More Lovely Finishes to Show You!

Can you believe that we are already at the last day of the first month of 2013?  I can't ever remember a month going by so quickly!

Today I have finishes from Rae Ann and Debbie S. to show you.

First is Rae Ann's Quaker Hornbook.  This project is available only to groups who order 10 or more.  In each package is one gorgeous wooden hornbook and two charts for you to choose from.

Rae Anne stitched her project using the same linen and overdyed thread that I used on my model.  She chose the design that is stitched completely over one linen thread.  (The other design in the package is mainly over two linen threads except for the alphabet, which is over one linen thread.)

Rae Ann, who lives in California,  told me she is relatively new to cross stitch.  One wouldn't know it looking at the project completely done over one linen thread.

Rae Ann also told me that she has several other of my designs to be stitched, including Mrs.  Waddelow's Huswif.  Recently she found two Nantucket baskets and hopes to use them for Mrs. Waddelow's Needlework Basket.  One of her baskets is larger than what I used on my model, and the other is smaller, but I think she'll be able to easily adapt the lining and embroidered basket bottom design to fit her two baskets.  Won't it be fun to see her baskets?

Next is Debbie S.'s Friends in Stitches.  This is a class project, and Debbie was in the class when I taught it for the Ohio EGA State Day a few years ago.  In fact, Debbie was one of the organizers of this fun day.

Debbie wrote, A fellow cross stitcher and a part time coworker from Cross My Heart Ltd. here in Columbus is also a Longaberger consultant.  I collected the Tree Trimmer baskets every year for quite a while and was getting them through her.  However, when money became tight - I stopped.  Cathi knew I like them, so for my birthday a couple of years in a row, she gave me the Tree Trimmer basket.  When I got the 2nd one, you had just taught your class for my EGA Group.  So, even though I had it nearly done, I took out my initials, put Cathi's on the piece and finished it for her birthday present.  I know she enjoyed it very much!  It's a really neat design!

Rae Ann and Debbie,  thank you very much for sending me photos of your lovely work to share with others.  You both did a wonderful job with your projects.  I look forward to seeing more "goodies" from both of you.

Thank you for all the sweet notes about my newest designs.  I've been busy this week packaging the charts to send to the shops on my automatic shipment program.  (The "automatic" shops are highlighted on the shop page of my website.)  The charts were mailed earlier today, so you can expect to see then in the shops in the next few days.

Perhaps Petite Is in The Eye of the Beholder

It is always a treat to see photos from Donna G. of Berkley, California!  Donna is not only a beautiful stitcher (and finisher), but she is also very prolific.  I've shown you photos of some of her completed With My Needle projects over the years.  Perhaps you have seen other photos of her work on message boards, Yahoo needlework groups, or her on-line photo album. 

I was thrilled when Donna recently sent me photos of her completed A Petit Sampling Etui.  This design is a limited-edition collaboration project that I created with my friends Louise Henderson (Cherished Stitches), Clara Blalock (The Stitching Parlor), and Pam Lewis and Susan Rohm (Praiseworthy Stitches).  The five of us had so much fun creating the project, and now we are having lots of fun seeing photos of completed etuis!

Donna's first photo shows two of her etui sides.  Louise's design is the panel on the left, and mine is on the right.

This next photo shows Clara's design on the left, and Pam's and Susan's design on the right.  You can also get a glimpse of the design on the etui top.

And now, here is a view of the inside of Donna's etui.

Donna wrote, I've been working on this off and on for the last six months.  I finally finished it this week.  It was a lot of work!  I used the recommended fabric, but converted most of the threads to DMC.  I decided to put a large pocket on the inside instead of the small heart ones.  I also rearranged the panels.  Thank you for another wonderful design.  I have started "Flowers for Lily".

Donna, your workmanship is beautiful, not only your stitching but also your finishing!  Thank you for sending me these photos to share with others.  You are such an inspiration!!

Perhaps you are wondering about today's blog post title.  Those of you who have stitched this project know that this is really a large etui, not a petite one, with a lot of stitching.  I'm therefore not sure how our group got the project name--perhaps it is because each side is a small (or petite) sampler.  Each of these samplers could easily be stitched and framed by itself, or you could stitch all four together on a single piece of linen--you could stitch the four samplers in a row horizontally, or arranged vertically if you have a narrow space.  Or how about putting them in two rows of two samplers each?  Or how about spacing the samplers on a piece of linen and framing with a separate mat opening for each sampler?  Oh, I love it when a design offers possibilities, don't you?

A Petit Sampling Etui times 4!!

Some of you may remember that the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild members have been stitching A Petit Sampling Etui as a guild project.

Lynn D. is the guild secretary, and she sent me some photos of four of the ladies and their completed etuis.  I really love it when I get photos of stitchers with their projects because I can put a face with a name. 

Here are Pat L., Lynn D., Jane G., and Stacy S. with their finished etuis. (Poor Stacy! I sure hope you're not right-handed.)

Here are Pat's and Lynn's etuis.



And here are Jane's and Stacy's etuis.

This is a view of the inside of one of the etuis.

The design for this needlework etui was a collaboration of four design companies: Cherished Stitches, Praiseworthy Stitches, The Stitching Parlor, and With My Needle.  There is a different sampler on each side. You can either make the designs into an etui, as the members of the Delaware Historic Sampler Guild did, or frame the samplers individually. 

This special project was limited to 2000 charts. When these charts are gone, no more will be available.

Ladies, you are to be commended for your outstanding work.  As you well know, this project has lots and lots of stitching.  I hope you enjoyed stitching your etui as much as my friends and I did designing it.  Thank you for the photos.

I'm very excited about teaching for your guild next April.  I hope all of you will bring your etuis for me to see in person!

You can see more photos of the members of the DVHSG working on their etuis by typing Petit Sampling Etui in the Search This Blog box on the left sidebar of this page.

More goodies from Dee!

It's always a "dee-light" to hear from Dee L. of Canton, Ohio.  Dee's name may already be familiar to many of you because I've shown you some of her beautiful work in the past.  Dee is very talented not only with her stitching but also with her finishing. 

Last week Dee sent me photos of her Mrs. Waddelow's Basket.  Also in the photos is Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif. You may remember seeing Dee's lovely huswif back on December 10, 2010.

Dee stitched her huswif, basket and other needlework accessories on 32-count Country Mocha linen from Zweigart using Brick thread from Weeks Dye Works.  Dee, I'm so "dee-lighted" to see what you have done with these designs. 

Dee has also completed A Petit Sampling Etui, a collaboration project I designed with my friends Louise (Cherished Stitches), Pam and Susan (Praiseworthy Stitches), and Clara (The Stitching Parlor) a few years ago. We each designed designed a sampler, one for each of the four sides of the needlework etui. We also included designs for the top and bottom of the etui. 

This view shows the samplers designed by Cherished Stitches and The Stitching Parlor.



This view show the sampler I designed and the one by Praiseworthy Stitches.



I think you can see how each side can be framed separately, if you'd like. 

Now look inside Dee's etui.  Notice the pockets, threadrings, a pincushion, and more.

Dee chose to use the same blue dupioni silk to line her etui as Louise and I did on our models.  If you're not a "blue" person, perhaps you may want to chose another silk color.  Clara used a deep rose silk on her etui.  A pretty green is another suggestion.

Dee, who never has idle hands, is now working on Miss Trenner's Needlework Academy.  I'm looking forward to seeing photos of that project, aren't you?  Meanwhile, check out Dee's other WMN completed projects by typing her name in the search box on the left side bar of this blog page.

Thanks, Dee, for sharing these photos with us.  Seeing your beautiful needlework is so inspiring!

Wow!! 3 more Quaker Hornbooks!!

Over the past few days I've received not one, but three photos of A Quaker Hornbook. Each one is different, and all are wonderfully done.

The first photo is from Margaret C. who lives in New York. Many of you may be familiar with some of Margaret's incredible needlework. She is particularly fond of stitching reproduction samplers. I'm in awe of all the ones she has stitched, and how quickly she does them (although she'll tell you otherwise).

Margaret told me she stitched her hornbook years ago--she bought it as soon as it was available. She also told me that she finished it so long ago that she can't remember any of the details; she thinks she used the same thread I did on my model. Margaret also wrote, I love this piece--hopefully sometime I will do the other design and put it on the other side of the hornbook. Margaret stitched the over-one-linen-thread design. The other design she mentioned is also included and uses a combination of over-one and over-two linen threads.

Sandy R. from Kansas sent me the next two photos.

Sandy's EGA group did the hornbooks as a guild project. On July 7, I showed Sandy's and Amy's completed hornbooks. (Click here to see photos of their pieces.) You may remember that Sandy told me many in her guild changed the center motif from the swan I stitched on my model to something else. Sandy stitched a deer on hers. I really enjoy seeing the creative ideas folks have!

The next photo is one Sandy sent of Linda S.'s hornbook. Don't you love her plump little squirrel? Did you notice how she added a couple of acorns to the tree? That should make her squirrel quite happy.

And next is Christine G.'s hornbook. (Christine is Linda's mother.) I love the bird Christine stitched on her hornbook. I also love the way the bird is looking back almost over his shoulder. Perhaps he's thinking, I wonder if anyone will notice if I eat that piece of fruit (the round object) on the tree?

I think you'll agree that Margaret, Linda, and Christine all did wonderful jobs with their hornbooks. Each one is beautifully stitched and assembled using a beautiful linen and thread combination.

If you're wondering about the beautiful whitework piece under the last two photos, it is Sandy's handiwork. Sandy told me that it was an EGA correspondence course in Ukrainian Openwork she took a few years ago. Beautiful, Sandy, and what a lovely backdrop for your friends' hornbooks!

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your needlework! I know others will enjoy seeing these pictures as much as I did.

A Most Noble Pursuit indeed!

I recently learned that shop owner Margaret had stitched A Most Noble Pursuit as a shop model. Margaret owns Cecilia’s Samplers http://www.ceciliassamplers.com/ in Branson, Missouri. Her daughter, Jessica, with whom I’ve been corresponding, also works there along with Holly and Pam.

Jessica wrote me, My sister Amy also works over here once in a while. And of course the kids are here too. Amy's boys, Tyler (12) and Andrew (11) and my daughter Katelyn (1). It is quite hectic here sometimes!!

Jessica attached this photo of the gang in the shop.

Pictured left to right: Standing are Pam, Amy, Holly, Kacy (Holly's daughter), Margaret, Katelyn, and Jessica. Tyler and Andrew are in the front.

I asked Jessica to send me a photo of her mother’s A Most Noble Pursuit to show you, and here it is:As you can see this is a very large sampler. The stitch count is 408 wide by 242 high!! Our model, and also Margaret’s, uses 36-count, Light Examplar hand-dyed linen from Lakeside Linens and Needlepoint Inc. silk threads. Margaret even used the same frame we did on our model.

Ten design companies (and thirteen designers) collaborated to created this limited edition sampler:
Brightneedle (Ann and Liz)
Carriage House Samplings (Kathy)
Hands to Work (Tracy)
La D Da (Lori)
Patricia Ann Designs (Tricia)
Praiseworthy Stitches (Susan and Pam)
Primitive Traditions (Cathy)
A Stitch and A Prayer (Vicki)
With My Needle (me--Ellen)
The Workbasket (Candy and Mary)

Each of the design companies created a block. The blocks can be stitched on one piece of linen to make a very large sampler, or the blocks can be stitched individually or in groups. Can you figure out by looking at Margaret's sampler photo who designed which block?

The interesting thing about the collaboration was that very few in the group knew each other in advance. All decisions regarding the project (theme, format, linen, threads, etc.) were voted on through a Yahoo group that we set up.

The first time many of the designers met in person was the night before the Nashville tradeshow opened in 2006. Here we are with our framed model in the hotel lobby after having met in person. How many of the designers can you name?Our model crisscrossed the country as we stitched our blocks. (The two overseas designers used model stitchers in the US.) You might find it interesting to learn that the first block stitched is the very last one (lower right hand corner). We then skipped around depending who had time to work on her block. The second to the last block stitched was the last one in the first row, and the very last one stitched was the very first one in the upper right hand corner.

A limited number of charts were printed, and there are only a few left. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Thanks, Margaret, for letting me showcase your masterpiece!!

3 More Quaker Hornbooks and Updates to My Teaching Schedule

Look at all the wonderful Quaker Hornbooks!!

The first two photos are from Sandy R. and her friend, Amy B., in Kansas. Their EGA chapter decided to make the hornbooks as a group project.

Amy stitched her hornbook following one of the designs in the package.

Sandy told me that quite a few of their guild members decided to stitch different animals in the center motif. She chose a deer. (Isn't "he" great?) I’m anxious to see what animals other guild members chose.

I’m sorry that I don’t know what color linen or thread Amy and Sandy used, but you can clearly see how lovely both versions are. Way to go!! Beautiful stitching and finishing! I also really like your twisted cord and sweet tassels.

The next hornbook is from Jenny M. who owns Stitcher’s Hideaway http://www.thestitchershideaway.com/ in San Antonio, Texas. Several months ago, Jenny ordered a supply of the hornbook kits for her shop and held a SAL.

Jenny stitched her project on 32-count Autumn Blush linen with Crescent Colours Belle Soie Plush Plum and a little of Herb Garden. Wow--a lovely linen and thread combination!

Jenny opened her shop in February, and I’m looking forward to visiting it when I’m in the area teaching later this month. It will be fun to see in person her shop and also her models for the Quaker Hornbook and Quaker Sampling I. (I’ll show a photo of the latter in a few days.)

The following day, I’m going to visit 3 Stitches http://www.3stitches.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index in Spring, Texas. Pam, the shop owner, has planned a Meet and Greet from 4:30-6:30pm on Tuesday, July 20th. If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll stop by. If you have any completed WMN projects, please bring those with you. I’d love to meet you and see your projects.

Other notes
Quaker Hornbooks
As you may remember, the Quaker Hornbooks are available only to groups of 10 or more. Cecilia’s Samplers http://www.ceciliassamplers.com/ in Bronson, Missouri has just placed an order that I’ll be shipping later today. I think she ordered a few extra, so please let her know if you’re interested in getting one.

My Teaching Schedule
There have been some changes to my teaching schedule. Details are at my website.

The event for The Sampler Guild in England scheduled for this October has been cancelled.

Details are being worked out for three classes at Fobbles http://www.fobbles.co.uk/1.html in Cumbria (England) in May. That should be a wonderful time of year to be in the area. More details will be available shortly, but you can let Bev or Edna know now if you’re interested.

Earlier today I added to my schedule an October 2nd class for Long May She Wave. This is the cute flag needlecase that I showed in my July 3rd posting. With the anticipated arrival of our new grandson in mid-September, I have been keeping my September and early October schedule fairly open, so it was perfect when I was asked to teach the class right here in Cincinnati. In the next day or two I’ll be posting the contact information for the class.

I'll most likely be adding a couple of more classes for later in the year.

...more from Francoise (a continuation from my earlier posting)

In my blog post earlier today, I mentioned that Francoise stitched a pillow using the other design in the Quaker Hornbook package. I was hoping she'd send me a photo, and look just what arrived! (Isn't modern technology terrific?)

Don't you love the tassels on the corners of her pillow? It's also nice to see both designs in the same photo.

Merci beaucoup, ma chère amie!

Francoise, knowing how much you like hornbooks, I think you'll be pleased to learn that I'm working on another hornbook design that I hope to have out in the fall.

A French hornbook from Francoise!

Earlier today when I was cleaning out some of my old emails, I found one from Francoise from France who sent me a photo of her Quaker Hornbook back in March. I don't know how I missed posting it earlier. (Francoise was so sweet when I wrote her to let her know my faux pas.)

Francoise created a delightful tone-on-tone version. She used a 40-count linen and an overdyed silk thread. Francoise told me she also stitched the other design in the package and made it into a pillow. (Maybe she'll send in a photo of the pillow also.)

Here is an enlargement of Francoise's hornbook so that you can better see her stitching.

Francoise's name may sound familiar to you because I've shown other examples of her beautiful workmanship earlier. Just type her name in the google search engine on the left sidebar of this page, and you can see more examples of wonderful work.

Francoise, as always, your work is wonderful! C'est magnifique! Thanks for sharing (and also for being so understanding about my faux pas.)

Another Quaker Hornbook!!

Look at what Thomasina did with the Quaker Hornbook. She stitched both designs that are in the package and attached one to each side of her wooden hornbook. Quite clever, don't you think?

Thomasina wrote, I had done this with the Legacy BB back in 2007. My idea (and I haven't seen anyone else do this) is I stitched both charts and put one on one side and the other on the other side. I did this because I could not decide which one I wanted to stitch. I have enclosed pictures of both sides.

I don't know exactly what linen I used. I know it was from Legacy. And the fiber Glorianna Elizabethan Green.

Quaker Hornbook 1
This version is stitched over one linen thread on 32-count linen.

Quaker Hornbook 2

The alphabet is stitched over one linen thread,and the

motifs are stitched over two linen threads on 36-count linen.

Thank you, Thomasina, for the photos of your hornbook--it looks great!! I hope the threadholder is proving to be very useful. I love the pin cubes in your first photo.

Thank you to everyone who has written me or made a blog or Facebook comment about Mrs. Waddelow's sewing basket. Your comments are not only helpful, but also very inspiring. Thank you!! I have spent the day designing a second accessory for the basket. I hope to get it stitched over the weekend and then move onto a third piece.

More Quaker hornbooks

Here are some more Quaker Hornbooks.

The first one is from Robbin D. in Massachusetts.

This next one was stitched by Carol B. in Baltimore, Maryland. Carol stitched her piece on 32-count Antique Ivory Belfast linen with Fresh Raspberries Belle Soie from Crescent Colours. The last one was stitched by Claudia in Italy using Cresent Coulours' Milady's Teal.

Thanks ladies for letting me show your pieces. I hope you have found the threadholder to be a very useful item in your needlework bag or basket.

The package for this product contains one wooden hornbook and two different charts. All three of the ladies featured today chose the same design--the one that is stitched entirely over one linen thread. The other design uses a combination of cross stitch over two and cross stitch over one linen thread.

The design is only available as a group project to groups of 10 or more stitchers. Jenny from Stitcher's Hideaway is forming a group to order these. If you are interested, phone (210-265-1144) or email her no later than Monday for details. I'll be shipping the hornbooks to Jenny via Fed Ex next Tuesday.

Other shops are welcome to set up groups also. Just let me know if you are interested.

Sally's Quaker Hornbook

Sally from Yorkshire, England recently sent me a photo of her completed Quaker Hornbook.

She wrote, I stitched this on 36 count flax linen using my absolute favourite red thread DMC Variations 4120. I loved stitching this but will admit (as you may have guessed from my comment on your Facebook page!) that I was a little apprehensive about mounting it on the hornbook but I am very pleased with it. Thank you for your wonderful design.

Sally, you should be very pleased with your work. You did a wonderful job with mounting your needlework on your hornbook threadholder.

I'm sorry that you were so apprehensive, but perhaps you now have the confidence to move ahead with other projects. Just remember the words of the Little Engine that Could--I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

The Quaker Hornbook is a special project available only to groups of 10 or more. The package includes the beautiful wooden hornbook and two different charts. Some stitchers have chosen to stitch both designs and put one on each side of their hornbook. Others have used one of the designs on the hornbook and the other on a carrying bag. Details about the project can be found here.

Wow!!! Look at Chi's Petit Sampling Etui!!

How exciting it was to receive these photos from Chi in Japan of her Petit Sampling Etui!! This was a limited-edition collaboration project I designed with my friends Louise (Cherished Stitches), Clara (The Stitching Parlor), and Pam and Susan (Praiseworthy Stitches).

As Chi can tell you, this is quite a project--it has lots and lots of stitching!! Each side of the box is a small sampler which can be framed or made into the etui as Chi did. (The chart directions include the etui assembly directions with photos.)

Chi, you did an incredible job with both the stitching and the assembly!! I hope you enjoyed working on it as much as we did designing and stitching our models. (My model now sites on a table in our family room.)

You may remember seeing some of Chi's beautiful work previously. She has completed Quaker Needlework Treasures, Petit Carnet d'Ouvrages Livre I and II, Quaker Patternbook, Quaker Hornbook, and the Remember Me Sewing Pocket! WOW!! (Just type "Chi" into the Google search engine on the left sidebar of this blog page to see photos of her work.) Chi is now working on My Needle's Worke Box.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing more photos from Chi of her exquisite work. I bet many of you are also. Not only is she a beautiful needleworker, but she's also very prolific!

Chi, thank you!

Donna has been busy--again!!

Donna G., who lives in Berkeley, California, has been doing needlework since she was 8 years old. She told me that if you can do something with a needle and thread, she has probably tried it at some time.

Recently Donna finished and assembled my series of Quaker Christmas ornaments from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issues. She stitched her pieces with DMC 902 on a creme linen. She added a tassel to the scissor weight and a swan on the back of the pocket.

view of the fronts

view of the backs

You may remember seeing some of Donna's lovely work in earlier blog posts. Just type her name in the search box on the top left corner of the blog to see other examples of her beautiful work. As you can she, she is extremely prolific as well as talented. Thanks, Donna, for sharing these photos.

the "hornbook fairy" (AKA a special friend)

I hadn't planned on doing a blog post today, but then I got the nicest note from JoAnn H. of Ohio, and I wanted to go ahead and share her story of a very special gift she received. The generosity of her friend is another example of some of the special friendships that have evolved through our shared love of needlework.

First, some background information. Bethany is JoAnn's daughter. Last week you saw the huswifs they had stitched and assembled together. The Quaker Hornbook project that JoAnn mentions today is a group only project. Her local needlework shop, Inn Stitches in Canton, Ohio, ordered the kits for a store group project.

JoAnn wrote, Bethany called me today and asked if I had read the email to you from Tommye B. showing her samplers and telling the story of her friendship with Karen and how Karen was always stitching gifts for others and how good it made her feel and through the years their friendship has grown and it makes Tommye feel good to stitch for others.

Bethany reminded me of the gift my friend Ronda had given me. The history: I had taken a class to do your small hornbook and when I finished the stitching I couldn't find where I had put the hornbook (so I wouldn't forget where it was when I needed it), Ever done that? The completed stitching has been in a drawer for many months and on a recent Thursday Night Stitch-in a wooden hornbook appeared where I was sitting and I didn't see who put it there. The next day the Hornbook Fairy emailed me to let me know it was her.

I have a hard time accepting gifts like that, but when Bethany called she suggested that I finish the hornbook and give it as a gift to Ronda (similar to Tommye and Karen) and if she doesn't want to accept it, tell her if I ever find mine she must finish stitching hers and give it to me as a gift. I thought that was a grand idea.

The stitched cottage in the photo was stitched and put together by Kim and Dee at Inn Stitches as a Christmas gift to me last year. I was truly overwhelmed with the gift. To think they would work so lovingly and long on such a beautiful piece and then give it away. Aren't stitchers the best people you can ever know?

Just to let everyone know how easy your finishing directions were to follow: I didn't start finishing the hornbook until 11 a.m. and was finished by 2:30 the same day and I even took time to eat a bit of lunch. Thanks Ellen for making everything so easy to do.

Don't you love hearing such wonderful stories?

JoAnn, your hornbook looks wonderful. I hope you are finding the hornbook threadholder useful.

I love the cottage etui also shown in your photo. In fact, I'm green with envy. Dee and Kim did a terrific job with that ... a special gift for a special person. Thank you for sharing a photo and also the special story behind your completed project.

Special projects: Just a reminder that the Quaker Hornbooks are only available to groups of 10 or more. Details can be found here. This is the only chart that I sell directly to stitchers. All other charts should be ordered from your local needlework shop.

Teaching projects: I often get inquiries about my teaching projects. These projects are class pieces only. I've not yet decided if I'll release them once I quit teaching.

Thinking "outside of the box"

On Monday, I showed photos of several members of the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild working on their Petit Sampling Etuis. Their goal is to be through stitching the panels by February 2010 and then do the etui assembly together as a group. What a marvelous idea!!

Many guild members may do the assembly exactly as described in the directions, while others may make changes to suit their likes or needs. For example, Clara, one of the etui designers, made a round pincushion instead of a square one. She also used a bright rose lining fabric which was quite striking.

Here are some more ideas:

* If you don’t want the sides of your etui to fold down, leave off the gussets and lace the sides together.

* Suppose you don’t want to get into assembly at all. Have you thought about asking your framer to make you a casket (box) with openings on the four sides and the top to hold your stitched pieces? Wouldn’t that be exquisite?

* You could stitch one of the panels as a box lid.

* Another idea is to frame the panels, either individually or together on one piece of linen.

* And then there was Gabi’s idea (see the blog post from Saturday, September 26, 2009)--she adapted one of the panel designs to make a wonderful needlecase.

So you see the ideas are limitless. Those of you who know me know that I often think of a design as just the beginning. Take a design and see what you can do to make it special for you!!

view of the etui opened

Members of the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild share photos of their Petit Sampling Etuis in progress

You may remember from my blog post of August 26th, that members of the Delaware Valley Sampler Guild chose A Petit Sampling Etui as their 2009 guild stitch-along project. Lynn D., one of their members, sent me photos of her stitched pieces which appear in that blog post.

A couple of weekends ago, the DVSG members had a weekend retreat in Ocean City, Maryland. Lynn sent me some more photos and wrote, "Our plan is to have our finishing session in February, and I'll definitely take lots of pictures there. It's been a lot of fun to see the differences in each piece."

The first photos are the work of Debi S. Debi's piece is particularly interesting because she changed some of the cross stitched areas to specialty stitches. Perhaps in a future posting, I can show a photo of Debi and enlargements of parts of some of her panels.

Debi's first panel was designed by Clara (The Stitching Parlor).

Her next panel was designed by Louise (Cherished Stitches).

This block was designed by Pam and Susan (Praiseworthy Stitches).


And last, but hopefully not least, is the block I designed.

The next four photos are of some of the guild members busily stitching away on their etuis in a beautiful surrounding.

Pat Y. certainly looks comfortable in her rocker. I wonder if she has a good view of the ocean.

Pat L. looks like she too is making great progress on her etui.

And here is Marnie B. comfortably situated on the lovely porch.

And last, but not least, is Kathy R. who also looks like she is making great progress.

Ladies, thank you for letting us see your wonderful work! As you well know, there is lots of stitching on this project, but I'm sure you'll agree it's worth the effort. I look forward to seeing your assembled etuis in February. Happy stitching!! Enjoy!!

A Petit Sampling Etui is a limited-edition collaboration project from the four companies mentioned above. More details and photos are posted at all of our websites. Only 2000 charts were printed. When those are gone, no more will be printed.

What a delight it is to receive notes and photos from you all! I love seeing your versions of my designs whether you stitch them as charted or make changes to create your own unique pieces.

Last week, I received a note from Gabriele (Gabi) Lenser who lives in Victoria, Australia. I was so excited to see what Gabi had done. She adapted the design of my A Petit Sampling Etui panel to create a wonderful needlebook.

Gabi wrote, “Just found your blog and saw that you like to see stitched results of your designs. I used one of your designs for creating a needle book, be it that I had to change the outer edging slightly (adding a repeat) for the writing because I stitched the whole piece over one. Also I left some of the design out. Not that I didn't like the rest - I will stitch it completely as you designed it for A Petit Sampling Etui, but while stitching I looked down and thought this is just perfect as it is for a needle book and left everything else out.”

Gabi stitched her lovely needlebook over one linen thread on 28-count Cashel linen from Silkweaver) using Sampler Threads from The Gentle Art.

Thanks, Gabi, for sharing your creative idea. Perhaps others may also create their own needlework accessories such as a needlebook, scissors weight, scissors sheath, pincushion, etc. to go in their etuis. The possibilities are limitless.

The charts for the three new designs are on their way to shops on my automatic list. Expect to find them in the shops sometime next week.

With the automatic orders gone, I plan to spend some time this weekend stitching. First on my priority list is my model for Quaker Samplings III. (I don’t consider model stitching work because I enjoy it so much.) I’m almost to the halfway point. I think once I’m finished, I’ll make a needlebook for my A Petit Sampling Etui like Gabi did.

I hope you too can take some time this weekend to stitch, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.