Delaware beauties!

Here are photos of some of the "show and tell" projects members of the Delaware Valley Historic Sampler Guild brought to class last weekend.

First are six versions of A Petite Sampling Etui.  Some of you may remember that the guild chose this project as their 2009 group project.  The etuis in the next three photos were stitched by  Pat L., Robin T., Debi S., Marnie B., Jane G., and Stacy S.  (I think we'll soon be seeing some more completed etuis.)  If some of the etuis look familiar, it is because I showed some of them in previous blog posts here and here.  The ladies brought them in for me to see in person.  Thank you!!  I think they all decided that this is certainly not a petite project.  Someone in class also made the comment that each side of the etui could be stitched separately and framed as a sampler.  Oh, so many possibilities!

  

Did you notice Debi S.'s Mrs. Waddelow's Needlework Basket in the corner of the previous photos?  Here is Debi with both her basket, her huswif, and the companion pieces.  Debi is a beautiful stitcher and finisher, and she is quite prolific in completing projects.  I think she is now working on My Favorite Things Stitching Basket.

  

Here is a better view inside Debi's basket. (You can also get glimpse of her Quaker Hornbook on the table.)

And here is another view of Debi's projects.  She chose beautiful fabrics!  Debi added beads to her needlebook and ruler--what a cute touch. She also added a second small bag.  Debi, you are amazing! 

Another amazing needleworker I met was Ginny W. who drove in from New Jersey.  Look at all her completed WMN projects!  In the next photos you can see her completed Maidens of the Sea, Ackworth Friendship Book, Petit Carnet d'Ouvrages, Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities, Quaker Hornbook, and Quaker Turtles.  WOW!! Incredible, Ginny! 

Here are some close-up views of Ginny's work.

Earlier I showed you Debi's completed Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif.  Several more guild members brought their "works in progress" for me to see.  Here are good friends Marnie B. and Jane G. with their stitched pieces and wonderful lining fabrics.

Here is a close-up of Jane's stitched pieces and beautiful lining fabrics.  Jane decided to stitch her needlebook over two linen threads instead of over one like I did on my model.

And here are Marnie's stitched pieces and her gorgeous lining fabrics.

And last, but not least is Michelle's huswif in progress.  She brought in two different sets of lining fabrics, but I forgot to photograph them.

Thanks ladies for bringing in your beautiful work for me to see in person!!

I certainly have great memories of my time with members of the DVHSG.  It was good to see old friends and to make some new ones.  Thank you for your very warm hospitality.

Lots and lots of "eye candy" for you to enjoy from the needleworkers at Fobbles!

I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos from my classes at Fobbles in Gubbergill, in the western part of the Lake District in Great Britain.  I took so many photos that I'll split them up over several blog postings.

First is an outside view of Fobbles. The window on the right is in the classroom, which is adjacent to the shop.  In a few days I'll share some photos of the inside of this lovely needlework shop.

Today I'm sharing with you photos of some of the needlework pieces the ladies brought to show me.  What a marvelous array of projects!!  I was thrilled to see so many lovely works in person.  I'm only sorry that I neglected to take photos of all of the pieces.  Please accept my apologies if I missed taking a photo of your needlework.

Here are the projects I photographed. 

First are some Quaker Hornbooks.  On the left is Barbara R.'s version. Barbara stitched the second design in the package as a needlebook and attached it to her hornbook. How clever! On the right is Judith H.'s Quaker Hornbook. Judith chose the over-one-linen-thread version.  Judith and Barbara both live in Preston.



Here I am with Sylvie R. She lives in the southeastern seaport village of Deal. (Yikes on my hair--it was rainy and very windy everyday, and I had forgotten that day take to bring my hairbrush.) Sylvie is holding her Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif, and I'm holding her Mrs. Waddelow's Needlework Basket and accessories. What a beautiful job Sylvie did with both her stitching and her assembly!

Here is a better view of Sylvie's lovely workmanship.



 Next is Elsie M.'s lovely version of A Fair Maiden's Etui.  Elsie lives in Lytham.

And now look at the inside of Elsie's etui!



Somehow I neglected to get a photo of  Elsie's My Needle's Worke Box. I'm so sorry. Perhaps she'll send me a photo to share with you.

Elsie and her daughter, Janet E. of Freckleton, who I have known for quite a few years, were in all three of the classes.  On Saturday, Janet's daughter, Lucy W. of Preston, was in class along with her mother and grandmother.  It was so wonderful to have the three generations together!

Here is the outside of Lucy's Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities.



And here is an inside view of Lucy's case. I wish that the photo better showed the luscious green thread and lining Lucy chose.

Lucy also stitched A Fair Maiden's Etui like her grandmother did, but sadly I neglected to take a photo of it.

And here is Elaine E. of Blackburn with her version of Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif. Elaine stitched her case on a larger count linen than I used on my model, which made her huswif quite a bit larger than mine and able to hold lots of her needlework "goodies".


Now wait until you see what Elaine did to the inside of her huswif. She completely changed it by putting a pocket at either end and a rectangular pincushion in the middle. Elaine also added a scissors weight and case using motifs based on the huswif design.  I love it when stitchers make their own creative changes and additions!



Here is another view with Elaine's huswif turned sideways.  Can you see the pincushion in the center?  Elaine told me she made it the way she did so her huswif can rest on her stitching armchair with the pincushion on the top and a pocket on either side.

And last, but certainly not least, are lots of "goodies" from Sandra C. of North Yorkshire.  I think I've shown most of them on my blog before, but I asked Sandra if I could photograph them together. The projects in the next  photo are her Quaker Ornaments from four of the Just CrossStitch Christmas issues, Maidens of the Sea, Crown and Needle Etui, Acorn Sampler Sewing Case, Flowers for Lily, and Busy Bee Sewing Case (to which Sandra added an extra little piece).

 

Perhaps you remember seeing Sandra's An Emblem of Love previously on my blog. Sandra stitched this for her parents' 60th wedding anniversary in 2010. She chose the lovely thread and frame colors because they match the carpet in her parents' living room. 



Thank you, ladies, for bringing your needlework pieces for me to see.  I'm looking forward to seeing other projects, including your class projects!  Please send me photos.  I'd love to see your accomplishments!  I know others would also enjoy seeing your work.

Kim's lovely Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities

Recently when doing some "web surfing", I stumbled upon photos of Kim's lovely Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities. I asked her if I could share her work with you. She graciously sent me these photos.

On her sewing case, Kim used the same fabric and thread I did on my models--32-count Maple Sugar linen from Lakeside Linens and Designs and Milady's Teal Sampler Thread from The Gentle Art. Don't you love Kim's lining fabric which is shown in the next photo? I also like the two other cotton fabrics on which she has displayed her case. When I mentioned this to Kim, she told me, I adore quilt fabric as much as I adore hand dyed threads! Kim, who is from Seeley Lake, Montana, also told me, I've been stitching for about 4 years and am a complete addict! LOL!
Kim stitched her needlebook using Briar Rose Sampler Thread from The Gentle Art. What a lovely color!
Thank you, Kim, for sharing your beautiful work with us. It's always wonderful to see what needleworkers do with my designs to make them their own. I hope you're enjoying your new-found "addiction".

Yolanda of Australia wins ribbons at the Royal Adelaide show!

A couple of weeks ago, I received a lovely note and some photos from Yolanda in Australia.

Yolanda wrote, Just finished this week in Adelaide was the Royal Adelaide Show, which is the main horticulture event for South Australia. This has many events in categories from pigs to leadlight. I entered my two pieces that I have done, designed by you—“A Fair Lady’s Etui” and “Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities”. I placed a piece of blackwork that I have recently completed also.

I am proud to say that the three pieces I entered all got ribbons. I received a first place for my blackwork; in the category of "Counted stitched other that cross stitch" This was up against so many different style of counted work including hardanger tablecloths. For the school girl Quaker set I received a 2nd place and the Etui got a Commendation ribbon.

Yolanda's Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities

Yolanda's A Fair Maiden's Etui

You can see more photos of Yolanda's A Fair Maiden's Etui in my blog post of June 23rd.

Yolanda's Blackwork project won a first prize ribbon.

Yolanda also wrote, I had never entered anything for judging before, so I was very happy with my results. Both these pieces were in the same class-"cross stitch other than picture" The first place was one by a beautiful bellpull. Some of the other contenders were Christmas stockings and table mats.

The last photo shows Yolanda (on the left holding A Fair Maiden's Etui) and a representative of the Royal Horticulture Show Society which was responsible for the judging The Royal Adelaide Show. In the photo they are holding two of Yolanda's lovely projects and the ribbons she won.
Congratulations, Yolanda, on your beautiful accomplishments. Thank you very much for the photos and for sharing the news of your ribbons. This is such exciting news!! I also enjoyed seeing a photo of you. It's always terrific to have a face to put with a name.

Maria from Italy shows off her Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities

How much fun it was to receive these photos from Maria of her Quaker Schoolgirl Necessities!

Maria, who lives in Napoli (Naples), told me that needlework is her passion. She worked this project using the same linen and threads I used on my model.

The first photo shows the front of Maria's sewing case, the inside of her needlebook, and the scissors sheath. This next photo shows the outside of her needlebook, the reverse side of her scissors sheath, and the back of her sewing case.And here is the inside of her sewing case along with the needlebook and scissors sheath. Instead of gathering the top edge of pocket as I did on my model, Maria chose to pleat hers. Her lining fabric looks so lovely, don't you agree?Thank you, Maria, for sharing photos of your lovely work.

Marian's Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities

Marian H. from Baton Rouge, Louisiana stitched this lovely version of Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities in 2007.

Marian wrote, The kit was made with the materials called for. The thread color was perfect. I completed it myself. It took several days for me to get my head together to decide I could do it. Once started, it was a breeze. Really no different that putting together a Christmas ornament. I love anything quaker and would really like to visit the Ackworth School. Hopefully one day I will.

I’m almost ready to complete the "Fair Maiden’s Etui". The stitching is done. I just have to backstitch two more triangles. Again, I thought I might have trouble putting it together, but I think it’s firmly in my mind now. I have all the materials ready. Just need to finish the backstitching.

I won a bet on the game last night and my prize is to be a piece of Silkweaver’s linen. I’ve earmarked it for your strawberry needleroll!

Case Front Case Back

Case Interior

Thanks, Marian, for sharing photos of your lovely workmanship. Sounds like we'll have some more photos from you soon! I certainly hope so!

Look at Francesca's wonderful Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities!

Wow!! Look at what Francesca from Italy did with Quaker Schoolgirl Needle Necessities! Instead of making a pocket on the inside of the case with the same fabric as the lining (like I did on my model), Francesca decided to cross stitch her pocket using motifs from elsewhere in the product. She also added two little charms. Isn’t the result magnificent? I love it, Francesca!

Francesca stitched her project on 32-count Flax Belfast linen from Zweigart. She used two plies of Milady’s Teal embroidery thread from Crescent Colours. On my model, I only used one ply of thread, but Francesca wanted more coverage and decided to use two plies instead.

view of Francesca's sewing case front

view of the sewing case front and back

view of the inside of Francesca's case showing her lovely stitched pocket

Francesca wrote, I'm 40 years old, and I live in Rome, Italy. I love embroidery in general, especially reproduction samplers, Quaker motifs, and crewel embroidery. I started when I was very young in school, only 7years old, and my teacher was a nun. Since that time I've always stitched. It relaxes me very much and brings my mind far from daily problems. I had a lot of fun working on this project, and it's my first “Needle Necessities”-- a must for every stitcher!

Francesca, I love your creative touches to this project, and I’m very happy that you enjoyed the project so much! Maybe this will be the start of a collection of “needle necessities”. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.