Spring Has Arrived In All Its Glory

Wow, has it been two months since the last post. Our last post was delayed due to a meeting cancellation, but this absence is due to Spring! Its that time of year when personal obligations (or I should say high school softball and I know the next two years are going to fly by) keeps me very busy and thus, no extra time. I think it has been two weeks since I picked up a needle! Seriously, I need some stitching time. But first, I must attend to the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild blog so you can see all of the lovely projects that our members have completed and bring you up to date on everything that has been taking place. So in the interest of time, I am going to combine the show and tell for our March and April meetings in one post. For those of you who do not live in Texas, you are missing a very wet spring. Our lakes and ponds are filling up, our flowers are absolutely gorgeous and the grass and the trees are struck in luscious hues of green. We will enjoy it until the heat strikes, but so far the temperatures have been perfect. Definitely a favorite time of year.

March Meeting

During our March Meeting, our very talented Program Assistant, Debbie G., taught our members different ways to create beaded edges as a finishing technique. The options were wonderful and easier than they look.

March Show & Tell

Codi M. – America by Little House Needleworks
Codi M. – Baby It’s Cold Outside by Heartstring Samplery
Sherry S. – Lady Bug Cottage by Elizabeth’s Needlework Designs
Mendie C. – Beaded Pincushion by Designer Unknown
Mendie C. – Boxed Heart by Carole Lake
Mendie C. – Winter Roses by Cate Grundy Brazilian Embroidery
Mendie C. – Heart Pinkeep – her own design
Karen H. – My Stitching Treasures Box by Jeannette Douglas Designs
Karen H. – My Stitching Treasures Box by Jeannette Douglas Designs
Karen H. – My Stitching Treasures Accessories by Jeannette Douglas Designs
Shelly M. – Agnes Platt Strawberry Sampler by Blackbird Designs
Shelly M. – Agnes Platt Strawberry Sampler by Blackbird Designs
Kim L. – Milady’s Necessities Box by Milady’s Needle

See if you can figure out how Kim added her own designer’s touch to this piece.

Valorie R. – Lady’s Necessaire by The Drawn Thread
Valorie R. – Anniversary Thimble – Designer Unknown

Absolutely beautiful!

Jennifer G. – Noel Sampler by With Thy Needle & Thread
Jennifer G. – Noel Sampler by With Thy Needle & Thread
Karen H. – Spiral Bracelet – Designer Unknown
Karen H. – Sampler Name Tag – her own design
Karen H. – Peaceful Gatherings by The Scarlett House
Holly L. – Home of a Needleworker by Little House Needlework

Holly stitched this over one on 36 count fabric!

Holly L. – For Thee by Hillside Samplings

Absolutely love this set!

April Meeting

Before you could blink this spring, we were at the April Meeting. During our meeting, members received the kits for Catherine Theron’s Winter Strawberries Sewing Roll Guild Project. The leader of the SAL went over various aspects of the project as well as the schedule to complete it before the end of the year. Keep an eye on our blog as I am sure we will have finished pieces before you know it. Additionally, during our April meeting, members signed up to exchange a Halloween ornament in October. Halloween is a favorite time of year in my house, so I am definitely in on this one. I cannot wait to see the exchange pieces. Who knows, it may turn into an annual exchange.

April Show & Tell

Mendie C. – Primavera by Maria Frietas Brazilian Embroidery

This piece is stunning in person!

Robert H. – Aeltie Claes Anno 1673 by The Essamplaire
Betty H. – Home by Pineberry Lane
Shelly M. – Summer Berry Pincushion by Blackbird Designs

The beaded edge is so sweet!

Holly L. – Baby Celebration by Just Nan
Debbie G. – Baroque by Jean Hilton
Lynn M. – Daisy Chain Sewing Folder and Scissor Fob by Acorn House Designs
Lynn M. – Daisy Chain Sewing Folder and Scissor Fob by Acorn House Designs
Lynn M. – Beaded Scissor Holder by Cindy Hambrick
Lynn M. – Primitive Tree by Ewe & Eye and Friends
Michelle L. – Faith by Niky’s Creations – Just Cross Stitch 2014 Ornament issue

This is the second time Michelle has stitched this pattern. This one was finished as a book weight.

Karen H. – 2014 Tudor Rose Christmas Ornament by Milady’s Needle
Karen H. – Scottish Thistle Needlebook – Designer Unknown
Karen H. – Scottish Thistle Needlebook – Designer Unknown
Debbie H. – Thread Keep by Blackbird Designs
Debbie H. – Threadkeep designed from elements of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” by Heartstring Samplery

Now for a treat! The following is an antique Norfolk sampler owned by Judy M. This sampler was stitched by Elizabeth Bensley in 1799! It is in such wonderful condition.

Elizabeth Bensley 1799 Antique Norfolk Sampler in the collection of Judy M.
Elizabeth Bensley 1799 Antique Norfolk Sampler in the collection of Judy M.
Elizabeth Bensley 1799 Antique Norfolk Sampler in the collection of Judy M.
Elizabeth Bensley 1799 Antique Norfolk Sampler in the collection of Judy M.

If you will note from the photographs below, it is very similar to the cover sampler on Imitation and Improvement: The Norfolk Sampler Tradition. That sampler was stitched in 1792, by another stitcher.

Elizabeth Bensley 1799 Antique Norfolk Sampler in the collection of Judy M.

The year’s at the spring, And day’s at the morn; Morning’s at seven; The hillside’s dew-pearled; The lark’s on the wing; The snail’s on the thorn; God’s in his Heaven — All’s right with the world!

Robert Browning

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