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Sunday 30 September 2012

Erna Hiscock Samplers


One of the best loved sampler dealers in the UK is Erna Hiscock of Hiscock Antiques. Not only does she deserve our respect for volunteering to conserve the Chawton House Library sampler we featured a little while ago for free but she has always delighted and impressed customers at the Ackworth School gatherings with her well chosen pieces and sympathetic understanding of the girls who worked these samplers. Here is just a small taste of what you can find with Erna - to see more click here. The sampler above dated twice 1701 and 1706 by Johanna Wright is a most interesting piece. It defies the traditional story-telling that would have samplers worked as a progressive exercise in needlework - starting off with simple stitches and techniques and developing greater and greater skill with the intricate elements of needle wrought lace whitework being the last elements to be worked. Here you can see a fully worked whitework sampler with the polychrome silk work still awaiting final finish and embellishment. It measures just under 9" by 13".

Above is a fine, late 18th Century Dutch sampler, decorated with numerous spot motifs including a central house, large dog and pair of rabbits. In the top right corner are Arms of the City of Amsterdam.

This sampler is one of my favourites at the moment. Worked by Susanna Mann Howe, it is dated November 30 1785.

Particularly pretty is that panel of idyllic English rural life.

Which recalls this sampler, stitched by Eliza D - one of a now emerging group of samplers that can be placed at Mrs Ventham's School, Winton (the old name for Winchester). Here is another school ripe for research!

Saturday 29 September 2012

The Sultan's Garden: The Blossoming of Ottoman Art * The Textile Museum, Washington DC * 21 September 2012 - 10 March 2013


The latest exhibition to be enjoyed at the fabulous Textil Museum is a dsplay of Ottoman pieces reflecting the wealth, abundance, and influence of an empire which spanned seven centuries and, at its height, three continents. Particularly interesting for sampler lovers are the narratives of how stylized tulips, carnations, hyacinths, honeysuckles, roses, and rosebuds came to embellish nearly all media produced by the Ottoman court beginning in the mid-16th century and how they exerted an influence on western designs and needlework. Above you can see a detail of a skirt border from Crete from the 17th century. Private collection.

The Textile Museum is currently housed in two historic buildings in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Visitors enter the Museum through the former home of the Museum's founding family which was designed by John Russell Pope in 1913. Above is a cap from Damascus or Aleppo, Syria of around 1800. Private Collection
Here you can see detail from an embroidered cover from Istanbul dated to the 16th/early 17th century. TM 1.22. Acquired by George Hewitt Myers. From mid 2014 the Textile Museum is joining with The George Washington University, a leading university in Washington, DC to become the cornerstone of a new museum on GW’s main campus in Foggy Bottom. The affiliation positions The Textile Museum to educate the next generation and expand on its rich tradition of art, education, scholarship and cultural understanding. Exhibitions and programs will be presented to the public in a custom-built, approximately 35,000 square foot museum building located at G and 21st Streets, bearing the names of both The Textile Museum and the George Washington University Museum. The new museum will include dedicated galleries for The Textile Museum, the Arthur D. Jenkins Library for the Textile Arts and The Textile Museum Shop. In addition to the downtown location, GW will construct a 20,000 square foot conservation and resource center on its Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Loudoun County, Va., for the study and care of The Textile Museum and the university's collections. All good news. For more details and to see other exhibitions at The textile Museum, click here.

The Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Needlework Collection Volume II * Why No Index?


The first copies of the new book are now being opened and the response is unbelievably heartwarming - page after page of beauty are the kind words of one purchaser.

But some of you will wonder why for the first time there is no index in our book. Well, there was an index and I worked for the best part of a month creating it. Then I threw it away! I saw some recent exquisite aquisitions made by Micheál and Elizabeth Feller and decided there and then you would prefer to have images of those samplers instead of an index.

But why not both, you might ask? The answer is I was always designing with a weight on my mind - and that weight with a book mailer had to be less than 2 kilos. In fact the book weights 1.95 kilos in a book mailer. It was that close a call.

And why do kilos matter? Simply because there are two costs to you as a purchaser - the price of the book and also the shipping cost you have to pay to get the book into your home. 2 kilos is the magic number in most parts of the world where there is a big step-up in mailing costs and I didn't want to take you there. So there is no index - it simply would have made the book too heavy.
The book is packed with images of over 400 samplers, hussifs, pinballs, pockets and descriptions by Elizabether Feller. There are 2 charted sampler projects in the jacket for you to enjoy. just click on the book image to preview. If you are in the UK and haven't placed your order yet just click on the flying angel below and send us your details for early shipping.
In case you missed Volume I, here is your opportunity to buy now -
Authored by Mary Brooks this fabulous book catalogues the early needlework treasures in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection. Don't forget to look inside the book jacket where you will find a full charted sampler to stitch. Price includes postage.

Friday 28 September 2012

Traditional Stitches, Calgary Celebrates 12th Birthday with 20% Off All Lines - Hurry!


Happy Birthday Traditional Stitches of Calgary - may you have many, many more. I love this store and even though I live thousands of miles away I buy my magazines and special gifts here and Janice directs them around the world for me. I have even said to Janice - Let my friend shop with you and bill me. I can't think of a nicer way to surprise or delight a friend on a special occasion! Here you can see just a tiny, tiny glimpse of all that there is in this wonderful stitching emporium. Do visit right away by clicking this link, because you can save 20% on everything in the shop! The sale starts today, Friday 28 September at 10 am MST and ends Thursday 4 October 4th at 6 pm.
And if you live in Canada you can also buy and order your Needleprint books at Traditional Stitches.

Thursday 27 September 2012

Ordering in Italy * Billet Doux This and Billet Doux That!!

As you can imagine there is no sleep here and if I do drop off I wake to find a little pile of Billets Doux by my cold pot of tea - more precisely these are Billet Do That or Billet Do This, so off it all goes again and hopefully someone remembers to put the keetle on. Why all this incessant activity? Because we want you to have the new books as soon as possible and shops are selling out even before their orders arrive. It has been a long wait to finish recording this world-class sampler and needlework collection and I have to pinch myself now to make sure that I am not dreaming as we ship this gorgeous new book packed with images of over 400 samplers, hussifs, pinballs, pockets and descriptions by Elizabether Feller. There are 2 charted sampler projects in the jacket for you to enjoy. Just click on the book image to preview. If you live in Italy and have not yet placed your order, then click on the flying angel below and send us your details for early shipping.
In case you missed Volume I, here is your opportunity to buy now -
Authored by Mary Brooks this fabulous book catalogues the early needlework treasures in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection. Don't forget to look inside the book jacket where you will find a full charted sampler to stitch. Price includes postage.

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Ordering in Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany * The Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Needlework Collection Volume II * Stitching Projects


There are 2 stitching projects tucked in the jacket of the The Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Needlework Collection Volume II and here you can see them both. How do you pick two samplers from over 400 wonderful examples for charting? It's impossible. We had originally thought to include a chart for the Jane Austen sampler, but this is a relatively simple sampler and the picture is so clear it will probably serve as a chart in its own right. There are two very similar samplers by the Hochstetter sisters, Louisa and Caroline and both are so very lovely we just had to pick one for you. We also wanted to include a small sampler which would provide a little more of a challenge for those used to cross-stitch and that is why we chose the beautiful Scottish example below. It is something that can be accomplished, the satin stitches are regularly laid and when finished it will just glow on your wall.

We are now shipping this gorgeous new book packed with images of over 400 samplers, hussifs, pinballs, pockets and descriptions by Elizabether Feller. There are 2 charted sampler projects in the jacket for you to enjoy. just click on the book image to preview. If you live in France, Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands and have not yet placed your order, then click on the flying angel below and send us your details for early shipping.
In case you missed Volume I, here is your opportunity to buy now -
Authored by Mary Brooks this fabulous book catalogues the early needlework treasures in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection. Don't forget to look inside the book jacket where you will find a full charted sampler to stitch. Price includes postage.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Now Shipping * The Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Needlework Collection Volume II

We are now shipping this gorgeous new book packed with images of over 400 samplers, hussifs, pinballs, pockets and descriptions by Elizabether Feller. There are 2 charted sampler projects in the jacket for you to enjoy. just click on the book image to preview. Have you placed your order? If not click on the flying angel below and send us your details for early shipping.
In case you missed Volume I, here is your opportunity to buy now -
Authored by Mary Brooks this fabulous book catalogues the early needlework treasures in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection. Don't forget to look inside the book jacket where you will find a full charted sampler to stitch. Price includes postage.

Monday 24 September 2012

Judith Hayle Sampler For Private Sale - Rebekah Readdin 1691


Rebekah Readdin's sampler of 1691 was stitched under the tutelage of famous needlework teacher, Judith - or Iudah - Hayle of Ipswich. It is one of the first known of this extant group of samplers and is very typical of the school with its rows of patterns following the repertoire of teaching, the working of alphabets in cross and Algerian-eye stitches in threads of alternating colours - and of course, the particular signature of the twin cartouches at the base. To the left are Rebekah's initials, the Rs confronting - and to the right are the intials of her teacher IH for Iudah Hayle. The sampler is fully described in Edwina Ehrman's The Judith Hayle Samplers. This is a five figure sterling sampler. If you are interested in purchasing this sampler, click on the angel below to email your name, address and telephone number so the seller can contact you. Needleprint have no financial benefit by this transaction or in this notification.
The Judith Hayle Samplers. Limited stocks remaining. Authored by leading textile expert Edwina Ehrman of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London this exceptionally well-researched book brings to life the 17th century needlework teacher Judith Hayle and her students. Price includes postage.

Sunday 23 September 2012

Witney Antiques New Exhibition & Catalogue Download


The latest exhibition by Witney Antiques - For Pleasure & Ornament - Art Treasures of English Domestic Embroidery 1580 - 1700 - will be held at their store 14-18 October 2012. And so you can see what wonders there are going to be there, you can download the exhibition catalogue now by clicking here. Many of the items have been in well known collections and exhibited at major exhibitions. Others have been the subject of scholarly articles or illustrated in such books as Domestic Needlework by Seligman and Hughes, The Collection of Judge Irwin Untermyer or the Landsdowne House Catalogue of the Exhibition of Decorative Art at Lansdowne House February 1929.

At the same time Witney Antique's sampler gallery will be showing a large collection of over 100 17th - 19th Century samplers. All items in the exhibition are for sale, in fine condition and worthy of both the serious collector and the museum curator.

Further details can be obtained from Witney Antiques: 96 - 100 Corn Street, Witney, OX28 6BU, UK. Tel 01993 703902.

Saturday 22 September 2012

Politics NOT As Usual - Quilts With Something To Say * Boca Raton, Florida * Until 13 January 2013


The Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition Politics NOT as Usual: Quilts with Something to Say displays the work of two centuries of women who used quilting as a medium to comment on the political landscape, and participate in national life. Curated by Stacy Hollander, Chief Curator at the American Folk Art Museum, she says: From quilts expressing Union pride following the Civil War, promoting presidential candidates, anger at being denied the right to vote, to a call for Hawaiian independence, Politics NOT as Usual offers visitors a personal context to our country’s past. The unparalleled quality of the quilts – their rare fabrics, skilled workmanship, and well-preserved condition – permit viewers to truly understand a medium that bridges the gap between fine art and folk craft. Graphic strategy and technique transform these bedcovers into monumental assertions of self-identity and statements of belief.

The exhibition also marks the first opportunity for viewers to see the 9/11 National Tribute Quilt outside of the American Folk Art Museum. The art piece incorporates quilt blocks from five hundred people in fifty states as well as Canada, Spain, Denmark, and Australia to acknowledge the loss of thousands of lives on that infamous day. The four central panels form a montage of the twin towers of the World Trade Center against the New York City skyline. (National Tribute Quilt, 2002, cotton and mixed media, 8 x 30 feet. Collection of the American Folk Art Museum. Gift of the artists, Kathy S. Crawford, Amber M. Dalley, Jian X. Li, and Dorothy L. Simback, with the help of countless others in tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on America, 2002.14.1)

Friday 21 September 2012

Meetings With Remarkable Women - Kathy Andrews


I consider myself to be very fortunate in that the most inspiring and wonderful people cross my little path almost every day. Some I meet in person - others via the internet. That is how I met Kathy. Kathy lives in Berlin. She is working on translating a Trevelyon design for a gentleman's cap into the real article. Above you can see the beautiful design.

Kathy says, Embroidery has been a hobby since I was in school and a hippie (that dates me, I know) embroidering flowers on my jeans. I have collected textiles whilst traveling the world, living and teaching in many places. In our home, there are fine examples of many different kinds of stitches, fabrics, techniques and styles. Only recently did I look around and notice that I love textiles!

Above and below you can see Kathy's exquisitely worked cap in progress.

Kathy's first love was music and she was a professional musician for the first 30 years of her adult life. She still finds time to play, but only for enjoyment and the occasional wedding. Her available time is spent working in Berlin with her husband at a bilingual school. She practices yoga, gardens, works on her blogs and stitches in every spare minute…and there are NEVER enough of them! To visit Kathy's wonderful blog - just click here.