PRAIRIE SCHOOLER SANTAS, MSI SAMPLER 1771, CARRIAGE HOUSE NAME PLATE, MYSTERY SAMPLER, PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR NEEDLEWORK

PRAIRIE SCHOOLER SANTAS—

These Santas are from the Prairie Schooler book Old World Santas II published in 2000. Instead of cross stitch, I used half cross/continental/basket weave and other needlepoint stitches. I used 4 strands of DMC floss on 18 count linen colored needlepoint canvas. Stitched a beard on the green Santa above with colonial knots, but decided I liked the continental stitch beards better. The backstitch trees, etc. were done with 2 strands of floss. I have 2 more to go. They are tiny at only 2" wide x 3" tall, but I like small tree ornaments. I think many today are too large. The needlepoint canvas is very easy to see. When I get them all finished and made into ornaments, I will post the photos. I am trying to use up some of my floss.

CARRIAGE HOUSE NAME PLATE—

I combined two Carriage House designs to make my name plate. I also stitched this design on linen canvas with floss. Love it. 

MSI GERMAN SAMPLER 1771—

The next sampler from the Museum of Science and Industry is another long and narrow German sampler. Again I had to combine several photos into one to get the entire piece photographed. 

In the cartouche above are the words:

What God Will Is My Goal

This sampler was appraised in 1939 for $18 and it was sold for the second highest amount at the Sotheby's sale. It went for 4370 pounds sterling which was about $7210.50 in USD. It was stiched with cross stitch and a bit of backstitch on 33 count linen with silk thread and measures 8.5" x 43". 

I think this basket is splendid. Love the daffodils!

'

All in all, it is of the same format that Thursday's German sampler was—just different motifs. Don't know if these were all done in the same town or of the same teacher. No information.

OUT OF THE CLOSET—MYSTERY SAMPLER

This was a fun mystery sampler and I can't remember who designed it. It is just enough of various techniques that you are never bored. Note the interesting edge stitch that makes a textured edge to the piece. 

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR NEEDLEWORK—

In 2008 I decided to photograph all the stuff in my house using my digital camera. It was a good experience, and I have saved the photos to a disc which I store up at the lake for safety's sake. Among the things I photographed was all of my needlework. I placed many of the items on a piece of black or grey felt. You never know all the pieces you have until you drag them out and photograph them. Brought back many memories. I tried to label each photo with the date I stitched the project. They are all in my iphoto album. That year I also took photos of all my Christmas "stuff"—ornaments, creche scenes, etc., etc. It really didn't take that long to photograph everything. The digital cameras are wonderful.  

BOOKS AND A MOVIE—

Spent the morning yesterday with a neighbor who I just discovered quilts. First I went to her house to see her "studio" and the quilts she has made, and then she came to my house for show and tell. I borrowed 3 books from her. It is nice to have a new quilting friend as most of my friends are embroiderers, not quilters. Saw the movie Time Traveler's Wife last night and enjoyed it because I had read the book. Recently finished a very nice book, One Good Dog, by Susan Wilson. It is about a down and out man and his dog. The man had been a high powered person in the business world until it all came crashing down on him. He is sent to work in a soup kitchen as penance. Of course, his life changes, but for the better. Just a nice story. Some chapters are told in the person of the dog. I just started Roses which is a Texas saga. It's on the best sellers list and I like it so far. Better go eat lunch as I plan to do some quilting on a crib size charity quilt and practice my feather designs which need a lot of work! 'Til later. Nancy