What do you do

When you aren`t working or stitching? I tend to surf needlework related sites, and I though i`d share a few favorites.

A site to oogle antique samplers: http://www.antiquesamplers.org/home.php you need to be a member to access the site, but sign up is free.

http://www.exemplum.co.uk/home.html a British site with lots of good info about antique samplers, including how to go about researching the provenance if you are lucky enough to buy an antique.

http://www.atticneedlework.com/ The Attic....right now I am scrolling through their past editions of their newsletters and remembering all the designs I meant to buy...and stitch...(dangerous if you are on a stash diet)

My interest in 16th century English samplers has started to ooze over into Elizabethan costuming...the motifs practised and perfected on the samplers were intended to make the clothing resplendent...and this site is just overflowing with everything Elizabethan.
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/ including some lovely jewelery (another passion of mine)

http://www.gtj.org.uk/index.php?id=227&L=0 This is a site on Welsh culture, with some lovely samplers to enjoy.

http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/showExhibition.cfm?venueid=12&itemid=99&Showid=85 and of course, the Burrell Collection. The samplers are really hard to find if you go to the main site, so I just Googled the exhibit and found it that way.

These are just a few sites I have browsed lately. They cut into my stitching time, but they are still time well spent, IMO. There is so much information out there now, and well worth the time it takes to do a few searches.

Well, it`s time for me to get cosy with a Harry Potter movie and my red sampler....Keep stitching ladies!

Update on red sampler

Here is an updated pic of my red sampler. Not as much progress as I would like, but some is better than none.

I also have decided to do a SAL...well, I think i`ve decided. I downloaded the first part of the newest Papillon Creations SAL, Castles in the Air, the specialty stitch version. I immediately see a problem...I have to choose 8 colours of thread for the flowers, 2 shades of green, and a fabric to stitch it on. I just am having so much trouble with decisions lately. I think it`s stress, and as I hate boring you with my personal problems, i`ll just leave it at that. Anyway, here is a rough idea of what the first section looks like.

If you want to join the SAL, click the link above and sign up for the free newsletter. There is a small charge of 1 GBP (about $1.70 Canadian) for the charts, which are then emailed to you in PDF form.

Keep stitching ladies!

Red red red....

I love red. Especially the DMC variegated red 115, with which I am stitching this small sampler on 28ct Amber linen (I have no idea who the manufacturer is). I got the pattern on the Yahoo group The Sampler Life . It is called One Heart ABC and was a freebie. There are lots of sampler enthusiasts there, so take a moment to check it out!

Thanks to a news letter that I subscribe to, I also found a new collection of samplers on line, here and have been happily browsing this weekend. I have been so exhausted lately that stitching and browsing is about all I have the energy for right now. Work is killing me...when I get on to my regular schedule, i`ll be working four 10 hour days with three days off a week. I`m hoping I will get more done at home that way.

Time to turn in...keep stitching ladies!

PS- The date of publication on this post is wrong, it should be 3/2/09, but blogger doesn`t like that date for some reason...