Unicorn Sampler

My new enthusiasm for the needlework of the 17th and 18th century, also known as the golden age, has brought me back to working on my Unicorn sampler. This progress picture is after several hours of working the lacis sections. The area is quite large, and it has taken forever to withdraw the threads to make the grid, and wrap all of the vertical threads. Now I am putting in the design with the dove's atil stitches, and then I will add the needleweaving and pinwheels. I chose to do this on 36 count instead of the 40 which is what the model was stitched on, so I will only have half of the fluer de lis. At the time that I purchased this project I was highly intimidated by it, and I thought the larger count would be easier. Now, of course I wish I had gotten the 40 ct. but oh well, live and learn! Anyhow, here is my progress and a picture of the finished model.

Sampler name tag

I have just completed this nametag to wear at the two guilds I belong to. It was designed by Sharon Cohen of Nostalgic Needle. I am absolutely in LOVE with all of her designs and have been for some time now. I may finally have obtained enough skill to make some of them! I have always loved that Millenium Cutwork Sampler. I am also totally smitten with her little Elizabethan Nightcap pincushion.Taking that class from Eilleen Bennett really got my juices flowing for some more works from the golden age of embroidery. I love all the intricate stitches.

Secret Stitcher!

This came in the mail the other day, from my secret stitcher! I signed up for a year long secret stitcher program at my local EGA chapter. I was surprised I got something already, I just signed up March 27th! This is SO cute, and it was such a thrill to get something so perfect in the mail!!

Sampler Garden completed!

I can't believe I finally finished something! Its a stitching miracle! LOL!
This is the Eileen Bennet class piece from the workshop I took from her on St. Patty's day. I loved every stitch of this piece! All the specialty sampler stitches were so much fun. I don't think I would have been as successful with the colonial knots if I had not seen them demonstrated. They were a little tricky. LOVE this piece!!
This has really awakened in me my love of intricate stitches. I've been doing a lot of pieces lately that are strictly cross stitch. I think I will definitely be adding some more projects with interesting stitches in them.

Oh Dear!

I'm afraid I overdid it a little at the workshop this weekend! Not by stitching too much, (God Forbid!), but by SPENDING too much! Eileen Bennett was wonderful!! and she brought along lots of books,and charts for sale, so naturally I had to partake!!!

Here is what I bought:

















Here is the project we did.
It is a brand new class piece called Garden Sampler. It is a 17th century style band sampler with LOTS of fun stitches on it. 17 old sampler stitches are included : cross, double cross, small cross, elongated cross, marking cross, long arm cross, framed up-right cross, cross stitch with bar, back, flat stitch square, double back stitch with bars, buttonhole bars,four sided stitch,knit stitch, small rice stitch, queens and colonial knots.

It is so colorful and lots of fun with all the different stitches. Each band is only a little over two inches wide, so it goes very fast.



















Can you see my colonial knots? They are so beautiful with two colors of blue. The green flower base is rice stitch, so it really has a beautiful texture.