Picture walk of my Quaker Sampler wall……

Greetings this cold, cold December evening friends~ My decorations are down and packed away... The den looks much roomier!! Too cold to go outside, so I’ve made good use of my time when not in my craftroom.....

My previous post showed a couple new additions to my collection of framed samplers.. I needed to rearrange my wall space to accommodate hanging them... Here’s how my Quaker wall looks now....

 

It puts a smile on my face when I walk into the room and see all of them! A “collection” of Quaker reproduction & Quaker inspired samplers that I loving stitched over the last several years.... 

From monochrome to colorful, they all hold a special meaning to me. Here are some close-ups... (excuse any glares)

Sarah Tatum Sampler anchors the wall... She’s a robust 24 x 28”..... I’m sure Sarah was as proud as I am once she saw her completed work~

This beautiful moulding was selected as it compliments all the many golds and tans used in the sampler.. 

This is another Quaker that kept me company this year... All the flowers and the delicate looking border make this sampler most unique...

Her moulding is particularly esquite, I believe... Ms Patti Nicolosi of By My Hands Needl’werks in Va Beach VA helped make the perfect selection!!

My largest red monochrome Sampler has been streamlined... I inserted my family members initials in place of the Christmas words... 

Legendary Quaker Sampler designer Ellen Chester of With my Needle designed a classic piece that caught my eye back in 2011. I remember purchasing the Belle Soie silks and how wondering what all the hipe was about... Once I began stitching with them, I was a believer... 

Isn’t that center bird just too cute? Taupes and reds are natural compliments.... L*O*V*E this smaller Quaker design....

Since stitching this sampler, I’ve seen many fellow stitchers have stitched it as well.... It’s another classic Stitch~

Sarah Comfort was my third large Quaker sampler stitch for 2017. She’s a beauty using only black thread.... Her frame is actually made of 2 mouldings .... It really is what “makes” the piece.....

Another Quaker inspired Sampler....... Most of you who know me, know I absolutely love stitching red...  I just HAD to personalize this one with my name.....

Thanks for visiting as I shared my Quaker wall of Stitches... I devoted 2017 to stitching Quaker and it was more fun than I could’ve imagined it would be! I still have a couple Quakers kitted up and will stitch them in time. 2018 will be devoted to stitching Reproduction Samplers... In the meantime, I have a small wall of Samplers to show you as well as my Patriotic Corner in my bedroom... so~stay tuned!!

Here’s hoping each of you stay warm, share your blessings and stitch often~

Faye

A special bag for a special project~

I know many of you are ready for Christmas Day.... Baking is done, wrapping is done, lists have been double checked.... One more day and unbelievably, Christmas 2017 will be in the books! Amazing!

I’ve been setting my sights to 2018.... a little……… I plan on my large stitch projects in 2018 to be reproduction Samplers beginning with the Uffindell sisters Samplers reproduced by Hands Across the Seas. I will be stitching Isabella Uffindell first and then her younger sister Ann Uffindell’s Sampler. I’ve been excited about starting and it’s been hard to hold off until 1-1-18. 

Isn’t this stunning!? I love the reds and all the greens... Isabella was the older sibling, like me, so I was drawn to her... Today I made an extra large Carolina Stitcher Project Bag to organize all the supplies for both samplers~

I used a special floral fabric as the insert... A near perfect match to the flowers and greenery the girls stitched in their samplers ……

I’m keeping a notecard for each of the Samplers in my Stitch bag as well... I think I’ll document my stitching either daily or weekly when stitching. It will be fun to go and read my comments about the journey once I’m finished stitching these projects~

I bought several notecards from Sassy Jacks in Asheville NC when I purchased the chart.... The notecards themselves are works of art…

I don’t normally gusset my bags, but there’s quite a bit of goodies needed for this Stitch.....

A few linens auditioned but after the AVAS silks floss toss, 40 count Vintage Pecan Butter by Lakeside Linen won out…… 

Just like my 2017 stitching Quaker Samplers, I’ll chip away on reproduction Samplers in 2018... Loving the journey, taking in each lovely stitch ~

Additionally, I’ll be attending the lecture by Nicola Parkman of Hands Across the Sea on Jan 5 at Sassy Jacks in Asheville~ I’ve been a long time admirer of Nicola and consider her quite the authority and historian of needlework Samplers…… Meeting her in person will be an absolute thrill!  To top off all this, I’ve learned the actual antique Samplers are on display at the shop!  Stitching, meeting Nicola Parkman, seeing the antique Samplers, lecture and a trip to Asheville... Merry Christmas to me, right??

I hope you’re settled into the Season, Happy and blissfully stitching~ 

Faye

My Samplers have come to life!

Most of you know it’s been my year to Stitch Quaker ..... I have been diligently loving each and every project! Well.... yesterday, my stitchy friend, Laura Phillips, rode with me to Virginia Beach to gather up my framed Samplers from Ms Patti Nicolosi.... Oh, and let me just say, I was blown away! She had me crying tears of amazement right there in the Panera parking lot! I’d like to share two of the three pieces with you today ( the third is a Patriotic stitch that will be shown later when I get my Patriotic wall of stitches up)……

 Patti has the “eye” for picking perfect moulding to highlight your stitched pieces... She’s framed many other pieces for me and by the way.... I will have my collection of Quaker Samplers up on the walls right after the holidays... I’m waiting because I have moved furniture around to allow for my Christmas tree and I want these Samplers centered above that moved couch... Anywho, stay posted!

Aren’t they pretty??

I chose to stitch Sarah Tatum Sampler designed by Scarlet Letter because Sarah was a young school girl when she stitched this, much like the young children I had been educating the past many years.. Since 2017 was my year of retirement from being an educator, I thought Sarah’s Sampler would be perfect~ Stitched in 1800, I expect Sarah was a well liked little girl. Look at all the vibrant thread colors she used! Often, the girls would share and swap threads, so evidently, Sarah had many classmates willing to share.....

I stitched my Sarah Tatum on 40 count Exempler linen by Lakeside using the specified silks... It’s a sizable piece with the design size of 19” x 16”.....  It certainly will be my focal point on my wall of Quaker Samplers~ 

I love the mix of golds and bronze tone silks along with the many shades of blues and grays.... There are even motifs stitched in cremes... They are not easy to see, but even the palest threads are there.... And then you’ll notice a few pops of color.. This sampler was my go-to stitch for many weeks this year. Each motif seemed like a completed project, so I could hardly put this Sampler down. I wondered if Sarah felt the same way.... 

This nice wide moulding that Patti chose to use couldn’t have been more perfect~ The brown and subtle bronze undertones really highlighted those similar thread colors used... Slightly aged looking was just what was needed and I couldn’t be happier about the end result......

My other large Quaker Stitch for 2017 was Raggauffin 2 Sampler designed by Shakespeare’s Peddler. This sweet chart had been in my basket for a good while... Never kitted up, but always calling my name~ Like Sarah Tatum, this Sampler was stitched in the 1800s.... I chose to Stitch this Sampler on 40 count linen as well using silk threads.... The design size is a hefty 18” x 14”..... 

As I read and researched, I had to laugh at the unique connection I had! As you know, often times young children will forget to put their name on their paperwork... How many times do you think I said to my class of students.., ” I have a paper hear with no name!”.. ALOT! And, guess what!? This sweet stitcher, back in 1811, forgot to put her name in her Sampler! Hence, the name given is Raggamuffin Sampler..... 

I was drawn to the black Quaker alphabets and that wonderfully unique border..... It’s not symmetrical, but I’m sure that was OK with her teacher.... She obviously loved flowers and plants; perhaps she was a tomboy loving to be outside... Not much is known about this young stitcher... I love the story behind it though and feels it adds to its uniqueness... I am thankful it was recreated as a design I could stitch and hang on my walls... 

Again, Patti chose the perfect moulding for this Sampler also. Dark with the subtle vine like texture along the outside.... To me, it speaks to the vine border in the sampler.... I simply love how it made my Stitches pop! 

Thanks for reading as I share my story of my 2 largest Sampler Stitches if 2017. There are other smaller Quaker themed items in my home that I stitched this year.... I’m lucky to get to see these sweet Quaker pin wheels designed by Nan Lewis of Threadwork Primitives.... She has a collection of them she released throughout 2017 and I stitched them as well to commemorate my year of stitching Quaker..

Here they are as they are nestled in my LeHay Shaker tray.... I love making pinwheels especially since I know they were a valued tool throughout the centuries.... Some pinwheels were decorative and used to push special, treasured pins along its sides.... Other pinwheels were used as a staple in the sewing baskets to keep the pins from becoming lost .... I love the uniqueness of a Pinwheel and plan on stitching more of Nans pinwheel designs in 2018.....

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post..... I hope it’s inspired you to take a closer look at stitching Quaker.... As for 2018, my plans are to continue stitching Samplers, of course.... My focus, however, will be in reproductive Samplers. I will be start stitching Isabella Uffindell reproduced by Nicola Parkman of Hands Across the Sea (HATS) on Jan 1.  Additionally, I will be attending a lecture by Nicola on Jan 5 in Weaverville NC at Sassy Jacks Stitchery. I cannot wait to meet her in person and see the original antique Uffindell Sister Samplers. More to come in this~ 

Always remember, be kind, generous and giving~ 

Happy stitching! 

Faye 

Today’s picture walk.....

Holiday greetings friends and fellow stitcher! A quick pause from my little corner of the world.... Today’s picture walk includes a small sampling of a few seasonal finishes that I’ve had the great fortune to create~~ Please Enjoy~

Lizzie Kate Tiny Tidings...... 

I like to make the backings fun too! 

Country Rustive Primitives Faith

Plum Street Sampler~ Farmstead Christmas.... A thinner pillow made to lean on a stand such as mine……

Very simple detachable bow and cinnamon red plaid piping/backing....

Homespun Elegance~ Avery’s Little Red Truck

(Left)... freebie from Dec 4, 2010 blogpost of Stitching and Cats oh my Blog...

(Right).... Joy Just Cross Stitch magazine, issue unspecified...

I located some darling wooden buttons stamped “Handmade” to attach on the backs...

Pineberry Lane design on 40 count Pearled Barley

Punch Needle &Primitive Magazine Winter 2016

I love simple charms and embellishments ~

More to come.... I’m on the home stretch for 2017 finishing.... I will be pausing Dec 20- Jan 2 from actual finishing.... Rest, recharge, family time and my long awaited reorganization of my Carolina Stitcher craftroom.....  But I’ll still be blogposting!!

Much love, 

Faye