Walls for the wind and a roof for the rain and drinks beside the fire ~
laughter to cheer you and those you love near you and all that your heart desires.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

I`m Going Home!..Again!


I get to go home to England again!...I say 'home' because that is how I think of England, even though I`ve never lived there...it is where a lot of my family is..and most of my heart.
When I think of England, i also think of the V&A..and this sampler...I call it the Unicorn Sampler...for [obviously] the unicorn in whitework that graces the top section...I saw this one at the V&A when i was there last time...I entered the needlework section at opening time...and left about 10 minutes before the museum closed...didn`t even bother with lunch...I spent just about the entire time looking at samplers...from every era I could find...I was particularly thrilled to find one by Agatha Christie...Yes, the famous mystery writer stitched!..not only did she stitch, she edited and authored books on embroidery techniques and sampler stitches..[I have one book she edited..I`m still trying to get the one on stitches]...I don`t think I`ll get to go back to the V&A this trip...finances are tight...but you never know...
I am leaving on the 3rd of May...for three weeks!..I can hardly wait!..
Re Stef: The sampler below [whitework] is an antique..I believe in the Fitzwilliam Museum...I don`t know if it has been reproduced or not..

Monday, March 19, 2007


How many stitchers do whitework? I must admit although I love it, I have never done a whole whitework sampler...sections of whitework on band samplers yes, but not a piece de resistance like you see here...I would love to though...A whole Sampler in all the beautiful stitches associated with this kind of work...preferably an antique one...
It is also fun to do the whitework stitches in tone on tone work...I particularly like it done on natural linen with natural linen thread...or cream floss on cream linen...I have planned to do a hardanger pillow that I have the pattern for ...I need more hands...and better eyes...