Sampler Cardi For A Little Girl

I always love the examples where embroidery, needlework and weaving meet. This time I saw this delightful child's knitted cardigan with a sampler design in a charity shop and just had to bring it home for a while - it has now found a perfect little girl! It was designed and made by Oilily. When I went to their web-site I found this wonderful image of children posed in front of Marker women in their traditional costumes.

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Quilts @ Auction

It is always a delight to see a quilt with hand-worked embroidery. Even more so when it is a signed quilt like this one which is Lot 103 for auction on 4 March 2014 at Sworders. This Victorian quilt has a central embroidered panel with flowers, and is signed by Ann Hopper Aged 11 years In the Year of our Lord 1834.

Here you can see the whole quilt with its four smaller embroidered panels. The quilt is 255cm square - approximately 100" square. The estimate is £700-£900. For more details click here.

Quite different is Lot 1800 for auction on 5 March 2014 at Salisbury Auction Centre. it is described as an attractive Victorian patchwork quilt, `Sunburst` design of concentric stars within an octagon edged with dark green satin corners forming squares in rows of 8 x 7, the patches in a variety of plain and printed fabrics, the quilt lined with pale blue satin. Shattering and wear to some of the patches; time stains to lining. English, late 19th century. It measures 69in. x 60in. 175cm. x 153cm.

And here you can see some of the starburst detail. The estimate for this quilt is £80 - £120. For more details click here.

Also at Salisbury Auction Centre is Lot 1799. It is described as a patchwork quilt of Log Cabin, Courthouse Steps design, English, probably 1930-50s, 86in. x 71in. 219cm. x 181cm. printed and plain fabrics, with all over applied white fibre tufts to joins, lined with cotton floral print fabric. It is so nice to see those early 20th century fabric designs - they seem like old friends! The estimate here is £100 - £150. For more details click here.

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Quiet Please - Cross Stitcher At Work - Free Chart

I had a lovely email from Ana who started designing when she purchased the Jane Greenoff design software from Needleprint some years ago. She is having such a good time that today she is offering this chart as a freebie. Nicely framed it could be put up while you are working. Just click on the image to obtain a bigger picture which you can save to your own computer or print out. While you are stitching, do remember to get up every half an hour or so and move around, won't you, to get the blood coursing nicely round your lower extremities!

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Help Save the Beauty of Our 15th Century Church Pond

Those of you who have known me for a few years will know that I am passionate about the beauty of my country. And my adopted village where we have lived for 13 years. Found on the ancient Greensand Way and situated in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hascombe is a jumble of centuries-old houses, the beautiful St Peter’s church and the 16th century pub, The White Horse, and is home to numerous species of wildlife, including Canada geese, bats, grey herons and newts. For some time we have been battling with the local landowner who now wants to turn a piece of disused land right next to the historic 15th century church pond into 2 industrial units! We would happily buy the land from him, but so far all he has done is to create a permanent structure on concrete footings without planning permission. The villagers are calling on anyone who values the unique quality of this Surrey village to object to his proposal to build the units, which is currently being considered by Waverley Borough Council. If you value saving beauty, then please consider objecting to the proposal before the end of February, 2014. Please mention that this development is destructive of the beauty of the ancient village and pond, and is totally unnecessary - there are many other nearby sites where the applicant could build his industrial units. Please click here to see the objection form or make your objection. Thank you.

Embroidery Aria - Peter Grimes

Once upon a time, we would go to the opera in London, enjoy a wonderful performance until right at the end, when we would get a bit stressed about the time as we would have to run for the last train home. And once on the last late train, would have to suffer a journey of twice the normal time, until, in spite of all the excitement, we would begin to feel quite brain dead. But now, thanks to technology, we can drive to the nearest town and watch live opera beamed to our cinema. I suppose it can be argued that this is not the real thing. But since we get to see the orchestra, choir and principals close-up, there are gains to counterbalance any losses. Today we enjoyed Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes. BB is definitely one of my favourite composers - no-one, but no-one can evoke the sea as he can. And this opera is blessed with the Embroidery Aria. Ellen Orford has embroidered the gansey of Peter Grimes' apprentice and picking up the garment she remembers the embroidery of her childhood: Embroidery in childhood was a luxury of idleness.

Kiss & Hugs From Me & Emily Peacock Needlepoint Designs

Thank you so much for all your lovely emails - you are the kindest hearts!

I just thought you might like to wear your heart on a cushion as well as your sleeve. For inspiration there are these wonderful Needlepoint designs from Emily Peacock.

To see these and more of Emily Peacock designs, click here.

Auction Result For THAT Needlelace Panel

On 23 Ocotber 2013 this astonishing needlelace panel from the previous collection of Alistair Sampson came up for auction at Sotheby's of New York. It is a Charles II seed-pearl-embroidered lacework picture depicting Salome with the head of John the Baptist with Herod and Herodias. Made circa 1660 it is within a later ebonized frame and measures 5" x 3.25" (12.7 cm x 8.3 cm). It had an estimate of $6,000 — $8,000. It was so exciting to see this fabulous tour de force of needlelace so similar to panels in the Micheal and Elizabeth Feller Collection and T.317-1912 in the V&A collection, though only half the size. So many of you have since emailed to ask what it finally sold for. So what did it finally sell for? $15,625! Which I have to say was an absolute bargain.....

Here you can see the stunning panel in the Micheal and Elizabeth Feller Collection.

And here are some close-up shots of the fine details - the tiny faces have eyebrows and eyelashes which are barely visible to the naked eye but can be enjoyed in detail in the book, click here to see the Micheal and Elizabeth Feller Collection.

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

The Angels of Muchelney

You might have heard that there are severe floods in the UK. The ground is now so saturated, that even without more rain, the floods are not expected to subside fully before May.

Many places have been encircled and cut off by floods, and one of those places is the pretty village of Muchelney - home of the famous pottery and of their wonderful, but less well-known church.

Muchelney church has a wonderfully painted Tudor wooden nave vault, with all its angels faithfully dressed (or partly dressed!) in Tudor costume.

If you are planning to visit the UK in summer, don't pass by a visit to Saint Peter and St Paul.

And don't pass up a visit to John Leach's pottery either. John is one of my favourite potters and grandson to the famous Bernard Leach who worked with the acclaimed Shoji Hamada at his kiln in Mashiko, Japan. John continues the traditional stoneware techniques of English craft potters. To find our more about Muchelney Pottery, click here.

Meanwhile, the weather has been kinder here - though we have water problems of a different kind. Because we are on the side of a hill in country which is totally saturated, we see water springing up out of the ground. We have so far not been affected, but our neighbour has sighted newts in her kitchen.

And sadly the storm last weekend tore down a huge branch from our favourite tree across the lane - though the deer seem to be enjoying this heaven sent extra winter fodder. Our power supply, touch wood, has had no major outages since we were on generators over the last storm. I am counting every single one of our blessings, you can be sure.

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Knitting Nettles

Some years ago Richard and I were fortunate to enjoy a trek round Annapurna in Nepal. It was a memorable trip for many reasons, not least because we spent much time in the company of villagers in the hills. I can say there is nothing more wonderful than waking up to a view of Himalaya peaks outside your tent flap and to feel the sun come up and warm the iron cold from your bones. It was in a way to re-experience the gratitude of primitive man and woman for the return of the warming, joyful blessings of the sun. I very much enjoyed the enthusiasm of local women who were keen to demonstrate their skills to me, one of the most fascinating being their fabrication of textiles from nettles. Nettles grow in abundance wherever people live - and nettles are always a sign when walking across country that you are not the first people to have passed that way. When I was young, my mother would make nettle soup, and we would drink nettle beer. Creating a yarn from nettles is very much akin to making yarn from flax. To see the process, just watch the short video clip below.
Every year there is a Festival of Nettles at the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay. In 2014 it will be held on Monday 27 May from 11am–4:30pm when there is a special day with demonstrations and exhibits, nettle fibre processing and spinning, textile art together with all kinds of nettle food, drink and toiletries. For more information, click here.


Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Fashions and Gardens by Nicola Schulman * Garden Museum London * Until 27 April 2014

Fashion and Gardens is the first exhibition to explore the relationship between fashion and garden design, from the age of Queen Elizabeth I to the catwalks of London Fashion Week 2014.

The exhibition, curated by writer, historian and Garden Museum Trustee Nicola Shulman, will identify and celebrate the many links and correspondences between gardening and fashion design. The connection has existed for centuries, but this exhibition is the first attempt to make it articulate.

One of the exhibits is a rather charming portrait of Lettice Newdigate aged 2 (above) which usually is to be found at Arburg Hall. She is wearing a gorgeous dress with a blackwork bodice, needlelace collar and cuffs.

The skirt and sleeves are more difficult to read, but I have enhanced the image for you to see the beautiful and subtle all-over floral design over which floats a semi-sheer organza.

Another gorgeously beflowered gown, this time by the British designer Vivienne Westwood is a very modern take on 16th century fashion and is completed by fabulously embroidered gloves/gauntlets.

Looking very much like a wrought iron gate, this cape by Valentino is shown in the exhibition worn over another floral gown. If you are in London be sure not to miss one of the most beautifully designed and arranged exhibitions. For more details click here.
 
Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.

Samplers @ Auction

There are moments when my heart goes into reverse - and when I saw this sampler that was one of them. It is Lot 155 for auction at Sworders on 4 March 2014. Worked by Margaret Davie but undated, it is a dead ringer for another sampler stitched by Margaret Robinson in the Micheál and Elizabeth Feller Collection - F423 on page 267 of Volume 2. Even the sampler dimensions are similar. (The example above is 44cm x 32.5cm.) It is astonishing that the quite eccentric layout and stitching fills are replicated in this way. Were these the eccentric traits of a particular school mistress? I wonder if there are more examples out there, somewhere. The estimate for this sampler is £1,000 - £2,000. For more details, click here.

This next sampler is Lot 257 for auction on 2 March 2014 at Wilkinsons. It was stitched by Frances Amelia Roberts at Marlborough House home to the powerful Churchill dynasty. Though undated it mentions Little Tartary the Khanate of which was annexed by Russia before 1792, so this sampler is more probably 18th century than 19th century. It is worked in black thread with the alphabet, a list of Countries of Europe and their capitals, British Isles and Islands of England. It measures 13 ins x 12 ins (34 cms x 32 cms). Estimate: £50 - £100. For more details, click here.

Also at Wilkinsons is Lot 259 - a pattern darning sampler displaying patches of various weaves: gingham, check, herringbone, diaper, twill, all worked in red on a cream ground. It is dated 1838 and initialed HL ML and IL. It measures 12 ins x 11 ins (31 cms x 29 cms) and has an estimate of £30 - £60. For more details, click here.

At Sworders again on 4 March 2014 is Lot 154 - A needlework sampler by Ann Clark dated 1723. It is worked with bands of geometric motifs and flowers over two dogs and two birds amongst flowers and trees. The text below reads: Ann Clark is my name and with my nedel I wrot the same and by this you may see what cear my parants took of mee It is dated 1723 and measures 60cm x 19.5cm and comes with an estimate of £200 - £300. For more details, click here.

Lot 156 is also at Sworders. The text sampler was worked by Anne Tayleur and dated 6 May 1807. The text reads:  ---- Ye dreary wastes adieu Reason Religion now I study you if Bright the Prospect I the Grave defy trust future Ages and Contented Die be these Celestial ------- Consolations Mine and I the World with all its pomps Resign The sampler measures 12cm x 13cm. The lot also includes a needlework panel, 19th century, worked with a basket of flowers on a brown ground. The panel measures 24cm x 19cm. Estimate is £80 - £120. For more details, click here.

Last but not least is Lot 844 for sale by Reeman Dansie on 18 February 2014. There are two samplers in this lot worked by sisters, Elizabeth Lofty Whisson from Colton, Aged 10 Years in 1840 and Marianne Whisson, Aged 10 in 1843. Here is interesting to see the individuality expressed by the sisters - with the one common feature of the resting deer. Both samplers are in original frames and come together with two photographs of both sisters in later life and a brief history. The frames measure 30.5cm x 32cm and 31cm square and together they have an estimate of: £300 - £500. For more details, click here.

Needleprint 10th Anniversary - Save $95.

To share our 10th anniversary celebrations with you, we shall be offering throughout the month of March 2014 a Free Goodhart Samplers Book or a Free Feller Needlework Collection Volume 1 with every copy of The Feller Needlework Collection Volume 2. You can preview and take advantage of this special offer today. It comes with all our kindest wishes in this our last year before retirement.