
Hello, all! It’s been an interesting couple of days. We had ice here in the Lone Star State, so I have been working from home the past two days. Let me just say for the record that I am so grateful to work for a company and a manager that allows me to work from home when the weather is bad and does not force me to take a vacation day after I’ve already worked several hours. Anyway, it was nice to be at home without having to worry about myself or Eric on the roads. I have done a little stitching this week, but mostly I was stitching on a gift. You can see a little preview above of what I’m using…black (I think it’s 32ct) linen as well as Crescent Colors Snowball and Ruby Slippers threads. I have finished the stitching and am working on the finishing. Keep your fingers crossed that it all goes well! I hope to have something to show you soon (as soon as the gift is received).

I also made use of a Christmas giftcard that I had received for Homespun Samplar. If you haven’t ever ordered from her, I highly recommend you do. She has an excellent array of reproduction samplers to begin with, but the customer service is also wonderful. So, I did a little shopping with my gift card and bought two charts, one is the 1809 Frances Eden Sampler by HandWork (above). This is a further venture into my collection of Adam & Eve charts to stitch. I love this one, and I’ve been watching Paulette’s progress on hers.

I also chose A French Cathedral Sampler: E.V. Phrasier 1840 by Shakespeare’s Peddler (above). I’ve never seen this one before, but fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I LOVE the blue in it. It also reminds me a lot of Le Marquoir de Justine (which I also have in my stash to stitch). I think they would make beautiful companion pieces. Here’s Justine…

Anyway, Frances Eden calls for Country French Latte linen and the French Cathedral Sampler calls for Vintage Lentil. I’m thinking that this would be the perfect opportunity to re-use my original fabric for my Halloween Neighborhood RR. This is 36ct Meadow Rue (below) and it is a Stitcher’s Half, so it’s definitely a big enough piece for either. I hadn’t decided what to do with this piece after it was returned to me, since I’d already restarted on another piece. I think I’m going to pull out all the stitching that was done (not a lot) and re-use the piece for something else. When my two new charts arrived, I thought I had found the perfect use for that fabric. So, what do you think? Preference as to which one would work better with the fabric? This is not the greatest photo of that fabric, it’s a little bit warmer than the photo shows, but you get the idea.

So, that’s what’s swirling around in my head today. Other than, I must have had samplers on the brain because last night I dreamed I was stitching this…

This is the Old Aviary Sampler that was in SANQ last year or the year before. I already have the fabric for this (it’s a loooong piece), and some of the threads (it calls for AVAS silk). What has kept me from stitching this is the amount of pulled thread work in the piece…which I’ve never done before. But, it is just the most beautiful piece. So, now I’ve dreamed about it…so you may see me stitching it soon!
Hope you all continue to have a great week. It’s still in the 20s here this morning, but the ice is mostly gone. Stay warm!
I am grateful for getting to see my friend, Jennifer.
Don’t be put off by pulled thread! You can do it. You just make the usual stitches and PULL! Really, it’s that easy.
I love all the samplers – I’ll have to go look for a couple. Just what I need, more stash, right?
Don’t be put off by pulled thread! You can do it. You just make the usual stitches and PULL! Really, it’s that easy.
I love all the samplers – I’ll have to go look for a couple. Just what I need, more stash, right?
Your new sampler charts are reat. I think I would stitch the French Cathedral sampler on the piece of fabric that you show. But that’s me.
Your new sampler charts are reat. I think I would stitch the French Cathedral sampler on the piece of fabric that you show. But that’s me.
Hi Michelle!
Great work!
I also have my eye on The Old Aviary! I need to get the pattern. I know it is in 4 parts, but is it necessary to buy 4 magazines to get the whole pattern?
Just wondering
Hi Michelle!
Great work!
I also have my eye on The Old Aviary! I need to get the pattern. I know it is in 4 parts, but is it necessary to buy 4 magazines to get the whole pattern?
Just wondering
Michelle, I think that fabric would work well for either sampler. I stitched my Frances Eden on Vintage Examplar & it’s a fairly warm piece of fabric.
Michelle, I think that fabric would work well for either sampler. I stitched my Frances Eden on Vintage Examplar & it’s a fairly warm piece of fabric.
I like your re-use of the linen for either of those samplers.
And I’ll second Anna on the pulled thread work. It’s not anywhere near as hard as it may look. Pro Tip: pull the thread, not the needle. I cut a few threads with the eye of the needle before that tip sunk in.
Love Old Aviary too! I’ve got the chart for that one… I was thinking about ordering the Vikki Clayton silks for this one.
I like your re-use of the linen for either of those samplers.
And I’ll second Anna on the pulled thread work. It’s not anywhere near as hard as it may look. Pro Tip: pull the thread, not the needle. I cut a few threads with the eye of the needle before that tip sunk in.
Love Old Aviary too! I’ve got the chart for that one… I was thinking about ordering the Vikki Clayton silks for this one.
Love all your stash. I have Frances Eden here to stitch too. I need to get a back issue of SANQ for that Aviary Sampler. I had forgotten I wanted to stitch that.
I am in love with the French Cathedral sampler.
Love all your stash. I have Frances Eden here to stitch too. I need to get a back issue of SANQ for that Aviary Sampler. I had forgotten I wanted to stitch that.
I am in love with the French Cathedral sampler.
Love all your samplers! I have Frances Eden in my stash and kitted. I got the conversion that Vikki Clayton did for this piece.
I think either one would go nicely on the linen.
Love all your samplers! I have Frances Eden in my stash and kitted. I got the conversion that Vikki Clayton did for this piece.
I think either one would go nicely on the linen.
Whaat beautiful samplers you have picked. I would have a hard time deciding which one. You could always chose a wonderful stitchy friend to volunteer (NOT ME LOL) to do the pulled work part for you.
I think either sampler would be feasible on your Halloween fabric.
Whaat beautiful samplers you have picked. I would have a hard time deciding which one. You could always chose a wonderful stitchy friend to volunteer (NOT ME LOL) to do the pulled work part for you.
I think either sampler would be feasible on your Halloween fabric.
You’re brave to stitch on black Michelle! I love the samplers, and French Cathedral has caught my eye a few times too! The linen you have is gorgeous, and I think either would be pretty. But, if you get the chance to try French Country it’s wonderful. You can stitch in hand, bunch it up, it doesn’t wrinkle much and presses beautifully! Happy stitches.
You’re brave to stitch on black Michelle! I love the samplers, and French Cathedral has caught my eye a few times too! The linen you have is gorgeous, and I think either would be pretty. But, if you get the chance to try French Country it’s wonderful. You can stitch in hand, bunch it up, it doesn’t wrinkle much and presses beautifully! Happy stitches.
All I can say is…that I put myself to sleep each night thinking of stitching…its an illness :o) And one I’m happy I have!
All the samplers you’ve shown are GORGEOUS!
All I can say is…that I put myself to sleep each night thinking of stitching…its an illness :o) And one I’m happy I have!
All the samplers you’ve shown are GORGEOUS!
Michelle, your update had me drooling all over my keyboard, because all of those samplers are stunning! I have been dreaming about doing the Old Aviary Sampler too, but I lack fabric, threads and money to buy said fabric and threads, so I’ll just keep dreaming and following your progress.
Michelle, your update had me drooling all over my keyboard, because all of those samplers are stunning! I have been dreaming about doing the Old Aviary Sampler too, but I lack fabric, threads and money to buy said fabric and threads, so I’ll just keep dreaming and following your progress.
What beautiful samplers!! I dream about stitching too! For some reason my work is better in my dreams! LOL
What beautiful samplers!! I dream about stitching too! For some reason my work is better in my dreams! LOL
Michelle,
BEAUTIFUL samplers! I’m rather partial to anything vintage…except myself! LoL! I’m sure whatever you choose will be wonderful. Hmm, I’m sure I dreamed Paulette was stitching one of those for me! 🙂
Michelle,
BEAUTIFUL samplers! I’m rather partial to anything vintage…except myself! LoL! I’m sure whatever you choose will be wonderful. Hmm, I’m sure I dreamed Paulette was stitching one of those for me! 🙂
Those samplers are beautiful…can’t wait to see you stitching them. Love the progress on the mermaid. And Jane Austen was wonderful, too.
Those samplers are beautiful…can’t wait to see you stitching them. Love the progress on the mermaid. And Jane Austen was wonderful, too.
Those are some lovely samplers. I especially like the cathedral sampler. The blue coming off the pale background is really pretty.
Those are some lovely samplers. I especially like the cathedral sampler. The blue coming off the pale background is really pretty.
If you still have your Frances Eden sampler chart, I’d be interested in purchasing it, if you are interested in selling
Thank you
If you still have your Frances Eden sampler chart, I’d be interested in purchasing it, if you are interested in selling
Thank you