First Blog Give-Away, Miscellaneous Ramblings, and Answers to Your Questions

Several people have written asking questions about various subjects in my recent postings.

First, there was some confusion about the Ann Pennsylvania Peacock that I mentioned in my last post. This is not a reproduction sampler--it merely has the look of an old sampler. I like to stitch reproduction samplers as they are charted, but because this was not a reproduction sampler, I felt “free” to make the changes I did. The designer of this lovely sampler is Cindy Daly Bradford. Her company name is Little by Little. You can check with your local needlework shop about getting the chart, or simply Google the sampler name and see what you get. The girl on the sampler really does have arms. In my photo, it looks like she is missing her arms…poor thing!

Some of you asked to see a photo of the Deborah Walker sampler that I plan to stitch with my friend Carol. I haven’t had any luck finding a photo on-line. The chart is a very old one published in leaflet form by Just Cross Stitch. Deborah and her sisters, Rebecca and Mary, each stitched similar samplers. Margariet Hogue (The Essamplaire) reproduced Rebecca’s sampler. I don’t know if Mary’s has been reproduced. All three original samplers are in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society. Isn't it wonderful that the three sisters's samplers are together? I hoped that the CCHS would have their collection on line, but sadly they don’t. Perhaps they will some day.

I had mentioned hanging Ann Trump, Maria Spence, and Mary Wigham together, but then last night I remembered that I have one more Ackworth gal on my “to-do” list--Mary Busby. Mary Busby was reproduced by Doreen Holmes (Needlelace). I bought the chart and threads when I was at the last Ackworth seminar. I‘ve even put linen aside for it, so I guess there’s no excuse not to get to her. Mary will look so wonderful hanging with her schoolmates. However, I really must first stitch some models for the Nashville needlework tradeshow.

Ann Trump

Maria Spence

Several of you have volunteered to “house” some of my samplers. Hmm--wonder if I should rent them out. All kidding aside, I always seem to find room for just one more, but it’s getting more and more difficult.

This is my 100th blog post. Thanks to all who have written to let me know how much you enjoy my blog. As a way to both celebrate this small milestone, and also to thank you for visiting, I thought I’d do my first give-away. Please leave a note in the comment area immediately below this post, and sometime next Sunday, October 11th, I’ll do a drawing for some of my charts. The winners will get to chose what they want.