. She is published by Porcupine Needlework. The original Jane resides in the Worchester Art Museum in Massachusetts. There is another similar sampler called Martha Bates and she is in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England. Sadly I don't have a photo of Martha.
If you took at all of these samplers close up if you can, although they look similar they not. Each is unique in it's own way.
This is Lydia Hope 1801 which I believe belongs to Whitney Antiques. Lydia was on the cover of Rebecca Scott's wonderful book called - Samplers.
This is Elizabeth Butts, 1800. Sadly I don't know where Elizabeth is these days. I know that she was sold at Christies in 2009 for 5,000 pounds.
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Why have I put a photo of a sampler that has nothing to do with the above.
This is Mary Spears and Mary and the others all share the same verse.Tell me ye knowing and discerning few
Where I may find a Friend both firm and true
Who dare stand by me When in deep Distress
And then his Love and friendship more express.
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Elizabeth Cox
Winter has arrived and the wood burner has been lit. My back is "back" to normal and I have been busy this week catching up on Elizabeth Cox.
I have decided to change the bottom left hand corner. I stitched one of the large leaves and it did not appeal so out it came and I decided that as November the 11th, Remembrance Sunday and the 100th anniversary of WW1 is nearing it would be fitting to embroider a bank of poppies. This sampler will be dedicated to my paternal uncle John Parkman and maternal great uncle Atiglio Bassi who lost their lives fighting on opposite sides in WW2.
I will finish the stem stitched bank tonight and then on November the 11th at 11.00 am I will sit and add the poppies.
I am still trying to find the right verse to add to the top of the sampler. Suggestions would be welcome.
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Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: 25 Days of Christmas, floss give-away, enter now!#c1190730895418907676
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Mary Hurst
Is there a sampler that you admire but are hesitant to start?
Mary Hurst 1661 - has been in my stash for a little while now waiting for me.
She begins with a beautiful whitework section and goes on to feature arcaded bands with roses, acorns, honeysuckle, pomegranate, pansies and daisies. The clothing of the queen and princess are enhanced with silver metallic bullion thread.
She has lots of different stitches - counted satin, cross, Montenegrin, button hole filling, double running, Croatian flat, queen, faggot, seeding and rice.
Some of these stitches may seem daunting and a few I have not even attempted before but I do believe that all things are possible if you try, so I will be starting this sampler in the New Year after recovering from the festive season. Probably middle to end of January.
I will be posting detailed photographs as I stitch and sharing the experience with the group. I know that I can call on Bethany Gallant and Barbara for advice and guidance along the way.
If you would like to join me in stitching this absolute stunner you would be welcome.
Mary is a difficult sampler to photograph so I have included photos by three stitchers.
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Mary Hurst's Speciality Stitches - The Faggot Stitch
Over the next week or so I thought that it would be interesting to have a look at the speciality stitches required for Mary Hurst.
The first one is Faggot stitch which is needed in the whitework section at the start of the sampler.
My first place of reference after the chart instructions is normally Mary Corbett's site but this stitch does not appear in her directory and neither did the four sided stitch which is similar.
Now I am a self taught stitcher, never having had the chance for workshops and classes so never worry about correcting anything I have wrong. I want to learn.
To me the faggot stitch and four sided stitch appear to achieve not identical but similar results. The stitch path is not the same, therefore, the tension or pull is applied differently.
Faggot Stitch
Four Sided Stitch
My photo shows the faggot stitch first worked horizontally then diagonally followed by the four sided stitch. Mary requires the faggot stitch to be worked in both these directions.
I thought the four sided stitch is neater. What are your thoughts?
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Interview Rewind with Barbara Hutson!
For this month we wanted to revisit one of our first interviews, with Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Sampler Designs!
Back in March of 2013 we visited with Barbara and learned about her love of stitching and samplers. So if you are a newbie to our group her interview done with Deb is well worth a look - see!
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Back in March of 2013 we visited with Barbara and learned about her love of stitching and samplers. So if you are a newbie to our group her interview done with Deb is well worth a look - see!
As you will see, she had one of her designs featured in a Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly back then and she also has another featured in the current issue too!
Part II of her 1842 Frances Swartz Sampler!
When we interviewed Barbara she was working on the Scarlet Letter EK, a long beautiful band sampler. Since then she has finished and framed her EK. Here are photos originally shared on her post here.
Look how beautiful hanging next to Sarah Dutnel!
Thank you, Barbara, for continuing to share you stitching with us! EK is absolutely a stunner! It must bring you smiles every time you look at her. Looking forward to more of your future endeavors!
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Mary Hurst's Speciality Stitches - Double Running and Satin Stitch
Continuing on from the faggot stitch yesterday we only need to master two more stitches to complete the whitework section which is roughly about a quarter of the sampler.
The first it double running stitch.
Photo 1 shows three lines - the left is continuous running stitch worked over two threads, the middle shows the second and final leg of double running stitch when you work back filling in the gaps.
The right is back stitch which you will notice creates a slightly different look/tension to the stitches.
Photo 2 shows the back of the linen and the back stitch line is bulkier and has used more thread.
The last stitch we need is satin stitch which is a favourite of mine.
In Photo 4 I have worked two leaves with one thread on my needle but have stitched back over the right hand leaf. Either is correct and the coverage you decide on is down to personal taste.
If you like the denser coverage do not be tempted to use two threads on your needle in one go as it never sits as nice.
As always never be afraid to speak out if I am wrong on any point.
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Birthday Giveaway for Mary Hurst!
I am having a special birthday giveaway over on my blog for a new copy of the Mary Hurst Chart and a skein of petite treasure braid.
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If you are hesitating about joining in the SAL then this could be your chance to win a chart and join in the fun!
To be entered in the draw you need to leave a comment on this post on my blog:
Please don't comment on this blog/post or your name won't be entered, Good Luck!
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Mary Hurst's Speciality Stitches - Seeding
Today we are going to look at the fourth speciality stitch needed in Mary Hurst - SEEDING.
On Mary this is used as a filling stitch on a gorgeous flower. I must thank Bethany Gallant for taking this close up shot of her Mary Hurst.
This is a simple, fun and fast stitch and all you need to do is take one small stitch over one thread of linen, skip under the next thread, then stitch the next one - it is really a continuous running stitch.
The next row you alternate the stitched and skipped thread.
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Mary Hurst, Speciality Stitches - EYELET
The fifth stitch needed for Mary Hurst is EYELET and Mary has used this stitch to create a beautiful effect on the bodices of the princess and queen - my thanks again to Bethany Gallant for allowing m to use photos of her Mary Hurst.
There are various shapes that can be created with an eyelet stitch but for Mary we will be making a square with eight spokes.
I have shown the eight stages of the stitch working from left to right. Tension is applied on the central hole to create a lacey effect.
When moving from eyelet to eyelet take care not to run the thread under the back of the central hole. The lacey effect on the left eyelet has been spoilt by the thread being carried across the hole. See how much prettier the right eyelet is.
I hope that you are having fun with your doodle clothes - practice makes perfect. Any queries please message/email me or leave a comment and I will do my best to help and if I cannot we have some great stitchers who can.
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