Meet Ann M, the Queen of Needlework Pocketbooks and Wallets

My friend Ann M. has an obsession for stitched wallets and pocketbooks. I first introduced you to her three years ago when I showed some of the wonderful pieces she has completed. You can see that write-up here.

In the past few years, Ann has stitched several more beautiful pieces, including most recently my queen-stitched pocketbook, A Work'd Pocketbook. This project is an adaptation of an antique I own.  

Ann changed the thread colors to suit her taste. She used 32-count Wichelt Lambswool linen, Needlepoint Inc. silk thread, a linen lining, and grosgrain ribbon for the closure.  

Ann wrote, As a lover of counted stitch I must admit I so enjoy reproductions and right now my focus/obsession is on wallets. On  "A Work'd Pocketbook" (I changed thread colors) with LOTS of queen stitches I used Needlepoint Inc. silk thread. Thanks to Ellen for the wonderful adaptation and the superb instructions. 

A Work'd Pocketbook has over 7000 queen stitches! Yes, you read that correctly. I've nicknamed this project Not for The Faint of Heart. While this project is LOTS of work, I think you'll agree the results are well worth the effort!  

I was lucky enough to see Ann's completed A Work'd Pocketbook at the last Queen City Sampler Guild 's daylong stitch-in--in fact we sat together at the same table. It was so great to see her pocketbook in person.  I can't believe that I forgot to take a photo of Ann with her piece.  So sorry!

As you probably realize, I have taken time off from designing because of all that has been happening in our lives during the past couple of years.  The good news (well, hopefully it is good news), is that I've recently designed two new samplers. The first, Amidst the Crowd, is currently with my framer Carol.  This sampler was inspired by a wonderful antique sampler that hangs in our bedroom. It has an incredible border which I've adapted from the antique, a beautiful verse taken from the antique, and some wonderful deer.  I've also designed birth samplers  (A Gift from Heaven Above) for my twin granddaughters who are due in late August. The samplers are basically the same, but have small changes to make them slightly different.  The models are stitched except for the three lines of personalization which I'll add once the girls are born in late August.

I"ll let you know when I'm ready to release the designs. It may be awhile because I have a busy few months ahead with the arrival of my granddaughters and teaching in both Seattle and in Shipshewanna, Indiana.  

Hanging Out with My Sampler Friends

This past Saturday my sampler guild (The Queen City Sampler Guild) was thrilled to have Joanne Lukacher lecture on Norfolk samplers.  Many of you may recognize Joanne's name as the author of the book Imitation and Improvement: The Norfolk Sampler Tradition.  We were mesmerized by the beautiful images she showed us.  If you ever get the chance to hear Joanne lecture, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity.  You won't be disappointed.

After the lecture, Joanne signed copies of her book.

Joanne lectured in the morning, and in the afternoon we had a stitch-in.  Our guild decided to make Quaker samplers our focus for 2014, and here are photos of some of completed projects that were brought for "show and tell".

The photo above is my design An Emblem of Love, stitched by Sue B.  Sue decided to put her finished sampler in a very large Whitman Sampler candy tin that a friend had given her.  (I've never seen such a large Whitman Sampler tin!)

In addition to the Quaker projects, Lynn K. brought in her completed A Lady's Worke Box.  I taught this project at the guild last spring.

Lynn has been so kind in the past to let me share photos of her work on my blog.  I recently sorted some old photos and found some of Lynn's completed Work'd Pocketbook.  I had taken the photos at a monthly stitch-in before our trip and had neglected to show them to you earlier.  (Sorry, Lynn.)

Didn't Lynn do a beautiful job with both projects?

A Work'd Pocketbook has over 7000 queen stitches!  Yes, you read that correctly.  I've nicknamed this project  Not for The Faint of Heart. While this project is LOTS of work, I think you'll agree the results are well worth the effort!

At the stitch-in more than half the group was working on a Quaker project of their own choosing, but I neglected to take any photos.  I also noticed that Lynn K. was working on my Family Ties sampler, so perhaps in a few months I'll have a photo of that to share with you.

Three of us are working on the Snooty Parrots Sampler (from Barbara Ann Designs) as part of a Facebook SAL group.  Below is a photo of our samplers side-by-side.  Jana's is on the left, Lisa's is in the middle, and mine is on the right.  Jana and Lisa are using 40-count linen, and I'm using 36-count.

Here is a better view of mine.  Since Saturday, I've added the parrot on the right.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

More on A Work'd Pocketbook ...

Judging from comments left both on this blog and on the With My Needle Facebook page, many of you are in awe of Yuka’s beautiful work, particularly the 7000 plus queen stitches on A Work’d Pocketbook.

Zeena, who I affectionately call, “my lady of quotes”, often sends me wonderful verses and quotes for my newsletter, With My Needle and Pen. The other day she sent me this quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which seems so perfect to use now: Perseverance is a great element of success. One really does need to persevere in order to do all the queen stitches necessary on A Work’d Pocketbook…but ah, the happiness of success! What an accomplishment!

I thought you might enjoy seeing photos of the antique pocketbook that inspired my project. The only personalization is the two initials cross stitched on the lining. Who was "M E"? Don't you want to know? I know I do.

Yuka from Japan shares photos of her work!

How exciting it was to receive a lovely note and photos of two projects from Yuka who lives in Nagasaki, Japan!

Yuka wrote, I enjoy stitching, and I love your designs. I was able to finish my favorite two. On these two projects, I learned different ways to finish cases, and I had a lot of fun making them.

The first photos are of Yuka’s Maidens of the Sea. The photos clearly show the beautiful job she did with stitching this case and scissors weight and also with the assembly. Also notice the beautiful piece of whitework on which she has placed her pieces.

I was VERY excited to get Yuka’s photos of her A Work’d Pocketbook!! WOW!! Isn’t it incredible? Her queen stitches are beautifully executed, and look at her finishing!! Exquisite!!

Yuka wrote, I love the color combination on this project. The queen stitches took a long time, but I had great joy when I finished.

The pocketbook has over 7000 queen stitches! (Yes, you read that number correctly---it is not a typo.) Because of all the work involved to make this project, I have nicknamed it Not for the Faint of Heart. I think you can now understand why.

My model for this project was based on a pocketbook I found at an antique show. I was particularly excited because the antique is in such wonderful condition. Even the original ribbon closure is still attached! Often the ribbon is partially or totally missing. My version is an adaptation of the antique--it is the same size and with the same ribbon closure as the original . I changed the thread colors, but I used a bright silk lining similar to what is on my antique. I also added an area on the inside for personalizing the pocketbook.

Yuka also wrote, I love both works. Stitch stores are very limited in Japan, so I purchase your charts and materials from an online store in the United States. I will stitch other designs, and I look forward to your new charts.

Yuka, thank you very much for sharing these photos of your beautiful work!! You can certainly be very proud of your accomplishments!!