The James Wilson Sampler

I have had many requests recently about the 'boy's sampler' - this is the delightful sampler stitched by James Wilson which is in Haslemere Educational Museum. You can obtain a copy direct from the Museum - the Museum now takes PayPal. And remember all your money goes direct to supporting the Museum.  Just click here to send your request for a copy. Or to visit the Museum for more information click here.

Love Bestowed - New Needleprint Release

We are used to seeing Quaker Samplers from York - or others, like the Beatrix Potter Sampler which come from schools as yet to be identified. However, this lovely work is a very special sampler from the Tuke's School at York. It bears the inscription MH-MC 1800. There is a very serene quality to this sampler, the spacing and gentle colours induce a feeling of repose - while at the same time offering considerable scope for adding personal initials and other touches if desired.

Although handsomely framed, the frame conceals details of the sampler which still can be seen on an old black and white photograph attached to the back of the frame. This new Needleprint PDF download with bonus JGG file for users of Cross Stitch Designer charts the entire sampler for you to reproduce. The pattern size is 337x284 stitches. Click here to browse or buy.

And many thanks for all your enquiries about my health and good wishes - they have done me a power of good, as we northern folk say. Kindest regards, Jacqueline.

Storing Treasures Marken Style - Free Jigsaw to Download

Marken is just a short bus ride from the centre of Amsterdam - do make the trip if you are visiting the Netherlands. Here you can look inside a traditional Marken home with all the treasures proudly on display and neatly ranged. On the shelves you can see containers topped with decorative linen and lace for storing meticulously folded items of clothing - there are no wardrobes in a small Marker home. Coats were traditionally unknown. Even in the depths of winter the Markers went without coats and anyone not from Marken was refered to as a 'coat'.  I hope you enjoy this free jigsaw. However, sadly, this is not going to work for Mac users. Instructions: Click here next Click Open, then click the .EXE file name and click Run, when you see the jigsaw puzzle, click Play Too many pieces? Try clicking on Trays on the top tool bar to create any number of resizeable trays to sort your pieces ........ you can also click the Cheat button and watch the puzzle solve itself! The software is by David Gray designer of Jigsaws Galore - the powerful jigsaw player and creator for Windows.

If you would like to learn more about the history of Marken and their stitched textiles you might be interested in the charted Sampler of Motifs from Marken. Each element of the sampler is a full repeat of a band taken from an antique Vernaaider Linten and can be stitched separately to make a lovely edging to a pillowcase, sheet, or table linen. Click here for more information.

Congratulations Tudor Rose Sampler Guild - and Thank You!

Many congratulations to the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild for finishing your lovely Ann Trump 1797 round robin project - and for all the energy you are putting into helping the conservation of samplers at Ackworth School. If there were Oscars for kindness and generosity of spirit you would sweep the field.
To read more about the Tudor Rose project, just click here.
If you are wanting your own Ann Trump challenge, just click here.