Ben and Sara's Wedding Sampler
Ben and Sara’s Wedding Sampler
Poinsettia House
I just ordered Poinsettia House by Little House Needleworks from my favorite on-line cross-stitch shop, 123Stitch along with a new kind of floss (new for me that is), Crescent Colours. The pattern is described as “Soft colors, a snow hill and the flowers of the season. . . . . .poinsettias!”
Crescent Colours used include: Roasted Chestnut, Timber, Clay Pot, Weeping Willow and Wild Berries. The remaining thread is DMC. Can’t wait for it to arrive so I can start work on it.
UPDATE: Fast forward to 2017. I cannot believe this has been sitting in my stash for SEVEN YEARS!
I decided to stitch this one on 16ct Chocolate Milk Aida from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. I used the suggested floss shown above. I decided to change the wording to ‘Tis the Season which I had seen posted some where else.
Started Stitching: November 28, 2017
Finished Stitching” December 12, 2017
Poinsettia House by Little House Needleworks
And here it is 2018 and this one is finally finished by Vonna Pfeiffer, the Twisted Stitcher. I really love it. Now do I keep it for me or give it as a Christmas gift this year.
Poinsettia House by Little House Needleworks
Flowering Heart Wedding Sampler
The Flowering Heart Wedding Sampler by June Grigg appeared in the January/February 1984 issue of Just CrossStitch magazine. I’ve probably stitched it at least half a dozen times on various count fabric for wedding presents and once for a 50th anniversary gift. Unfortunately I did not take a picture of each of the finished pieces. This one was stitched for my niece. The one I am stitching now, I am going to try and keep track of exactly how long it takes to finish. I started last night (May 30th). Update: Sigh, my good intentions were for naught as I forgot to note when I finished the sampler.
I’m stitching this on 28 count white Monaco by Charles Craft over two threads.
The finished and framed sampler. Both of the samplers were framed with the scooped oak frame from Graphic Dimensions but matted a little differently.
Flowering Heart Wedding Sampler
Carol’s Fancywork Box – Sudberry House
This is my current project for my granddaughter’s high school graduation.
The visible design area is 7½x7½ and the box itself measures 9½x9½x2 3/4 and has a mahogany finish and is fully lined in black velvet. The design area is covered with glass.
UPDATE May 2009: Finished stitching the piece from Woodland Flowes by Astor Place for the top of the box. Please with how it turned out.
The piece was stitched on 14ct Aida using DMC floss which measures 6 1/2″ x 6 1/2″. After cleaning and pressing the piece, it was stretched over a very think piece of foam board that came with the box and inserted under glass with a picture frame type backing that also came with the box.
If you were using needlepoint canvas or a thicker piece of fabric, you might have to forgo the glass or the foam board. My stitched piece fit perfectly even after stretching on the board and lacing the back.
Friendship by Lizzie Kate
My newest work in progress is Lizzie Kate Friendship. I’m stitching the design on 14 count Antique White Aida using DMC floss. I’m not sure whether they will be finished as small pillows or framed.
December 2009: Finished stitching two of these and I decided to frame these with the Mill Hill Blue 6×6 inch frame in the Blue Matte Finish as seen above. Below you can see the detail on the flower and the Bee button.
Band Samplers by Prairie Schooler
What is a band sampler?
Summer Sampler from Prairie Schooler
A Band sampler is a long narrow sampler, where designs are stitched in rows or bands across the width of the fabric. This type of sampler was popular in the 17th century. Some of my favorites to stitch are those done by Prairie Schooler. This particular sampler hangs in our kitchen. It is from the Summer Samplers Book 77. All of them were worked on 14 cont Fiddlers Lite and use the brass bell pull hardware available from Nordic Needle.
I’ve worked a number of these as gifts for family and friends but failed to take pictures of them which is my loss. The ones I have stitched include:
- Band Samplers – Book 40
- Garden Samplers – Book 45
- Garden Verses – Book 49
- Spring Samplers – Book 60
- Christmas Samplers – Book 63
- Summer Samplers – Book 77
Music and Books from Simple Samplers
Little House Needleworks has a collection called Simple Samplers which are small projects that do not take forever to complete. I’m working the Music and Books design on 28 count khaki Jobelan. The finished piece measures 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ I’ve finished one and started on the 2nd one. You can view and purchase any of the Little House Needlework designs from 123Stitch.
Enlarged area of Books & Music.
Fast forward to November 2023 when I pulled out a bunch of smalls and decided to finish them. I chose a simple black frame from Amazon to finish off these two pieces.
Cross Stitch Christmas
Christmas is a special time of year. Part of the fun of Christmas is decorating the tree and the house. When Jim and I were first married in 1982, we had a real tree. We’d bundle up, head out to the local tree farm, pick out the perfect tree, bring it home and Jim would string the lights. Then it was my turn to add the various ornaments I had collected. It really was not until a couple of years later that I started adding cross stitch ornaments to the collection. Mom made some of them and I made others.
The tree we put up at Christmas has gotten smaller as we have gotten older but it is still decorated with our collection of cross stitch ornaments or ones we have collected in our travels.
Christmas Cardinal
Christmas Angel
Gingerbread Boy
Gingerbread Girl
Friendship Memories
Friendship Memories Wall Hanging
This pattern appeared in the May/June 1991 issue of CrossStitch & Country Crafts. It can be worked in shades of pink and green or red and blue and you have two choices for the bottom design. You could, of course, choose your own color scheme.
Reunions, farewells, graduations – wherever and whenever friends and relations gather to celebrate – beg to be recorded, and not just with cameras. How much more satisfying to inlcude handwritten sentiments from all involved, crowned by a friend’s loving stitches.
Friendship mini quilts in two color schemes breathe new life into the notion of “one of a kind.” Not only are they destined to become mementos, but they’ll be the “life of the party,” as well-wishers clamor for a choice spot to dash off a witty or heartfelt message.”
I stitched the Friendship Memories top and the bottom pineapple design and my good friend Beryl Lawson did the finishing work. The finished piece was presented to our good friends, Don and Elinor Fankhauser as they were leaving the area.
Detail on lower Pineapple Design.
Home Sweet Away From Home Sampler
Home Sweet Away From Home Sampler
I first stitched this sampler when Jim and I were traveling in our 21′ Sunline travel trailer. It hung in the trailer during all of our travels. When Jim’s daughter, Martha, and her husband, Paul, started using an old family farmhouse as a summer retreat, I thought this would make a nice gift. So I pulled our the chart again and made it for them as a Christmas gift (2007.)
The sampler is worked on 14 court khaki Aida and finished with red bell pull hardware.
NOTE: This pattern appeared in the April/May 1991 issue of Cross-Stitch Quick & Easy magazine. I am not sure if the magazine is still being published or not. I have had several people contact me about this pattern which I was finally able to locate again so please feel free to get back to me.